Air Fryer Cinnamon Donuts (Printable)

Soft, fluffy bites coated in cinnamon sugar, made quickly in an air fryer without deep frying.

# 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

# Directions:

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 smooth.
03 - Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and stir gently until just combined; avoid overmixing.
04 - Lightly grease hands and form dough into sixteen 1-tablespoon portions.
05 - Preheat air fryer to 350°F (175°C) for three minutes.
06 - Place dough balls in a single layer in air fryer basket with slight spacing; cook in batches if needed.
07 - Air fry for 7 to 8 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until golden and fully cooked.
08 - Brush each warm donut bite with melted butter immediately after cooking.
09 - Mix cinnamon and sugar in a shallow bowl, then toss donut bites to coat evenly.
10 - Enjoy immediately for optimal texture and flavor.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • No deep frying means your kitchen stays cool and clean, and you can make these without guilt or splatter burns.
  • Sixteen golden bites are ready in under 20 minutes from start to finish, perfect for unexpected guests or unexpected cravings.
  • That warm cinnamon sugar coating sticks to your fingers in the best way, tasting like you've unlocked a donut shop secret.
02 -
  • Don't overmix the dough or you'll end up with dense, cakey donuts instead of the fluffy ones you're after—stop stirring the moment everything is just combined.
  • The butter coating is essential and must go on while the donuts are still warm, or the cinnamon sugar won't stick properly and you'll have bald spots.
03 -
  • Room temperature milk combines more smoothly with the egg than cold milk, resulting in a silkier batter that puffs better in the air fryer.
  • If your air fryer basket is small, don't worry about fitting all 16 at once—cooking in two quick batches takes barely any longer and guarantees even cooking.
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