Air Fryer Cinnamon Donuts (Printable Version)

Soft, fluffy cinnamon sugar donut bites made quickly using an air fryer—easy and delightful.

# What You Need:

→ Donut Dough

01 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
02 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
03 - 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
04 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
05 - 1/3 cup milk
06 - 1 large egg
07 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
08 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Cinnamon Sugar Topping

09 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
10 - 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
11 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted (for brushing)

# Directions:

01 - Whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl.
02 - In a separate bowl, whisk the milk, egg, melted butter, and vanilla extract until smooth.
03 - Add wet ingredients to dry and stir gently until just combined; avoid overmixing.
04 - Lightly grease your hands and roll the dough into 16 small balls, approximately 1 tablespoon each.
05 - Preheat the air fryer to 350°F (175°C) for 3 minutes.
06 - Place dough balls in a single layer in the air fryer basket with space between; cook in batches if necessary.
07 - Air fry for 7 to 8 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until golden and cooked through.
08 - While still warm, brush each bite with melted butter to enhance flavor.
09 - Combine cinnamon and sugar in a shallow bowl and toss the warm bites until evenly coated.
10 - Serve immediately to enjoy optimal texture and freshness.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They're ready in 18 minutes total, making them perfect for sudden cravings or unexpected guests.
  • No deep fryer means no guilt, no oil splatters on your stovetop, and no lingering fried smell in your home.
  • The texture is impossibly soft and fluffy inside with that satisfying cinnamon-sugar crunch on the outside.
02 -
  • Don't overmix the batter—I learned this the hard way when my first batch turned out rubbery instead of fluffy, and it completely changed how I approach the wet and dry ingredient step now.
  • The air fryer temperatures vary between brands, so start checking at the 7-minute mark rather than assuming they'll be perfect at exactly 8 minutes.
  • If you brush them with butter after they cool, the cinnamon sugar won't stick nearly as well, so timing is genuinely important here.
03 -
  • Invest in a small kitchen scale if you don't have one—weighing your flour makes these consistent every single time, and it's worth the investment just for baking.
  • If your air fryer is really small or you're nervous about them touching, cooking them in a single layer with space between each one prevents uneven cooking and ensures they all come out fluffy.
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