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Air Fryer Donuts are easy to make and so fun to eat! Your family and friends will enjoy this tasty treat!
Table of Contents
The promise of an Air Fryer is to make traditionally fried foods without oil (or at least with much less oil). So, why not donuts? These Air Fryer Donuts are one of my favorite treats, especially when sometimes I just don’t want to deal with a deep fryer. After a lot of trial and error, I am so excited to share my Air Fryer Donut recipe with you!
We love to cook all kinds of recipes, but baking holds a special place in our hearts. Whether you are making a pie, a cake, or any other kind of dessert, we have recipes that will help you make those special memories in the kitchen!
Ingredients in this Air Fryer Donut
All you need are a few simple pantry ingredients and an air fryer to get delicious donuts right at home.
- Dry active yeast – I like using regular active dry yeast rather than the instant rise.
- Warm water – Warm to the touch but not too hot water. This will keep the yeast active. Too hot it will kill the yeast and won’t allow it to expand.
- Sugar – This will help activate the yeast.
- Warm milk – Again, this needs to be hot but not too hot to kill the yeast.
- Salt – Kosher or table salt will help the dough rise.
- Egg – Binds the dough together.
- Shortening – Butter-flavored shortening adds flavor, moisture, and tenderness.
- Flour – All-purpose flour thickens the dough and gives it the texture it needs.
- Cooking spray – You will want to spray the air fryer before adding the dough. This will prevent the dough from sticking as it is cooking.
Chocolate Glaze and Other Toppings
A delicious and simple chocolate glaze is made with just a couple of ingredients. Create an easy chocolate glaze recipe!
- Cocoa powder – Creates the chocolate flavors and gives the perfect chocolate taste.
- Powdered sugar – Sifted confectioners’ sugar makes it smooth.
- Milk – You can use more or less, depending on how thick you like the consistency.
- Topping – Top donuts with a cinnamon sugar coating, a dusting of powdered sugar, or sprinkles, just about anything you like!
Tools and Tips for Air Fryer Donuts
The first tool you need is the Air Fryer. If you don’t already have one, don’t be intimidated by an Air Fryer! Once you get the basics down, it is so simple to use. Try a few suggestions for this donut recipe and using an Air Fryer in general.
- Preheat – Always preheat your Air Fryer before use. It only takes a minute. Set it to 400 degrees for 1 minute, cook with it empty, and it will be hot and ready to use.
- Cooking spray – Use a little non-stick cooking spray or air fryer parchment sheets (with holes) to prevent food from sticking to trays.
- Space – Keep food from touching, this will help the air circulate all around each piece of food for even cooking and crispiness.
- Flip – Shake or turn food halfway through the cooking process for more even cooking.
- Check the donuts – Don’t be afraid to check your food for doneness, opening the drawer won’t ruin the cooking process.
- Crispy – Get an oil sprayer for making dry breaded foods like our Homemade Mozzarella Sticks. A little spritz of oil can make breading more crispy.
Shaping the Donuts
To make these Air Fryer Donuts or any homemade donuts recipe, you will need tools to shape the donuts. I would suggest using biscuit cutters. You can find biscuit cutters in all sizes, but I have a set from 4-inch, 3-inch to 1-inch. I use the 4-inch for the main part of the donut, and then the 1-inch for the donut hole. You can also use a regular circular cookie cutter, or any cups or small bowls to get your desired shape.
Preparation
- Start by proofing the yeast. This is a crucial step in making sure your donuts rise well. Add warm water, yeast, and sugar to a small bowl. Let it sit on the counter until the yeast is super bubbly and the mixture has doubled in size.
- Next, make the dough. Mix together milk, sugar, salt, egg, and shortening. Then, add yeast to the mixture. Make sure to scrape as much of the yeast mixture as you can out of the bowl. Then, in a stand mixer with a dough hook attachment, add flour in one cup at a time while mixing. Mix until the dough no longer sticks to the sides of the bowl and is smooth to the touch.
- Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl. Then, cover tightly with plastic wrap and allow to rise until it has about doubled in size, about one hour.
- Roll the dough out on a floured surface until about ½ inch thick. Cut out the donut shapes and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Then, cover with a thin kitchen towel and let rise for 30 minutes.
Cooking And Serving Air Fryer Donuts
- Preheat – Preheat the Air Fryer to 350 degrees. Generously spray a non-stick cooking spray like Pam or coconut oil spray in the basket. Carefully place donut dough in the Air Fryer basket. Only put as many donuts in as will fit without touching each other. Spray the tops of the donuts with cooking spray. Air fry for 5 minutes.
- Bake and rest – While the donuts are baking, place a wire rack on top of a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. This is what the donuts will sit on to cool and after they are glazed or iced, the baking sheet will catch any glaze or icing runoff.
- Chocolate icing – Then, make the chocolate icing. Combine powdered sugar, cocoa powder, and milk in a bowl wide enough to fit the top of a donut. Then, mix with a fork until a smooth glaze forms. Set aside.
- Cool and Glaze – Take the donuts out of the Air Fryer and place them on the wire rack. When cool enough to touch, dip the top of the donuts in the chocolate glaze. Place back on the wire rack and top with sprinkles. Donuts are best served immediately.
Recipe Tip
The donut holes only have to air fry for 3 minutes. Instead of dipping them in chocolate glaze and sprinkles, I like to brush them with melted butter and top with cinnamon-sugar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Since the oil plays a large part in the flavor of traditional donuts, this isn’t going to taste exactly the same. Admittedly, it is a little more of a bread-y, cake-y donut. However, it is still delicious! The key to getting a light and airy texture is to let the dough rise enough and only roll the dough out to ½ inch and no more.
My favorites are cinnamon sugar mixture and powdered sugar! Make sure to brush with a little bit of butter or oil before applying either topping.
Air Fryer Donuts taste their absolute best right after cooking. If you must wait, you can store them at room temperature in an airtight bag for a few days.
Proofing the dough yeast will ensure that the yeast is working properly and has not expired.
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More Air Fryer Recipes
Using an air fryer has changed my life! It is so easy and convenient to use. There are so many recipes to try from main dish, side dish, appetizers, and even dessert!
How to Make Air Fryer Donuts
Air Fryer Donuts
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon dry active yeast
- ⅛ cup warm water
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- ¾ cup warm milk
- ¼ cup sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 egg
- 3 Tablespoons shortening
- 3 cups flour
- cooking spray
For Chocolate Glaze
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
- ¾ cup powdered sugar
- 3 Tablespoons milk
Optional Toppings
- cinnamon-sugar
- powdered sugar
- sprinkles
Instructions
- Start by proofing the yeast. Add warm water, yeast, and 1 teaspoon of sugar to a small bowl. Let it sit on the counter until the yeast is super bubbly and the mixture has doubled in size.
- Mix together milk, sugar, salt, egg, and shortening. Add yeast to the mixture. In a stand mixer with a dough hook attachment, add flour in one cup at a time while mixing. Mix until the dough no longer sticks to the sides of the bowl and is smooth to the touch.
- Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and allow to rise until it has about doubled in size, about one hour. You'll know it is ready if you poke the dough and it doesn't bounce back.
- Roll the dough out on a floured surface until about ½ inch thick. Cut out the donut shapes and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Cover with a thin kitchen towel and let rise for 30 minutes.
- Preheat the Air Fryer to 350 degrees. Generously spray a cooking spray like Pam or coconut oil spray in the basket. Carefully place donut dough in the Air Fryer basket. Only put as many donuts in as will fit without touching each other. Spray the tops of the donuts with cooking spray. Air fry for 5 minutes.
- To make the chocolate icing, combine powdered sugar, cocoa powder, and milk in a bowl wide enough to fit the top of a donut. Mix with a fork until a smooth glaze forms.
- Take the donuts out of the Air Fryer and place them on a wire rack with a parchment paper-lined baking sheet underneath. When cool enough to touch, dip the top of the donuts in the chocolate glaze. Place back on the wire rack and top with sprinkles. Donuts are best served immediately.
For Donut Holes
- Place all the donut holes in the air fryer basket and air fry for 3 minutes. *Optional* Toss in melted butter and cinnamon sugar.
Video
Notes
- To make these Air Fryer Donuts or any homemade donuts recipe, you will need tools to shape the donuts.
- I would suggest using biscuit cutters. You can find biscuit cutters in all sizes, but I have a set from 4-inch, 3-inch to 1-inch.
- I use the 4-inch for the main part of the donut, and then the 1-inch for the donut hole.
- You can also use a regular circular cookie cutter, or any cups or small bowls to get your desired shape.
Now that kids are home for a few days, we will be making these for sure!! Donuts are a favorite around here & making them together is always fun!
Who knew the air fryer could make such delicious donuts!! We are big fans of homemade donuts, but usually they take so much time..not these! My kids will be so happy!
Thank you so much for sharing this amazing donuts recipe! Will surely have this again! It’s really easy to make and it tasted so delicious! Highly recommended!
We love our Air Fryer and these donuts did not disappoint! So fun to make too!