Air Fryer Cinnamon Sugar Doughnut Recipe (2024)

By: Author Miranda

Posted on Last updated:

This air fryer donuts recipe might just be the easiest recipe you ever make with your air fryer! This recipe utilizes refrigerated biscuit dough to create delicious sugar and cinnamon air fryer donuts in just a few minutes.

This recipe is a favorite for my children. About once a month they say, “can we fix air fryer donuts today?” Because they are so easy, I almost always say yes! They are even easy enough for my kids to help!

Air Fryer Cinnamon Sugar Doughnut Recipe (1)

You probably won’t find an easier or faster recipe for air fryer donuts, no matter how hard you look! Plus, your family will be super impressed with your skills. (Just don’t tell them how easy these actually are to make!)

You can even get fancy and use a heart-shaped cookie cutter for the middle of the donuts if you’d like, just like the ones below!

Air Fryer Cinnamon Sugar Doughnut Recipe (2)

Your Air Fryer Can Make an Amazing Donut Dessert In Minutes

Even though I’m fairly new to the air fryer life, I’m already a huge fan. If for no other reason than saving me $20+ every time we go to the movies. — NOT that I actually take these donuts with us.

I no longer have to purchase the over-priced ones at the theater anymore! I just have them at home before we go. And the kids are also completely satisfied with this compromise as well because they are such a treat.

Cooking with an Air Fryer

When I first got my air fryer I must admit, I was a bit intimidated. It seemed like a complicated kitchen gadget. Then I made my first air fryer baked potato and I was hooked!

Trust me, they are very easy to use and your food will turn out great! Whether you’re making a whole chicken in the air fryer or a yummy side dish of air fryer onion rings, you’re going to love your air fryer!

One thing you should always try to do for the best results is to preheat your air fryer. It’s simple to do that, simply turn on your air fryer and run it at the desired temperature for about 5 minutes before you place the food inside of it. This helps your food to cook better.

As someone who has used an air fryer for a few years now, if you are unable to preheat the air fryer, it will be okay. I don’t always do it. Just remember that you will always get the best results when you do.

You’ll also want to be sure that you’re cleaning your air fryer regularly. Reference the booklet that likely came with your air fryer to see how to clean your particular air fryer or check out my helpful cleaning an air fryer post for tips on how I keep mine clean.

Air Fryer Cinnamon Sugar Doughnut Recipe (3)

An Awesome 4-Minute Cinnamon & Sugar Air Fryer Donut Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 Can Large Pillsbury Biscuits
  • 1/2 Cup Sugar
  • 1/2 Tablespoon Cinnamon
  • 5 Tablespoons Butter

Directions

  1. In a medium bowl, mix together the cinnamon and sugar. Set aside.
  2. Open the can of biscuits and cut the center out of each one. (I use a small heart-shaped cookie cutter as my donut cutter is too small.)
  3. Place the larger, outside portion in your air fryer.
  4. Run for 4-5 minutes at 330 degrees. It’s important to note that some air fryers cook faster and hotter than others. After making this recipe in 3 different air fryers, I’ve learned it can take anywhere from 4-7 minutes to fully cook the doughnuts. My first air fryer cooked them much faster than my newest air fryer. The first time you make the recipe, you’ll need to be sure to check to make sure they are fully cooked in the middle.
  5. As the doughnuts are cooking, melt the butter.
  6. Using a silicone pastry brush, coat the doughnuts with melted butter. Then lay in the bowl of cinnamon-sugar mixture and use a spoon to coat the top too.
  7. Gently shake off excess cinnamon sugar.
  8. Serve doughnuts hot.
  9. ***When you air fry the “holes”, set your timer for just 2 minutes and top those with the butter and cinnamon/sugar too.

Truly, you could almost call this air fryer donut recipe effortless. It is THAT easy!

Air Fryer Cinnamon Sugar Doughnut Recipe (4)

It seriously can’t get much easier than that! Let me know what you think when you give these a try! I’ve gotten rave reviews from everyone I’ve served these air fryer donuts to so far.

Optional Donut Toppings

If you’d like to branch out from the cinnamon sugar coating, there are other great options to try.

Chocolate Drizzle

Once cooked, drizzle with a chocolate glaze. To make your own chocolate glaze at home, you’ll only need the following 4 ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
  • 2 tablespoons melted butter
  • 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon light corn syrup
  • 1/4 teaspoonvanilla extract

Melt the ingredients together over low heat, stirring often. Add extra corn syrup if needed to make a smoother, shinier glaze. This recipe will yield about a 1/2 cup of glaze. Dip donut or spread with a knife to coat the top.

***Special note: For a reliably shiny finish, choose chocolate whose main ingredient isn’t sugar.

Frost

For a simple twist, grab a can of pre-made frosting from the grocery store and spread a thin layer over the top. So quick and simple!

Vanilla Glaze

  • 1 1/4 cups powder sugar, sifted to remove any lumps
  • 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
  • milk or water (typically 1-2 tablespoons)
  • Stir the ingredients together, adding extra liquid or confectioners’ sugar to adjust the consistency as needed. Yield: about 1/2 cup glaze.
  • 1/2 teaspoonvanilla extract

Stir the ingredients together, adding extra liquid or powder sugar to adjust the consistency as needed. This recipe will yield about 1/2 cup glaze. Just dip the air fryer donut tops in to coat with a layer of glaze or spread with a knife.

Air Fryer Cinnamon Sugar Doughnut Recipe (5)

5-Minute Air Fryer Donut Recipe (With Cinnamon and Sugar Topping)

Mirande Welle

An easy and delicious 5-minute air fryer doughnut recipe.

5 from 12 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 3 minutes mins

Cook Time 5 minutes mins

Additional Time 1 minute min

Total Time 9 minutes mins

Course Recipes

Cuisine American

Servings 8 Donuts (plus 8 bonus donut holes!)

Calories 135 kcal

Equipment

  • XL Air Fryer

  • Silicone Pastry Brush

Ingredients

  • 1 Can Large Pillsbury Biscuits
  • 1/2 Cup Sugar
  • 1/2 Tablespoon Cinnamon
  • 5 Tablespoons Butter

Instructions

  • Preheat air fryer to 330 degrees. To do this, simply turn your air fryer on at 330 degrees and let it run for about 3-5 minutes.

  • In a medium bowl, mix together the cinnamon and sugar. Set aside.

  • Open the can of biscuits and cut the center out of each one. (I use a small heart-shaped cookie cutter as my donuts cutter is too small.)

  • Place the larger, outside portion in your air fryer.

  • Run for 4-7 minutes at 330 degrees. You may need to adjust this slightly depending on your particular air fryer model. After making this recipe in 3 different air fryers, I’ve learned it can take anywhere from 4-7 minutes to fully cook the donuts. The first time you make the recipe, you’ll need to be sure to check to make sure they are fully cooked in the middle.

  • As the donuts are cooking, melt the butter. You can use the microwave or stovetop.

  • Using a silicone pastry brush, coat the donuts with melted butter. Then lay in the bowl of cinnamon-sugar mixture and use a spoon to coat the top too.

  • Gently shake off excess cinnamon sugar.

  • Serve the donuts hot. They are best that way, although you can still enjoy them cool later.

  • ***When you air fry the “holes”, set your timer for just 2-4 minutes and top those with the butter and cinnamon/sugar too.

Video

Notes

Every air fryer cooks differently, therefore some will cook these donuts faster or slower than other machines. You may need to adjust the cooking time for your particular machine. If they aren’t cooked through after 4 minutes, put them back in the air fryer and cook longer. You definitely don’t want to undercook them.

It’s always a good idea to preheat your air fryer too. To do that, simply run the air fryer at the desired temperature for a few minutes before you’re ready to put food into it.

Keyword air fryer, air fryer breakfast recipe, air fryer desserts, air fryer donut recipe, air fryer donuts, Air fryer doughnut recipe, air fryer recipe, donuts recipe

Air Fryer Cinnamon Sugar Doughnut Recipe (6)

This is one of our favorite air fryer recipes. With all of the different ways you can fix these air fryer donuts, you’ll make them over and over and over again!Which way is your favorite?

Air Fryer Cinnamon Sugar Doughnut Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Can you air fry donuts instead of deep fry? ›

Place the doughnuts onto a tray and allow to rest for a second until until puffed up. Heat air fryer to 180 degrees c and grease the basket with oil. Place in the doughnuts and bake for 8-10 minutes until golden. Brush melted butter over the doughnuts and roll in sugar.

How much sugar is in a cinnamon sugar donut? ›

Amount/Serving%DV*Amount/Serving
Total Fat 18.9g47%Tot. Carb. 33.7g
Sat. Fat 5.6g25%Dietary Fiber 0.3g
Trans Fat 0gSugars 8.8g
Cholesterol 0mgProtein 4.5g
2 more rows

Is it better to bake or fry doughnuts? ›

Baked doughnuts are smaller, baking powder driven and more compact. A typical fried glazed donut will be around 269 calories, while a baked donut will have much fewer. The difference is the fact that you won't be dealing with any extra fat from the oil from frying when you bake.

Why is my doughnut not fluffy? ›

To make light and fluffy donuts, make sure that your dough is properly risen by allowing it to rest in a warm place until it doubles in size. Also, avoid overmixing the dough as it can lead to a denser texture. Handling the dough gently and not overworking it will help maintain the desired fluffiness.

What temperature do you fry homemade donuts at? ›

Fry at about 375° to 380° F (190.6° to 193.3° C). Donuts brown too rapidly and may have raw or doughy centers if fried in fat that is too hot. Donuts fried in colder shortening brown too slowly and absorb excessive frying shortening. When should glaze be applied to yeast-raised donuts?

How do you simulate deep frying in an air fryer? ›

Because the circulating air of an air fryer will be in less intense contact with your food than hot oil, you'll need to compensate by increasing your temperature a bit to around 390°F for anything that's traditionally deep fried. Oil: Get that crisp right with a small amount of oil.

Does Krispy Kreme doughnuts have sugar? ›

American Heart Association experts recommend men shouldn't eat more than 36 grams of added sugar a day and women should limit their sugar consumption to 25 grams. So a single Krispy Kreme doughnut, which has 10 grams of sugar, takes up a good bulk of your recommended daily intake.

Is donut sugar the same as powdered sugar? ›

Non-melting confectioner's sugar, also called snow sugar or donut sugar, unfortunately isn't quite as sweet as powdered sugar, so it isn't a perfect substitute, but at least you're pretty pastries won't have a time limit.

Does Krispy Kreme have cinnamon sugar donuts? ›

Our classic ring is tossed in cinnamon sugar for a perfectly simple treat. “It's tough to say which doughnut is my favorite.”

Are Krispy Kreme donuts deep fried or baked? ›

Like most doughnuts, Krispy Kremes are fried (cooked in oil). Frying cooks the dough rapidly from the outside in to give the doughnuts their distinctive crispy texture.

Do Dunkin donuts bake or fry their donuts? ›

Some Dunkin' locations bake their donuts in house, but not all. There are three ways Dunkin' locations can acquire donuts, according to TikTok user and franchise owner Amir Mohamed.

What is the best flour for donuts? ›

Use real cake flour – not DIY cake flour!

DIY substitutions don't really cut it, and AP flour will not create doughnuts with that same soft texture. Also, bleached cake flour will work best. Unbleached (like King Arthur Baking) won't absorb as much moisture, and you may end up with doughnuts that crumble while frying.

What is the secret for soft doughnuts? ›

How to Make Super Soft and Fluffy Sugar Glazed Doughnuts | Fried or Baked. There's only one way to make doughnuts even softer and fluffier and that is by scalding some of the flour. Scalding is a technique used to not only make bread softer, but also to make it stay soft for longer.

Can I let donut dough rise overnight? ›

The best thing would be to let them rest in the fridge overnight. This has two advantages. First, longer, cooler fermentation yields better flavor in the final product. Second, making the dough last night so you can fry more quickly this morning is a great idea.

Can air frying substitute for deep frying? ›

CAN AN AIR FRYER DO EVERYTHING A DEEP FRYER DOES? An air fryer cannot do everything a deep fryer does. Unlike deep fryers, air fryers don't tend to create a thick crust. Liquid batters and moist foods may seep through the air fryer basket and may not achieve the desired level of crispiness you're seeking.

Can you bake donuts instead of deep frying? ›

With these no fry doughnuts, there's no messing about with hot oil or time spent standing over a hot pan. Oven baked doughnuts have a fairly different texture to the traditional deep fried versions. You'll find that they're much more cake-like and less chewy, hence often being referred to as cake doughnuts!

Can I use Airfryer as a deep fryer? ›

Yes, you can use batter or breading for deep frying in an air fryer. Just make sure to coat the food evenly and lightly with the batter or breading before placing it in the air fryer basket. This will help to create a crispy and delicious outer layer on the food.

How to fry donuts without a deep fryer? ›

Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (176°C). Prepare your donut dough as usual and shape them into donut rings or any desired shapes. Place the donuts in the air fryer basket, making sure not to overcrowd them. Cook the donuts in the air fryer for about 8-10 minutes, flipping them halfway through to ensure even cooking.

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