Air Fryer Donut Holes: The Quick, Easy, And Tasty Treat!

Air fryer donut holes are a quick and easy treat that can be made for any occasion. They are soft, warm, and fluffy, with a slightly crisp exterior. The air fryer makes these treats perfectly soft on the inside, and the addition of melted butter creates a wonderful coating of cinnamon and sugar. The best part about this recipe is that it offers a lot of room for experimentation. You can use store-bought biscuit dough or make the dough from scratch. You can also play around with different toppings and coatings, such as vanilla glaze, strawberry glaze, cream cheese glaze, sprinkles, or even a simple cinnamon-sugar mixture.

Choosing the right ingredients

Dough Options:

• Basic Dough Ingredients: The most common ingredients for the dough include all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, butter, milk, an egg, and a leavening agent like baking powder or yeast. Cinnamon is also a popular addition for extra flavour.
• Greek Yogurt Dough: For an even simpler approach, you can make a two-ingredient dough with plain Greek yogurt and self-rising flour. This versatile dough can be used for bagels, bread, and pizza too.
• Biscuit Dough: If you're short on time, you can use pre-made biscuit dough, such as Pillsbury Grands Flaky Layers or Southern Homestyle Biscuits. Cut the biscuits into quarters to create donut "holes."

Toppings and Coatings:

• Cinnamon Sugar: The classic choice for donut holes is a delicious combination of cinnamon and sugar. Mix these two ingredients in a bowl, and coat your freshly fried donuts by rolling them in the mixture.
• Melted Butter: For an extra decadent treat, dip your donut holes in melted butter before coating them in cinnamon sugar. This step is optional but adds a thick and tasty layer to your treats.
• Glaze: If you want to get creative, you can make a simple glaze by whisking together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract. Alternatively, you can dip your donut holes in chocolate or strawberry glaze for an indulgent finish.

Other Tips:

• Leavening Agents: If you're using yeast, ensure it's active by combining it with milk and sugar and allowing it to become foamy. If using instant rise yeast, you can skip this step. For a quicker option, use baking powder instead of yeast, but note that your donut holes will be denser.
• Temperature: When melting butter or heating milk, aim for a warm temperature, around 100°F (38°C). This will help activate the yeast and prevent scorching.
• Salt: While not always included, a pinch of salt can enhance the flavour of your donut holes.
• Spices: Experiment with spices like nutmeg and ground cloves for added warmth and a unique twist.

Preparing the dough

Ingredients

Firstly, gather your ingredients. For a basic dough, you will need flour, sugar, butter, milk, and yeast. You can also add spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, and ground cloves for extra flavour. If you want to ensure your dough has a good rise, use baking powder or yeast.

Mixing

In a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients, including the flour, sugar, and any spices or raising agents. In a separate bowl, mix the wet ingredients, such as milk, melted butter, and eggs. Once both mixtures are ready, slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry ones, stirring continuously until a dough begins to form.

Kneading

Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and begin to knead it gently. Kneading helps to develop the gluten in the dough, which gives the donut holes their chewy texture. Knead for about 2-3 minutes, or until the dough feels smooth and elastic.

First Rise

Once you're happy with your dough, place it in a lightly oiled bowl and set it aside to rise. Choose a warm spot in your kitchen, and let the dough rest until it has doubled in size. This process should take around 2 hours, depending on the temperature of your kitchen.

Shaping

After the dough has risen, transfer it back to a floured surface. Do not punch it down or knead it again; simply cut it into small pieces and shape them into balls. This recipe should yield around 20 small donut holes, depending on your desired size. Place the shaped dough balls on a baking sheet and let them rise for an additional 45 minutes.

Cooking

Once your dough has risen for the second time, it's ready to be cooked in the air fryer. Place a few donut holes into the air fryer basket, making sure they are spaced out and not overcrowded. Set your air fryer to 350-375°F and cook the donut holes for 6-8 minutes, or until they are golden brown. Repeat this process with the remaining dough.

Coating

For a delicious coating, melt some butter in one bowl and combine cinnamon and sugar in another bowl. While the donut holes are still warm, roll them in the melted butter, followed by the cinnamon-sugar mixture. Ensure they are completely coated, and then place them on a wire rack to cool.

Your air fryer donut holes are now ready to be enjoyed! You can experiment with different coatings or dips, such as chocolate sauce or vanilla glaze, to create a variety of tasty treats.

Shaping the doughnuts

Begin by preparing your workspace. Lightly flour a clean surface, such as a countertop or a cutting board. This step is important as it prevents the dough from sticking and makes it easier to handle. Once you have a suitable work area, you're ready to start shaping.

After your dough has risen, gently transfer it to the floured surface. It's important to note that you should not punch down or deflate the dough. Using a sharp knife or a dough scraper, carefully cut the dough into small, evenly sized pieces. The number of pieces will depend on the size of donut holes you desire. For a bite-sized treat, aim for around 20 pieces.

Using your hands, gently shape each piece of dough into a ball. This step may take some time, but it's important to ensure that the dough is rolled smoothly and evenly. Place the shaped dough balls on a baking sheet or a large plate, making sure they are not overcrowded. Leave them to rise for a specified amount of time, which can vary depending on the recipe. This second rise is crucial as it allows the dough to become airy and fluffy.

Once the dough balls have risen, they are ready to be placed in the air fryer. Depending on the capacity of your air fryer, you may need to cook them in batches to avoid overcrowding. Carefully place the doughnuts into the air fryer basket, leaving some space between each one. Now, you can proceed with the cooking process, following the temperature and timing guidelines provided in your chosen recipe.

Remember, shaping the doughnuts is a delicate process, and it may take some practice to get them perfectly round and uniform in size. Don't be discouraged if your first attempts are not perfect—practice makes perfect!

Cooking the doughnuts

Now that you've prepared your dough and have your air fryer ready to go, it's time to cook your doughnuts! The great thing about air fryers is that they cook doughnuts quickly and easily, without the mess of deep frying.

First, preheat your air fryer to 350-360°F. While it's heating up, you can prepare your dough by rolling it into small balls, or cutting biscuits into quarters to create the doughnut "holes". You can also make a cinnamon and sugar mixture by combining cinnamon and sugar in a bowl; you can also add in some nutmeg for a little extra warmth and tang. If you want a glaze, you can whisk together some powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla.

Once your air fryer is ready, place your doughnut holes inside, making sure to leave space between them so they cook evenly and don't stick together. Depending on the recipe, you may want to spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray or oil first.

Cook the doughnuts for around 4 minutes, then flip them over and cook for another 4-5 minutes until they're golden brown. If you're using a biscuit-based recipe, you may only need to cook for 3 minutes before flipping, then an additional 1-2 minutes.

When they're done, remove the doughnuts from the air fryer and dip or brush them with melted butter. Then, roll the doughnuts in your cinnamon-sugar mixture, or your glaze, making sure to coat them evenly. Place the finished doughnuts on a wire rack or baking sheet to cool.

And that's it! You now have delicious, fluffy, warm air-fried doughnut holes, ready to be devoured.

Making the cinnamon sugar coating

For the cinnamon sugar coating, you will need to melt the butter. You can do this in a saucepan on the stove or in a bowl in the microwave. Once melted, pour the butter into a bowl. In a separate bowl, combine the cinnamon and sugar, mixing them together until they are fully incorporated.

Once your donut holes are cooked and while they are still hot, you can begin coating them. Take each donut hole and roll it in the bowl of melted butter, ensuring it is fully covered. Then, roll the buttered donut hole in the cinnamon sugar mixture. Make sure to coat the entire surface of the donut hole. Place the finished donut holes on a baking sheet or a piece of parchment paper.

If you prefer, you can place the cinnamon and sugar mixture in a ziplock bag and gently shake the donut holes to coat them. This method may be less messy, but it is important to ensure that the cinnamon and sugar are thoroughly mixed and that the bag is securely closed.

Frequently asked questions