Making Donuts In An Air Fryer: Is It Possible?

Yes, you can make delicious donuts in an air fryer! They are light, fluffy, and crispy, with a soft and fluffy inside and a crisp exterior. They are also healthier than deep-fried donuts as they absorb less oil. You can make them from scratch or use canned biscuit dough as a shortcut. If you want to make them from scratch, you will need milk, yeast, butter, powdered sugar, and oil spray. The process involves making the dough, letting it rise, cutting out the donuts, and then air frying them before glazing or coating them in cinnamon sugar.

Yeast dough vs. biscuit dough

Yeast dough and biscuit dough are two different types of dough that can be used to make donuts, each with its own unique characteristics and outcomes. Here's a detailed comparison between the two:

Ingredients:

• Yeast Dough: This dough typically contains ingredients such as milk, yeast, sugar, eggs, butter, salt, vanilla extract, nutmeg, and all-purpose flour. The yeast is activated by mixing it with warm milk and a small amount of sugar.
• Biscuit Dough: Biscuit dough typically uses canned biscuit dough, which may contain a long list of ingredients. It is a shortcut that many people use, but it results in donuts that taste more like biscuits with sugar on top rather than traditional donuts.

Texture and Taste:

• Yeast Dough: Donuts made with yeast dough are usually light, airy, and puffy, with a thin, fragile crust. They have a mild deep-fried flavor and are often compared to baked rings of yeast dough dipped in glaze. The yeast in the dough reacts to the hot oil during frying, resulting in puffier donuts.
• Biscuit Dough: Biscuit dough donuts tend to be denser and heavier, with a texture similar to baked goods. They may not have the same level of lightness and airiness as yeast dough donuts.

Preparation and Cooking:

• Yeast Dough: Working with yeast dough requires time and patience. It involves multiple steps, including preparing the dough, letting it rise, punching it down, shaping the donuts, and frying or air frying. Yeast dough donuts can be fried in hot oil or cooked in an air fryer, resulting in slightly different outcomes.
• Biscuit Dough: Biscuit dough is often seen as a quicker and easier option. Canned biscuit dough can be cut into donut shapes and cooked in an air fryer. However, as mentioned earlier, the taste and texture may not be as authentic as yeast dough donuts.

Donut Varieties:

• Yeast Dough: Yeast dough is commonly used for creating classic, nostalgic fried donuts, such as Boston Kreme or Krispy Kreme. These donuts often have cream, jelly, or more tender doughnut fillings. Yeast-raised donuts are also suitable for various colorful sugar glazes and decorations.
• Biscuit Dough: Biscuit dough is typically used for creating cake-style donuts, which are denser and have a higher hydration level than yeast doughnuts. Cake-style donuts are less suitable for frying and may not rise as well, resulting in a drier texture.

Glaze and Toppings:

• Yeast Dough: Yeast doughnuts are often glazed with a simple sugar glaze or dipped in a glaze made with butter, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and milk. The glaze adds sweetness and helps keep the donuts soft. Yeast doughnuts are also suitable for various other toppings, such as sprinkles.
• Biscuit Dough: Biscuit doughnuts can be coated in cinnamon sugar or dipped in a glaze. However, the glaze may not have the same effect on keeping the donuts soft as it does with yeast doughnuts.

In conclusion, yeast dough and biscuit dough each have their advantages and disadvantages when it comes to making donuts. Yeast dough requires more time and preparation but results in lighter, airier, and more traditional fried donuts. Biscuit dough is quicker and easier but may not deliver the same level of authenticity in terms of taste and texture. Ultimately, the choice between yeast dough and biscuit dough depends on the desired outcome and the time one is willing to invest in preparing the donuts.

Glaze ingredients

The Basics

There are a few staple ingredients that you will need to make a glaze for your air-fried donuts. These include:

• Powdered sugar / confectioner's sugar: This is the key ingredient that will give your glaze that sweet, sugary taste.
• Milk: Milk is used to thin out the glaze and make it easier to dip your donuts. You can use anything from skimmed milk to full-fat milk, or even non-dairy alternatives.
• Vanilla extract: Vanilla adds a warm, sweet flavour to your glaze. You can also use vanilla bean paste, but be aware that some vanilla extracts can add a brown hue to your glaze.

Optional Extras

While the above ingredients form the base of your glaze, you can also experiment with adding other ingredients to change the flavour and consistency:

• Salt: Adding a pinch of salt to your glaze can help to balance out the sweetness and enhance the other flavours.
• Butter: Melted butter can be added for extra flavour.
• Fruit juice: Try replacing the milk with your favourite fruit juice for a fruity twist on the classic glaze.
• Other extracts or citrus zest: Experiment with different extracts or zests, such as orange or lemon, to create unique glaze flavours.

The exact quantities of each ingredient will depend on how much glaze you want to make, and how thick or thin you want it to be. As a general rule, you will need more powdered sugar than milk, and you can add your other ingredients to taste. Here are a couple of example recipes to give you an idea of the proportions to use:

Recipe 1:

• 6 tbsp unsalted butter
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 2 tsp vanilla extract

Recipe 2:

• 4 cups confectioner's sugar
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 10-12 tbsp milk or cream

Air fryer temperature

For example, one recipe recommends preheating the air fryer to 350°F and cooking the donuts for about 4 minutes until golden brown. Another recipe suggests preheating the air fryer to 375°F and cooking the donuts for about 5 minutes, turning them once, until golden brown and puffed.

It is important to note that air fryer temperatures can vary between brands and models, so it is recommended to keep a close eye on the donuts during the cooking process to ensure they do not overcook or burn.

Additionally, the temperature will also depend on the type of donut being made. For instance, yeast-raised donuts cook at 350°F for about 4 minutes, while cake-style donuts may require a slightly lower temperature of 325°F and a longer cooking time of about 7 minutes.

Furthermore, when making donut holes, which are smaller in size, the cooking time is reduced to 6 minutes for a big air fryer or 3 to 4 minutes for a smaller air fryer.

By adjusting the temperature and cooking time, you can create delicious, evenly cooked donuts with a crispy exterior and a soft, fluffy interior.

Donut shape

To make a donut shape, you will need to cut a hole in the centre of your dough. You can do this by using a donut cutter, or a biscuit cutter set, which will give you two different-sized circles to cut out. Alternatively, you can use a wide drinking glass or a wide-mouth canning ring, and a shot glass. You can also use a 1-inch round biscuit or cookie cutter, or even the base of a large pastry tip. If you don't have any of these, just look around your kitchen and get creative!

To make donut holes, simply use the dough that you cut out from the middle of the donut.

If you are using canned biscuit dough, you can use a 1-inch round biscuit cutter, or similarly-sized bottle cap, to cut holes out of the centre of each biscuit.

If you are using a donut pan, place each biscuit round into the pan, gently pressing it into the mould to shape the biscuit slightly.

Storing donuts

Storing Yeast Doughnuts:

Yeast doughnuts are the fluffy, lightweight treats we all know and love. The best way to store them is in an airtight container or Ziplock bag at room temperature. You can also use aluminium foil, but it may not be as effective at keeping air out. Avoid putting them in the fridge unless they have a cream filling, in which case, they should not be left unrefrigerated for more than two hours. Yeast doughnuts can be safely kept at room temperature for one to two days.

Storing Cake Doughnuts:

Cake doughnuts are denser and can be stored similarly to yeast doughnuts but for a longer period. They can be kept in an airtight container at room temperature for up to five to six days, as long as they don't have any dairy-based fillings.

If you have a large number of donuts, simply keeping the closed boxes in a cool spot, such as on the counter or in a cupboard, will work fine. If the donuts are from a bakery and come in a cardboard box, you can leave them in the box, but be aware that since these boxes aren't airtight, the donuts will stay fresh longer if you wrap them in plastic or foil.

To store donuts overnight, wrap them in a napkin and place them in a paper bag. This will help keep them fresh until the next morning.

You can freeze donuts, but be aware that this works best with plain or thinly glazed varieties. Frosted donuts can also be frozen, but it will take an extra step. Avoid freezing powdered donuts as they will become soggy when thawed. The best way to freeze donuts is to place them flat in a large freezer bag, separating them with wax paper if stacking. For frosted donuts, arrange them in a single layer on a tray and freeze until the frosting is solid, then transfer to a freezer bag. Donuts can be frozen for up to three months.

Reviving Stale Donuts:

If your donuts have gone stale, you can revive them by popping them in the microwave for around 15 seconds to soften them. You can also reheat them in the air fryer or microwave to freshen them up.

Remember, the key to storing donuts is to keep them away from moisture and direct sunlight, and to consume them as soon as possible to enjoy them at their freshest and most delicious!

Frequently asked questions