Something about the way my niece sneaks into the kitchen before dawn—quiet slippers across the tile—makes me want to bake. Last weekend, she asked if we could make donuts together, but I didn’t want to drag out the mixer or handle hot oil.
So I decided to try cinnamon sugar donuts in the air fryer instead. I mixed flour, sugar, cinnamon, and baking powder in one bowl, then whisked in milk, melted butter, and vanilla. The batter was smooth and smelled like fall even before baking.
She helped spoon the batter into silicone donut molds, giggling when they wobbled. After air frying for about eight minutes, the house filled with a warm, baked-donut aroma that felt comforting and not overly heavy. I brushed each donut lightly with melted butter, and she gently rolled them in a cinnamon sugar mix—her face dusted in sweet sugar, eyes shining.
We ate them together right at the table, still a bit warm, the outside crisp and sugar-coated, the inside tender. My husband wandered in, amazed that something so simple could smell so good. My niece declared them “exactly like bakery ones but better.” And just like that, we had a new morning ritual.
Short Description
Air Fryer Cinnamon Sugar Donuts are light, crispy-on-the-outside, tender-on-the-inside treats coated in sweet cinnamon sugar—made quickly and cleanly in the air fryer.
Key Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup milk
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Coating:
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Tools Needed
- Air fryer
- Silicone donut molds
- Mixing bowls
- Whisk and spatula
- Small brush for butter
- Spoon or piping bag
Cooking Instructions
Step 1: Preheat and Mix Dry Ingredients
Preheat your air fryer to 350°F. In a bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt until evenly combined.
Step 2: Add Wet Ingredients
Stir in milk, melted butter, and vanilla until the batter is smooth with no dry spots. It should be thick but scoopable.
Step 3: Prepare Molds and Fill
Lightly grease silicone donut molds. Fill each mold about ¾ full using a spoon or piping bag for even shapes.
Step 4: Air Fry
Place molds in the air fryer basket. Air fry at 350°F for 8 minutes—or until the tops are lightly golden and spring back when touched.
Step 5: Coat with Cinnamon Sugar
Mix coating sugar and cinnamon in a bowl. Brush each donut lightly with melted butter, then roll in the sugar mixture while still warm.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Flavor Boost: Warm cinnamon sugar with tender cake-like texture
Quick & Clean: No deep frying, and the air fryer does the work
Kid-Friendly: Easy to help with, fun to eat, perfect for little hands
Budget-Wise: Uses pantry staples without pricey ingredients
Versatile: Ideal for breakfast treats, snacks, or cozy dessert
Mistakes to Avoid & Solutions
Dense Donuts: Don’t overfill the molds; stick to ¾ full for proper rise.
Dry Texture: Baking powder needs to be fresh—check the date.
Uneven Cooking: Rotate molds halfway through if your air fryer heats unevenly.
Coating Falls Off: Roll immediately after butter brushing so sugar sticks well.
Mold Sticking: Lightly grease molds or use nonstick spray before filling.
Serving and Pairing Suggestions
Serve fresh with a cup of coffee, chai tea, or cold milk
Enjoy at brunch alongside fresh fruit or yogurt
Display them buffet-style at gatherings—they’re bite-sized crowd-pleasers
Add whipped cream or a raspberry drizzle for dessert twist
Storage and Reheating Tips
Store: Place cooled donuts in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days
Reheat: Warm at 325°F in air fryer for 2–3 minutes, or 15 seconds in microwave, then re-coat with cinnamon sugar
Avoid: Don’t refrigerate, they dry out faster
FAQs
1. Can I use whole wheat flour?
Yes, but donuts may be denser, try a 50/50 blend with all-purpose.
2. Can I bake them instead of air frying?
Absolutely! Bake at 350°F for 10–12 minutes until golden.
3. How do I store extra sugar coating?
Keep it in a sealed jar, easy for quick dusting later.
4. Can I add mix-ins like chocolate chips?
Yes, fold in a tablespoon of mini chips into the batter.
5. Are they gluten-free?
Swap in gluten-free flour blend cup for cup, results vary but still tasty.
Tips & Tricks
Measure flour by spooning into the cup then leveling off—no packed flour
Use a small brush to brush melted butter into mold grooves for easy release
Lightly tap molds on counter to remove air bubbles before cooking
Let donuts cool slightly before handling to avoid coating melting off
Recipe Variations
Apple Cinnamon Donuts: Add 2 tablespoons grated apple to batter and increase cinnamon to 1 teaspoon
Pumpkin Spice Donuts: Stir in ¼ cup pumpkin purée and ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
Maple Glaze Option: Skip sugar coating and drizzle with 2 tablespoons maple syrup thinned with 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
Chocolate Cinnamon Twist: Add 1 tablespoon cocoa powder to the dry mix and toss donuts in powdered sugar coating
Final Thoughts
I never thought making donuts could feel therapeutic but rolling that warm donut in cinnamon sugar with my niece sure was. These Air Fryer Cinnamon Sugar Donuts bring together comfort baking and practical cleanup, plus little helpers get to join in.
They’ve become our weekend treat and sometimes weekday cheer-up. The crisp exterior, soft inside, that cinnamon-sweet hit… it’s simple, intimate baking that fits right into real life. Grab an air fryer, gather the kids, and make a memory – one warm donut at a time.
Air Fryer Cinnamon Sugar Donuts
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup milk
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Coating:
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 350°F. Whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt in a bowl.
- Stir in milk, melted butter, and vanilla until smooth and thick.
- Grease silicone molds and fill each ¾ full with batter.
- Air fry at 350°F for 8 minutes until golden and springy.
- Brush warm donuts with butter, then roll in cinnamon sugar.
