Air Fryer Doughnuts: Frying Time For Perfect Dough

Air fryers have become a popular kitchen appliance in recent years, and for good reason—they can cook food quickly and with less oil than traditional frying methods. But can you make doughnuts in an air fryer? The answer is yes, but the results may vary depending on the type of dough and cooking method used.

Some recipes for air-fried doughnuts use canned biscuit dough, which is a quick and convenient option. However, making doughnuts from scratch with a simple yeast dough will yield more authentic-tasting results. The dough for air-fried doughnuts is typically made with all-purpose flour, sugar, yeast, milk, eggs, and butter. It's important to let the dough rise in a warm, draft-free place until it has doubled in size before cooking.

When cooking doughnuts in an air fryer, it's best to work in batches to avoid overcrowding the basket. The cooking time will depend on the size and model of your air fryer, but it typically ranges from 4 to 8 minutes for big doughnuts and 3 to 6 minutes for doughnut holes. It's also important to note that air-fried doughnuts may not brown as evenly as traditional fried doughnuts, and they may be slightly smaller in size.

Overall, air-fried doughnuts can be a delicious treat, but they may not replicate the classic, nostalgic fried doughnut experience.

How to make the dough

Making doughnuts from scratch in an air fryer is easier than you might think. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to make the dough:

Ingredients

Firstly, you will need the following ingredients:

• All-purpose flour
• Powdered/confectioners' sugar
• Cane sugar or granulated sugar
• Instant dry yeast or active dry yeast
• Salt
• Warm milk (whole or low-fat) at around 100°F to 110°F (lukewarm)
• Egg(s) at room temperature
• Unsalted melted butter
• Cinnamon (optional)
• Vanilla extract (optional)

Making the Dough

• In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, yeast, sugar, powdered sugar, and salt.
• Add the milk, egg, and melted butter to the bowl. Set aside about 3 tablespoons of melted butter to use later.
• Knead the mixture with an electric mixer or by hand until you have a soft and slightly sticky dough, which should take about 5 minutes. If the dough is too sticky, add a little flour. If it feels too dry, add a little more warm milk.
• Cover the bowl with a lid or plastic wrap and let the dough rise in a warm, draft-free place for about an hour. Alternatively, you can use a bread maker or multicooker with a bread rise mode for 30-40 minutes.
• On a lightly floured surface, gently roll out the dough to about 0.5 inches thick.
• Use a 3-inch or 4-inch round cutter to cut circles from the dough, and a 1-inch round cutter to make holes in the centre. You can also use a drinking glass or wide-mouth canning ring and a shot glass if you don't have biscuit cutters.
• Cover the doughnuts with a dishtowel or plastic wrap and let the dough rise for another 20-30 minutes.

Now your dough is ready to be cooked in the air fryer!

How to shape the doughnuts

Shaping your doughnuts is a crucial step in the doughnut-making process. Here is a detailed, step-by-step guide on how to shape your doughnuts:

Firstly, once your dough is ready, punch it down to release the air. This step is important to remove any air bubbles that may have formed during the rising process. Then, remove the dough from the bowl and place it on a lightly floured surface.

Next, use a rolling pin to roll out the dough until it reaches a thickness of about 1/2 inch. This thickness will ensure your doughnuts are light and fluffy. Then, use a doughnut cutter or a round cookie cutter to cut out the doughnuts. A 3-3.5 inch cutter is ideal for the doughnuts, and a smaller cutter or shot glass for the holes. If you don't have a cutter, you can use a wide drinking glass or a wide-mouth canning ring.

Re-roll any scraps of dough and cut out more doughnuts. Place the cut doughnuts and doughnut holes on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Cover them loosely with greased plastic wrap and let them rest while you prepare the oil or preheat your air fryer. They will rise slightly as they rest.

If you're making filled doughnuts, you can use a biscuit or doughnut cutter without a hole in the centre. For these, you will need to reduce the oil temperature or air fryer temperature to 350°F (177°C).

Now your doughnuts are shaped and ready for the next steps of the cooking process!

How to cook the doughnuts

Now that you've prepared your dough, it's time to cook your doughnuts! Here's a step-by-step guide:

• Preheat your air fryer: Set your air fryer to 350°F - 375°F.
• Prepare the air fryer basket: Lightly spray or brush the air fryer basket with oil. Avoid using non-stick cooking sprays, as these can damage the coating of the basket. Instead, opt for olive oil or coconut oil spray.
• Place the doughnuts in the air fryer: Carefully place the doughnuts in a single layer in the air fryer basket, making sure they are not overcrowded and have some space between them. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook them in batches.
• Cook the doughnuts: For yeast-raised doughnuts, cook at 350°F for about 4 minutes, or until golden brown. For cake-style doughnuts, cook at 350°F for about 7 minutes. Flip the doughnuts halfway through the cooking time to ensure even cooking.
• Cook the donut holes: Don't forget to cook the donut holes! These will take less time than the full-sized doughnuts, around 3-4 minutes.
• Prepare the glaze or coating (optional): While the doughnuts are cooking, prepare your glaze or coating. For a simple glaze, whisk together powdered sugar, milk, melted butter, and vanilla extract. For a cinnamon-sugar coating, combine cinnamon and sugar in a shallow dish.
• Glaze or coat the doughnuts: If you're glazing the doughnuts, dip them into the glaze while they are still warm. If you're coating them with cinnamon-sugar, brush the cooked doughnuts with melted butter and then toss them in the cinnamon-sugar mixture.
• Allow the glaze to set: If you've glazed your doughnuts, place them on a wire rack and let the glaze set for about 5-10 minutes before serving.

Your homemade air-fried doughnuts are now ready to be enjoyed! For the best taste and texture, it's recommended to consume them fresh, but you can also store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.

How to make a glaze

Ingredients

You will need the following ingredients to make a glaze for your doughnuts:

• Powdered sugar, also known as confectioner's sugar or icing sugar
• Milk or a non-dairy alternative. You can also use cream or fruit juice for a thicker, more indulgent glaze.
• Vanilla extract. You can also use vanilla bean paste or another extract or citrus zest for a different flavour profile.
• A pinch of salt, which is optional but helps to balance the sweetness of the other ingredients.

Method

• Start by adding the sugar to a bowl. If your sugar is lumpy, you can sift it first to eliminate any lumps.
• Next, add your liquid.
• Add the vanilla and/or salt, if using.
• Mix the ingredients until you have a smooth, fluid glaze.
• Dunk your doughnuts into the glaze, or brush it on with a pastry brush.
• Allow the glaze to set. This should take around 10-20 minutes, but you can also place the doughnuts in the fridge to speed up the process.

Flavour Variations

You can experiment with different flavour combinations by swapping out the milk with fruit juice, or replacing the vanilla with other extracts or citrus zest. For example, you could make a maple glaze by mixing powdered sugar with maple syrup. Or, for a chocolate glaze, simply add cocoa powder to the basic glaze ingredients.

How to store the doughnuts

Storing your doughnuts correctly is essential to keep them as delicious and fresh as possible. Here is a detailed guide on how to store your doughnuts:

Storing Yeast Doughnuts

Yeast doughnuts are the fluffy, lightweight treats we all know and love. To store them, use an airtight container or Ziplock bag. You can also use aluminium foil, but it may not be as effective at keeping air out. You can keep yeast doughnuts at room temperature for one to two days, as long as they don't have a cream filling. Keep them out of direct sunlight to prevent drying or mould.

Storing Cake Doughnuts

Cake doughnuts are denser than yeast doughnuts and can be stored similarly but for longer. They can be kept in an airtight container at room temperature for about five to six days, as long as they don't have any dairy-based fillings. If you have a cardboard box, you can keep them in that, but wrap them in plastic or foil first as cardboard is not airtight.

Freezing Doughnuts

You can freeze doughnuts, but be aware that this works best with plain or thinly-glazed varieties. A thick glaze may melt when defrosted. Frosted doughnuts can be frozen, but it will take an extra step. Avoid freezing powdered doughnuts as they will become soggy. If possible, freeze doughnuts without cream, jelly or custard fillings as these will make the dough soggy.

How to Freeze Doughnuts

Place plain, glazed or cake doughnuts flat in a large freezer bag. If stacking, separate with wax paper. Press the sides of the bag to remove excess air before placing in the freezer. For frosted doughnuts, arrange in a single layer on a tray and freeze for about an hour, or until the frosting freezes, to prevent it from sticking to other doughnuts or the bag.

How to Thaw Doughnuts

Place doughnuts in the microwave and heat for about 10-15 seconds, then in short 5-second intervals until they are thawed. If your doughnuts are plain, wait until they cool before glazing, frosting or filling. You can also thaw doughnuts in the fridge overnight. Do not leave them to thaw on the counter as this can cause harmful bacteria to grow.

Frequently asked questions