Air Fryer Donuts with Puff Pastry, Cinnamon Sugar or Glaze

Air Fryer Donuts

Air fryer donuts need space to puff. If the dough is crowded in the basket, the layers steam instead of lifting and browning, so the single-layer setup matters more than a long cook time.

These Air Fryer Donuts use store-bought puff pastry for a quick, flaky shortcut. Cook them at 350°F (175°C) for about 6 to 9 minutes per batch, then brush with honey-butter and finish with cinnamon-sugar or a simple glaze while they are still warm.

Ingredients for Air Fryer Donuts

• 1 sheet ready-made puff pastry dough, about 8 to 10 ounces (250g): Keep it cool while cutting so the layers puff instead of softening.
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted (28g): Brushed on after air frying to add richness and help the coating stick.
• 1 tablespoon honey (21g): Stir into the melted butter for a light honey-butter finish.
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar (100g): Used to coat the warm donuts.
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon: Mix with the sugar for the cinnamon-sugar coating.
• Neutral oil spray, light mist as needed: Use only if the dough looks pale after flipping. Too much oil can weigh down the pastry layers or create smoke.

Optional Glaze Finishes

• Quick vanilla glaze: Stir together 1 cup powdered sugar, 1 to 2 tablespoons milk, and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. Dip the warm donuts instead of tossing them in cinnamon-sugar.
• Chocolate glaze: Use melted chocolate chips with a small splash of oil. Let the donuts cool slightly before dipping the tops.
• Sprinkles: Add them right after glazing so they stick before the glaze sets.

Puff Pastry Donuts in the Air Fryer

Puff pastry makes a flaky, layered donut with a texture closer to a shortcut cronut than a deep-fried yeast donut. It browns quickly in the air fryer, but it needs open space around each piece so the layers can lift.

If you use another ready-made laminated or enriched dough, the timing may change. Thicker dough may need closer to 8 to 11 minutes, while thinner dough can cook faster. Use the visual cues first: the donuts should be puffed, deep golden on both sides, crisp at the edges, and set in the center.

If you find a honey-butter flavored ready-made dough, you can use it here. Otherwise, the honey-butter brush gives the same general flavor without needing a specialty dough. For a different style, try these Air Fryer Homemade Donuts.

Air Fryer Time and Temperature for Donuts

Set the air fryer to 350°F (175°C). Preheating for about 3 minutes is optional, but it helps puff pastry start lifting and browning right away.

• Full-size donuts: Air fry for about 6 to 9 minutes total, flipping halfway.
• Donut holes: Air fry for about 3 to 5 minutes, shaking once.
• Spacing: Leave at least 1 inch between pieces and cook in batches if needed.
• Doneness cues: Look for puffed dough, deep golden tops and bottoms, crisp flaky edges, and centers that feel set instead of doughy.

Basket air fryers often brown a little faster than oven-style models. If you use an air fryer oven, rotate the tray if one side is browning more quickly. Start checking at the early end of the time range since air fryer models vary.

How to Make Air Fryer Donuts

1. Preheat and mix the coatings: Preheat the air fryer to 350°F (175°C) for 3 minutes if your model benefits from preheating. In a shallow bowl, stir together the granulated sugar and cinnamon. In a separate small bowl, mix the melted butter with the honey until smooth.
2. Cut the donut shapes: Unfold the puff pastry on a lightly floured surface. Use a 3-inch round cutter to cut circles, then cut a 1-inch hole from the center of each one. Cut straight down for cleaner pastry edges, and keep the dough as cool as possible while you work.
3. Arrange in the air fryer: Line the basket with perforated parchment if using. Add the donuts in a single layer with at least 1 inch of space between pieces. Add the donut holes only if there is still room for air to circulate.
4. Air fry the first side: Cook at 350°F (175°C) for 3 to 4 minutes, until the donuts start to puff and the tops look lightly golden.
5. Flip and finish: Flip each donut with tongs. If the pale side needs help browning, add a very light mist of neutral oil spray. Continue air frying for 2 to 5 minutes more, until the donuts are deep golden on both sides and the centers are no longer doughy.
6. Coat while warm: Transfer the donuts to a wire rack for 1 minute. Brush lightly with honey-butter, then toss in cinnamon-sugar or dip the tops in glaze. Use a light hand with the butter so the flaky layers stay crisp.
7. Cook the donut holes: Air fry the holes in a single layer at 350°F (175°C) for 3 to 5 minutes, shaking once. They brown faster than the full-size donuts, so check early.
8. Repeat batches: Continue with the remaining dough, keeping the same spacing for each batch. Serve warm for the crispest texture.

How to Get Better Puff and Browning

The two biggest details are cool dough and open space. Warm puff pastry softens before it has a chance to lift, and a crowded basket traps steam around the dough. Both can make the donuts flatter and softer.

Perforated parchment can help prevent sticking without blocking too much airflow. Avoid solid liners that cover the basket, and do not brush the dough with honey-butter before cooking. The butter mixture works better after air frying because it adds flavor without weighing down the pastry during the puffing stage.

Fixing Common Air Fryer Donut Problems

Why Are My Air Fryer Donuts Flat?

Flat donuts usually come from warm dough, crowded spacing, or an air fryer that was not hot enough at the start. Keep the dough cool, preheat for a few minutes, and leave space around each piece so hot air can reach the sides.

Why Are the Tops Pale?

Pale tops are common in some air fryers, especially oven-style models. Flip the donuts halfway through, rotate the tray if needed, and add 1 to 2 more minutes if the centers still need time. A very light mist of oil can help with color, but do not soak the dough.

Why Did the Sugar Burn?

Apply cinnamon-sugar after air frying, not before. Sugar can burn quickly in the hot circulating air, especially on the smaller donut holes. Brush the cooked donuts with honey-butter first, then coat them while they are still warm.

How to Serve Air Fryer Donuts

Serve these donuts warm, shortly after coating. The cinnamon-sugar version has a crisp, sandy finish, while the glaze gives a softer bakery-style coating.

They work well for breakfast, dessert, or a quick snack with coffee or hot chocolate. If you like small-batch air fryer baking, these Air Fryer Banana Muffins are another good breakfast option.

How to Store and Reheat Air Fryer Donuts

Air Fryer Donuts are best the day they are made. Store leftovers at room temperature for up to 1 day, loosely covered. Avoid sealing warm donuts in an airtight container because trapped steam will soften the flaky edges.

To reheat, place the donuts in the air fryer at 300°F (150°C) for 2 to 3 minutes, just until warmed and lightly crisped. They will not be as crisp as freshly cooked, but a light brush of honey-butter after reheating can help if they seem dry.

You can make the cinnamon-sugar or glaze ahead, but apply the coating after the donuts are cooked and warm.

Nutrition

Nutrition is approximate and calculated for 8 servings, using the puff pastry, honey-butter, and cinnamon-sugar coating. Actual values will vary depending on the dough brand and how much sugar coating sticks to the donuts.

• Serving size: About 1 donut with some donut holes
• Calories: 255
• Protein: 2g
• Fat: 15g
• Carbohydrates: 29g
• Approximate values per 100g: 510 calories, 3g protein, 30g fat, 57g carbohydrates