Cinnamon Balls that are sweet and flaky made with biscuit dough are the perfect comfort food and a sweet treat. For breakfast or for desserts, these air fryer cinnamon balls only require a few ingredients and cook for only 5 minutes. Warm or cold, for breakfast or dessert, in one bite you can enjoy the flaky dough and sweet cinnamon crust.

Cinnamon Balls a simple start Air Fryer baking
These cinnamon balls are not only fun and delicious but easy to make. From the first day I started baking with my air fryer, I fell in love and I knew this will be a fun journey. To this day, experimenting with new recipes for cooking or especially for baking is my obsession. Baking in the air fryer is different than a regular oven. Here are a few things I had to experience and adapt throughout the recipes. If you haven’t experience baking I suggest you pay attention to a few changes you may have to make.
Adjust the temperature & Cooking time
- You will need to adjust the temperature from your oven bake recipes. I have read to lower my temp by 20 degrees and you will be fine. I would say attention here, from my experience it is true and not. It is a good guideline, but because every air fryer is different, the temperature will be different. For example, I have both a basket air fryer and an oven-looking air fryer. They both have different temperatures for the same type of food.
- You will need to adjust the cooking time. The rule of thumb is to reduce cooking time by 25%. Again this is only a guideline. You will get to know your air fryer and if it is cooking faster or slower than others. Until you know, check your food often.
bakeware
- Bakeware that fits. Finding the right bakeware that fits is so important. Make sure you measure the inside of your basket, do you have round corners. When I was looking for a pan to fit my air fryer basket I was measuring the inside basket in the middle, not taking into consideration that my basket has round corners. So I had to go with a 6-inch pan and not a 7-inch.
important air fryer notes
- How an air fryer works, is it blows hot air around and your food will get heat from everywhere. But one thing to keep in mind, light food will lift up with the blow of air. Cheese on hamburgers, bread on top of grilled cheese, bacon pieces on a pizza, parchment paper if not enough weight on it. So please remember this and DO NOT PREHEAT YOUR AIR FRYER WITH PARCHMENT IN IT.
- Last but not least, when baking in the air fryer, I have noticed the middle of my cupcake or cake will rise more than when baking in the oven. Don’t panic, nothing a good frosting can’t fix. If it is rising too much, try decreasing your temperature so the batter won’t be moved around too much
What do we need to make biscuit cinnamon balls
- 1 can of Pillsbury flaky biscuit dough
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
Directions:
- In a shallow bowl, mix your sugars and cinnamon together. Set aside
- Open the can of biscuit dough and separate it into 8 pieces.
- Then place for back in the fridge. I live in the south so my kitchen gets really hot. I prefer to keep the dough cool, so it will be flakier.
- Cut each biscuit into quarters and roll them into balls. Great activity if the kids want to help.
- Place them in the air fryer making sure they have some room around. Remember they will puff up. So make sure none of them are touching
- Cook for 5 minutes in the air fryer at 350 degrees F or until golden brown.
- Let them cool for 2 minutes while you melt the butter.
- Once the butter is melted, add the vanilla extract.
- gently and carefully, the butter is hot, you may need to use a fork, coat each cook ball in butter
- Then roll each one, individually in the cinnamon mixture.
- Cook the remaining dough. You may need to make 2 or 3 batches.
- Serve and Enjoy!
Baker’s notes
Skills
I have a Cosori 5.8 QT so I can fit 8 balls easily per batch. Repeat the steps until you have baked all the balls. For flakier balls, keep your dough in the fridge until ready to use.
Need more baking recipes?
simple and easy Air Fryer Roasted Cashews
easy Air Fryer Mini Cinnamon rolls
Air Fryer Funfetti Cake
Easy Air Fryer Cinnamon Biscuit Balls
Ingredients
- 1 can refrigerated flaky biscuit dough
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons melted butter we use salted but you can use unsalted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
Instructions
- In a shallow bowl, mix your sugars and cinnamon together. Set aside
- Open the can of biscuit dough and separate it into 8 pieces.
- Then place for back in the fridge. I live in the south so my kitchen gets really hot. I prefer to keep the dough cool, so it will be flakier.
- Cut each biscuit into quarters and roll them into balls. Great activity if the kids want to help.
- Place the balls in the air fryer making sure they have some room around. you may need to make 2 or 3 batches. Remember they will puff up. So make sure none of them are touching
- Cook for 5 minutes in the air fryer at 350 degrees F or until golden brown.
- Melt the butter and add the vanilla extract, optional. Mix well
- Let them cool for 2 minutes then roll them in the melted butter.
- Coat in the cinnamon mixture. I just roll them in the bowl. Cook the remaining dough. You may need to make 2 or 3 batches.
- Serve and Enjoy!
I have an air fryer that only has 3 racks, can I still make these?
Absolutely, you may need to adjust the time as all air fryer have different settings
Do you have to have a special dish for baking. Can you just put it in fryer basket?b
I have a basket-type air fryer. I have done it directly in the basket and also I have done it with parchment paper in the bottom. Be careful if you use parchment paper, always make sure you have the weight to hold it down. Don’t preheat your air fryer with it in by itself
I just made these with Pillsbury Flaky Layers Biscuits which came 10 in a tube. So I made a bit more sugar cinnamon mixture and a bit more butter. That are so good! Watch them because the first batch took 15 minutes but the others a lot less time.
I am so glad you like them. They are addictive for sure.
I’ve been using my air fryer for a little while now, and have fallen in love with it! But now… now that I’ve tried this recipe, not only do I love the air fryer… I’m obsessed! Haha! This recipe is so easy and turns out amazing! Thank you!
Air Fryer has been a game-changer for us. Glad you liked the recipe.
Oh my gosh! I can’t wait to try these!!! Growing up, my mom would make donuts with canned biscuits, but there were fried in lots of grease! They are a childhood favorite that I miss, because I try to cut back on food fried in grease. So this just made my day!!! I am so excited to try these! Thank you for the amazing recipe!
They are delicious! Let us know when you try them what you think.
Ok these are my new favorite afternoon snack! They were sooooo delicious and super easy to make which I appreciated. PLUS, it gave me an excuse to use my air fryer more which I am having fun with. Can’t wait to check out all your other air fryer recipes because this was a WIN!
Awesome! I am so excited you enjoyed them. Let us know when you make the other air fryer recipes what you think.
Why is there vanillla extract listed in the ingredients but not used in the recipe?
Thank you for pointing it out. It has been corrected. We add the vanilla into the melted butter.
Great idea! I will have to try it. Thanks for sharing.
Such an easy recipe and my kiddos LOVED it! We will definitely be making it again!
Just tried this and it is great! I have a 26 qt air fryer and was able to cook all 32 in 4 minutes. I did run out of butter and coating so I will double that next time.