Air Fryer Chocolate Donut Mug Cakes — effortless recipe

There’s something inherently joyful about donuts that even the most sophisticated pastries can’t match. Maybe it’s their association with weekend mornings or special treats, but donuts just have a way of bringing smiles to faces. The only downside? Traditional donuts require deep frying, which means hot oil, special equipment, and a significant mess to clean up.

That’s where this recipe came into my life like a kitchen miracle. These air fryer chocolate donut mug cakes deliver all the happiness of donuts with a fraction of the effort—and they start with cake mix, making them about as foolproof as baking gets.

My mom always said, “The best recipes are the ones that make you look like you worked harder than you did.” These donut mug cakes embody that philosophy perfectly.

Why You’ll Love These Air Fryer Chocolate Donut Mug Cakes

• No deep frying needed (healthier and far less messy!)
• Ready in just 8 minutes from mix to finished donut
• Perfect cake-like donut texture with that characteristic crisp exterior
• Way fewer calories than traditional fried donuts
• Customizable with endless glaze options and toppings

I stumbled upon this technique during a Saturday morning when my kids were begging for donuts, but the thought of driving to the bakery in my pajamas was less than appealing. With a box of cake mix, some silicone donut molds, and my trusty air fryer, I created a new family tradition that’s now requested almost every weekend.

Let’s Gather Our Ingredients Air Fryer Chocolate Donut Mug Cakes

For the Donut Mug Cakes:

• 1½ cups chocolate cake mix (about ½ of a 15.25 oz box)
• 1 large egg
• ¼ cup vegetable oil
• ¼ cup water
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Simple Glaze:

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons milk
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• Food coloring (optional)
• Sprinkles, mini chocolate chips, or other toppings (optional)

Let’s Create Some Donut Magic

1. Prepare your donut molds. Lightly spray silicone donut molds with non-stick cooking spray. Make sure your molds fit in your air fryer basket! If you don’t have donut molds, I’ll share an adaptation using regular silicone muffin cups below.
2. Preheat your air fryer to 320°F (160°C). Most air fryers preheat quickly, but give it about 3 minutes to ensure even cooking.
3. Mix your batter. In a medium bowl, combine the cake mix, egg, oil, water, and vanilla. Whisk until smooth and no lumps remain. The batter will be thicker than regular cake batter—this helps create that perfect donut texture.
4. Fill your molds. Carefully spoon or pipe the batter into the donut molds, filling each about ⅔ full. Don’t overfill, as the batter will rise during cooking. You should get about 6 donuts depending on the size of your molds.
5. Air fry to perfection. Place the filled molds in your air fryer basket and cook for 6-8 minutes. The donuts are done when they spring back when lightly touched and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
6. Cool slightly. Allow the donuts to cool in the molds for 5 minutes, then carefully remove them to a wire rack to cool completely.
7. Make the glaze. While the donuts cool, whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth. Add more milk, a few drops at a time, if the glaze is too thick. If you want colored glaze, add a drop or two of food coloring.
8. Glaze and decorate. Once the donuts are completely cool, dip the tops into the glaze, allowing excess to drip off. Immediately add sprinkles or other toppings before the glaze sets.
9. Enjoy immediately or allow the glaze to set for about 30 minutes.

No Donut Mold? No Problem!

If you don’t have silicone donut molds, you can still make these treats:

Muffin Cup Method: Fill silicone muffin cups ⅓ full. Place a small ball of foil in the center of each to create the donut hole. Bake as directed, removing the foil ball immediately after cooking.

Donut Holes: Simply fill mini muffin cups ⅔ full and bake for 4-5 minutes for bite-sized donut treats!

Stuffani’s Tips For Air Fryer Chocolate Donut Mug Cakes Success

The right molds matter: Silicone molds work best in the air fryer as they can withstand the heat while remaining flexible for easy donut removal.

Don’t skip the cooking spray: Even with silicone molds, a light coating of cooking spray ensures your donuts release perfectly.

Watch them closely: Air fryers can vary in how quickly they cook. Check your first batch at 5 minutes to avoid overcooking.

Glaze when cool: Make sure your donuts are completely cool before glazing, otherwise the glaze will melt and slide right off.

Double-dip option: For a thicker glaze coating, let the first layer set for about 10 minutes, then dip again for a bakery-style finish.

Make ahead tip: The unglazed donuts freeze beautifully for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature and add fresh glaze before serving.

Fun Glaze and Topping Variations

Classic Chocolate Glaze

Mix ¾ cup powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons cocoa powder, 2 tablespoons milk, and ½ teaspoon vanilla extract.

Maple Glaze

Replace the vanilla in the basic glaze with ½ teaspoon maple extract and add 1 tablespoon maple syrup.

Strawberry Glaze

Add 1 tablespoon strawberry jam to the basic glaze and a drop of pink food coloring if desired.

Lemon Glaze

Replace milk with fresh lemon juice and add 1 teaspoon lemon zest to the basic glaze recipe.

Coffee Glaze

Replace milk with strong brewed coffee in the basic glaze for a mocha experience.

The Science Behind Air Fryer “Frying”

Traditional donuts get their distinctive texture from being fried in hot oil, which creates that crisp exterior while keeping the inside tender. The air fryer mimics this effect by circulating very hot air around the food at high speed.

For our donut mug cakes, this means we get a similar texture contrast—slightly crisp outside, tender cake inside—without submerging them in oil. The result is a treat that satisfies the donut craving with fewer calories and much less mess.

Plus, the cake mix base gives these treats a perfect tender crumb that actually stays fresh longer than traditional donuts, which often become stale by the next day.

A Final Thought On Reinventing Classics

Cooking doesn’t need to be fancy—it just needs heart. And sometimes, it needs to evolve to fit our modern kitchens and busy lives.

These air fryer donut mug cakes are my reminder that sometimes the best recipes aren’t exact replicas of classics, but clever adaptations that capture the joy of the original in a new, more accessible way. The first time my kids decorated these donuts, their delight was just as genuine as if we’d made traditional fried versions—but I got to enjoy the moment instead of worrying about hot oil and extensive cleanup.

If you try these donut mug cakes, I’d love to hear which glaze and topping combinations became your family’s favorites. Did they replace regular donuts in your household too? Those kitchen victories are worth celebrating!

With warmth, Stuffani

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Did you make this recipe? Tag @StuffaniBorjat on Facebook and use #DailyEasyMeals so I can see your creation!

Have questions? Drop them in the comments below and I’ll help troubleshoot.

Looking for more air fryer desserts? Check out my Chocolate Cake Mix Air Fryer Recipes for more quick treats, or try my Chocolate Cake Mix Waffles for another breakfast-inspired dessert.Or check out my Air Fryer Chocolate Lava Cakes . Browse our complete collection of Chocolate Cake Recipes for even more inspiration!

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