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These air fryer cinnamon bites are quick and simple to make. Crisp on the outside and tender with a slight chew inside, they’re coated in fragrant cinnamon sugar and ideal for a cozy snack or easy dessert.
This recipe began as an attempt at air fryer churros but evolved once I remembered the chewy texture tapioca flour gives baked goods. I had some on hand after making Brazilian cheese bread and liked how it transforms the crumb. The result is a hybrid: churro-inspired cinnamon bites with the pleasant chew of tapioca, cooked in the air fryer for a lighter finish.
I use my air fryer a lot for dinner and increasingly for desserts—apple fritters, cookies, and French toast are all great examples. Air frying keeps things simpler and less greasy than deep frying, and clean up is usually easier, too.
Why You’ll Love These Cinnamon Bites…
- If you enjoy warm churros, these offer a similar cinnamon-sugar flavor in a bite-sized form.
- The texture is ideal: a crisp exterior with a soft, slightly chewy center thanks to the tapioca flour.
- They’re easy to make. Aside from the necessary chill time, the recipe comes together quickly.
What You’ll Need…
Baking With Tapioca Flour…
Tapioca flour gives these bites a pleasant chew without heaviness. It’s a starch from cassava root commonly used in gluten-free baking and often included in gluten-free flour blends. While tapioca adds texture and helps bind this dough, it isn’t a direct replacement for a full gluten-free flour blend in most recipes. It’s also handy for thickening sauces.
You can find tapioca flour at many grocery stores; it’s frequently labeled as tapioca starch.
How To Make…
Start on the stove. Combine milk, oil, sugar, and salt in a saucepan and heat over medium-high until it reaches a gentle boil. Remove from heat and immediately stir in the combined gluten-free flour blend and tapioca flour until incorporated. It helps to have the flours pre-mixed in a bowl so you can add them quickly while the liquid is hot.
Let the dough cool to room temperature, then refrigerate it for about an hour. While it chills, mix the cinnamon sugar topping in a small bowl.
When the dough is chilled, scoop even portions and roll them into balls with your hands. The dough can feel slightly greasy—that’s normal. Place the balls in a single layer in the air fryer basket, avoiding crowding so each bite cooks evenly. Cook at 375°F for roughly 10 minutes.
Coat the bites immediately after removing them from the air fryer while they’re still hot by tossing them in the cinnamon sugar. Enjoy them warm for the best texture and flavor; they’re at their peak the first day and are best eaten within 1–2 days.
Tips For Making The Best Cinnamon Bites…
- Weigh your flours if possible. Accuracy matters: the recipe uses 111 grams of gluten-free flour blend and 85 grams of tapioca flour.
- Don’t skip the chill time. It helps the dough firm up so you can shape the bites easily.
- Be gentle when rolling the balls. The dough may seem fragile at first but will hold together after a little handling.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer. You may need to cook in batches depending on your model—aim for a single even layer, not stacked pieces.
- Adjust the cinnamon-sugar coating to taste. Use more or less depending on how sweet and spiced you prefer them.
Ingredient Substitutions…
- You can likely make these dairy-free by substituting your preferred non-dairy milk, though I haven’t tested that variation extensively.
Did you try my air fryer cinnamon bites? Leave a comment below or tag me on Instagram @justastastyblog and #justastastyblog!
Just As Tasty: Gluten-Free & Eggless Baking Through the Seasons
Check out my cookbook for seasonal, easy-to-make gluten-free treats—from holidays to everyday celebrations.
For More Cinnamon Goodness, Check Out My…
- No yeast cinnamon rolls
- Cinnamon roll cake
- Snickerdoodle cheesecake
- Easy snickerdoodle cookies
📖 Recipe
Cinnamon Bites – Gluten Free, Eggless
Ingredients
- ¾ cup (111g) gluten free flour blend
- ¾ cup (85g) tapioca flour or starch
- 1 cup (240ml) milk room temperature
- ¼ cup (60ml) vegetable or canola oil
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
For the topping:
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
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In a small bowl, whisk the gluten-free flour blend and tapioca flour together. Set aside.
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In a medium saucepan, heat the milk, oil, sugar, and salt over medium-high heat. Bring to a gentle boil, remove from heat, and immediately stir in the flour mixture until combined.
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Allow the dough to cool to room temperature, then transfer to a bowl and chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
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Scoop even-sized portions of dough and form into balls with your hands. Arrange in the air fryer basket without crowding and cook at 375°F for about 10 minutes.
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Mix the topping by combining the sugar and cinnamon. Immediately after removing the bites from the air fryer, toss each one in the cinnamon sugar while still hot.
Notes
- The final yield varies depending on how large you make each bite.
- You may want extra cinnamon sugar for a heavier coating.