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ByBeth Neels
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Air Fryer Doughnuts are a fun, easy, healthier way to enjoy everyone’s favorite breakfast treat. They only take about 5 minutes to cook in the air fryer.
Want to make your Valentine something special for Valentine’s Day that will not ruin all the work in January, trying to lose that extra holiday baggage? Here we are at the rescue. These Air Fryer Doughnuts are so good.
The Doughnuts turn out a bit less sweet and a lot less greasy than Dunkin’ Donuts’ versions of doughnuts, but super tasty, nonetheless!
Why does this recipe work?
- This recipe is made with traditional doughnut dough, so the texture and flavor are so similar to traditional doughnuts that you will be amazed. You can use canned biscuit dough, but it doesn’t compare to the homemade version.
- You can make the family a special treat without all the fat and calories of a fried doughnut and with that same fried texture rather than baked.
- They have slightly less sugar, so they are better for you.
- They are not fried in oil, so they are healthier.
- The glaze or frosting adds just the right amount of sweetness.
- They are fast and easy. They only take about 1.5 from start to finish, including rising time. Only about 20 minutes of active time!
- They are soft on the outside, fluffy, and tender on the inside, just like a fried donut!
We’ve done several batches of these delicious Air Fryer Donuts, which turn out delicious every time.
Believe it or not, the general consensus was that everyone who has tried them prefers the plain to the chocolate flavor, even the chocoholics.
Optional toppings for these donuts
- Powdered sugar glaze, plain or topped with
- Toasted coconut
- Chopped peanuts
- Buttercream frosting, with any sprinkles or decorating sugars you like
- Chocolate frosting
- Cinnamon sugar
- Orange or lemon zest added to glaze or frosting
- Powdered sugar
The recipe for the chocolate doughnuts is identical, just add cocoa powder, if you would like chocolate doughnuts!
Optional flavorings for donuts
- Chocolate powder
- Chocolate chips
- Teaspoon vanilla extract
- Cinnamon sugar mixture
- Chopped and drained fresh or frozen blueberries, well-drained.
- Chopped apples and cinnamon
- Lemon or orange zest
- Maple syrup or extract
Are Air-fried Foods Healthier?
Doughnuts are not exactly health food, but this version is healthier than its’ fried cousins. These doughnuts only contain 4 grams of fat. They still have the carbs, but it’s fun to splurge a bit for the holidays, right?
Ingredients You Need
- Warm water
- Yeast
- Sugar
- Flour
- Cocoa powder (for chocolate doughnuts)
- Salt
- Warm milk
- Melted butter – always use unsalted butter in baked goods
- Large egg
For glaze
- Powdered sugar
- Warm water
How to Make Donuts in the Air Fryer
Step One:
Measure the water. Heat to between 105-115°F. Add yeast and sugar.
Step Two:
Add the butter to the milk in a small microwave-safe bowl.
Step Three:
Microwave for 30 seconds or so to melt butter.
Step Four:
Whisk the eggs in a small bowl.
Step Six:
After resting for 5 minutes, you will notice the yeast “blooming” or bubbling.
Step Seven:
Add the yeast mixture, milk (ensure the temperature is 105-115°F), and eggs to the dry ingredients.
Step Eight:
Knead in a stand mixer with a bread hook, or mix by hand and knead for a few minutes until the dough is smooth. Place the dough in a greased bowl. Cover with a kitchen towel, and set in a warm place. Let it rise for one hour until it is doubled.
Step Nine:
Roll out to 1/4″ thick on a lightly floured board.
Step Ten:
Use biscuit cutters. Cut out with 3″ cutter. Then cut hole out of center with 1″ cookie cutter. (You can make donut holeswith the 1-inch piece that you cut out.)
Step Eleven:
Cover. Let rise until doubled, 30 minutes or so.
Step Twelve:
Fit a piece of parchment paper into your air fryer basket.
Place the dough in the air fryer basket. Doughnuts shouldn’t touch.
Air fry for 4 to 5 minutes, at 350°F, until golden brown. The internal temperature of the doughnut should be 200°F when finished.
Cool on a rack. Dip in a powdered sugar glaze, or make a chocolate glaze for chocolate doughnuts, or frost with buttercream frosting.
How to store doughnuts
Store leftover doughnuts at room temperature in an airtight container for several days. Or in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. Store them in the freezer for up to three months, and take one out whenever you’d like a sweet treat.
So whether your Valentine is a chocolate lover or not (honestly, who is not a chocolate lover? 🙂 ), make them these delicious doughnuts. For other delicious edibles for your Valentine, see here!
Thanks for stopping by to check out this Air Fryer Doughnut recipe! Happy Valentine’s Day, one and all!
More air-fried recipes
- French Toast
- Grilled Cheese
- Taquitos
- Hot Pockets
- Hot Dogs
- Shrimp
- Biscuits
Tools I Use to Make Air Fried Donuts
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I hope you enjoyed the recipe today.
Enjoy. And have fun cooking!
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Air Fryer Doughnuts
Air Fryer Doughnuts are a fun, easy, healthier to enjoy everyone’s favorite treat! These Air fryer Doughnuts only take about 5 minutes to cook in the air fryer.
See Step by Step Photos Above!Most of our recipes have step by step photos and videos! Also helpful tips so that you can make it perfectly the first time and every time! Scroll up to see them!
4.67 from 12 votes
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Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 4 minutes minutes
Rising time: 1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes
Total Time: 14 minutes minutes
Servings: 8 doughnuts
Calories: 238kcal
Author: Beth Neels
Cost: $2
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup warm water (between 100-115°F)
- 1 tsp active dry yeast
- 1/4 cup sugar, plus 1/2 tsp for yeast blooming
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 Tbsp cocoa powder (optional for chocolate doughnuts)
- 1/4 tsp Salt
- 1/4 cup warm milk
- 2 Tbsp Butter
- 1 large egg, beaten
For glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 3-4 tsp water
For buttercream frosting
- 1/3 cup Butter
- 4.5 cups powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup Milk
- 1.5 tsp pure vanilla extract
Instructions
Bloom yeast. Heat water to 100-115°F. Add 1/2 teaspoon sugar and yeast. Let rest 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, measure dry ingredients into mixer bowl.
Melt butter in milk, in the microwave for 30 seconds. Stir and continue 10 second bursts in microwave, until melted. ***Be sure to let it cool to between 100-115°F, before using.
Whisk egg.
When yeast is frothy, add all of the rest of the ingredients to the mixer bowl and mix, using dough hook. Mix until dough is smooth. (you can mix by hand and knead on lightly floured surface for a couple minutes, as well.)
Cover and let rise for about an hour until doubled.
Lightly flour board. Gently roll out dough to 1/4″ thickness. Cut out doughnuts with 3″ cookie cutter. Cut out doughnut hole with 1″ cookie cutter.
Cover doughnuts with plastic wrap and then kitchen towel. Let rest on board 30 minutes, until about doubled.
Place 4 doughnuts and 4 doughnut holes in the basket of air fryer. (Or however many fit in your air fryer, without touching.)
Air fry at 300°F for about 5 minutes. Internal temperature should read 200°F. Let cool on cooling rack. SEE NOTES***
For glaze
Mix sugar and water well, until no lumps of sugar remain. Dunk cooled doughnuts in glaze.
For buttercream frosting
Beat butter until fluffy. Gradually add 2 cups of powdered sugar, beating well between additions.
Add milk and vanilla. Slowly incorporate the rest of the powdered sugar. Thin with a few drops of milk, if needed. Frost doughnuts. Freeze any unused portions for another use.
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Video
Notes
General yeast bread tips
If your dough is sticky, make sure to measure your liquid very carefully. Also, make sure your butter is measured carefully.
Next, use large eggs. Not extra large, or jumbo eggs.
Third, measure flour carefully. Also know that different brands and types of flour can affect the stickiness of the dough.
Fourth, humidity plays a large factor in the texture of yeast doughs. If it is very humid, more flour will be needed.
Fifth, the hydration of your starter can play a big factor as well. These buns were made with a 100% hydration starter. If you use a different hydration starter, more, or less flour may be needed to form a ball. So, don’t add flour all at once. Add it by heaping tablespoons full at a time, after the first 2 cups.
If your dough is still sticky,do not be afraid to add more flour. In my experience, youcan not add too much flourto a yeast dough. They are very forgiving. Just continue to add flour to make a nice ball, even if it is over a cup of flour.
These are not ultra sweet, like “Dunkin Donuts” doughnuts. They are light and low in sugar and a healthier alternative to deep fried doughnuts!
General Air Fryer Tips
Air Fryers vary in wattage, and therefore in cooking times. This recipe is based using my Cuisinart TOA60. If your air fryer is different, carefully watch food the first time you make it, so that it doesn’t burn.
Preheating your air fryer will give you the best, crispiest result. Check your brand of air fryer user manual to see if preheating is recommended.
Air fryers preheat in about 3-4 minutes.
Use cooking spray or a fine mist sprayer to spray food prior to cooking, with the exception of baked goods.
Don’t overcrowd foods so air can circulate all around.
Flip foods over half way through cooking.
Nutrition
Calories: 238kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 28mg | Sodium: 111mg | Potassium: 76mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 21g | Vitamin A: 130IU | Calcium: 18mg | Iron: 1.7mg
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Originally published January 3, 2022. Updated March 3, 2024.