Warm, fluffy donut bites in minutes, made from a simple soft dough and tossed in cinnamon sugar the moment they come out. No deep frying, no special kit, just an irresistible sweet treat.
Everything you need
- 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
- ½ cup milk
- ¼ cup (50 g) granulated sugar (dough)
- 3 tbsp (42 g) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 large egg
- 2 tsp baking powder
- ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar (coating)
- 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
Single layer, always. Crowding the basket steams food instead of crisping it. Tap any ingredient to open its converter.
Method
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Mix the flour, dough sugar and baking powder. Stir in the milk, egg and 2 tbsp of the melted butter to a soft dough.
For this step
- 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
- ½ cup milk
- ¼ cup (50 g) granulated sugar (dough)
- 3 tbsp (42 g) unsalted butter
- 2 tsp baking powder
- ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar (coating)
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Turn out and roll into 20 small balls.
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Preheat the air fryer to 175°C / 350°F. Line the basket with a little parchment or spray it. Add the balls with space between them.
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Air fry for 6 to 9 minutes until puffed and golden, working in batches.
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Mix the coating sugar and cinnamon. Brush the warm bites with the last of the butter, then roll in the cinnamon sugar.
For this step
- ¼ cup (50 g) granulated sugar (dough)
- 3 tbsp (42 g) unsalted butter
- ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar (coating)
- 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
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Serve warm.
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Air fryer notes
- Cook at 175°C / 350°F and preheat for 2 to 3 minutes for the crispiest result.
- Keep everything in a single layer with space around each piece. Overcrowding steams food instead of crisping it, so cook in batches if your basket is small.
- Shake or turn halfway, and check a few minutes early, since air fryers cook faster than ovens and every model runs slightly differently.
Cook's tips
- Don't overcrowd. The bites puff up and need room to cook through.
- Coat them while still warm so the cinnamon sugar sticks.
Make it your own
- Fill cooled bites with jam or Nutella using a piping tip.
- Swap cinnamon sugar for a simple powdered sugar glaze.
Storing & reheating
Best fresh and warm. Reheat briefly at 160°C. They lose their fluff after a day.
Frequently asked
Do I need yeast?
No, this quick version uses baking powder, so there's no proving. The bites are more cakey than a classic yeast donut but just as moreish.
Can I use canned biscuit dough?
Yes, cut refrigerated biscuit dough into pieces and air fry the same way for an even faster shortcut.
Adapting your own recipe? Use the oven to air fryer converter for temp and time, or the recipe scaler to halve or double this.
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A note on cooking safely. Recipes are provided for informational purposes only and are not medical or nutritional advice. Cooking times, temperatures and quantities are suggestions: use your own judgement, and check that meat, poultry, fish and eggs are properly cooked before serving.
Consult a qualified healthcare professional before making dietary changes, particularly if you have allergies, a medical condition or specific nutritional requirements.