WHAT’S FOR A SWEET TREAT?
Air Fryer Cinnamon Sugar Donut Holes
Rated 0 out of 5
COOK TIME
8 min
TOTAL TIME
15 min
SERVINGS
12 donuts
These easy Air Fryer Cinnamon Sugar Donut Holes are made with a simple two-ingredient dough using Greek yogurt and self-rising flour, then rolled in melted butter and cinnamon sugar. They’re soft, warm, and ready in about 15 minutes with no hot oil!
I am a BIG fan of anything involving warm cinnamon sugar, so obviously making donut holes in the air fryer sounded like a very good idea. Even better, these use the same two-ingredient Greek yogurt dough I use for my Greek yogurt bagels, and I honestly wasn’t sure how it would work in the air fryer. Turns out, it works REALLY well. They’re warm, soft, covered in buttery cinnamon sugar, and you can have an entire batch ready in about 15 minutes.
You must know though, these aren’t going to have the exact same texture as a traditional deep-fried donut because we’re making them with yogurt and self-rising flour instead of a yeast dough. They’re a little more soft and doughy on the inside with a lightly golden outside, which makes them perfect for rolling in melted butter and a LOT of cinnamon sugar. All you need to do is mix it together, roll it into little balls, air fry, coat, and that’s pretty much it.
The biggest benefit is making these in the air fryer because there is no pot of hot oil, no checking oil temperatures, and definitely no figuring out what to do with a bunch of used frying oil afterward. The circulating hot air cooks the donut holes quickly and gives the outside a little texture while keeping the inside soft. It’s such an easy way to make a quick breakfast or honestly, whenever you need a warm and comforting sweet treat!
Ingredients You’ll Need
Plain Greek Yogurt – Adds the moisture needed to turn the flour into a soft dough while also giving the donut holes a slightly tangy flavor. Use a thick Greek yogurt rather than regular yogurt, which has more liquid and can make the dough overly sticky.
Self-Rising Flour – This already contains the leavening needed to help the donut holes puff up as they cook, which is how we get away with using only two ingredients for the dough. If you don’t have any, the recipe card calls for mixing 1 cup all-purpose flour with 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder and 1 teaspoon salt.
Butter – Gives the cinnamon sugar something to stick to while adding that rich, buttery flavor you definitely want on a warm donut hole. You’ll coat them while they’re still warm so every side gets covered.
Granulated Sugar – Regular white sugar gives the outside that classic cinnamon sugar coating with just a little crunch. The small crystals stick really well to the melted butter and completely cover the donut holes.
Ground Cinnamon – Three teaspoons give the coating plenty of warm cinnamon flavor without getting lost in the sugar. Mix it really well with the sugar before coating so every donut hole gets an even amount.
How To Make Cinnamon Sugar Donut Holes In The Air Fryer
Make the two-ingredient dough: Add the plain Greek yogurt and self-rising flour to a large mixing bowl. Stir until the ingredients come together into a soft, sticky dough with no large pockets of dry flour remaining. The dough will be tackier than a traditional bread dough, so don’t keep adding flour just because it sticks slightly to your hands.
Preheat the air fryer: Preheat the air fryer to 350F, then lightly coat the bottom of the basket with nonstick cooking spray. Giving the air fryer a few minutes to heat before adding the dough helps the donut holes begin cooking as soon as they go into the basket, so don’t skip this step!
Shape the donut holes: Scoop out about 2 tablespoons of dough at a time and gently roll each portion into a ball. Lightly flour your hands if the dough is hard to handle, but try not to work a lot of extra flour into it or the donut holes or they can become dense.
Arrange in the air fryer: Place the dough balls in the bottom of the air fryer basket in a single layer, leaving a little space between each one. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook them in batches.
Air fry the donut holes: Cook at 350F for 4 minutes, then carefully turn each donut hole over. Continue cooking for another 4 to 5 minutes, or until the outsides are lightly golden and the centers are cooked through.
Prepare the cinnamon sugar coating: While the donut holes are cooking, melt the butter in a small bowl. In a separate shallow bowl, stir together the granulated sugar and cinnamon until the cinnamon is evenly distributed throughout the sugar.
Coat the warm donut holes: Remove the cooked donut holes from the air fryer and, while they’re still warm, roll each one in the melted butter until lightly coated on all sides. Immediately transfer it to the cinnamon sugar mixture and roll until completely covered.
Serve while warm: Place the finished cinnamon sugar donut holes on a baking sheet or piece of parchment paper as you finish coating the batch. Let them sit just long enough for the coating to settle, then enjoy while the centers are still warm and soft!
Expert Tips
Pay attention to the dough instead of the exact mixing time. Greek yogurt brands vary in thickness, so your dough may be slightly stickier or drier. It should be soft and tacky enough to stick slightly to your fingers but still hold its shape when rolled into a ball.
Give the flour time to absorb the yogurt. If the dough looks extremely sticky right after mixing, let it sit for about 5 minutes before reaching for more flour. The flour will continue absorbing moisture as it rests, and the dough often becomes much easier to handle.
Use lightly floured hands instead of adding flour to the bowl. A small amount on your fingertips can make sticky dough much easier to roll without changing its overall texture. Adding too much flour directly to the dough can leave the centers heavier and more biscuit-like.
Keep the donut holes close to the same size. Two tablespoons is a good visual, but a small cookie scoop makes portioning even easier. Similar-sized dough balls will finish cooking at roughly the same time.
Roll the dough gently. You only need enough pressure to create a round ball, so don’t knead or tightly compress each portion between your palms. Overworking the dough can make the dough not rise enough.
Test one donut hole if you’re using this recipe with a new air fryer. Air fryers can cook differently, even when they’re set to the same temperature. Cooking one first gives you a good idea of whether your machine needs a little more or less time before committing the whole batch.
Check the center of the largest donut hole. If you’re unsure whether they’re finished, cut open the biggest one. The center should look soft and bread-like with no shiny or wet dough inside.
Coat them as soon as they’re cool enough to handle. Warm donut holes grab onto the melted butter and cinnamon sugar much better than completely cooled ones.
Shake off excess butter before adding the cinnamon sugar. You want the outside coated, not completely soaked. Letting the extra butter drip off for a second helps the cinnamon sugar form an even coating instead of turning into wet, sugary clumps in the bowl.
Donut Hole Topping Ideas
One of the best parts about making donut holes in the air fryer is changing up the toppings! Cinnamon sugar will always be a classic, but this simple dough gives you plenty of options!
Cinnamon Powdered Sugar – Mix powdered sugar with a little cinnamon for a softer touch. Let the donut holes cool for a few minutes first so the powdered sugar doesn’t completely disappear into the warm dough.
Powdered Sugar – Keep it simple with a generous coating of powdered sugar. Toss them once while slightly warm, then give them another dusting right before serving if needed.
Vanilla Glaze – Mix powdered sugar with a splash of milk and vanilla extract until smooth and drizzleable. Dip the tops or cover the entire donut hole and let the glaze set for a few minutes.
Strawberry Glaze – Add pureed or finely mashed strawberries to powdered sugar for a sweet, fruity glaze. The pink color also makes these really fun for Valentine’s Day.
Cream Cheese Glaze – Beat softened cream cheese with powdered sugar and enough milk to create a smooth glaze. Drizzle it over the top while the donut holes are still slightly warm.
Chocolate Glaze – Whisk cocoa powder, powdered sugar, and milk together until smooth, then dip the tops of each donut hole.
Maple Glaze – Combine powdered sugar, pure maple syrup, and a splash of milk for an easy maple topping. This one is especially good for a fall breakfast or brunch.
Sprinkles – Dip the donut holes in vanilla, chocolate, or strawberry glaze and immediately add sprinkles before the glaze sets. Change the colors for birthdays, holidays, or basically any excuse to make them more fun.
Storage Instructions
These cinnamon sugar donut holes are best served fresh and warm, right after they’ve been coated in cinnamon sugar or your favorite topping. If you do have leftovers, let them cool completely and store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. Reheat them in the air fryer at 300F for 2 to 3 minutes to bring back some of the texture, then add a little fresh cinnamon sugar if needed. I don’t recommend freezing these because the Greek yogurt dough can become dense and a little rubbery after freezing and thawing, and the butter and sugar coating won’t have the same texture either.
FAQ
Can I make these donut holes without an air fryer?
You can bake them in a conventional oven at 350F for about 15 minutes, flipping halfway through. Place the dough balls on a parchment-lined baking sheet with a little space between each one. They won’t develop quite the same outside as the air fryer version, but they’ll still be soft and delicious once coated in butter and cinnamon sugar.
Can I use regular yogurt instead of Greek yogurt?
I recommend sticking with Greek yogurt because it’s much thicker and contains less liquid than regular yogurt. Regular yogurt can make the dough too wet and sticky, which means you’ll need additional flour to make it manageable. That extra flour can leave the donut holes heavier and more bread-like than you want.
Why do my donut holes taste more like biscuits than donuts?
This is actually a common question with two-ingredient dough recipes! Since we’re using Greek yogurt and self-rising flour instead of a traditional sweetened donut dough, the centers will naturally have a more bread-like texture. The melted butter and cinnamon sugar give them that classic donut flavor, but they won’t have the same light, airy texture as a yeast-raised donut.
Why are my donut holes sticking to the air fryer basket?
The Greek yogurt makes this dough naturally sticky, and it can grab onto the basket before the outside has had time to set. Make sure the basket is lightly greased before adding the dough, and avoid flipping the donut holes too early. If they’re resisting when you lift them, give them another 30 to 60 seconds before gently loosening them.
Can I use nonfat Greek yogurt for this recipe?
Yes! Plain nonfat Greek yogurt works with two-ingredient dough, although the finished donut holes may be slightly less tender than those made with a higher-fat yogurt. The most important thing is choosing a thick Greek yogurt without a lot of excess liquid.
Why are my donut holes cooking unevenly?
Air fryers circulate hot air around the food, but the heat isn’t always distributed perfectly, especially in smaller baskets. If some donut holes are browning faster than others, rotate their positions when you flip them halfway through cooking. Avoid overcrowding the basket too, since dough balls that touch won’t get the same airflow around every side.
More Easy Air Fryer Recipes
Print
Air Fryer Cinnamon Sugar Donut Holes
Warm, soft, fresh and delicious Cinnamon Sugar Donut Holes made in the air fryer with two ingredient dough.
Ingredients
1 cup Plain Greek Yogurt
1 cup Self Rising Flour
4 Tablespoons Butter, melted
1/3 cup sugar
3 teaspoons Cinnamon
Instructions
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In a large bowl, mix the Greek yogurt and self rising flour. **If you do not have self rising flour, you can make your own with 1 cup flour, 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder and 1 teaspoon salt.** Mix until you have a sticky dough.
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Preheat air fryer to 350 degrees and spray the bottom with non stick spray.
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Take about 2 Tablespoons of dough and roll into a ball. Place in the bottom of the air fryer. Continue with the remaining dough.
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Bake in the air fryer for 4 minutes and then turn the donuts. Bake for another 4-5 minutes.
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While the donuts are baking, melt the butter in one small dish and then combine the cinnamon and sugar in another small bowl.
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After donuts are baked, remove each donut and roll in the butter to cover then roll in the cinnamon/sugar mixture. Make sure to cover the whole donut.
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Place on a baking sheet or parchment paper. Eat while warm.
Notes
*You can use premade biscuit dough for these too!
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27 Responses
Excited to try these. What temp did you air fry them at?
350 for 7-8 minutes. Hope you like them!
These were absolutely delicious! I’ve just started using an air fryer and I’m very impressed so far! Thankyou for sharing this recipe!
I’m so glad you liked them! I love my air fryer, it does so much!
Hey, Lolo. Martha, Amy’s mom here. If I don’t have an air fryer what temperature in the oven can I use & for how long? These sound fabulous. I don’t cook any more b/c of dining room here. I had hoped to come see you at Amy’s. imarthah@gmail.com
Hi Martha! You can definitely make these in the oven. I would do 350 degrees for about 15 minutes and flip them halfway through baking. Hope you are doing well, so good to hear from you! Laura
Hey, Lolo. Martha, Amy’s mom here. If I don’t have an air fryer what temperature in the oven can I use & for how long? These sound fabulous. I don’t cook any more b/c of dining room here. I had hoped to come see you at Amy’s.
Made these tonight and they were amazing 👏 thank you!!
Yay! So happy you liked them!
Recipe says 8 min, flip, and another 7 min – is that right? Mine were overdone after 7 min at 350 in the air fryer. Maybe slightly smaller but they were size of standard donut holes.
These were delicious! I added a little bit of vanilla just to sweeten em up a little more and they are just heavenly! 5 stars!!
So happy you liked them! Adding vanilla is a great idea, I need to try that next time!
Thank you for including me!
Do you have the calories and protein for these? Thanks!
I don’t, definitely not my expertise.
Thank you for including me!
3 teaspoons (cinnamon) = 1 tablespoon
I don’t have non stick spray
Can I use oil for my air fryer?
I’ve never tried it, but you could probably wipe vegetable oil with a paper towel onto the bottom surface of the air fryer to keep them from sticking.
Mine didn’t turn out like donuts. It more of a biscuit (in texture and thickness), than a donut. I followed the recipe to a tee. Did anyone else experience this before?
So sorry these didn’t turn out like you expected. Maybe try adding a little less flour next time and see if that helps. These are not exactly like a donut texture because the dough is different and they aren’t fried but not usually a biscuit texture.
Thank you for including me!