Air Fryer Cinnamon Donuts (Printable version)

Quickly made soft and fluffy cinnamon bites with a sugar coating, air fried to golden perfection.

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

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They're ready in under twenty minutes, which is faster than most coffee shop runs.
  • The air fryer keeps your kitchen cool and your hands clean—no hot oil splatters to worry about.
  • That cinnamon sugar coating is addictive, and honestly, you'll want to make a double batch just to have extras.
02 -
  • Don't skip the half-way basket shake—it's the difference between evenly golden donuts and some that are pale while others are too dark.
  • Coat them while they're still warm; once they cool, the butter doesn't stick as well and the cinnamon sugar slides right off.
03 -
  • Don't overmix the dough—a couple of small flour streaks are better than a smooth batter, which signals you've overdeveloped the gluten.
  • If your air fryer runs hot, start checking at the six-minute mark so you catch them before they brown too dark.
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