Air-Fried Donuts: Can You Make Them In A Gowise Fryer?

Air fryers have become one of the most popular kitchen appliances in recent years, and for good reason. They can cook a variety of foods, from roasted veggies to chicken wings, and even desserts like cinnamon rolls. But can you cook donuts in an air fryer, specifically a GoWISE air fryer? The short answer is yes. You can make delicious, diet-friendly donuts in a GoWISE air fryer that are soft on the outside and fluffy on the inside. There are a variety of recipes available, including gluten-free and keto-friendly options, that use different types of flour, such as almond or gluten-free self-rising flour. The key to getting the perfect air-fried donut is in the glaze, which adds sweetness and keeps the donuts soft.

Glazing donuts

There are several ways to glaze your donuts, depending on your preference. Here are some popular options:

Chocolate Glaze

For a chocolate glaze, you can mix powdered sugar, cocoa powder, and milk in a small bowl until smooth. Dip your donuts into the glaze while they are still warm and add sprinkles for a fun touch. This will give your donuts a delicious chocolatey coating.

Vanilla Glaze

To make a vanilla glaze, melt butter, sugar, and vanilla in a small saucepan. Once melted, add hot water a tablespoon at a time until the glaze becomes runny. Dip your donuts in the glaze or brush it on with a pastry brush.

Cinnamon Sugar

A cinnamon-sugar coating is a classic choice for donuts. Mix cinnamon and sugar together in a small bowl. Brush your donuts with melted butter, then sprinkle or roll them in the cinnamon-sugar mixture. This will give your donuts a warm and spicy flavour.

Frosting

If you prefer a thicker, sweeter coating, you can use frosting instead of a glaze. Choose your favourite frosting flavour, such as chocolate or vanilla, and add food colouring if desired. Spread or pipe the frosting onto your donuts and add sprinkles, nuts, or other toppings for extra texture and flavour.

Remember, when glazing your donuts, it's important to work quickly while they are still warm so that the glaze or topping adheres properly. Enjoy experimenting with different glazes and toppings to find your favourite combinations!

Ingredients and prep

There are several recipes for cooking donuts in an air fryer, with different ingredients and prep methods.

One recipe suggests using almond flour, sweetener, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. In a separate bowl, whisk together melted butter, almond milk, egg, and vanilla extract. Whisk the wet mixture into the dry mixture. Transfer the batter into a donut pan, filling them 3/4 full. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown.

Another recipe suggests using Greek yogurt and powdered sugar for the glaze. To make the donuts, add flour and yogurt to a large mixing bowl and mix until a thick dough remains. If the dough is too thin, add more flour, and if it is too thick, add more yogurt.

For gluten-free donuts, use gluten-free self-rising flour and make a chocolate glaze by melting chocolate chips and folding them into the glaze mixture along with melted butter.

To prepare the donuts for cooking in the air fryer, line the air fryer basket with parchment paper. Place 2-4 donuts in the basket, ensuring they are at least half an inch apart to allow room for rising and spreading. Spray the donuts with oil spray and cook at 350F/200C/400F for 7-8 minutes or until firm on the outside and golden brown.

While the donuts are cooking, prepare the glaze by sifting powdered sugar into a large bowl and adding water or milk to create a thick and smooth glaze. You can also make a cinnamon-sweetener mixture by stirring together cinnamon and sweetener.

Once the donuts are cooked and glazed, they can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 1-2 days or in the refrigerator for up to five days. They can also be frozen unglazed and then glazed after reheating in the air fryer.

Diet-friendly donuts

Air fryer donuts are a healthier alternative to deep-fried donuts as they absorb less oil. They are also easy to make and taste like the real deal.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of plain sweetened yogurt
• 1 cup of gluten-free self-rising flour (or regular flour)
• 1/4 cup of powdered sugar for the glaze
• 1-2 tablespoons of water or milk
• 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
• Butter

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl, add your flour and yogurt and mix well, until a thick dough remains. If the dough is too thin, add more flour. If it is too thick, add more yogurt.
• Knead the dough several times until smooth. Divide it into 8 equal portions.
• Roll out each portion of dough into a long, sausage shape and connect both sides to form a donut.
• Line the air fryer basket with parchment paper. Place 2-4 donuts on them, ensuring they are at least half an inch apart.
• Air fry the donuts at 200C/400F for 7-8 minutes or until firm on the outside.
• While the donuts are cooking, stir together the cinnamon and sugar for the coating.
• When the donuts have cooled, brush both sides of one donut with butter, then press/roll in the cinnamon-sugar mixture. Repeat with the remaining donuts.
• For the glaze, sift the powdered sugar into a large bowl. Add 1-2 tablespoons of water or milk and mix until a thick and smooth glaze remains.
• Dip each donut in the glaze and place them on a wire rack.
• Enjoy fresh!

Tips:

• To make these keto-friendly, use almond flour instead of regular flour.
• To make these dairy-free, use a butter alternative or a small amount of oil for brushing.
• To make these gluten-free, use gluten-free self-rising flour.
• Store at room temperature in an airtight container for 1-2 days.

These donuts are a great way to satisfy your sweet tooth while still maintaining a healthy diet!

Yeast dough vs cake-style dough

Yeast doughnuts are made with dough that has been leavened with yeast, which gives them a light, puffy, and slightly chewy texture. The key ingredient, yeast, is combined with flour, sugar, eggs, milk, and butter to create a smooth, pillowy treat. The dough is allowed to rise, cut, and proofed again before being fried in oil. The result is a donut with a subtle fermented tang and a mosaic of air pockets, giving it a puffy and malleable quality.

On the other hand, cake-style doughnuts are made from a batter that uses a chemical leavener such as baking powder or baking soda. The batter is typically a mixture of butter, sugar, eggs, flour, and the leavener. This batter is chilled, kneaded, rolled out, and cut into circles before being fried. Cake doughnuts have a denser, more compact crumb and a sturdy, crisp exterior shell. They are more buttery in taste and are ideal for dunking in coffee.

The main differences between yeast and cake-style doughnuts lie in their ingredients, texture, and flavour. Yeast doughnuts are lighter and fluffier due to the yeast-risen dough, while cake doughnuts have a denser, more cakelike texture. Yeast doughnuts have a subtle fermented flavour, while cake doughnuts are richer and more buttery. Additionally, cake doughnuts are generally smaller, with a puckered hole, while yeast doughnuts are often larger and smoother.

Both types of doughnuts can be glazed, iced, or topped with sprinkles. However, cake doughnuts offer more versatility in terms of flavour as they can be easily adapted to include additional ingredients such as cider, cocoa, or blueberries. They are also quicker to prepare as the yeast dough requires several hours of proofing.

Ultimately, the preference for yeast or cake-style doughnuts is a matter of personal taste. Some people prefer the lighter, fluffier texture of yeast doughnuts, while others enjoy the denser, more cake-like texture of cake doughnuts.

Storing donuts

Donuts are best enjoyed fresh, but if you have any leftovers, storing them correctly will ensure they stay tasty for longer.

The best way to store donuts is in an airtight container at room temperature. They will keep for 1-2 days. If you want to store them for longer, you can put them in the freezer for up to three months. However, this is best for plain or thinly glazed donuts as thick glazes can melt when defrosted. Frosted donuts can also be frozen, but this will take a little longer. You should avoid freezing powdered donuts as they will become soggy.

If you are storing donuts overnight, wrapping them in a napkin and placing them in a paper bag will keep them fresh. You can also store them in their original cardboard box, but be aware that they may not stay fresh for as long as they would in an airtight container.

To reheat your donuts, you can put them in the microwave for 5-15 seconds to soften them, or warm them in the oven for a few minutes to help the oil pick up any sugar.

Frequently asked questions