Air-Fried Yeast Donuts: A Quick, Crispy Treat?

Air fryers have become a popular kitchen appliance in recent years, and for good reason. They can roast vegetables, grill meats, and even make desserts. But can you make yeast donuts in an air fryer? The short answer is yes, it is possible to make yeast donuts in an air fryer. However, the results may vary depending on the recipe and method used.

Some people have found that air fryer yeast donuts turn out light, spongy, and slightly chewy, comparable to deep-fried donuts. Others have noted that air fryer donuts may not rise as much as their deep-fried counterparts and lack the deep-fried flavour and aroma associated with traditional donuts.

To make yeast donuts in an air fryer, you will typically need to activate the yeast by mixing it with warm liquid and sugar. The dry ingredients are then combined with the wet ingredients to form a dough, which is kneaded and allowed to rise. The dough is then cut into donut shapes, placed in the air fryer, and cooked until golden brown. A glaze or topping can be added to the donuts for extra flavour and sweetness.

Overall, while air fryer yeast donuts may not be identical to traditional deep-fried donuts, they can still be a tasty treat and a fun way to use your air fryer.

How to make the dough

To make the dough for yeast donuts in an air fryer, you will need:

• Warm water and/or milk
• Dry active yeast
• Sugar
• Butter
• Egg/s
• Egg yolk
• Vanilla extract
• Flour
• Salt

Start by frothing the yeast. Mix the warm water and/or milk with the yeast and a small amount of sugar in a large measuring cup. Allow the mixture to froth up and rise for about 5-10 minutes. If it doesn't froth, your yeast may be too old or too cold, so discard the mixture and start again.

Next, add the rest of your ingredients to a stand mixer. You can add the yeast mixture at this stage or pour it in once the other ingredients have been combined. Mix on a low speed until the flour is incorporated, then increase the speed and beat for around 5 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add a little more flour if the mixture is too sticky. Be careful not to add too much flour, as this will dry out your dough.

Now, place your dough in a large, greased bowl and cover it with plastic wrap or a kitchen towel. Leave the dough to rise for about an hour, or until it has doubled in size. Then, punch it down to release air bubbles and transfer it to a floured surface.

Using a rolling pin, roll out the dough to about 1/2 inch in thickness. Use a donut cutter or two different-sized biscuit cutters to cut out your donut shapes. Keep reshaping the scraps and cutting out more donuts until all the dough is used up. Place the cut-out donuts on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and cover them lightly. Let them rise again for about 20-30 minutes.

Your dough is now ready to be cooked in the air fryer!

How to shape the donuts

Shaping yeast donuts for an air fryer is a simple process. After preparing the yeast dough, roll it out to about a 1/2-inch thickness on a lightly floured surface. You can use a rolling pin to achieve this.

Next, use a donut cutter or biscuit cutters to cut out the donut shapes. If you don't have a donut cutter, you can use a 3-inch and a 1-inch round cookie cutter to cut out the donuts. You can also get creative and use other items in your kitchen, such as a wide drinking glass or a wide-mouth canning ring with a shot glass.

Once you've cut out the shapes, place the donuts on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. If you have any leftover dough scraps, gather them, roll them out again, and cut out more donuts until you've used up all the dough. Cover the cut-out donuts lightly and let them rise again for about 20-30 minutes.

Now you're ready to preheat your air fryer and cook your delicious homemade donuts!

How to make the glaze

Making a glaze for your yeast doughnuts is easy and only requires a few ingredients.

For a simple glaze, you will need milk or cream, confectioners' sugar, and vanilla extract. You can whisk these ingredients together, and dunk each side of your warm doughnuts into the glaze. The glaze will set in about 20 minutes.

For a glaze that dries into a crackly glaze, you will need unsalted butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. Melt the butter and stir in the sugar and vanilla extract until smooth. Remove from the heat and stir in hot water, one tablespoon at a time, until the icing is thin but not watery.

You can also make a maple glaze by stirring together powdered sugar and maple syrup. For a chocolate glaze, you can add unsweetened cocoa powder to the basic glaze ingredients, or melt some chocolate and add a bit of butter.

How to store the donuts

Yeast donuts made in an air fryer are best consumed fresh. However, if you have leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container at room temperature for 1-2 days.

• Avoid the refrigerator: Refrigeration can affect the texture of your yeast donuts, making them dry and dense.
• Choose a cool, dry spot: Keep the donuts in a dry, draft-free area of your kitchen, such as a cupboard, away from direct sunlight.
• Use an airtight container: Sealing the donuts in an airtight container helps retain moisture and prevents staleness. If stacking them, place parchment paper between each donut to prevent sticking.
• Avoid freezing glazed donuts: While you can freeze yeast donuts, the glaze may melt and be absorbed into the donut, resulting in a sticky mess. Instead, freeze unglazed donuts and glaze them after reheating.
• Reheat gently: To reheat frozen donuts, place them in an air fryer or microwave for a few seconds to restore their softness.

By following these storage guidelines, you can extend the freshness of your yeast donuts and enjoy them for a couple of days.

How to adapt the recipe

Ingredients

• You can substitute gluten-free flour for regular flour, using a 1:1 ratio.
• If you don't have access to an ingredient, such as corn syrup, you can omit it and add more sugar to thicken the glaze.
• If you don't want to glaze the donuts, you can brush them with melted butter and toss them in cinnamon sugar when they're still hot.

Method

• If you don't have a stand mixer, you can mix the dough by hand. Combine the ingredients as directed, stirring together with a wooden spoon until the mixture is shaggy. Turn out the dough onto a floured surface and knead by hand until smooth and elastic, which should take about 5 minutes.
• If you don't have a donut cutter, you can use biscuit cutters or a wide drinking glass and a shot glass to cut out the donut shapes.
• If you don't have a 1-inch cookie cutter to cut out the donut hole, use the base of a large pastry tip.
• If you want to make donut holes, use the dough that you cut out from the middle of the donuts.
• If you want to fill your donuts, pipe in your chosen filling (such as chocolate or cream) into donuts without a hole.
• If you want to add toppings, do so while the donuts are still warm. You can use sprinkles, chocolate ganache, crushed breakfast cereal, cinnamon sugar, caramel, or even chopped crispy bacon.
• If you want to make the donuts in advance, follow the recipe up until cutting out the donut shapes, then place them on a baking sheet in the fridge. They can be stored overnight or for a couple of days. Allow them to rest at room temperature for an hour before air-frying.

Frequently asked questions