Air fryer donuts are a delicious homemade donut recipe that everyone needs to have on hand!
Nothing tastes as good as homemade donuts fresh and hot out of the air fryer! Even the kids can help make homemade donuts because there’s no stove or hot oil involved.
Delicious Homemade Donuts
- Make these donuts for a quick breakfast treat or when you need a last-minute treat for guests.
- Oil-free cooking in the air fryer means air fryer donuts have fewer calories than a traditional deep-fried donut but still have that light, airy, and cakey texture!
- Make tasty donuts using this simple dough recipe with ingredients that are likely already in the pantry!
- Dunk, dip, or decorate air fryer donuts any way you like! Don’t forget to bake the donut holes, too!
Ingredients and Variations
Donut Batter – Simple ingredients like flour, yeast, oil, sugar, milk, and an egg are the basics ~ but if you’re in a pinch for time, roll out portions from a can of refrigerated biscuits! We like Pillsbury Grands biscuits or cinnamon rolls! Make apple fritters by mixing finely chopped apples with the batter.
Icing – Add a flavored extract like orange, banana, coconut, or rum flavor to the icing, if desired.
Toppings – Before the icing sets, top with colorful sprinkles, flaked coconut, chopped nuts, or even crushed cookies like Oreos!
How to Make Air Fryer Donuts
- Prepare dough as listed in the recipe below.
- Roll out dough and cut out 3 doughnuts to rise for 1 hour.
- Air fry for 7-8 minutes or until they are crisp on the outside. For donut holes, reduce the cooking time by 1-2 minutes.
- Once cool enough to handle, dip donuts in the icing and set them on a rack. Serve warm.
How to Store Donuts
Keep air fryer donuts in a covered container at room temperature for up to 3 days. Crisp them up in the air fryer if you like!
More Delicious Desserts
Air Fryer Donuts
Equipment
Ingredients
Donuts
- ½ cup warm milk 100-110°F
- 1 packet instant yeast (2 ¼ teaspoons)
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste (or equal amount of pure vanilla extract)
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
Vanilla Bean Icing
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste (or equal amount of pure vanilla extract)
Instructions
For the Donuts
- Add the milk, yeast, and sugar to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment (or into a large bowl). Mix until well combined.
- Add the egg, vegetable oil, and vanilla bean paste and mix until well combined.
- Add the flour gradually with the mixer on low speed. Continue kneading on low speed until the dough is smooth and slightly tacky, about 5 minutes.
- Place the dough in a well-oiled bowl and set it aside to rise for one hour.
- Roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface until it is ½” thick and cut out 3” doughnuts. Set the doughnuts on a parchment-lined sheet pan to rise for an additional hour.
- Place a few doughnuts in the air fryer and cook at 365°F for 7-8 minutes, or until they are crisp on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside. Repeat with the remaining doughnuts.
For the Vanilla Bean Icing
- Combine icing ingredients in a small bowl, dip the doughnuts in the icing, and set them on a wire rack to set. Serve warm.
Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
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