Air fryer funnel cakes made with birthday cake mix for quick, golden, bite-sized treats. Light, sweet, and perfect for easy at-home fun.

Golden Funnel Cake Bites dusted with powdered sugar on a tray, with baking tools and sprinkles in the background—a perfect air fryer recipe for sweet cravings.

My daughter is obsessed with asking me to make mini food, or technically bite-sized versions, of almost everything I cook. When I was telling her about funnel cake and how fun it is to make or watch at carnivals and fairs, she immediately requested a mini version, and honestly, I couldn't say no because the idea sounded pretty great to me too.

I've learned from years of cooking with kids is that the best recipes for involving them are the ones where the method is forgiving and the mess is contained. These air fryer funnel cake bites check both boxes. Sometimes I even let her help with the mixing because the batter is thick enough that it doesn't splatter, but pourable enough that she can see the transformation happen. She loves feeling like she's helping make dessert.

The air fryer method makes this work so well for a parent-child cooking activity. Traditional funnel cakes require managing hot oil at 375°F, which isn't safe or practical with young helpers around. The air fryer's contained heat and circulating air creates the same golden, puffy texture without any of the safety concerns or cleanup that comes with deep frying. The bite-sized form also means more even cooking than trying to pour batter in those classic swirly patterns.

These have become one of our go-to treats when she's asking for something sweet but I don't have time for a big baking project. The bite-sized version means she can eat them easily without making a huge mess, and honestly, they taste just as good as the full-sized funnel cakes we've had at fairs.

It's one of the recipes where she asks to help make them almost as much as she asks to eat them, which is exactly the kind of cooking I want to do with her.

Ingredients

Five bowls with cake mix, an egg, milk, rainbow sprinkles, and oil on a white surface—perfect for making delicious Funnel Cake Bites with this easy Air Fryer recipe.

Birthday cake mix makes these air fryer funnel cake bites so simple and delicious because it adds sweetness and creates that light, fluffy texture without me having to measure out a bunch of separate ingredients. Just egg, milk, and vanilla mixed with the cake mix creates this quick batter that's easy to work with and takes no time at all.

Powdered sugar dusted on top is essential for that classic funnel cake sweetness. If you want to make them extra special, melted white chocolate or vanilla glaze drizzled over the warm bites adds richness. Sprinkles and whipped cream are optional, but they make these feel festive and fun for special occasions.

See the recipe card for exact quantities.

How to Make Air Fryer Funnel Cake Bites?

Funnel Cake Bites and powdered sugar donut holes in an air fryer basket lined with parchment paper, with sprinkles nearby—an irresistible recipe for sweet snacking!.

If you're craving the taste of funnel cake but want a quicker and easier version, these air fryer funnel cake bites are the perfect solution! With just a few simple ingredients, you can enjoy these mini, golden, and crispy treats in no time.

Prepare the Funnel Cake Batter

A glass bowl with flour, an egg, milk, and vanilla ready to be mixed for a delicious Funnel Cake Bites recipe on a white surface.

A glass bowl with thick funnel cake dough being mixed by a red spatula on a white surface, perfect for your next air fryer recipe.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the birthday cake mix, egg, milk, and vanilla extract. Continue mixing until the batter is smooth and well combined. The texture should be thick but still pourable, similar to a pancake batter. If it’s too thick, add a little more milk to achieve the right consistency.

Preheat the Air Fryer

Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C) for 3-5 minutes. This helps make sure the air fryer is hot enough to cook the funnel cake bites evenly and give them that golden brown texture.

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Prepare the Air Fryer Basket

Line the air fryer basket with a single sheet of parchment paper. This prevents the batter from sticking and ensures the bites cook without getting stuck to the basket. Make sure the parchment paper fits well in the basket and doesn’t have any loose edges that could catch on the heating element.

Spoon or Pipe the Batter

Hand holding a piping bag with batter over parchment paper in an air fryer basket, perfect for making funnel cake bites with this easy recipe.

Small pretzel-shaped dough pieces on parchment paper inside an air fryer basket, ready to be cooked—try this easy air fryer recipe for a tasty twist similar to funnel cake bites.

Using a spoon or piping bag, place small mounds of the batter (about 1 tablespoon each) onto the parchment paper inside the air fryer basket. Be sure to leave a little space between each mound so that the batter has room to expand as it cooks.

Air Fry the Funnel Cake Bites

Small pretzel bites sprinkled with seasoning sit on parchment paper in an air fryer basket—try this easy recipe for a fun twist alongside classics like Funnel Cake Bites.

Place the basket in the preheated air fryer and cook the funnel cake bites for 6-8 minutes. Check the bites halfway through cooking to ensure they are puffing up nicely. Once the bites are golden brown and puffed, they are ready to be removed from the air fryer.

Cool and Repeat

Carefully remove the funnel cake bites from the air fryer and let them cool slightly on a plate. Repeat the process with the remaining batter until all the bites are cooked.

Add Toppings and Serve

A pile of Funnel Cake Bites dusted with powdered sugar and colorful sprinkles on a wooden surface—an irresistible treat perfect for any recipe collection.

Once the bites have cooled a little, dust them generously with powdered sugar for a classic funnel cake experience. For an extra indulgent treat, drizzle the bites with melted white chocolate or vanilla glaze. You can also add sprinkles for a festive touch or even whipped cream for an added richness.

Storage

Air fryer basket with golden brown Funnel Cake Bites dusted with powdered sugar on parchment paper—an irresistible recipe for sweet, crisp treats.

Store any leftover funnel cake bites in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. If you'd like to keep them fresh for longer, you can refrigerate them for up to 3 days. To reheat, simply place them in the air fryer for 2-3 minutes at 350°F (175°C) to restore their crispiness.

Top Tips for Instant Pot Chicken and Peppers Stew

Sear the chicken for added flavor: Don’t skip the step of searing the chicken thighs before pressure cooking. This adds a depth of flavor and texture that makes the final dish so much richer.

Let the spices bloom: When adding the cumin and paprika, give them a minute to cook with the vegetables before adding the broth. This allows the spices to fully develop their flavors.

Customize the heat: If you like a bit of a kick, feel free to add some crushed red pepper flakes or a pinch of cayenne to the stew.

Use homemade chicken broth if possible: It’ll make the dish even more flavorful and comforting.

Recipe

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