Air Fryer Cinnamon Donuts (Printable Version)

Fluffy cinnamon sugar donut bites made quickly using an air fryer for a tasty, speedy treat.

# 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

# How To Make It:

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

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They're ready in under 20 minutes from start to finish, no deep fryer mess or oil cleanup required.
  • The outside gets that perfect crispy-sugar coat while the inside stays impossibly soft and fluffy.
  • You can make them on a random weekday morning and feel like you've accomplished something special.
02 -
  • Don't overmix the dough once you combine wet and dry ingredients, or you'll end up with dense, tough donut bites instead of fluffy ones—a few lumps are your friend.
  • Timing matters more than you'd think: brush them with butter while they're still warm so the coating sticks properly, and coat them immediately after buttering for the best texture and flavor.
03 -
  • If you're cooking in batches, keep the finished donut bites warm in a low oven (200°F) while the second batch cooks, so everything stays cozy when you serve them all together.
  • Room temperature ingredients mix more evenly than cold ones, so pull your milk and egg out 10 minutes before you start if you have the time—it's a small thing that smooths out the whole process.
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