Air Fryer Cinnamon Donuts (Printable Version)

Soft donut bites coated in cinnamon sugar, cooked quickly in an air fryer for a delightful sweet treat.

# What You'll 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)

# 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 blended.
03 - Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and stir gently until just combined, avoiding overmixing.
04 - Lightly grease hands and roll dough into sixteen 1-tablespoon balls each.
05 - Preheat air fryer to 350°F (175°C) for three minutes.
06 - Place dough balls in a single layer inside the air fryer basket, spacing evenly; cook in batches if necessary.
07 - Air fry for 7 to 8 minutes, shaking basket halfway through until bites are golden and cooked through.
08 - Brush warm donut bites with melted butter immediately after cooking.
09 - Combine cinnamon and sugar in a shallow bowl, then toss warm donut bites to evenly coat.
10 - Serve immediately to enjoy optimal texture and flavor.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Homemade donuts without the oil splatter or cleanup nightmare of deep frying.
  • Ready in under 20 minutes from start to finish, so you can satisfy sudden cravings without guilt.
  • Soft and fluffy on the inside, crispy-edged on the outside, and coated in that irresistible cinnamon sugar.
  • Air fryer makes them hands-off enough that even a tired parent can pull off something that feels fancy.
02 -
  • Don't overmix the dough or you'll end up with dense, cakey bites instead of tender, fluffy ones; stop as soon as the flour disappears.
  • Shake the basket halfway through cooking so all the donut bites get that golden color and cook evenly, not just the ones on top.
  • Brush with butter immediately after they come out while they're still hot, because once they cool, the butter won't cling and your cinnamon sugar coating will be patchy.
03 -
  • Use fresh cinnamon because old, dusty cinnamon tastes flat and won't deliver that warm, inviting flavor you're after.
  • Don't skip the halfway basket shake because it's the difference between golden all over and unevenly cooked donut bites.
  • If you want to make these ahead, freeze the raw dough balls on a baking sheet first, then bake straight from frozen with an extra minute or two of cooking time.
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