Quick and Easy Air Fryer Cake Donuts

Enjoy homemade cake donuts in less than 20 minutes in the air fryer! Yep, no yeast, no rising, no fuss.

These cake donuts made from scratch are tender, moist, and flavorful. If you’re a fan of cake donuts and you have an air fryer, you must try this recipe!

Plus you can always change up the flavorings for these donuts by switching up the toppings you use, or create a donut bar and let everyone dress their donuts.

Follow along and cook with me in this YouTube video!

Ingredients and supplies for Air Fryer Cake Donuts:

Ingredients:

• All-purpose flour
• Baking powder
• Salt
• Cinnamon
• Nutmeg
• Large egg (room temperature)
• Brown sugar
• Whole milk (room temperature)
• Plain yogurt (room temperature)
• Unsalted butter
• Vanilla extract

• Unsalted butter (melted)
• Granulated sugar
• Cinnamon

Supplies:

• Air fry
• Mixing bowl
• Donut molds that fit in the air fryer basket (air fryer safe)

More topping choices for this air fryer donut recipe:

1. Powdered sugar
2. Chocolate glaze
3. Sprinkles
4. Mini chocolate chips

How to store air fryer donuts:

If you have any of the perfectly golden brown donuts left over, place the leftover donuts in an airtight container and store them on the counter in room temperature in a cool, dry area.

Why use room temperature ingredients?

It is ideal to have room temperature ingredients for this recipe because it helps the ingredients to mix better and more evenly. Room temperature eggs are less thick and sticky. Using room temperature eggs may also help batter to rise more easily. Another factor is using room temperature ingredients, opposed to cold, may reduce the needed cooking time.

To bring an egg to room temperature quickly, place the egg in a bowl and add warm water. Let the egg sit in the warm water while you gather the rest of the ingredients. It only takes a few minutes of sitting in the warm water to make a difference.

What kind of donut pan should I use?

For this donut recipe, we want the donut cavity to be about 3 inches in diameter and you want the pan or mold to fit in your air fryer. If you have a basket air fryer, like the Cosori 5.8 Qt, a mold for four 3-inch donuts will work.

I bought a silicone donut mold for six 3-inch donuts and cut it to fit. It is also a good idea to cut a vent in the middle of the mold to help air circulate more evenly in the air fryer. Silicone donut molds are super affordable and easy to cut!

Yogurt options:

The ingredients are pretty straight forward and simple. There is the special addition of plain yogurt for some extra tenderness and deliciousness. Plain regular yogurt, plain Greek yogurt, or sour cream all work well in this recipe. You could probably even get away with vanilla yogurt, if you reduce the vanilla extract amount.

How long to cook donuts in the air fryer?

These air fryer cake donuts are done in just 6 minutes! Of course, I recommend using a toothpick test or use an instant read thermometer to be sure. A few moist crumbs on the toothpick is fine, but you don’t want to see batter on it. The internal temperature should be above 160°F.

I like to add an additional 2 minutes of cooking time AFTER I’ve dipped the donuts in butter and the cinnamon sugar mixture. You end up with a delicious, crackly, cinnamon sugar coating!

Cooking time may vary depending on your air fryer and donut pan/mold.

How to Make Air Fryer Cake Donuts

Step 1: Mix ingredients

Step 2: Fill donut molds

Step 3: Air fry donuts

Step 4: Coat donuts

Give these air fryer baked donuts a try. I hope you love them!

Are you interested in keto low-carb donuts? Check out this version of keto air fryer donuts.

Final Thoughts

With only needing simple ingredients, these easy air fryer cake donuts will hit the spot, and are already in no time at all!

Much quicker than driving to Dunkin Donuts, plus you know exactly what is in the donuts too, not to mention budget-friendly!

More snack recipes to enjoy:

• How to Make a Dessert Foldover in the Air Fryer (TikTok Inspired Recipe)
• Air Fryer Hocus Pocus Buns – Easy Halloween Breakfast or Dessert Recipe
• Air Fryer Custard Toast
• Simple and Easy Air Fryer Maple Bars

Air fryer tips and tricks

• Air Fryer 101
• Learn these common Air Fryer Mistakes!
• All about the Best and Worst Air Fryer Accessories
• How to Clean Your Air Fryer
• How to Cook Any Recipe in the Air Fryer
• FREE Download → Air Fryer Tips & Temps
• Air Fryer Buying Guide
• Watch Fabulessly Frugal YouTube Channel for Air Fryer Recipes

Keep up to date on our newest air fryer recipes!

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