Air Fryer Donuts: No Yeast, No Problem!

Air fryers are a great alternative to deep-frying donuts as they use less oil and fat, resulting in lighter and healthier treats. Here is a simple guide on how to make air fryer donuts without yeast.

Ingredients:

- Flour

- Sugar (cane, granulated, or powdered)

- Gluten-free flour (optional)

- Milk (warm, whole, or low-fat)

- Butter (unsalted or plant-based)

- Egg

- Vanilla extract

- Cinnamon

- Cooking spray

- Salt

Steps:

1. Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl: flour, sugar, and salt.

2. Add wet ingredients: milk, egg, and melted butter.

3. Knead the dough until soft and slightly sticky. Adjust consistency with flour or milk if needed.

4. Cover and let the dough rise in a warm, draft-free place for about an hour.

5. Roll out the dough to 1/2 inch thickness and cut out donut shapes.

6. Place the cut-out donuts on a parchment-lined baking sheet and let them rise again for 20-30 minutes.

7. Preheat the air fryer to 350-360°F and spray the basket with cooking spray.

8. Place 2-3 donuts in the air fryer basket, ensuring they don't overlap.

9. Air fry at 350-360°F for 5-8 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden brown.

10. Brush the donuts with melted butter and sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar mixture or dip them in a glaze.

11. Enjoy fresh or store in an airtight container for 1-2 days.

How to make the dough

Firstly, gather your ingredients. You will need flour, sugar, yeast, salt, milk, butter, and eggs. The specific quantities will depend on the number of donuts you wish to make.

Next, whisk together the warm milk, yeast, and a small amount of sugar in a separate bowl. Let this mixture stand until it becomes very bubbly. This will take around 5-10 minutes.

Now, in a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, whisk together the melted butter, eggs, and remaining sugar until smooth. Then, stir in the yeast mixture until combined.

Add the flour and salt to the mixture. Mix on low speed until a soft and slightly sticky dough begins to form. You can do this by hand or using a stand mixer. If the dough is too sticky, add a small amount of flour. If it is 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 or until it has roughly doubled in size. The time it takes for the dough to rise will depend on the temperature of your kitchen.

Once the dough has risen, punch it down to release air bubbles. Then, on a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to about 1/2 inch in thickness. Use a donut cutter or two different-sized biscuit cutters to cut out the donut shapes. You can also use a drinking glass or wide-mouth canning ring if you don't have a donut cutter.

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 donuts without a donut cutter is easy. First, roll out your dough on a lightly floured surface to about 1/2 inch thickness. You can use a rolling pin to do this. Then, use a combination of round cutters or drinking glasses to cut out the donut shape. You will need a larger circle for the outside of the donut and a smaller one for the inside. The larger circle should be about 3 or 4 inches in diameter, and the smaller one should be about 1 inch. If you don't have a set of round cutters, you can use a wide drinking glass or wide-mouth canning ring for the outside, and a shot glass for the inside.

Once you have cut out your donut shapes, place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Cover them lightly with a dish towel or plastic wrap, and let them rise for another 20-30 minutes. This will be the second rise, and it will give your donuts a light and airy texture.

If you want to make donut holes, simply use the dough that you cut out from the middle of each donut.

How to cook the donuts in the air fryer

Now it's time to cook your donuts! Preheat your air fryer to between 345–400 °F. Grease your air fryer basket with cooking spray, and place 2–4 donuts inside, making sure they are not overlapping. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook your donuts in batches.

Cook your donuts for 4–8 minutes, or until they are golden brown and cooked through. For donut holes, cook for 6 minutes. Flip your donuts over and cook for another 4 minutes.

Once cooked, your donuts are ready to be glazed or coated in cinnamon sugar!

How to make a glaze

Making a glaze for your air fryer donuts is easy! You can make a simple glaze with just milk or cream, confectioners' sugar, and vanilla extract. You can also add a pinch of salt to balance the sweetness and enhance the flavors. If you want to get creative, you can experiment with different flavors by replacing the milk with your favorite fruit juice or swapping the vanilla with other extracts or citrus zest.

Ingredients:

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

Instructions:

• Start by adding the butter to a small saucepan and melting it over medium heat.
• Once the butter is melted, stir in the powdered sugar and vanilla extract until you have a smooth mixture.
• Remove the saucepan from the heat and slowly stir in hot water, one tablespoon at a time, until the glaze reaches the desired consistency. It should be thin but not watery.
• Dip your warm donuts into the glaze, making sure to coat both sides.
• Place the glazed donuts on a wire rack and let them sit for about 10 minutes to allow the glaze to harden.

You can also experiment with different types of glazes, such as a maple glaze, chocolate glaze, or cinnamon sugar coating. Get creative and have fun!

How to store the donuts

The best way to store your air fryer donuts is to place them in an airtight container or Ziplock bag. You can use aluminum foil, but it may not be as effective at preventing air from getting into the container. Leaving donuts out in the open will result in them drying out and becoming stale.

It is safe to leave yeast-based donuts at room temperature for one to two days, as long as they don't have a cream filling. If you want to keep them for longer, you can refrigerate them, but this may cause the glaze to melt and be absorbed by the donut, resulting in a sticky mess.

If you want to freeze your donuts, it is best to do so before glazing them. You can freeze them for up to three months. When you are ready to eat them, reheat them in the air fryer and glaze them immediately once out of the oven.

To store a few donuts, wrap them in a napkin and place them in a paper bag. For a box of donuts, simply keep the closed boxes in a cool spot, such as on your counter or in a cupboard.

Frequently asked questions