Air Fryer Donuts Recipe

Paige Gilmore

By Paige Gilmore

Lastest Updated June 19, 2024
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This delectable air fryer donut recipe is made from pantry staples. It is a perfect way to make donuts if you don’t have a donut pan at home. And you can get creative with this fluffy creation: eaten with ice cream, sprinkles, dipped in ganache, or dusted with cinnamon sugar.

And yes, donuts can be difficult to make at home since the oil temperature on a stove top tends to fluctuate. So, I’ll use an air fryer as it simplifies the process with less oil. Also, it’ll fry these donuts more evenly with a beautifully crispy outer layer and a light and fluffy interior.

You’ll be recreating this recipe repeatedly as your new family favorite. So, don’t learn it now!

Donuts Cakes
Air Fryer Donuts

Why Choose Air Fryer Donuts?

There’s no need to deep fry your donuts. You only need an air fryer, and you’ll be able to recreate perfect homemade donuts every time.

This air fried sweet treat is no-fuss and quick to prepare. You don’t have to buy any specialist ingredients since this donut mix only comprises everyday pantry essentials: flour, baking powder, sugar, butter, milk, and eggs.

You can now eat this classic American snack right in your kitchen.

What Tools Are Required for Air-fried Donuts?

An air fryer is essential for this recipe, so I recommend investing in a decent one. A high-quality air fryer will last longer and be more efficient. Besides that, this recipe also requires the following tools.

  • Air fryer: To fry your donuts.
  • Mixing bowl: To mix the dough for your donuts.
  • Measuring cup: Choose the ones with clear measurements.
  • Silicone spatula: The silicone material will prevent the ingredients from sticking.
  • Baking sheet: You need it to avoid dirtying your air fryer.
  • Parchment paper: Line it on the baking sheet for a consistent texture.
  • Rolling pin: To roll your dough.
  • Measuring spoons: You’ll need them for an exact measure of spices.
Tools Donuts

What Are the Key Ingredients for Air Fryer Donuts?

Here are the main ingredients to create the perfect mouth-watering donuts in your kitchen. I’ve included some notes, so you can choose the most suitable components.

  • Flour & salt: A base for most baking mixes.
  • White sugar: Provide sweetness
  • Active yeast: For light and fluffy donut dough every time.
  • Warm milk: Mix with your yeast.
  • Egg: Bind the other ingredients.
  • Butter: Create a rich and flavorful donut.
  • Cooking oil spray: There are manysuitable oils for frying donuts, but I recommend canola or rice bran oil spray. Both have a mild flavor and create a perfectly crisp outer layer.
Main Ingredients Donut
Flour Salt

Making Donuts in an Air Fryer with 4 Steps

Making this air-fried donut at home is so easy! These four steps will ensure you get the perfect donuts in your air fryer every time.

Step 1: Prepare the Dough

In a small bowl, combine the following ingredients:

  • 1 packet of dry active yeast
  • 0.5 cups of warm milk
  • 1 teaspoon of sugar

Set aside for a couple of minutes until it starts to bubble and foam.

Mix With Milk And Teaspoon Of Sugar

In a large bowl, mix together:

  • 2 cups of white flour
  • 0.25 cups of white sugar
  • 0.5 teaspoon of salt
Mix Flour Sugar And Salt

Stir the whisked egg, melted butter, and yeast milk mixture into the dry ingredients.

Stir The Whisked Egg

Continue mixing until it all clumps together. You may need to use your hands.

Lightly Floured Bench Then Knead

Place dough on a lightly floured bench, then knead by hand for 5 – 7 minutes or with a stand mixer for 3 – 4 minutes (using the dough hook). Place in a clean bowl for 30 minutes, cover, and put the bowl in a warm place.

Place In A Clean Bowl

Step 2: Shape the Donuts

The dough is ready to roll out when it has approximately doubled in size.

Prepare The Donuts

Roll out your dough, cut around 12 donuts.

Roll Out Your Dough

Place them all on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet

Dough Cut

Cover the donuts again and leave to rise for another 30 – 60 minutes.

Place Them A Parchment

Step 3: Air Fry Your Donuts

Spray the inside of the air fryer compartments lightly with cooking oil spray. Lay the donut dough rings in a single layer in the compartment. You can cook them in batches if the amount is too much.

Turn on your air fryer and cook the donuts for 4 – 5 minutes at 340F (170C). Remove from the air fryer once cooked. Spray the tops of the donuts quickly with a little cooking spray, this will help the sugar mixture stick.

Cook Your Donuts

Step 4: Coat Your Donuts

In a small bowl, mix 0.5 teaspoon of cinnamon with 0.25 cups of caster sugar.

Small Bowl Mix Cinnamon

Then place your cooked donuts in the sugar coating and flip.

Cooked Donuts In The Sugar

Remove from the sugar mixture and serve.

Sugar Coating And Flip

Handy Tips and Serving Suggestions

This air fryer donut recipe is already delicious on its own. But I have a few tips for you to perfect your donuts even more. And if you want, there are also several serving suggestions for a truly delectable dessert.

Tips for Making Air Fryer Donuts

Below are all of my tried-and-true tips to elevate your air-fried donuts.

  • In the cooler winter months, you might need to let your donuts rise for a longer time. It’s worth the wait because they become extra fluffy.
  • When kneading the dough, make sure to sprinkle a little flour on your kneading surface and your hands. This stops the dough from sticking.
  • Make sure your donuts are warm before you place them in the sugar mixture. You can reheat your donuts in the air fryer by putting them back in the air fryer, selecting the reheat function, and reheating for 1 – 2 minutes.
  • Keep your milk warm, not hot. Hot milk can destroy yeast. The ideal temperature for milk is 115F. Or you can drizzle some drops on your hands. If they feel warm, that’s all good.

What to Serve with My Air Fryer Donuts?

These delicious and healthy snacks are perfectly accompanied by any, or all, of the following:

  • Cinnamon Sugar. A traditional blend of cinnamon and sugar is a simple option with a beautiful flavor outcome.
  • Ice Cream. Vanilla or chocolate ice cream is my go-to flavor to compliment the cinnamon sugar dusting or a freshly made hot donut.
  • Sundae Sauce. Chocolate, caramel, or berry sauces are all scrummy options.
  • Chocolate Ganache. Delectable and rich chocolate ganache will take your air fryer donuts to a whole new level.
  • Sprinkles. Sprinkles are a fun way to add sweetness and color to your donuts.
Air Fryer Donuts

What’s the Best Way to Store Leftover Donuts?

You can’t finish the donuts you’ve made? Don’t worry! I’ll show you how to save your donuts for a longer time without losing their quality. Check out all the different solutions below!

  • At Room Temperature: Donuts are totally fine with room temperature. Remember to keep them in an airtight container or a Ziplock bag, and they can last for a few days.
  • In The Freezer: Here is the short answer to whether donuts are suitable for freezing: You can freeze donuts with some freezer-friendly bags. They can survive for 3 months at max. When you want some donuts, take them out and reheat them with your air fryer.

Donuts in Your Air Fryer – Light, Fluffy & Fried to Perfection

This donut recipe is so simple that you will find yourself making them time and time again. You can serve your donuts dipped in chocolate ganache, topped with sprinkles, or coated with cinnamon sugar for a fun and vibrant party.

Feel free to list your ideas via the comment below. And share this recipe with your relatives so you guys can make it together. I hope these donuts can lighten even your worst day!

Air Fryer Donuts

Air Fryer Donuts Recipe

This easy-to-make air fryer donut recipe uses all pantry staples and will become your newest go-to sweet treat.u003cbru003eFollow my simple air fryer donut recipe, and you’ll have these flavorsome donuts the next time you want some snacks.
5 from 1 vote
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Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Multiple
Keyword: Air Fryer Donuts
Level of Difficulty: Medium
Dietary Preference: Vegetarian
Prep Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Calories: 155kcal

Equipment

  • Air Fryer
  • Mixing Bowl
  • Measuring Cup
  • Spatula
  • Baking Sheet
  • Parchment Paper
  • Rolling Pin
  • Measuring Spoon

Ingredients

US Customary – Metric

Donuts

  • 0.5 cup warm milk
  • 1 packet of dry active yeast
  • 2 cups white flour
  • 0.5 teaspoon salt
  • 1 egg
  • 0.25 cup white sugar
  • 4 tablespoons melted butter
  • Cooking oil spray

Icing

  • 0.5 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 0.25 cup caster sugar

Instructions 

  • In a bowl, stir sugar, milk, and dry yeast. Allow yeast to activate for 2 – 5 minutes.
    Mix With Milk And Teaspoon Of Sugar
  • Pour all your dry ingredients: flour, sugar, and salt into a large bowl, then stir.
    Mix Flour Sugar And Salt
  • Add your wet ingredients (milky yeast, melted butter, and whisked egg) to the dry ingredients.
    Stir The Whisked Egg
  • Use your hands to combine them all until they form a ball.
    Lightly flour your kitchen countertop, knead your dough by hand for 5 – 7 minutes or use a dough hook in an electric mixer for 3 – 4 minutes.
    Lightly Floured Bench Then Knead
  • Press your dough into a ball. Then, in a warm place, put the dough in a clean bowl and cover it. Allow it to rise for 30 minutes.
    Place In A Clean Bowl
  • Roll out the dough so that you can cut approximately 12 donuts.
    Roll Out Your Dough
  • Leave them on the baking sheet.
    Dough Cut
  • Let them rise on a baking sheet for 30 – 60 minutes.
    Place Them A Parchment
  • Use the cooking oil spray to grease your air fryer’s compartment lightly. Place the donuts in the air fryer without overlapping the dough.
    Once the air fryer is on, choose the frying setting, set the temperature to 340F (170C), and the time for 4 – 5 minutes. Then cook the donuts.
    Cook Your Donuts
  • While cooking the donuts, stir the caster sugar and cinnamon in a bowl.
    Small Bowl Mix Cinnamon
  • When the air fryer finishes cooking, keep your donuts in the compartments and spray them with cooking oil. Next, remove them from the compartment and coat them with the sugar mixture.
    Cooked Donuts In The Sugar
  • Serve warm!
    Sugar Coating And Flip

Video

Notes

  • Depending on the climate of your location, time of year, etc., you may need to increase your rising time for the dough.
  • Spread some flour on the working surface and your hands before kneading to prevent sticking.
  • Warm your donuts before placing them into the sugar mixture.
  • Keep your milk warm at 115F.

Nutrition

Calories: 155kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 25mg | Sodium: 137mg | Potassium: 50mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 153IU | Vitamin C: 0.01mg | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 1mg
Paige Gilmore

Paige Gilmore

Content Writer

Expertise

Home Cooking, Food Editor, Cooking-video Maker, Food Styling, Food Photography, Cooking-video Maker, Data Analysis, Business Owner, Strategy & Marketing Director

Education

Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand

  • Program: Bachelor of Science – BSc, Astronomy & Analytics
  • Focus: Skills in scientific inquiry, analytical reasoning, and understanding the universe through astronomy and computational methods.

Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand

  • Program: Certificate in Science and Technology, Mathematics
  • Focus: Key areas in engineering, computing, and mathematics, setting the stage for advanced learning, especially for those eyeing degrees in mathematical sciences​.

The Culinary Collective, New Zealand

  • Program: Certificate in Cookery
  • Focus: A broad range of culinary skills and disciplines, aimed at preparing students to work confidently in commercial kitchens.
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Paige Gilmore is a versatile content creator from Auckland, with a focus on culinary arts and a distinctive foundation in science and analytics. Her varied skills enrich her cooking, enabling her to combine precise techniques with imaginative style in the kitchen.

5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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