When my sweet tooth is screaming for attention, I ​love to pull out these easy air fryer donut holes. They’re fluffy, packed with warm spices, and topped off with a delicious sugar and cinnamon coating. And if that wasn’t enough to draw you in, you can swap out the air fryer homemade donuts version of this recipe with a ridiculously easy version made with biscuits.

Whichever method you choose, the result will be on the table in just under 10 minutes! Yep, that includes prep time. Seriously, I’ve lost count of the number of times that the whole family has asked for this delicious treat.

And if you’re planning a dinner party or tailgate sesh, you can always bring along some chocolate chip cookie bowls or chocolate cupcakes for the ride! Hey, the more, the merrier, right?

❤️ Why This Recipe Works

• The air fryer biscuit donuts are quick and simple, but there is also a version for homemade delicious donuts.
  
• Whichever prep method you choose, it’s a foolproof simple recipe. So, it’s perfect for beginners who are still getting to grips with their air fryers.
  
• The air fryer makes these donut holes perfectly soft on the inside, with a slightly crisp exterior.
  
• Adding the melted butter creates a wonderful coating of cinnamon and sugar that adds tons of flavor.
  
• It’s packed with pantry staples that you probably have on hand already!
  
• These delicious air fryer donuts are easy, and clean-up is a breeze. No more deep frying, so put away that deep fryer!

🗒️ Ingredients

Here are the simple ingredients you will need to make this tasty treat. Many of the ingredients you may already have in your pantry. For the full recipe, scroll down to the recipe card and take a look at the notes if you are interested in some variations to the recipe.

For Super Simple Donut Holes

• Biscuits. If you are making air fryer donuts from biscuits, I recommend going for Southern-style or buttermilk biscuits. You can grab pre-made biscuit dough at most grocery stores.

For Easy Homemade Donut Holes

• Whole milk. Don’t use skim milk if you can avoid it, as you’ll want the extra fat to add moisture and flavor to the donut holes.
  
• Granulated sugar. Adds just enough sweetness to the recipe (that won’t overwhelm the cinnamon coating!).
  
• Egg. Crucial for binding that dough!
  
• Butter. Butter helps to loosen the glutenous structure of donut dough once it’s been kneaded. Plus, it makes the dough super tender!
  
• Vanilla extract. Just a touch for that fragrant aroma.
  
• All-purpose flour. Don’t use self-raising flour here. You want to benefit from the moderate level of gluten in all-purpose flour that helps to trap some air in your dough!
  
• Baking powder. For a gorgeous rise on your donut holes. Skip this if you’re using yeast!
  
• Salt. A pinch goes a long way!
  
• Cinnamon. Crucial for adding a warm spice and slight sweetness to the recipe.
  
• Ground nutmeg. For a small hint of warmth and tang!
  
• Ground cloves. For a slightly spicier dough that pairs beautifully with the cinnamon.

For Yeasted Homemade Donut Holes

You will need everything that is listed above for the homemade version, but replace the baking powder with yeast. Read the notes in the recipe card below for the details.

• Yeast. Gives the donut holes a fluffy, airy, and chewy texture.

For the Cinnamon Sugar Coating

• Butter. The melted butter lets you create a wonderfully thick coating of cinnamon and sugar.
  
• Sugar. The essential ingredient for giving the donut holes the sweetness they deserve.
  
• Cinnamon. A cinnamon sugar mixture gives the donut holes a sweet and spicy punch.

👨‍🍳 How To Make It

​The best part about this recipe is that it is sort of like a choose-your-own-adventure situation. The easiest variation is the air fryer donuts from biscuits version that uses premade biscuit dough. If you want a homemade version that is quick, there is an option that uses baking powder. For the fluffiest and most indulgent variation, use some yeast to get that wonderfully light, airy, and chewy donut hole that we all love! Scroll down to the printable recipe card, and be sure to read the notes for the details on the variations.

Biscuit Dough Version

1. Preheat the air fryer.
   
2. Remove the biscuits from the can, divide them, and cut each biscuit into four equal pieces.
   
3. Form the biscuit pieces into little dough balls.
   
4. Place the donut holes in the air fryer basket and cook them for 4 minutes (flipping or shaking halfway through).
   
5. Prepare the cinnamon and sugar mixture and use it to coat the air fryer donut holes.
   
6. Remove the donut holes and dip them in the melted butter.
   
7. Leave the donut holes on a wire rack to cool.

Homemade Version

1. Combine the dry ingredients in a large bowl and whisk to combine.
   
2. In a medium bowl, whisk the wet ingredients.
   
3. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients until it forms a dough.
   
4. Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface before cutting it into bite-size pieces.
   
5. Roll the dough into balls.
   
6. Place the donut holes in a single layer in the air fryer basket and cook them for around 4 minutes until golden brown (flipping halfway through).
   
7. Remove the donut holes from the air fryer and dip them in the melted butter.
   
8. Coat the donut holes in the cinnamon-sugar mixture before placing them on a wire rack to cool.

🍰 More Desserts and Air Fryer Recipes

• Air Fryer Peach Cobbler
• Air Fried Oreos
• Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls
• Air Fryer Brownies
• Air Fryer Banana Bundt Cake

😉 Tips For Success

• For the fluffiest donut holes, use yeast instead of baking powder. It’s slightly more time-consuming, but it’s just as easy! Just replace the baking soda with yeast in a 1:1 ratio. Make sure your whole milk is body-temp warm. You can then add it to the mixing bowl with the sugar and yeast. If you’re planning to use instant rise yeast, you won’t need to let it proof for as long.
  
• Air fryer donut holes made with the backing powder will be dense, but they are easy, quick, and very much delicious!
  
• If you’re planning to use a can of biscuit dough, I suggest going with Southern-style or buttermilk biscuits. The flaky layer-type biscuits just won’t give you the same structural integrity, and you risk the biscuit donut holes falling apart.
  
• Rolling the donut holes in melted butter is crucial for getting a perfectly thick layer of cinnamon sugar around the outside!
  
• You will definitely want to space out your donut holes to keep them from sticking together. Give them enough space so they can cook and brown evenly. We don’t want the donut pieces to stick together!
  
• Speaking of sticking, you should spray a light layer of cooking spray in your air fryer basket to avoid it! Use some spray olive oil or avocado oil. Those non-stick sprays with propellants and soy lecithin are no good.
  
• Preheat the air fryer! It sounds like an easy thing to omit, but it is important for this recipe. These donut holes cook super quickly, so to make sure they cook evenly and consistently, it helps to have a hot air fryer ready to go.

❓ FAQ

🤔 Substitutions and Variations

• The base recipe is delicious, but you can make a quick and easy glaze if you want more moisture in your donut holes. For a simple glaze, whisk together 1 cup of powdered sugar with 2 tablespoons of whole milk and 1-½ teaspoons of vanilla. This will give you a delicious glaze to coat your donut holes with.
  
• If you enjoy extremely chocolatey flavors, a chocolate glaze or dipping sauce (white or dark!) is an excellent thing to serve alongside this dessert.
  
• Don’t want a glaze? Sprinkling your air fryer donut bites with powdered sugar is a great substitute for the cinnamon and sugar coating.
  
• During the fall months, pumpkin spice is a glorious substitute for the cinnamon in this recipe!

⏱️ Storage and Reheating

I won’t lie to you – these air fryer donut holes are best enjoyed fresh. Gobble them immediately after they cool for the best results!

But if you have any leftovers, you can keep them in an airtight container for up to 2 days.

If you’re in a rush, put your donut holes in the microwave for about 5 seconds to bring them back to life.

Otherwise, place them back in the air fryer for 1-2 minutes at 360°F to regain some of their freshness.

🛠 Tools and Equipment

• Cosori Dual-Blaze air fryer
• John Boos cutting board
• OXO stainless steel mixing bowls
• OXO silicone spatulas

🤤 Other Amazing Recipes

• Traeger Smoked Apple Pie
• Traeger Smoked Bourbon Pumpkin Pie
• No-bake Pumpkin Cheesecake Parfait
• Traeger Smoked Smores Dip
• Pie Crust

🎁 Wrap Up

It doesn’t matter whether you’re looking to quash your sugar cravings or just want a crowd-pleasing dessert. These easy air fryer donut holes have more than got your back. Eat them plain, drizzle them with glaze, or dunk them in chocolate – the sky’s the limit when things are this delicious!

💬 Tell Me What You Think!

Did you try out this recipe? Please leave a comment below and let me know how you liked it. Also, snap a picture and post it to your favorite social platform. Be sure to tag me at @alicensetogrill and let me know how you liked it!

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