Air Fryer Churro Donut Holes are a delightful, bite-sized treat that combines the crispy, cinnamon-sugar goodness of churros with the soft, fluffy texture of donut holes. Making them in the air fryer means you can enjoy these sweet morsels with significantly less oil than traditional frying, while still achieving that perfect golden-brown exterior and tender interior. The air fryer gives them the crispiness you love, without the excess grease!
These churro donut holes are perfect for breakfast, a snack, or a fun dessert. They’re also incredibly easy to make, and the cinnamon-sugar coating is the ultimate finishing touch. You’ll love how quickly they come together—just a few simple ingredients, and you can have warm, delicious churros ready in no time!
Air Fryer Churro Donut Holes Recipe
Ingredients:
For the donut holes:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk (or any milk of your choice)
- 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce (or 1/4 cup butter, melted)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
- Non-stick spray or oil spray for greasing
For the cinnamon sugar coating:
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon melted butter (for brushing the donut holes)
Instructions:
- Prepare the dough:
- In a medium-sized bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt, and granulated sugar. Mix well to combine.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk, applesauce, egg, and vanilla extract. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until a soft dough forms. If the dough feels too sticky, you can add a little more flour, but it should be soft and slightly sticky to the touch.
- Shape the donut holes:
- Lightly flour your hands, then take small portions of the dough and roll them into 1-inch balls. You should get about 12-14 donut holes, depending on the size of the balls. If you find the dough too sticky to handle, you can lightly grease your hands with a bit of oil or flour.
- Preheat the air fryer:
- Preheat the air fryer to 350°F (175°C) for about 3 minutes. This ensures the air fryer is hot and ready to cook the donut holes evenly.
- Air fry the donut holes:
- Lightly coat the air fryer basket or tray with non-stick spray or oil spray. Arrange the dough balls in a single layer, making sure they’re not touching each other. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to work in batches.
- Air fry for 6-8 minutes, or until the donut holes are golden brown and puffed up. Shake the basket halfway through the cooking time to ensure they cook evenly.
- Prepare the cinnamon sugar coating:
- While the donut holes are cooking, prepare the cinnamon-sugar coating by mixing the granulated sugar and cinnamon in a shallow bowl.
- Once the donut holes are done, immediately remove them from the air fryer and place them on a plate.
- Coat the donut holes:
- Brush each donut hole with the melted butter, then roll them in the cinnamon-sugar mixture until they’re fully coated. You can also use a spoon to sprinkle the cinnamon sugar over them if you prefer not to roll them.
- Serve and enjoy:
- Serve the churro donut holes warm with a side of chocolate sauce, caramel, or a dusting of extra cinnamon sugar. Enjoy immediately!
Tips for Perfect Air Fryer Churro Donut Holes:
- Don’t overcrowd the basket: To ensure the donut holes cook evenly and get crispy, make sure to arrange them in a single layer in the air fryer. If you have a small air fryer, you may need to cook them in batches.
- Adjusting sweetness: You can adjust the level of sweetness in the cinnamon-sugar coating by adding more or less sugar, depending on your preference.
- Make them gluten-free: For gluten-free churro donut holes, you can substitute the all-purpose flour with a 1-to-1 gluten-free flour blend. Just make sure the flour blend contains xanthan gum, as this will help with the texture of the dough.
- Don’t skip the butter: Brushing the donut holes with melted butter before coating them in cinnamon sugar ensures that the sugar sticks and gives the churros a rich, buttery flavor. If you want a dairy-free version, you can use melted coconut oil instead.
- Add a twist: You can get creative by adding vanilla extract or nutmeg to the cinnamon sugar for added flavor, or even drizzle some chocolate sauce on top of the churro donut holes for extra indulgence.
