Air Fryer Pumpkin Cheesecake Donut Holes (Easy Recipe)

Air Fryer Pumpkin Cheesecake Donut Holes are everything you love about pumpkin cheesecake, tucked into a warm, golden crescent-roll bite and rolled in cinnamon sugar. There’s no water bath, no springform pan, and no 60-minute bake — just a creamy pumpkin filling wrapped in soft dough and cooked in your air fryer in about 5 minutes a batch. From start to finish, you’ll have a plate of cozy fall donut holes in roughly 15 minutes.

If pumpkin cheesecake is your favorite part of autumn but you never seem to have time to make it, this is the shortcut you’ve been waiting for. These little bites deliver that same rich, spiced-pumpkin-and-cream-cheese flavor with a fraction of the effort.

Why You’ll Love These Pumpkin Cheesecake Donut Holes

• Fast. Each batch cooks in about 5 minutes, and the whole recipe comes together in 15.
• No baking, no fuss. The air fryer does the work — no oven to preheat and no messy deep-frying.
• Simple ingredients. Just crescent rolls, cream cheese, canned pumpkin, powdered sugar, and cinnamon sugar.
• That real cheesecake flavor. Creamy, tangy, and warmly spiced, wrapped in a soft, flaky bite.
• Perfect for the season. Ideal for breakfast, brunch, an after-school snack, or a Thanksgiving dessert table.

If you’re already a fan of using refrigerated dough for quick treats, you’ll want to bookmark these alongside my air fryer cronuts and air fryer cherry pie donuts — same easy, no-yeast approach, completely different flavors.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Here’s everything that goes into these air fryer pumpkin cheesecake donut holes. The full measurements are in the printable recipe card below.

• Crescent rolls — I use two cans of Pillsbury crescent rolls. Crescent sheets or biscuit dough both work too; if you love working with this dough, my air fryer crescent rolls post walks through the basics.
• Cream cheese — Full-fat, softened to room temperature so it whips smooth. Reduced-fat works, and pumpkin-spice-flavored cream cheese is a fun upgrade.
• Canned pumpkin — Use 100% pure pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling. Pie filling is pre-sweetened and spiced and will throw off the recipe.
• Powdered sugar — Sweetens the filling and doubles as a soft coating.
• Cinnamon sugar — For rolling the warm donut holes; it gives them that classic donut-shop finish.

How to Make Air Fryer Pumpkin Cheesecake Donut Holes

Step One: In a bowl, whip the softened cream cheese with the pumpkin puree until smooth and well blended. Stir in the powdered sugar until fully combined.

Step Two: Unroll one can of crescent rolls and pinch the seams together to form one solid sheet. Slice it into 8 rough squares.

Step Three: Place a small spoonful of the pumpkin cheesecake filling into the center of each square.

Step Four: Gently pinch and roll each square around the filling to form a sealed ball. Make sure the edges are pinched well so the filling stays inside.

Step Five: Lightly spray the air fryer basket with oil. Add about 8 donut holes in a single layer (don’t crowd them) and cook at 350°F for about 5 minutes, until golden and cooked through. Depending on your air fryer, they may need an extra minute or two.

Step Six: While the donut holes are still warm, roll them in cinnamon sugar or powdered sugar. Repeat with the remaining dough and filling.

Pro Tips for the Best Pumpkin Cheesecake Donut Holes

• Seal the seams well. The most common issue is filling leaking out. Pinch the dough firmly and don’t overfill — a small spoonful is plenty.
• Room-temperature cream cheese is key. Cold cream cheese stays lumpy; softened cream cheese whips into a silky filling.
• Don’t overcrowd the basket. Air needs to circulate for even browning. Work in batches of about 8.
• Coat while warm. Cinnamon sugar and powdered sugar cling best right out of the air fryer.
• Check early. Every air fryer runs differently, so peek at the 4-minute mark on your first batch and note the timing for the rest.

Variations to Try

• Extra-spiced: Add a pinch of pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon to the filling for a bolder fall flavor.
• Maple glaze: Skip the sugar coating and drizzle with a simple maple or vanilla glaze instead.
• Chocolate drizzle: Melt a little chocolate and drizzle over the cooled bites.
• Cream cheese swap: Use pumpkin-spice cream cheese for an even deeper flavor.

Craving more pumpkin? These bites are right at home next to my easy air fryer pumpkin donuts, air fryer pumpkin hand pies, and a slice of air fryer pumpkin bread for the ultimate fall spread.

What to Serve With Them

These donut holes are wonderful on their own, but they’re even better with a warm drink. Serve them with coffee or a pumpkin spice latte for breakfast, or turn them into dessert alongside a scoop of vanilla ice cream. For a full fall dessert table, pair them with air fryer pumpkin pie or air fryer pumpkin cake.

How to Store, Freeze, and Reheat

Storing: Let the donut holes cool completely, then store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days.

Freezing: Freeze cooled, uncoated donut holes in a freezer-safe bag for up to 2 months. Coat them in sugar after reheating for the freshest finish.

Reheating: Skip the microwave, which turns donuts rubbery. Instead, reheat them in the air fryer at 300°F for 2 to 3 minutes, until warmed through and lightly crisp again.

Frequently Asked Questions

What air fryer should I use? Any air fryer works — basket or oven style. This recipe was tested in a Cosori, but you can make it in a Ninja Foodi, an Instant Pot air fryer, or any model you own. Cooking time varies by air fryer, so check the donut holes frequently the first time.

Can I make these in the oven? Yes. Prepare them as directed, place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet, and bake at 350°F for 10 to 12 minutes, until golden.

Can I use biscuit dough instead of crescent rolls? Absolutely. Biscuit dough or crescent sheets both work. Biscuit dough gives a slightly thicker, breadier bite. If you like the biscuit-dough route, my homemade Dunkin’ donut Munchkins use the same idea.

Why did my filling leak out? That usually means the dough wasn’t sealed tightly enough or the bites were overfilled. Pinch the seams firmly and use only a small spoonful of filling per square.

Can I use pumpkin pie filling instead of pumpkin puree? No — pumpkin pie filling is already sweetened and spiced, which will make the filling too sweet and too loose. Stick with 100% pure pumpkin puree.

More Easy Air Fryer Donut Recipes

Love a quick donut fix? Try these next:

• Easy Air Fryer Cronuts
• Air Fryer Cherry Pie Donuts
• Air Fryer Uncrustable Donuts
• Air Fryer Homemade Yeast Donuts

You can also browse all of my air fryer donut recipes and air fryer dessert recipes for more ideas.