Air-Fried Donut Delights: Quick, Easy, And Delicious!

Air fryers are a great way to make delicious treats like donut balls with minimal oil and mess. They are a healthier alternative to deep-fried donuts and can be made in a few simple steps. You can make these bite-sized treats with a variety of ingredients and coatings, such as cinnamon sugar, chocolate glaze, or powdered sugar. They are perfect for any occasion, whether it's a snack, dessert, or even breakfast!

Preparing the dough

Firstly, gather your ingredients. The exact ingredients may vary depending on the recipe you choose, but typically, you will need flour, a leavening agent (such as baking powder or yeast) , sugar, butter, milk, and an egg. You can also add spices like cinnamon and nutmeg for extra flavour. If you're short on time, opt for a recipe without yeast, as this will save you the waiting time needed for the dough to rise.

Once you have your ingredients, it's time to mix them. In a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients, including the flour, leavening agent, and any spices or salt you wish to add. In a separate bowl, mix together the wet ingredients, such as milk, melted butter, egg, and vanilla extract, if using. Gradually add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until a sticky dough forms. You can use a mixer or whisk for this step, depending on the consistency of your dough.

Now, it's time to work the dough. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead it gently until it becomes smooth. This should only take a few minutes. If your dough is sticky, you can add a little extra flour, but be careful not to overwork the dough, as this can affect its texture.

The next step is to shape the dough into balls. Cut the dough into small pieces and roll each piece into a ball. You can also use a small cookie cutter to cut out doughnut rounds if you prefer a more uniform shape. Place the dough balls on a baking sheet or plate, leaving some space between them as they will expand during frying.

Before frying, you'll need to prepare the dough balls. Lightly grease the air fryer basket or tray with cooking spray or a small amount of oil to prevent sticking. You can also line the basket with parchment paper. Place the dough balls inside the air fryer, making sure they are not crowded and have enough space to cook evenly. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook them in batches.

Now you're ready to fry! Set your air fryer to the recommended temperature, usually around 350-375°F, and cook the dough balls for 5-8 minutes, or until they are golden brown and cooked through. Keep an eye on them, as cooking times may vary, and you don't want them to burn.

With these steps, you'll have perfectly prepared dough, ready to be transformed into delicious air-fried donut balls!

Shaping the dough into balls

Firstly, ensure you have a lightly floured surface to work on. Transfer the dough onto this surface and use your hands to gently bring it together, ensuring there are no pockets of dry flour. If you find that the dough is sticking to your hands, you can add a small amount of flavourless oil to the mixture.

Next, cut the dough into small, equal-sized pieces. The exact size of each piece will depend on how big you want your donut holes to be. A rough guide is to aim for a weight between 8 and 12 grams for each piece.

Now, it's time to shape the dough into balls. Take a piece of dough and gently roll it between your palms, applying even pressure to form a smooth, round ball. Repeat this process for each piece of dough, placing the shaped balls on a baking sheet or plate as you go.

It's important to ensure the dough balls are relatively uniform in size, as this will help them cook evenly in the air fryer. If you want to be precise, you can use a scale to weigh each ball, but it's also fine to simply eyeball the sizes and make them as consistent as possible by sight.

Once all the dough has been shaped, place the baking sheet or plate in a warm spot and let the dough balls rise for a specific amount of time depending on the recipe. This step will give your donut holes a lighter, fluffier texture.

Air-frying the donut balls

Once the air fryer is preheated, lightly grease the air fryer basket with oil or cooking spray, or line it with parchment paper. Place the donut balls inside, leaving enough space between each one as they will puff up. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the donut balls in batches.

Air-fry the donut balls for 4–8 minutes, keeping an eye on them to ensure they don't burn. They are done when they are golden brown on the outside. If you are cooking the donut balls in batches, be sure to let the air fryer return to the set temperature before adding the next batch.

Once the donut balls are cooked, remove them from the air fryer and, while they are still warm, brush them with melted butter. This step will help the cinnamon-sugar coating adhere. Combine cinnamon and granulated sugar in a separate bowl, and roll each donut ball in the mixture until generously coated. Set them aside on a wire rack or plate to cool.

Your air-fried donut balls are now ready to be served and enjoyed!

Melting butter for coating

Melting butter is an optional step in the donut-making process, but it is highly recommended as it helps the cinnamon-sugar coating stick to the donut balls. To melt the butter, simply place it in a tray and leave it to melt down. You can also melt the butter in a small bowl in the microwave in 10-15 second bursts until it is liquid.

Once melted, gently toss the donut balls in the butter. This will ensure that the cinnamon-sugar mixture adheres evenly to the surface of the donut balls. It is important to note that this step should be done after air frying the donut balls and before coating them in cinnamon sugar.

The melted butter will act as a glue, allowing the cinnamon-sugar mixture to stick to the donut balls and creating a delicious and indulgent treat. This step is especially important if you prefer a thicker coating of cinnamon sugar on your donut balls.

By taking the time to melt the butter and coat the donut balls before rolling them in cinnamon sugar, you will end up with a more uniform and generous coating that will enhance the taste and texture of your homemade treats.

Coating the donut balls in cinnamon sugar

Once you have prepared the cinnamon-sugar mixture, melt some butter in a separate bowl. The amount of butter you need will depend on how many donut balls you are making, but make sure there is enough to generously coat each ball. When the donut balls are still warm, brush them with the melted butter or dip them into the bowl of butter. This step is important as it helps the cinnamon sugar stick to the donut balls.

After brushing or dipping each donut ball in butter, roll them in the cinnamon-sugar mixture until they are generously coated. Set them aside on a cooling rack or plate to allow any excess butter to drain off and the coating to set. If you want an extra thick coating of cinnamon sugar, you can repeat the process by dipping the donut balls in butter again and then rolling them in the cinnamon-sugar mixture a second time.

Your cinnamon-sugar donut balls are now ready to be served and enjoyed! They are best served warm, so it is best to serve them immediately after coating.

Frequently asked questions