Air Fryer Donuts are bite-sized balls of dough and sugar with less fat than traditional donuts! This cinnamon sugar coating makes them irresistible.
Donuts are delicious whether it's breakfast or dessert, and these Air Fryer Donut Holes are a tasty treat covered with cinnamon sugar.
With less fat than their traditional counterparts, you won't notice with the crispy exterior and fluffy center for every bite!
Some people prefer a glazed donut, but I've always loved the extra texture and flavor of a cinnamon sugar donut.
This recipe can definitely be used with all kinds of coatings and toppings, so feel free to experiment!
Got a sweet tooth? Check out our Air Fryer Cupcakes for even more sugar tonight!
Love lemon-flavored desserts? We do, too!
Try these gluten-free Lemon Donuts or these Lemon Cranberry Cookies!
How to make Air Fryer Donuts
Before you start the donuts, melt some vegan butter in one bowl and mix some cinnamon and sugar in another bowl for the coating at the end.
- Mix flour, crispy gluten-free cereal, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Fold in shortening, and mix until crumbly. Stir in milk.
- Roll mixture into 1-inch balls with your hands. Everyone can help!
- Place donuts into air fryer basket and cook at 380°F for about six minutes. Shake the basket halfway through cooking.
- Remove donut holes from basket and roll them in butter. Be careful! The donut holes will be hot.
- Roll buttered donuts in cinnamon sugar, coating all sides.
- Serve and enjoy!
Can I bake in the air fryer?
Definitely! An air fryer circulates heated air around food to cook it, like a convection oven.
A traditional oven uses heated air to cook as well, simply heating from the bottom and allowing the hot air to rise and settle around your food.
Make sure your donuts have space on all sides to cook and give your basket a good shake halfway through the timer to keep things from sticking.
Can I make donuts in advance?
Luckily these donut holes in the air fryer are fast to make because they don't keep long!
It's hard not to eat them all in one sitting, so don't worry about leftovers.
This recipe makes about 18 donut holes, but feel free to double or triple it for your own needs!
Just don't overcrowd your basket.
More yummy air fryer recipes
We have so many air fryer recipes to choose from!
If you are having trouble figuring out which one to try next, we suggest: Air Fryer Zucchini Chips, Air Fryer Hot Dogs, Grilled Cheese in the Air Fryer, Air Fryer Pickles and Air Fryer Tater Tots
Looking for purchase an air fryer? Wondering which air fryer is right for you?
Here are my TOP picks of air fryers on the market today!
Pro Tip: This recipe can be made in the air fryer unit with a basket or the air fryer oven.
If you are using the air fryer oven, use the middle rack and select the "Air Fry" function.
Are you gluten-free? Me too! We also have a sister site where EVERYTHING is gluten-free. It is called VegetarianMamma.
Always be sure to read ingredient labels to make sure that the product/ingredients fits your dietary restrictions!
Generally, we make simple enough recipes where you can sub the ingredients.
Common subs in our recipes include: Bread = Canyon Bakehouse Bread Crumbs = Ian's GF Bread Crumbs Flour = GF Jules All Purpose GF Flour.
Because our household is mixed between gluten and gluten-free, we have made almost everything on our site both ways. (except some of the frozen foods).
If you have any questions, please ask!
Meat Air Fryer Resources - We have a Meat/Veg Air Fryer Newsletter, which you can subscribe to here. We also have several Air Fryer Facebook Groups that you can join (see below for links).
Vegetarian Air Fryer Resources – We have a vegetarian air fryer newsletter, which you can subscribe to here. We also have a specific vegetarian air fryer recipes group on facebook.
If you are looking for vegetarian recipes beyond air fryer ones, we have a Vegetarian Newsletter as well as a Vegetarian Recipes facebook group. This newsletter and FB group offers up recipes that on the stove, in the oven, on the grill, in the instant pot and more!
Have you made this recipe? Please leave a comment AND rating below! It helps other readers!
Be sure to tag @AirFryerEats on instagram, if you share a picture on the gram!
Let's get social, you can follow me on Youtube, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest or join one of our Air Fryer Facebook Groups: Air Fryer Recipes, Air Fryer Recipes for Seniors and Gluten Free Air Fryer Recipes.
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Air Fryer Donuts
Equipment
- Air fryer
- 2 small bowls
- Mixing bowl
Ingredients
- ½ cup vegan butter melted, for coating
- 1 cup sugar for coating
- 2 tbsp cinnamon for coating
- 1⅓ cup gluten free flour
- 1 cup crispy gluten-free cereal
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ cup vegetable shortening
- ½ cup non-dairy milk
Instructions
- In a small pan, melt vegan butter and pour into small bowl. In a second bowl, combine cinnamon with 1 cup sugar.
- In a mixing bowl, mix flour, cereal, 2 tbsp sugar, baking powder, and salt. Fold in shortening.
- Stir until mixture is crumbly. Add milk.
- Roll mixture into 1-inch balls.
- Place donut holes into air fryer basket. Cook for about six minutes at 380°F. Shake the basket halfway through cooking.
- When donut holes are done, carefully remove from basket. Dip each ball into melted butter and roll in cinnamon sugar.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Air Fryers can vary greatly. Please take the time to learn your specific air fryer. You may need to adjust times and temperatures based upon your air fryer. All though this website attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, the information should only be considered an estimate. Varying factors such as different product types, different brands, etc. can change nutritional information. It is your responsibility as a consumer to read all labels to make sure the ingredients fit your dietary needs as well as calculate your own nutritional information as a double check.
Meat Air Fryer Bundle - Click here
Vegetarian Air Fryer Bundle - Click here
Theresa H
These are so easy to make. We made them with Rice Krispies and wheat flour. Turned out great. So kid friendly.
Cindy
So glad you had fun making this with your kiddo. And thanks for letting me know it works with gluten products!
Nart at Cooking with Nart
These are so good! Always love healthier recipes!
Cindy
For sure!
Irina
I love these cuties that are a great alternative to traditional donuts. I think once I make, I will finish them off at once!
Cindy
They sure do go quick!
Biana
These look like so much fun to make! I love my air fryer, and will be making them soon.
Cindy
Be sure to come back and let us know how you liked them!
georgie
these look fabulous, I really need to get myself an air fryer they seem like such a great way of cooking!
Cindy
For sure! Do get one, give these a try and come back to let us know how they tasted!
Jordan
This was soo fun to make in the air fryer!
Cindy
Yay Jordan! So glad you had fun making our air fryer donuts!
Chrystal
These are the best "fried" donuts and I love that I don't have to make a mess in the kitchen with oil. Thanks for the amazing recipe.
Cindy
Thanks so much Chrystal, that means so much to me that you came back to let me know! So glad you loved our air fryer donuts!