Air Fryer Cinnamon Twists: 1 amazing treat

If you need a sweet fix—and I mean *fast*—stop what you’re doing. Forget complicated pastries and hours waiting for yeast to rise. Trust me, these Air Fryer Cinnamon Twists are my new secret weapon for those sudden dessert emergencies. They are unbelievably flaky, buttery, and packed with cinnamon spice, all thanks to using my trusty air fryer.

Twisting the dough with my kids was half the fun when I tested this recipe out last week, and honestly, every single one came out looking a little different, which just made them charming! Watching them puff up and turn golden brown in that little basket felt like a tiny bit of kitchen magic. You won’t believe how quickly we went from zero to warm, gooey treat!

Close-up of a stack of golden Air Fryer Cinnamon Twists heavily coated in sparkling cinnamon sugar on a white plate.

Why You Will Love These Air Fryer Cinnamon Twists

Honestly, these twists tick every single box when you need something sweet right now. They feel fancy but they are ridiculously simple to pull together. You get that perfect flaky texture without any fuss.

  • They are ready from start to finish in under 15 minutes—seriously!
  • The cleanup is practically zero, which is a huge bonus for any quick dessert.
  • They achieve that shatteringly crisp exterior you want in a pastry.

Quick Preparation Time for Air Fryer Cinnamon Twists

The prep time is just five minutes, tops! That makes these Air Fryer Cinnamon Twists the ultimate cure for a sudden afternoon sugar craving. You really can have a warm, buttery treat right when you want one, no waiting around required.

Few Ingredients Make These Easy Treats

This recipe shines because it’s built on pantry staples. You don’t need to run to the store for specialty flours or strange extracts. These delightful Easy Treats come together using pre-made dough, which is my definition of a perfect weeknight helper.

Essential Equipment for Perfect Air Fryer Cinnamon Twists

You don’t need a stand mixer or complicated baking pans for these, which I love! The key to getting these Air Fryer Cinnamon Twists perfect is having the right machine ready to go. Luckily, the list of required equipment is super short, so you probably already have everything you need hanging around your kitchen!

For inspiration on other fun things you can make once you nail this recipe, I always check out the newest air fryer dessert recipes when I need a new idea. They are a total game-changer for quick snacks.

Choosing the Right Air Fryer Size

Because we are cooking these in batches—we don’t want to steam them—make sure your twists have some space to breathe in the basket. If you cram too many in, they won’t get that beautiful, crisp edge we are aiming for. A little room around the edges is crucial!

Gathering Ingredients for Air Fryer Cinnamon Twists

Okay, ingredient list time! This is what makes these Air Fryer Cinnamon Twists so appealing—it’s just four simple things. You absolutely need one full sheet of pizza dough, but please make sure it’s the refrigerated kind, not the crust from a frozen pizza. We also need butter, and it *must* be melted so it brushes on smoothly. Then, grab your sugar and cinnamon for the coating.

For a great look at how other people use prepared dough, I saw a fun one for making homemade doughnuts in the air fryer; you can peek at that idea here: air fryer doughnuts. Just remember for our twists, the butter needs to be fully liquid!

Here’s the cheat sheet so you don’t forget anything:

  • One sheet of reliable pizza dough
  • About 40 grams of melted butter
  • 80 grams of granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon

Step-by-Step Instructions for Air Fryer Cinnamon Twists

This is where the magic happens, folks! Seriously, you can have these ready to eat faster than you can boil water. Remember, because we are using the air fryer, we don’t have to wait for a huge oven to heat up. If you are looking for other quick air fryer dough ideas, I sometimes look at what others are doing, like these air fryer cinnamon rolls for inspiration, but our twisting method is way faster!

Preparing and Twisting the Dough

First things first, lay out that pizza dough on a clean surface. Grab a sharp knife or a pizza cutter and slice it straight into strips. Try to make the strips about the same width—this is how we make sure all our Air Fryer Cinnamon Twists cook evenly and get that perfect golden color!

The Air Frying Process for Fluffy Air Fryer Cinnamon Twists

Once twisted, brush all sides of your dough pieces with that melted butter—make sure they are nicely coated! Lay them into your air fryer basket in a single layer; do not overlap them! Cook these beauties at 180°C for just 6 to 8 short minutes. Pulling them out promptly is key to getting fluffy Air Fryer Cinnamon Twists that aren’t tough.

Finishing Touches for Sweet Air Fryer Cinnamon Twists

While those are cooking, quickly combine your sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. The minute they come out of the air fryer and are still piping hot, drop them right into that cinnamon sugar mix. Toss them gently but quickly until every surface of the Air Fryer Cinnamon Twists is coated in sweetness. Serve them immediately while they are warm!

A close-up of several golden brown Air Fryer Cinnamon Twists heavily coated in sparkling cinnamon sugar on a white plate.

Tips for Perfect Air Fryer Cinnamon Twists Every Time

I’ve made these twists so many times trying to get them just right, and I picked up a few little tricks along the way when troubleshooting my batches. A lot of success comes down to the dough you start with and how you handle the butter application. Little details like these truly elevate something simple!

If you’re curious about general baking wisdom that applies everywhere—not just to these twists—I always refer back to expert advice, like the deep dive on baking texture over at secrets to perfect scones. It really helps you understand *why* things work.

Dough Selection for Homemade Desserts

When you are in a pinch, grab that can of refrigerated pizza dough! It truly makes these some of the best Easy Dessert Ideas because it’s already layered with fats that puff up nicely. If you tried making the dough from scratch, that’s great, but it adds a lot of time to what is supposed to be a quick snack. Stick to the pre-made stuff for this recipe!

Making Air Fryer Cinnamon Twists for a Crowd

These are so popular that just making one batch never seems like enough, especially when friends drop by! If you need to scale up your Air Fryer Cinnamon Twists for Easy Desserts For A Crowd, you absolutely have to work in shifts. Air fryers can only hold so much before they start steaming instead of crisping.

Cook the first batch, toss it in the sugar mixture and keep it warm in a low oven—maybe 150°F—while the next layer cooks. You’ll need a system, but because the cooking time is so short, you can cycle through them pretty quickly and have everyone happy with fresh, hot twists in under 20 minutes!

Storage and Reheating Air Fryer Cinnamon Twists

If, by some miracle, you have any leftovers of these tasty treats, don’t just toss them in a plastic bag! That will make sure they get chewy and sad.

Store any remaining twists in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days. When you want one again, the best way to revive that wonderful crispness is to pop them back into the air fryer for just 2 minutes at 350 degrees. It brings them right back to life!

Frequently Asked Questions About Air Fryer Cinnamon Twists

I get so many questions whenever I post these amazing twists! It’s great that so many people are trying this recipe out. If you have other questions about general dessert strategies, I always point folks over to my full list of desserts for more ideas.

Can I use biscuit dough instead of pizza dough for Air Fryer Cinnamon Twists?

Oh, yes, you absolutely can! Biscuit dough is a fantastic shortcut. The main difference you’ll notice is texture. Pizza dough gives you that slightly chewier, stretched-out result, but biscuit dough will puff up a little thicker since it’s already leavened. Either way, they turn out great, and it keeps them categorized as Easy Dessert Ideas!

Are these considered Simple Desserts?

They are the definition of Simple Desserts! We are talking four ingredients and about 12 minutes total time. If a recipe can be made faster than ordering takeout, you know it’s simple. These Air Fryer Cinnamon Twists are perfect for when you need just a little something sweet with zero fuss or cleanup.

What is the best way to glaze these twists instead of using sugar?

If you’re craving a glaze instead of the cinnamon sugar toss, it’s so easy to make a quick one! Just whisk together about half a cup of powdered sugar with just a tiny splash of milk—maybe a teaspoon at a time—and a tiny dash of vanilla extract. You want it runny enough to drizzle but thick enough not to disappear immediately. Drizzle that over the warm twists!

Nutritional Estimates for These Homemade Desserts

Since these delicious Homemade Desserts rely heavily on what brand of pizza dough you grab and how much cinnamon sugar sticks, these numbers are just ballpark estimates, okay? Don’t take them as gospel, but it gives you a general idea!

For one serving (about 1/4 of the batch), you’re looking at roughly:

  • Calories: 250-280
  • Fat: 12g
  • Protein: 6g
  • Carbohydrates: 30g

A stack of golden brown Air Fryer Cinnamon Twists heavily coated in cinnamon sugar resting on a white plate.

Just remember, for the official word on nutrition for anything you make, you should always check my full nutritional disclaimer page. Enjoy them guilt-free!

A close-up of several golden, twisted pastries heavily coated in cinnamon sugar, known as Air Fryer Cinnamon Twists.

Air Fryer Cinnamon Twists

This recipe makes flaky, cinnamon-sweet pastries using minimal effort. Twisting the dough with your kids is part of the fun. Watching them puff up in the air fryer creates a simple kitchen moment.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 7 minutes
Total Time 12 minutes
Course Dessert, Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings

Equipment

  • Air Fryer
  • Pastry brush

Ingredients
  

  • 1 sheet Pizza dough
  • 40 g Melted butter
  • 80 g Sugar
  • 2 tsp Cinnamon

Instructions
 

  • Cut the pizza dough into strips.
  • Twist each dough strip.
  • Brush the twisted dough with melted butter.
  • Air fry at 180°C for 6 to 8 minutes.
  • Toss the cooked twists with the mixture of sugar and cinnamon.

Notes

By Hanna Foster, Adaptation Specialist at Recipes by Betty.
Keyword Air Fryer Cinnamon Twists, Baking Ideas, Easy Dessert Ideas, Easy Desserts For A Crowd, Easy Desserts With Few Ingredients, Easy Treats, Homemade Desserts, Simple Desserts

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