These are cake donuts leavened with baking powder, so there is no proofing and the dough goes straight to the fryer. Fry at 350F and roll them in cinnamon sugar while still hot so the coating sticks in an even crust.
By Vince Gonzalez · Published July 2026 · Sourcing verified 5 Jul 2026
Prep25 min
Cook12 min
Makes12 donuts
CuisineAmerican
Cost$
Vegetarian
Contains dairy · eggs · gluten
Make it vegan: use plant milk, oil, or a vegan cheese for the dairy, and a flax or aquafaba egg for the egg.
Make it gluten-free: swap in a gluten-free flour blend (check the other labels too).
The Ingredients — and where to get them
Cook for12donuts
Flour
Builds the cake donut; do not overwork or they turn tough.
Can you make Cinnamon Sugar Donuts in an air fryer? — Yes
Yes — this is exactly what an air fryer does well. Work in a single layer so the air can move, and shake or flip halfway for even crisping. It runs a touch faster than the oven, so check early.
Can you freeze Cinnamon Sugar Donuts? — Not ideal
You can, but the crisp coating softens. Freeze the cooked pieces, then re-crisp them in a hot oven or air fryer — never the microwave.
Can you make Cinnamon Sugar Donuts ahead of time? — Yes
Yes — it needs the chill time to set, so making it ahead is the whole point.
Is Cinnamon Sugar Donuts gluten-free? — Not as written
Not as written — it contains gluten. Make it gluten-free: swap in a gluten-free flour blend (check the other labels too).
Is Cinnamon Sugar Donuts vegan? — Vegetarian, not vegan
It’s vegetarian but not vegan as written — it has dairy and egg. Make it vegan: use plant milk, oil, or a vegan cheese for the dairy, and a flax or aquafaba egg for the egg.
Community Notes
Cooked it? Changed something that worked? Leave a note for the next person — first-name basis, no account.
Open data. Every maker on this site is published as a free dataset under CC BY 4.0 — use it in anything, commercial or not, as long as you credit 5best2buy. Browse the datasets →