Air-Fried Donuts: A Quick, Crispy Treat?

Air fryers have become a popular alternative to traditional frying methods, and it is possible to cook doughnuts in them. Using an air fryer to cook doughnuts reduces the amount of oil needed compared to deep-frying while still achieving a fluffy texture. The doughnuts are made with a simple yeasted dough and are soft and fluffy, tasting like the real deal. They can be coated in a variety of glazes and toppings, such as cinnamon sugar or vanilla glaze, and are ready in just 10 minutes.

Air fryer donuts are less fatty than deep-fried donuts

Air fryers have become one of the hottest new kitchen appliances in recent years, with many people using them to cook doughnuts. While air-fried doughnuts are smaller than their deep-fried counterparts, they are less fatty and still achieve a fluffy texture.

Deep-fried doughnuts are cooked in bubbling hot oil, which activates the yeast and results in puffy doughnuts with a mild overlay of deep-fried flavour. On the other hand, air-fried doughnuts are cooked without submerging them in oil, resulting in a lighter, spongier texture that is slightly chewy.

Air-fried doughnuts are made with the same dough as deep-fried doughnuts, but the hot air of the air fryer does not brown the dough as effectively as hot oil does. This means that air-fried doughnuts may be lighter in colour than deep-fried ones. Additionally, the smaller size of the air fryer's cooking chamber and the powerful fan can distribute heat more quickly, potentially affecting the cooking time and temperature.

By using an air fryer, you can achieve a similar taste and texture to deep-fried doughnuts while reducing the amount of oil needed. This makes air-fried doughnuts a healthier alternative to their deep-fried counterparts.

To make doughnuts in an air fryer, you can follow a recipe that uses a simple yeasted dough. After cutting out the doughnut shapes, let them rise before placing them in the air fryer basket and cooking at a temperature of around 180-350°C for 5-6-8 minutes, or until golden brown.

They are made with the same dough as deep-fried donuts

Air fryer donuts are made with the same dough as deep-fried donuts. The dough is typically a simple yeasted dough, which is soft, fluffy, and elastic. The dough can be made from scratch by mixing together lukewarm milk, yeast, sugar, salt, egg, melted butter, and flour. The dough is then kneaded, either by hand or with a dough hook, until it is smooth and elastic. It is important to be patient with the dough as it is sticky and can take some time to come together.

Once the dough is ready, it is rolled out to about 1/2-inch thickness and cut into donut shapes using a donut cutter or round cookie cutters. The donuts are then placed on a lined baking sheet, covered, and left to rise until doubled in size. This rising process is crucial and can take anywhere from 30 minutes to overnight, depending on the temperature of the room. A warm, draft-free environment is ideal for the dough to rise properly.

After the donuts have risen, they are ready to be cooked in the air fryer. The air fryer basket is sprayed with oil, and the donuts are placed inside in a single layer. They are then cooked at a temperature of around 350°F for about 4-8 minutes, depending on their size, until they are golden brown. It is important to keep an eye on the donuts while they cook, as air fryers can generate intense heat and the donuts can burn easily.

The result is a delicious, fluffy, and crispy donut that is lighter and healthier than its deep-fried counterpart. The hot air of the air fryer creates a crispy exterior and moist interior without absorbing as much oil as the traditional deep-frying method. While they may not have the same deep-fried flavor or color, air fryer donuts are still a tasty treat, especially when topped with a sweet glaze or cinnamon sugar.

You can use biscuit dough for quicker prep

Yes, you can cook doughnuts in an air fryer! They will be fluffy and golden brown, and you can top them with glaze or sugar and cinnamon.

If you want to save time, you can use biscuit dough for quicker prep. This method is perfect if you don't have the time for yeast to rise or for oil to heat up. You can use canned biscuit dough, which is already shaped into rounds and produces taller, flakier doughnuts. Alternatively, you can use crescent roll dough.

To make doughnuts with biscuit dough, start by opening the can of biscuits and cutting out the middle of each one with a small circle cutter or a bottle cap. This will create the doughnut holes. Place the doughnuts and holes on a lined baking sheet and cover them with a clean tea towel. Let them rise in a warm, draft-free place for about 15 to 20 minutes, or until doubled in size.

Next, preheat your air fryer to 350°F to 400°F for about 10 minutes. Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray or a bit of oil to prevent the dough from sticking. Be sure to use an oil spray that is safe for your air fryer, such as olive oil or coconut oil spray, and avoid non-stick cooking sprays.

Working in batches, place 2-3 doughnuts in the air fryer basket, leaving some space between them. Cook the doughnuts for 5 to 8 minutes, or until they are golden brown, flipping them once halfway through. For the doughnut holes, cook them for 3 to 6 minutes.

While the doughnuts are cooling, you can prepare the glaze. You can make a vanilla glaze by whisking together powdered sugar, vanilla, salt, and milk. Or, for a maple glaze, whisk together powdered sugar, maple syrup, maple extract, and milk. You can also simply coat the doughnuts with melted butter and then dip them in a cinnamon-sugar mixture.

Yeast doughnuts take longer to cook than cake doughnuts

Yes, you can cook doughnuts in an air fryer. However, the type of dough you use will determine the cooking time.

Yeast doughnuts are made with a combination of yeast, flour, sugar, eggs, milk, and melted butter. The yeast is the key ingredient, acting as a leavening agent, giving the doughnuts their light and airy texture. The dough is kneaded to develop gluten, which provides structure and allows the doughnuts to puff up in hot oil. After the dough has risen, it is cut and proofed again before frying, resulting in a smooth and pillowy texture.

Cake doughnuts, on the other hand, are typically made with a mixture of butter, sugar, eggs, flour, and baking powder. This creates a thick batter-like dough that is chilled, kneaded, rolled out, and cut into circles. Cake doughnuts are denser than yeast doughnuts due to the absence of gluten development. This higher dough density means cake doughnuts take longer to cook through.

When cooking yeast doughnuts in an air fryer, the process is similar to deep-frying. The dough is prepared, cut into shapes, and left to rise. The air fryer is preheated, and the doughnuts are cooked in batches until golden brown. This typically takes around 5-8 minutes for yeast doughnuts.

Cake doughnuts, being denser, may take slightly longer in the air fryer, but the exact timing will depend on the model and heat intensity of the air fryer. It is important to keep an eye on the doughnuts to ensure they don't burn.

They are best consumed on the day they are made

Air fryer donuts are best consumed on the day they are made. This is because they are made with less oil than deep-fried donuts and tend to dry out faster. They will be at their soft and fluffy best on the day of making, and while they can be stored in an airtight container for a few days, they will become drier and tougher in texture over time.

To keep your donuts as fresh as possible, it is recommended that you let them dry for about 10 minutes after dipping them in glaze so that it sets. You can also reheat any leftover donuts in the air fryer or microwave to freshen them up.

The best way to ensure your donuts are as fresh as can be is to prepare the dough a day ahead and let it rise in the fridge overnight. Then, on the day you want to eat them, you can cut, glaze, and fry them. This way, you can enjoy the full soft and fluffy experience of a freshly made air fryer donut.

Air fryer donuts are a great way to enjoy a treat without the hassle and mess of deep-frying. They are quick and easy to make, and you can coat them in a variety of glazes and toppings, such as cinnamon sugar, vanilla glaze, or sprinkles. So, while they may be best eaten on the day they are made, there are plenty of ways to enjoy them over a few days if you have any leftovers.

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