Air-Fryer Donuts: The Quick And Easy Way

Making donuts in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to satisfy your sweet tooth without the mess of deep-frying. The process is simple: prepare your dough, cut it into donut shapes, and air fry until golden brown. You can make your dough from scratch or use a canned biscuit mix. While the from-scratch method may be more time-consuming, it yields a more authentic donut experience.

Regardless of your dough choice, the air fryer's convection heat will cook your donuts to a golden brown in just a few minutes. You can then top them with a variety of glazes or coatings, such as a classic sugar glaze, cinnamon sugar, or even chocolate. So, if you're craving a delicious, crispy, and fluffy donut without the hassle of deep-frying, give the air fryer method a try!

Choosing the right ingredients

Yeast or No Yeast?

The first decision you need to make is whether to use yeast in your donuts. Yeast is a leavening agent that helps the dough rise and gives donuts their characteristic fluffy texture. If you decide to use yeast, make sure to choose active dry yeast and check the expiration date before starting.

Milk

Milk is another crucial ingredient in donut-making. It serves as the liquid base for the dough and helps activate the yeast. Opt for warm whole milk, ensuring it's between 105-110°F (41-43°C). Milk that is too hot will kill the yeast, while cold milk won't activate it properly. Additionally, milk adds flavour to your glaze.

Butter

Unsalted butter is the preferred choice for donut recipes. This is because the amount of salt in salted butter varies between brands, and you want to be consistent with your measurements.

Sugar

Sugar is a key ingredient in donut-making, providing sweetness and flavour. You'll need granulated sugar for the dough and powdered/confectioners' sugar for the glaze. The sugar also plays a role in the browning and crisping of the exterior during frying.

Oil

When it comes to oil, you'll want to use a cooking spray specifically designed for air fryers. Coconut or olive oil-based sprays are recommended. Avoid non-stick sprays like PAM, as they can damage the air fryer's coating.

Flour

All-purpose flour is the standard choice for donuts, but you can also experiment with self-rising flour or gluten-free alternatives. Just remember that different types of flour may yield varying results in terms of texture and fluffiness.

Extras

Finally, you can add extras like cinnamon, vanilla extract, and sprinkles to enhance the flavour and visual appeal of your donuts.

Remember, the quality of your ingredients will impact the final product, so choose fresh, high-quality items whenever possible. Happy frying!

Preparing the dough

The first step in making donuts in an air fryer is preparing the dough. Here is a detailed guide on how to do it:

• Mixing the ingredients: In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, mix the dry ingredients, including flour, sugar, and yeast. Then, add wet ingredients such as milk, butter, and eggs, if using. Mix until a thick dough forms. You can do this by hand or using a stand mixer with a dough hook attachment.
• Kneading the dough: Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead the dough until it becomes smooth and elastic. This process helps develop the gluten in the dough, which gives the donuts their characteristic chewy texture.
• First rise: Transfer the dough to a lightly oiled bowl and cover it with plastic wrap or a damp cloth. Let the dough rise in a warm, draft-free place until it doubles in size. This process allows the yeast to activate and produce air bubbles, making the dough light and airy.
• Punching and rolling: Once the dough has doubled in size, punch it down to release the air. Then, on a lightly floured surface, roll the dough to a thickness of about 1/2 inch. Use a donut cutter or biscuit cutters to cut out the donuts and donut holes. You can also use a drinking glass or a wide-mouth canning ring if you don't have a donut cutter.
• Second rise: Place the cut-out donuts and donut holes on a parchment-lined baking sheet or tray. Loosely cover them and let them rise again in a warm, draft-free place until they double in size. This second rise gives the donuts their final shape and ensures they are light and fluffy.

Now that the dough is prepared, you can move on to cooking the donuts in your air fryer!

Shaping the donuts

Firstly, prepare your workspace by lightly flouring a clean surface. This will prevent the dough from sticking as you work with it. Then, transfer your prepared dough to the floured surface.

Next, begin to knead the dough. The dough should be soft and slightly sticky, so resist the temptation to add more flour. Knead the dough until it becomes smooth and elastic. This process should take around 5 minutes if you are doing it by hand, and less time if you are using a stand mixer with a dough hook.

Once your dough is kneaded, it's time to divide it and shape it into individual donuts. Use a sharp knife or a dough scraper to divide the dough into equal portions. The number of portions will depend on the size of your donuts; for smaller donuts, you may want to make 8-12 portions, while for larger donuts, you may only need 4-6 portions.

Take one portion of the dough and roll it into a long, thin sausage shape. You can do this by gently rolling the dough back and forth with your hands on the floured surface. Once you have your sausage shape, carefully connect the two ends to form a circle or ring. Ensure that the ends are securely sealed by pinching them together.

Repeat this process for the remaining portions of dough. As you shape each donut, place them on a large rimmed baking sheet or tray lined with parchment paper. Leave some space between each donut to prevent them from sticking together as they rise.

After shaping all your donuts, cover them loosely with greased plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel. Let the donuts rise in a warm, draft-free place until they have doubled in size. This process may take around 15-30 minutes, depending on the temperature of your kitchen.

Finally, once your donuts have risen, they are ready to be cooked in your air fryer! Preheat your air fryer to the recommended temperature, usually around 350°F-400°F. Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray or oil, and carefully place the donuts inside, working in batches if necessary.

Remember, the key to successful donut shaping is to ensure your dough is soft and pliable, create evenly sized portions, and allow sufficient time for the donuts to rise before cooking.

Air frying

Air fryers have become one of the most popular new kitchen appliances in recent years. They can cook food superbly and very quickly, and are great for roasting vegetables and grilling meats and fish.

You can also make desserts in an air fryer, such as air fryer donuts. These are healthier than deep-fried donuts as they absorb less oil, but the hot air in the air fryer will still leave you with a crispy exterior and moist interior. They are also a good option in the summer as they don't heat up the entire kitchen.

How to Make Air Fryer Donuts

There are a few different methods for making air fryer donuts. Most recipes suggest making the donuts from scratch, but you can also use store-bought biscuit dough.

Making Donuts from Scratch

To make donuts from scratch, you will need the following ingredients:

• Milk
• Yeast
• Butter
• Eggs
• Flour
• Salt
• Sugar
• Powdered sugar
• Vanilla extract
• Oil spray

First, activate the yeast by sprinkling it over lukewarm milk and adding a little sugar. Let the mixture sit for about ten minutes until it becomes frothy.

Next, add the remaining dough ingredients and knead the dough in a stand mixer until it is elastic and smooth. Place the dough in a greased bowl and cover it with plastic wrap. Let it rise in a warm place until it has doubled in size.

Roll out the dough to about 1/2 inch thickness on a lightly floured surface. Use a donut cutter or biscuit cutters to cut out the donuts. You can also use a wide drinking glass or wide-mouth canning ring and a shot glass if you don't have biscuit cutters.

Place the donuts on a large rimmed baking sheet in a single layer on parchment paper lightly dusted in flour. Cover and let rise again until doubled in size.

Preheat your air fryer to 350°F. Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray and carefully place the donuts inside, about 1 inch apart. Lightly spray the tops with oil before air frying for around 6-8 minutes, or until golden brown.

Using Store-Bought Biscuit Dough

If you want to save time, you can use store-bought biscuit dough instead of making the dough from scratch. You will need a tube of biscuits, cinnamon-sugar, butter, and vanilla extract.

Preheat your air fryer to 375°F and separate the biscuits. Cut out the biscuit centers using a 1-inch cutter and place the doughnuts in the air fryer in a single layer on a greased tray. Cook until golden brown and puffed, about five minutes, turning once.

Brush the cooked doughnuts with melted butter and toss them in the cinnamon-sugar. Serve warm.

Tips for Making Air Fryer Donuts

• Avoid using non-stick cooking spray as this can damage the non-stick coating of the air fryer basket. Instead, use olive oil or coconut oil spray.
• Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket as the doughnuts need room to rise and spread.
• The time it takes for your donut dough to rise depends on the temperature of your kitchen. The ideal temperature for the dough to rise is between 75 to 78°F.
• Don't skip the double rise and be careful not to overmix the dough.
• Don't roll out the dough too thin, or the donuts will be flat.
• Don't wait too long to glaze your donuts. You want the donuts to still be warm so the glaze sets, but if they're too hot, the glaze will slide off.

Storing Air Fryer Donuts

Air fryer donuts are best consumed on the same day they are made, but you can store any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 2-3 days. You can also freeze them for up to three months.

Glazing

There are many different ways to glaze your air-fried donuts. A simple glaze can be made by mixing together butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. You can also add hot water to this mixture to make it thinner, or milk instead of water for extra flavor. For a chocolate glaze, simply melt somechocolate chips and fold them into the glaze mixture, along with some melted butter.

If you're not a fan of glaze, you can simply dust your donuts with powdered sugar or cinnamon sugar. For a more colorful treat, top your donuts with sprinkles or shaved almonds.

For a maple glaze, stir together powdered sugar and maple syrup. Or, for a savory twist, sprinkle on some crispy bacon bits. You can also make a cinnamon sugar coating by combining granulated sugar and cinnamon and spraying your donuts with oil before dipping them in the mixture.

Frequently asked questions