Skip to content
RecipesWhipped Up

American

Air Fryer Cinnamon Donut Holes

Soft yeast-raised dough balls cook in a single layer until golden, then roll in cinnamon sugar while warm. They taste like bakery donut holes without deep frying.

Prep
20 min
Cook
12 min
Total
32 min
Servings
6
Difficulty
Medium
Jump to recipe
Pile of golden air-fried cinnamon sugar donut holes on a plate

Why you’ll love it

  • Air frying gives a crisp exterior without a pot of oil
  • Cinnamon sugar sticks best when the holes are still warm
  • Dough rests briefly so the texture stays soft inside
  • Batch cooks quickly once shaped

Ingredients

Servings6

Ingredient amounts scale. Oven temperature and cook time do not. Salt, spices, and leaveners are a starting point after you scale. Taste and adjust.

View list

Check the ingredients you still need, then add them. If nothing is checked, the full list is added. Saved on this device.

Instructions

  1. 1

    Mix flour, 2 tbsp sugar, yeast, and salt. Stir in warm milk, 2 tbsp melted butter, and egg to form a soft dough.

  2. 2

    Knead 4 to 5 minutes until smooth, cover, and rest 15 minutes.

  3. 3

    Divide into 24 equal pieces and roll into smooth balls.

  4. 4

    Preheat the air fryer to 350°F. Arrange donut holes in a single layer without touching; work in batches.

  5. 5

    Air fry 5 to 6 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden brown.

  6. 6

    Brush warm holes with remaining melted butter, then toss in cinnamon mixed with 1/3 cup sugar.

  7. 7

    Serve immediately while the coating is still crisp.

Pro tips

  • Do not overcrowd; single layer keeps the exteriors crisp.
  • If dough feels sticky, dust hands lightly with flour while rolling.
  • Coat right after cooking so the sugar adheres evenly.

Easy substitutions

whole milk
oat milk
instant yeast
active dry yeast (proof in warm milk first)
unsalted butter
neutral oil

Storage and reheating

Storage

Best the day they are made. Store airtight at room temperature up to 1 day.

Reheating

Air fry at 320°F for 2 to 3 minutes to refresh, then recoat if needed.

Nutrition

Estimates per serving, using standard ingredient averages and rounded to the nearest gram. This is not a lab analysis, and it shifts if you change brands or add sides.

Calories
285
Protein
7 g
Carbs
44 g
Fat
9 g
Fiber
2 g

Budget friendly · Air Fryer · Vegetarian

You might also like

Cinnamon-sugar bites made from biscuit dough, piled on a plate.
Desserts

Cinnamon Churro Bites

Refrigerated biscuit dough is cut into pieces, baked or air-fried, and tossed in cinnamon sugar while still hot. The dough is a shortcut, and the sugar coat is what makes them read as churro bites.

22 min · Easy

View recipe
Glazed cinnamon donuts made from biscuit dough, stacked on a plate
Air Fryer

Air Fryer Donuts

Rings cut from refrigerated biscuit dough cook in the air fryer until the center is baked through and not doughy. They are brushed with butter, tossed with cinnamon sugar, and dipped in a thin glaze.

22 min · Easy

View recipe
Baking dish of apple crisp with a browned oat topping and bubbling edges.
Desserts

Apple Crisp

Sliced apples, lemon, cinnamon, and sugar bake under an oat, flour, and butter topping. The fruit should be tender and the edges bubbling before the pan comes out.

1 hr · Easy

View recipe
Square of carrot cake with cream cheese frosting and a moist crumb full of shredded carrot
Desserts

Carrot Cake

A spiced sheet cake loaded with grated carrots and finished with cream cheese frosting. It bakes until the center is set, then cools fully before the frosting goes on.

1 hr · Medium

View recipe

Still hungry?

More in the same lane, not a random mix.

Apple pie with a golden double crust and a slice pulled out
Desserts

Classic Apple Pie

A double butter crust filled with tart and sweet apples, sugar, and cinnamon. Bake it until the filling bubbles in the center, then let it cool so the slice holds.

1 hr 30 min · Medium

View recipe

Find something else

Comfort FoodBreakfastBudget Bites

From the kitchen

Kitchen tools we love

Practical tools these recipes actually use. This is not a review roundup, and these are not paid placements. If affiliate links are added later, they will be labeled and disclosed.

  • A heavy 12-inch skillet

    Most of the chicken and steak recipes are written for one pan that holds heat. Stainless or cast iron both work.

  • An air fryer with a real basket

    The air-fryer recipes expect a single layer. A crowded basket steams instead of browning.

  • A half-sheet pan

    Drumsticks, potatoes, sausage, and carrots all use one. A dark pan browns faster than a very shiny one.

  • A sharp chef’s knife

    These recipes do not need a specialty blade. A sharp 8-inch knife is faster and safer than a dull one.

  • A large cutting board

    Big enough that the onion and the raw chicken are not sharing the same puddle.

  • Dry cups and a liquid cup

    Desserts in particular expect level dry measures and a separate cup for milk.

  • An instant-read thermometer

    Use it for poultry, pork chops, and meatloaf. Color is a weak guide.

Read the affiliate disclosure.

Ingredients