Simultaneously combining the advantages of aerogel structure and CeO2 materials presents a compelling avenue for design of novel functional materials for diverse applications. However, the development of a facile approach to synthesize CeO2 aerogels with high crystallinity and excellent porous structures is still a challenge. Herein, a facile bubble-templating strategy is proposed to prepare CeO2 aerogel through simple heat treatment of a mixture containing ammonium cerium(iv) nitrate (ACN) and glucose, in which the sugar-blowing property of glucose and the gases generated by decomposition of ACN and glucose contribute to form a CeO2 aerogel with unique porous structure and high crystallinity. Furthermore, after in situ introduction of metal ions (Cu2+, Mn2+, Co2+) into the precursors, metal-doped CeO2 aerogels have been also prepared. Most importantly, the Co2+-doped CeO2 (Co-CeO2) aerogel exhibits fast response property toward detection of acetone, indicating potential application for acetone detection. This study not only provides a universal aerogel material design paradigm, but also proposes a new strategy for the development of high-performance sensing materials.