Air Fryer Doughnuts (2024)

Published: Sep 29, 2022 · Modified: May 15, 2024 by Anna · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads · 5 Comments

These delicious air fryer doughnuts have all of the characteristic of the deep-fried ones, but without the need of cooking them in hot oil. They're texture is slightly different to a classic doughnut, but they're still soft and fluffy inside, with crisp and chewy exterior.

You can cover them in cinnamon sugar for an extra crunch, or top with vanilla or chocolate glaze for a softer finish. Either way, an air fried doughnuts are a fantastic sweet treat which will have you hooked from the moment you try them!

Homemade doughnuts are one of the most delicious guilty pleasures, and I've been making my own for years. This recipe is loosely based on my small batch doughnuts recipe , which has been among readers favourites for a while, just like my French Cruller Doughnuts.

These air fryer donuts are just as delicious, but without the need of deep-frying them in hot oil. It's a much easier and safer way of making your own, not to mention the fact that using an air fryer also makes them much lower in fat.

Ingredients

These easy air fryer doughnuts are made using the following ingredients:

• Flour - These doughnuts are made with plain/ all-purpose flour.
• Sugar - Use caster sugar if possible.
• Nutmeg - To enhance the flavour of our doughnuts.
• Milk - Full-fat whole milk will work best.
• Yeast - Fast action dry yeast is best to use in this recipe.
• Butter - Unsalted is always my go-to, as it allows me to control exactly how much salt is added to the bake.
• Egg - One large egg.

Depending on the type of the glaze you want, you will also need some additional ingredients like cinnamon, caster sugar, icing sugar, vanilla, milk, butter and melted chocolate or cocoa powder.

Scroll to the bottom of this post for the recipe card and the full list of the ingredients.

Instructions

Preparing the dough is very straightforward and super easy! You can do it using the stand mixer (fitted with the hook attachment) or you can knead it by hand.

If kneading by hand, be patient with the dough, it will take a bit longer for it to come together (about 10 minutes).

Combine all of the ingredients in a large bowl and mix (or knead by hand) until smooth and elastic dough forms. Transfer to a bowl.

Allow the dough to rest until it has doubled in size, about 2 hours.

Roll the dough and cut out the doughnuts. You can use the donut holes as well, or you can add them to the remaining dough and re-roll.

Place the doughnuts on a lined baking sheet, brush with melted butter, and leave to rise.

Hint: Gather any leftover dough and knead it gently and briefly. Roll into a ball, then cover with clingfilm and let it rest for 20 minutes. This way, the dough will not bounce back when trying to re-roll it. After 20 minutes passed, roll the remaining dough on a lightly floured surface and cut out the rest of the doughnuts again. You can also use the donut holes to make these cute and delicious Acorn Donut Holes.

Air frying the doughnuts

Once the doughnuts have risen, they are ready to be air fried. Grease the basket of your air fryer with melted butter or with some cooking spray and preheat the air fryer to 180°C, according to the manufacturer instructions.

I'm using the Ninja Air Fryer, with 3.8L capacity, and it takes 3 minutes to preheat it. Depending on the size of your fryer basket, you will cook 2- 4 doughnuts at a time. I normally place 2 doughnuts into mine, and air fry them for 4 minutes.

Gently place the doughnuts into the lightly greased air fryer basket. Cook for 4- 5 minutes, or until they are golden brown.

Brush each doughnut with melted butter and toss in cinnamon sugar, making sure to cover all of its surface.

Substitutions

• Sugar - I highly recommend sticking to the caster sugar in this recipe. Caster sugar has really fine texture and it is ideal especially for the cinnamon sugar coating. That said, you can also use granulated or icing/ powdered sugar instead.
• Yeast - Fast-action dry yeast, easy bake or instant yeast will be best to use, as either can be added straight to the dry ingredients and doesn't require to be 'activated' first. That said, any type of yeast will work. If using the dried active yeast or the fresh yeast, be sure to reactivate it in a warm liquid first.
• Butter - I always use unsalted butter, but it can be easily swapped for salted butter in this recipe.

Variations

• Cinnamon sugar - this is my favourite way to enjoy these easy air fryer donuts. To make your own cinnamon sugar, mix 200g of sugar with 3 tablespoon of ground cinnamon. If you prefer a lighter cinnamon flavour, just reduce the cinnamon to 1 tbsp.
• Simple vanilla glaze - mix 125g of icing/ powdered sugar with 60ml of milk and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract for an easy sugar glaze.
• Deluxe vanilla glaze - melt 80g of butter and mix it with 250g of icing sugar, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract and 3-5 tablespoon of milk (depending on how thin or thick you like your glaze to be).
• Chocolate glaze - add 90g of icing sugar and 40g of cocoa powder along with 3 tablespoon of milk. Alternatively, you can also melt some chocolate and dip the doughnuts in it instead, like I did in this Baked Doughnuts recipe.
• Mini doughnuts - this recipe should make about 6-8 doughnuts, depending on the size of your cutter/ rings. But you can also turn it into mini-doughnuts instead. Just use a small, round cookie cutter (about 4 cm/ 1.5 inch) or small pastry ring to cut as many doughnuts as you can from the dough. The cooking times may need to be reduced slightly for smaller doughnuts.
• Vegan doughnuts - you can swap the milk and the butter for vegan substitutes, and add 1 tablespoon of mild vegetable oil instead of an egg to create a vegan version of this recipe. The dough will be slightly different in texture but just as delicious!
• If you are looking for more delicious air-fryer desserts, why not give these incredible Air Fryer Brownies or these Air Fryer French Toast Roll Ups a try?
• Another fun and easy doughnut recipe? Check out these Strawberry Donuts, which are made with cake mix!

Equipment

As with all air fryer recipes, having an air fryer is essential. I'm using Ninja AF100 UK, which is 3.8L in capacity.

You will also need the following items:

• Doughnut cutter or round pastry/ cookie cutters. I used the doughnut cutter, but you can also use one large and one small round cutter (about 7.5 cm and 2.5cm for the middle).
• Freestanding mixer with dough hook (optional, as you can also knead the dough by hand).
• Large baking tray or large baking sheet.
• Baking parchment.
• Pastry brush or silicone brush.
• Cooling rack (optional).

Storage

These air fryer donuts are best eaten fresh, on the day they are made. You can store any leftovers in an airtight container for up to a day or two, but they will be dryer and tougher in texture.

The dough can be prepared a day ahead and left to rise in the fridge overnight. You can also mix and prepare the dough, let it rise, shape the doughnuts and then let them rise in the fridge overnight.

FAQ

📖 Recipe