Air-Fried Donuts: No Yeast, All Taste

Making donuts in an air fryer is a quick and convenient way to make a healthier version of this dessert. They are light and airy, without the extra oil used in deep-frying, and can be made from scratch without yeast in just a few minutes. The key to successful air-fried donuts is in the dough: a simple combination of flour, sugar, butter, milk, and a leavening agent, such as baking powder or yogurt. The dough is shaped, air-fried, and then glazed or coated in cinnamon sugar for a delicious treat.

Choosing your ingredients

Choosing the right ingredients is essential for making delicious air fryer donuts. Here's a detailed guide to help you select the best components for your treats:

Flour

All-purpose flour is the primary ingredient for the donut dough. It provides structure and forms the base of your donuts. Make sure to measure your flour accurately to ensure the desired consistency. Self-rising flour is another option, which combines all-purpose flour with baking powder and salt.

Sugar

Sugar is a key ingredient in donut-making. It not only adds sweetness but also affects the texture and colour of your donuts. You can use cane sugar or regular granulated sugar. Additionally, powdered sugar (also known as confectioner's sugar) is used to make the glaze that coats the donuts, giving them a sweet finish.

Yeast

Yeast is crucial for the rising and leavening of the donut dough. It gives your donuts that light and airy texture. Active dry yeast or instant yeast can be used, but it's important to check the expiration date and activate the yeast properly. The yeast must be activated in warm milk with a temperature between 105-115°F. If the milk is too hot, it will kill the yeast, and if it's too cold, the yeast won't activate.

Milk

Milk is used in the donut dough and also plays a vital role in activating the yeast. It's best to use whole milk or low-fat milk, ensuring it's lukewarm (around 100°F) to create the ideal environment for the yeast to thrive.

Butter

Unsalted butter is preferred over salted butter because the amount of salt in salted butter varies between brands. The butter should be melted but not overly hot when added to the dough.

Eggs

Eggs are an essential ingredient in the donut batter, providing structure and moisture. Make sure to use eggs at room temperature to ensure they incorporate smoothly into the mixture.

Salt

A small amount of salt is added to enhance the flavour of the donuts and balance the sweetness of the other ingredients.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon is optional but highly recommended. It adds a delightful spice to your donuts and can be used in the cinnamon-sugar mixture for coating.

Oil Spray

A light coating of oil spray is necessary to prevent the donuts from sticking to the air fryer basket. Coconut oil or olive oil cooking spray are ideal choices. Avoid non-stick sprays as they may damage the air fryer.

Vanilla

Vanilla extract adds a subtle, sweet flavour to the donut glaze. It pairs beautifully with the other ingredients, enhancing the overall taste of your treats.

Preparing the yeast

Firstly, it is important to activate the yeast. Yeast is a living organism that needs to be handled carefully. Begin by sprinkling the yeast over lukewarm milk, which should be around 100°F (38°C). Add a small amount of sugar and gently stir the mixture with a fork. The milk provides the ideal environment for the yeast to grow, and the sugar serves as its food source. Let this mixture sit for about ten minutes. You will know the yeast is active when you see little particles popping, and the mixture becomes frothy. It should also smell like yeast. If nothing happens after 15 minutes, your yeast may be inactive due to old age or the milk being too hot.

Once you have confirmed that your yeast is active, you can proceed to the next step. Add the remaining dough ingredients, such as flour, salt, egg, and melted butter. Mix and knead the dough until it becomes elastic, smooth, and pulls away from the sides of the bowl. This process should take around 5 minutes. The dough should be slightly sticky, and that is perfectly normal.

Now, it's time to let the dough rise. Transfer the dough to a greased bowl and cover it with plastic wrap. Place it in a warm, draft-free spot to rise. This process is crucial as it allows the yeast to work its magic and create air pockets, resulting in fluffy donuts. The ideal temperature for the dough to rise is between 75-80°F (24-27°C). Let the dough rise until it has doubled in size. To test if it's ready, simply make an indentation with your finger; if the indentation remains, your dough has proofed enough.

Making the dough

To begin, combine the dry ingredients for the dough in a large bowl. This includes the flour, yeast, sugar, powdered sugar, and salt. Whisk these ingredients together to ensure they are well combined. Next, add the wet ingredients to the bowl, including the milk, egg, and melted butter. Set aside about 3 tablespoons of melted butter to be used later in the process.

The dough should have a soft and slightly sticky consistency. You can use the spiral dough hooks of an electric mixer or your hands to knead the dough for around 5 minutes. If the dough feels too sticky, simply add a bit more flour. Conversely, if it feels too dry, add a little extra 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 transfer the dough to a bread maker or multicooker and use the bread rise mode for 30-40 minutes. This rising time allows the yeast to activate and the dough to double in size.

Once the dough has risen, it's time to cut out the donut shapes. On a lightly floured surface, gently roll out the dough to a thickness of about 1 inch. Use a 4-inch round cutter to cut circles from the dough and a 1-inch round cutter to make the holes in the center. Cover the donuts with a dishtowel or plastic wrap and let them rise for an additional 20-30 minutes.

Now you are ready to cook your donuts in the air fryer! Preheat your air fryer to 360 degrees Fahrenheit and lightly spray or brush some oil on the air fryer basket. Place 2-3 donuts in the basket, ensuring they do not overlap. Air fry the donuts for 5-6 minutes, then flip them over and cook for an additional 4 minutes or until they are golden and cooked through. Repeat this process with any remaining donuts.

Shaping the donuts

Firstly, transfer your dough to a lightly floured surface. This will make it easier to handle and prevent sticking. Use a rolling pin to gently roll out the dough to a thickness of about 1/2 an inch. It is important not to roll the dough too thin, or your donuts may turn out flat.

Next, you will need to cut out the donut shapes. The ideal way to do this is with a donut cutter or biscuit cutters. You will need two circular cutters, one that is about 3 or 4 inches in diameter for the outside of the donut, and a smaller one, about 1 inch in diameter, for the center. If you don't have donut or biscuit cutters, you can use a wide drinking glass or a wide-mouth canning ring for the outside, and a shot glass for the center. Simply look around your kitchen for suitable alternatives.

Using your cutters, cut out as many donuts as possible from the rolled-out dough. You can gather up the scraps of dough and reroll them to cut out more donuts. Remember to cut out the centers as well, as these will become delicious donut holes. Place your cut-out donuts and donut holes onto a large rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper and lightly dusted with flour.

Now it's time to let your donuts rise. Cover them loosely with greased plastic wrap and let them rise in a warm, draft-free place until they have doubled in size. This usually takes about 30 minutes to an hour.

Once your donuts have risen, they are ready to be cooked in your air fryer. Preheat your air fryer to 350°F. Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray, and carefully place 2-3 donuts in the basket, making sure they are not overlapping. Lightly spray the tops of the donuts with oil before air frying.

Your donuts are now ready to be cooked! Air fry them at 350°F for 5-8 minutes, or until they are golden brown and cooked through. The cooking time may vary depending on your air fryer, so keep an eye on them to ensure they don't overcook.

Finally, you can add your desired glaze or topping. Enjoy your freshly made, perfectly shaped air-fried donuts!

Air frying the donuts

Step 1: Prepare the Dough

Firstly, ensure that your yeast is active by sprinkling it over lukewarm milk (around 100°F) and adding a little sugar. Let the mixture sit for about 10 minutes. If the yeast is active, you should see frothing and smell yeast.

Next, add the remaining dough ingredients and knead the dough in a stand mixer until it is elastic, smooth, and pulls away from the bowl's sides. This should take about 5 minutes. The dough should be slightly sticky, and you can use non-stick spray to prevent it from sticking to the bowl.

Step 2: Shape the Donuts

Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to about 1/2 inch thickness. 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 cutters. Place the cut-out donuts and donut holes on a large rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper and lightly dusted with flour.

Step 3: Let the Donuts Rise

Cover the donuts loosely and let them rise in a warm, draft-free place until they have doubled in size. This should take about 30 minutes to 1 hour.

Step 4: Preheat the Air Fryer and Prepare the Donuts for Cooking

Preheat your air fryer to 350°F. Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray or oil. Carefully place the donuts in the basket, ensuring they are not overcrowded and are about 1 inch apart. Lightly spray the tops of the donuts with oil.

Step 5: Air Fry the Donuts

Cook the donuts for about 4-8 minutes, depending on their size, or until they are golden brown. You may need to work in batches to avoid overcrowding.

Step 6: Make the Glaze (optional)

While the donuts are cooking, you can prepare a glaze by whisking together powdered sugar, milk, melted butter, and vanilla until smooth. You can also make a chocolate glaze by adding melted chocolate chips and folding them into the glaze mixture.

Step 7: Glaze or Coat the Donuts

Once the donuts are cooked, dip them into the glaze or brush them with melted butter and toss them in a cinnamon-sugar mixture. If using glaze, place the glazed donuts on a wire rack and let the glaze set for about 5-10 minutes before serving.

Storage

Air-fried donuts are best consumed fresh, but you can store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. You can also freeze the donuts and reheat them in the air fryer when ready to eat.

Frequently asked questions