AIR FRYER DONUTS FROM SCRATCH + Tasty Air Fryer Recipes

These Air Fryer Donuts From Scratch are worth the effort to get those donut shop style yeast doughnuts right at home. Light, airy donuts air fried then dipped in chocolate glaze with sprinkles!

Homemade Doughnuts In Air Fryer

You can absolutely make yeast raised doughnuts right in your air fryer. Skip the deep fried donuts and make this healthier air fried version.

I actually prefer air fried donuts to oven baked. The air fryer makes them puff up and get a bit more airy than in the oven.

Ingredients Needed For Air Fryer Donuts From Scratch (screenshot for grocery list)

All Purpose Flour
Granulated Sugar
Active Dry Yeast
Large Eggs
Salt
Unsalted Butter
Oil – Nonstick

Powdered Sugar
Cocoa Powder
Milk

How To Make Doughnuts In An Air Fryer

Combine warm water and yeast in measuring cup. Let sit in warm area for 5 mintes to proof yeast. Combine flour, sugar, yeast/water mixture, eggs and salt int large mixing bowl. If using a stand mixer use the dough hook attachment to mix on a medium speed for around 8 minutes or until the dough is pulling away from the sides of the bowl. You can also do this by hand using a wooden spoon, dough whisk or similar.
Leaving the mixer on a medium speed, add the softened butter a little at a time making sure to fully incorporate the butter into the dough each time. When all the butter has been added, leave the mixer running on a low-medium speed for a further 5 minutes or until the dough is very smooth and elastic. If you’re not using a mixer, knead the dough by hand for 8-10 minutes.
Cover the mixing bowl with plastic wrap and leave the dough to rise and double in size. This will take approximately 1 hour depending how warm your kitchen is. It may take up to 3 hours if your kitchen is very cold.
When the dough has risen, punch the air out of it and put it in the fridge for 24 hours. *See notes.
When you’re ready to cook the donuts, line three baking trays with floured parchment paper.
Roll the dough out until it is about 1/2 inch thick then use a 3.5 inch donut cutter (orsomething round, like a glass) to cut 15 donuts out of the dough. I then used an upturned piping nozzle to cut the donut holes from the middle of each donut. Anything small and round will work just as well.
Transfer 5 donut rings and 5 donut holes to each baking tray, leaving space in-between them. Loosely cover with plastic wrap and leave to rise for an hour or so.
Meanwhile make your toppings.
To make the chocolate glaze, put the powdered sugar, cocoa powder and milk into a small bowl and whisk together until smooth.
To make the Cinnamon coating, mix the sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. In a separate bowl, melt the butter – you will use this to brush the donuts with later to give the cinnamon sugar something to stick to.
To make the vanilla glaze, put the butter, sugar and vanilla into a small saucepan and melt together. When it has melted add the hot water a tablespoon at a time until the glaze reaches a runny consistency.
Lightly grease the tray of the AirFryer with oil.
When the donuts have puffed up, carefully transfer them into the AirFryer, you should be able to fit 3 or 4 depending how big your AirFryer is.
AirFry at 350ºF for 2-3 minutes then flip them over and AirFry at 350ºF for a further 2 minutes. The donuts should be golden brown in color. Repeat with the remaining donuts and holes.
While the donuts are still hot mix the chocolate glaze ingredients: Dip the donuts into the chocolate glaze. Add sprinkles while glaze is still wet.

How Long To Cook Doughnuts In An Air Fryer

This will depend on your air fryer. Cooking time varies depending on each air fryer brand. I have owned several different air fryers and each brand cooked very differently. Use this recipe as a guideline or starting point and adjust depending on your air fryer.

I would start by cooking the donuts 2-3 minutes. Flip then cook 2 more minutes. At that point they should be done or may need 1-2 more minutes depending on your air fryer.

How To Store Air Fried Doughnuts

Let them cool completely. Store in an air tight container or covered securely with plastic wrap. Donuts are best when enjoyed the day they are made, but, will last 1-2 days when properly stored.

Air Fryer Donuts From Scratch

Yield: 10

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

These Air Fryer Donuts From Scratch are worth the effort to get those donut shop style yeast doughnuts right at home. Light, airy donuts air fried then dipped in chocolate glaze with sprinkles!

Ingredients

DONUTS
• 1/2 Cup Warm Water
• 3 Cups All Purpose Flour*
• 1/4 Cup Granulated Sugar
• 2 1/2 teaspoons Active Dry Yeast
• 4 Large Eggs
• 2 teaspoons Salt
• 1/2 Cup Unsalted Butter, softened and cut into small cubes
• Vegetable Oil or Nonstick Spray, for greasing
CHOCOLATE GLAZE
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 3 tablespoons milk

Instructions

Combine warm water and yeast in measuring cup. Let sit in warm area for 5 mintes to proof yeast.

Combine flour, sugar, yeast/water mixture, eggs and salt in large mixing bowl.

If using a stand mixer use the dough hook attachment to mix on a medium speed for 8-10 minutes or until the dough is pulling away from the sides of the bowl. You can also do this by hand using a wooden spoon, dough whisk or similar. *If dough is too wet and is dripping, not binding, add more flour a little at a time while mixing until the dough comes together.

Leaving the mixer on a medium speed, add the softened butter a little at a time making sure to fully incorporate the butter into the dough each time. When all the butter has been added, leave the mixer running on a low-medium speed for a further 5 minutes or until the dough is very smooth and elastic. If you’re not using a mixer, knead the dough by hand for 8-10 minutes.

Cover the mixing bowl with plastic wrap and leave the dough to rise and double in size. This will take approximately 1 hour depending how warm your kitchen is. It may take up to 3 hours if your kitchen is very cold.

When the dough has risen, punch the air out of it and put it in the fridge for 24 hours. *See notes.

Line three baking trays with floured parchment paper.

Roll the dough out until it is about 1/2 inch thick then use a 3.5 inch donut cutter (or something round, like a glass) to cut 10-15 donuts out of the dough. Use a donut hole cutter or an upturned piping nozzle to cut the donut holes from the middle of each donut. Anything small and round will work just as well.

Transfer 5 donut rings and 5 donut holes to each baking tray, leaving space in-between them. Loosely cover with plastic wrap and leave to rise for an hour.

Prepare topping/glaze before air frying donuts.
To make the chocolate glaze, put the powdered sugar, cocoa powder and milk into a small bowl and whisk together until smooth.
To make the Cinnamon coating, mix the sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. In a separate bowl, melt the butter – you will use this to brush the donuts with later to give the cinnamon sugar something to stick to.
To make the vanilla glaze, put the butter and sugar into a small saucepan and melt together. When it has melted add vanilla then hot water a tablespoon at a time until the glaze reaches a runny consistency. (You can also just microwave the butter to melt then whisk in powdered sugar, vanilla and water)

Lightly grease the tray of the air fryer with oil.
When the donuts have puffed up, carefully transfer them into the air fryer basket, you should be able to fit 3 or 4 depending how big your air fryer is.

Air fry at 350ºF for 2-3 minutes then flip them over and air fry at 350ºF for 2 more minutes. At this point they should be done or may need 1-2 more minutes depending on your air fryer. The donuts should be golden brown in color. Repeat with the remaining donuts and holes.

While the donuts are still hot mix the chocolate glaze ingredients: Dip the donuts into the chocolate glaze. Add sprinkles while glaze is still wet.

Notes

You do not have to leave this dough in the fridge overnight however the flavor of the donuts will be better if it has a longer slower rise. The donuts will also be much easier to roll out and handle if doing so with chilled dough. Chill at least 3 hours.
• Smearing some vegetable oil on the plastic wrap before you use it to cover the dough/donuts will stop it from sticking.
• Fresh homemade donuts are best on the day they’re made but they will still be good for 1 or 2 days if kept in an airtight container at room temperature.
• You can freeze the donuts (without toppings) for up to one month. Defrost in the fridge overnight then reheat them for a couple of minutes in the AirFryer at 350ºF before adding any toppings.