Air Fryer Funfetti Cake Mix Donuts

Air Fryer Funfetti Cake Mix Donuts turn one box of cake mix into a batch of soft, sprinkle-studded donuts in minutes. Drizzle on a quick vanilla glaze, shower them with extra sprinkles, and you have a breakfast or dessert treat that disappears fast, young or old.

My kids love a batch of homemade (okay, semi-homemade) donuts that taste like baked-from-scratch but come together in the time it takes the air fryer to preheat. These start with a box of Funfetti mix, so there’s almost nothing to measure, and the air fryer does the rest.

If you’re after more easy air fryer donut recipes, a few favorites are Air Fryer Raspberry Lemon Donuts, my Air Fryer Sour Cream Donuts, and my kids’ all-time pick, Air Fryer Fruity Pebbles Donuts.

Why You’ll Love These Funfetti Cake Mix Donuts

• Almost no measuring. A boxed Funfetti mix means you skip the flour, sugar, and leavening — just add the wet ingredients and go.
• Fast. From bowl to glaze in well under 30 minutes, with no waiting for dough to proof.
• No deep frying. No pot of hot oil to babysit or dispose of, and cleanup is just the donut pan and a bowl.
• Lighter than fried. Air frying uses a fraction of the oil of traditional donuts.
• Kid-friendly to make. Piping the batter and adding sprinkles is a fun job for little hands.

Ingredients

The full ingredient list with measurements and the step-by-step directions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post, along with the nutrition information.

• Funfetti cake mix — the boxed mix is the whole base; the built-in sprinkles are what make these “Funfetti.”
• Eggs — bind the batter and give the donuts structure so they’re tender, not crumbly.
• Vegetable oil — keeps the donuts moist with a soft crumb.
• Water — adds the moisture the mix needs; follow the box ratio for best results.
• Butter — melted into the glaze for richness.
• Powdered sugar — the base of the glaze; it dissolves smooth for an easy drizzle.
• Milk — thins the glaze to a dip-or-drizzle consistency.
• Vanilla extract — a splash rounds out the glaze (optional but recommended).
• Rainbow sprinkles — for finishing on top of the wet glaze.

How to Make Air Fryer Funfetti Cake Mix Donuts

Make the batter. In a large bowl, whisk the Funfetti cake mix, eggs, vegetable oil, and water until smooth with no dry lumps. Don’t overmix — a few small lumps are fine.

Fill the pan. Lightly grease a silicone or metal donut pan that fits your air fryer and fill each cavity about two-thirds full. No donut pan? Snip the corner off a zip-top bag and pipe rings of batter onto parchment cut to fit your basket.

Air fry. Place the pan in the air fryer and cook at 320°F for 6–8 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into a donut comes out clean. Air fryers vary, so start checking at 6 minutes.

Cool. Let the donuts sit in the pan a few minutes, then move them to a wire rack to cool completely before glazing.

Make the glaze. Whisk the melted butter, powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth. Add a little more milk to thin or more powdered sugar to thicken.

Glaze and decorate. Dip the top of each cooled donut into the glaze (or spoon it over), then add rainbow sprinkles while the glaze is still wet.

Serve. Let the glaze set for a few minutes, then enjoy.

Pro Tips

• Follow the box’s wet-ingredient ratio. Boxed mixes are formulated for a specific number of eggs and amount of liquid. Using too few eggs gives flat, dense donuts.
• Don’t overmix. Mix just until combined to keep the crumb tender.
• Pipe for even donuts. A piping bag or snipped zip-top bag gives you neat, uniform rings.
• Don’t overcrowd. Leave space around each donut so air circulates and they cook evenly.
• Cool before glazing. Warm donuts make the glaze run right off.
• Swap the mix to change the flavor. Strawberry, chocolate, or lemon mixes all work — keep the sprinkles for the Funfetti look.

Storage

These are best fresh, but leftovers keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. For longer storage, freeze unglazed donuts for up to a month and glaze after thawing. A quick 1–2 minutes in the air fryer refreshes the texture.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a different cake mix? Yes. Any flavor works — vanilla, chocolate, lemon, strawberry, or red velvet. Funfetti just gives you the signature sprinkles baked right in.

Do I need a donut pan? It helps you get the classic ring shape, but you can pipe batter into rings on parchment cut to fit your basket instead. A flexible silicone donut pan fits most air fryers and is easy to release.

How long do they take to cook? About 6–8 minutes at 320°F, depending on your air fryer and donut size. Check at the 6-minute mark.

How do I keep them from sticking? Lightly grease the donut pan or parchment with cooking spray. Silicone molds release with very little sticking.

Can I make them ahead? Bake and freeze the donuts unglazed for up to a month, then thaw and glaze the day you serve them.

Can I double the recipe? Yes — just cook in batches so you don’t overcrowd the basket.

Best Donut Pans for the Air Fryer

This depends on your air fryer model. (Affiliate links included.)

• For any model: this silicone donut pan fits every air fryer and can be trimmed to size with scissors.
• For larger air fryers or air fryer ovens: this sturdier set is easy to fill.

More Easy Air Fryer Donut Recipes

• Air Fryer Raspberry Lemon Donuts
• Air Fryer Copycat Krispy Kreme Donuts
• Easy Cinnamon Sugar Air Fryer Donut Holes
• Air Fryer Churro Donuts