Air Fryer Doughnuts: The Quick, Easy Way

Making doughnuts in an air fryer is a convenient way to enjoy the sweet treat without the mess and dangers of deep-frying. While air-fried doughnuts may not be as puffy or golden as their deep-fried counterparts, they still taste delicious and have a lighter, healthier texture. To make doughnuts in an air fryer, you'll need to prepare a yeasted dough, cut out the doughnut shapes, and air-fry them in batches. You can then glaze or coat them in cinnamon sugar for a classic doughnut experience.

Preparing the yeast dough

Activating the Yeast:

Start by sprinkling the yeast over lukewarm milk, which should be between 105-115°F. This temperature range is ideal for activating the yeast without killing it. Add a little sugar and gently stir the mixture with a fork. Let it sit for about 10 minutes. You'll know the yeast is active when you see little particles popping, and the mixture becomes frothy. If nothing happens after 15 minutes, your yeast may be too old or the milk was too hot.

Mixing the Dough:

In a stand mixer, combine the remaining dough ingredients, such as flour, sugar, butter, and eggs. Mix on low speed until the ingredients come together to form a shaggy dough. With the mixer running, slowly add the activated yeast mixture.

Kneading the Dough:

Continue mixing and kneading the dough until it becomes elastic, smooth, and pulls away from the sides of the bowl. This process should take about 5 minutes. The dough should be slightly sticky, and it's important not to add too much extra flour during kneading.

First Rise:

Transfer the dough to a greased bowl and cover it. Place it in a warm, draft-free spot to rise. The ideal temperature for rising is between 75-80°F. Let the dough rise until it has doubled in size, which may take about an hour or longer. To test if the dough has risen enough, poke it with your fingertip. If the indentation remains, the dough is ready.

Shaping the Doughnuts:

Turn the risen dough out onto a lightly floured surface and gently roll it out to a thickness of about 1/2 inch. Use a donut cutter or biscuit cutters to cut out the doughnuts. You can also use a 3-inch and 1-inch round cookie cutter for this step. Re-roll any scraps to cut out more doughnuts or holes.

Second Rise:

Place the cut-out doughnuts and holes on a prepared baking sheet or tray, leaving some space between them. Loosely cover them and let them rise again in a warm, draft-free place for about 30-60 minutes, or until they have doubled in volume. This second rise is crucial for light and airy doughnuts.

Your yeast dough is now ready to be cooked in your air fryer! Follow the remaining steps in the recipe to fry, glaze, and enjoy your delicious homemade doughnuts.

Cutting out the doughnuts

Now that you've activated the yeast, added the remaining dough ingredients, and kneaded the dough, it's time to cut out the doughnuts!

First, roll out the dough to a thickness of about 1/2 inch on a lightly floured work surface. You can use a 3-inch and a 1-inch biscuit cutter to cut out the doughnuts. If you don't have biscuit cutters, you can use a wide drinking glass or a wide-mouth canning ring and a shot glass instead. Just look around in your kitchen and pantry—you probably have something that will work.

If you're making doughnut holes, simply use the dough that you cut out from the middle of the doughnuts. You can also use the dough scraps by kneading them together and punching out more doughnuts or holes. Place the doughnuts and holes onto a baking sheet lined with lightly greased parchment paper and cover loosely with greased plastic wrap. Let the doughnuts rise until doubled in volume, about 30 minutes.

Now you're ready to start frying! Preheat your air fryer to 350°F. Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray, then carefully transfer the doughnuts to the basket in a single layer. Spray the doughnuts with oil spray and cook at 350°F until golden brown, about 4 to 8 minutes, turning once. Repeat with the remaining doughnuts and holes.

Air-frying the doughnuts

Preparing the Doughnuts:

Before air-frying, you'll need to prepare your dough. Most recipes recommend using a yeast dough, which involves activating the yeast in lukewarm milk (around 100°F to 115°F) with a teaspoon of sugar. Let the mixture sit for about 10 minutes until it becomes frothy, ensuring your yeast is active.

Next, you'll add the remaining dough ingredients, such as flour, butter, eggs, and sugar, and knead the dough until it's smooth and elastic. This can be done by hand or using a stand mixer. You'll then let the dough rise in a warm, draft-free spot until it doubles in size.

Once the dough has risen, roll it out to about 1/2 inch thickness on a lightly floured surface. Use a doughnut cutter or biscuit cutters to cut out the doughnuts and holes. Place them on a prepared baking sheet or tray, cover, and let them rise again.

Air-Frying Tips and Techniques:

Preheat your air fryer to 350°F to 375°F. Grease the air fryer basket with a light coating of cooking spray, preferably coconut or olive oil spray, avoiding non-stick sprays as they can damage the coating.

Place the doughnuts in the basket in a single layer, making sure they don't touch, and leave enough space for even air circulation. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook in batches. Lightly spray the tops of the doughnuts with oil before air-frying.

Cook the doughnuts for about 4 to 8 minutes, or until they are golden brown, turning them once halfway through. The exact cooking time will depend on your air fryer, so keep an eye on them to avoid overcooking.

Finishing Touches:

While the doughnuts are air-frying, you can prepare the glaze or coating. A simple glaze can be made by whisking together powdered sugar, milk, melted butter, and vanilla extract. For a cinnamon-sugar coating, mix cinnamon and sugar in a shallow dish, and melt some butter to brush onto the cooked doughnuts before tossing them in the cinnamon-sugar mixture.

Once the doughnuts are done, dip them in the glaze or brush with melted butter and coat them in cinnamon-sugar. Place the glazed or coated doughnuts on a wire rack to allow any excess glaze to drip off and let the glaze set for about 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

Enjoy your freshly made, warm, and fluffy air-fried doughnuts!

Making the glaze

Making a glaze for your air fryer doughnuts is easy and only requires a few ingredients. The glaze is what gives the doughnuts their signature sweetness and also keeps them soft.

For a simple glaze, you will need powdered sugar, milk, melted butter, and vanilla extract. You can adjust the amounts of each ingredient to your taste, but a good starting point is 2 cups of powdered sugar, 4 tablespoons of milk, 6 tablespoons of melted butter, and 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract. Simply whisk these ingredients together in a medium-sized bowl until smooth. If you prefer a thinner glaze, you can add more milk, a little at a time, until you reach your desired consistency.

Once your doughnuts are cooked and still warm, dip them into the glaze, making sure to coat them evenly. Place the glazed doughnuts on a wire rack and let the glaze set for about 5-10 minutes before serving.

You can also get creative with your glaze by adding different flavours or toppings. For example, you could make a chocolate glaze by adding unsweetened cocoa powder to the basic glaze recipe. Or, if you prefer a more classic donut shoppe glaze, you can add a tablespoon of light corn syrup and a pinch of salt to the glaze.

If you're feeling extra indulgent, you can even sprinkle some crushed cookies, nuts, or sprinkles on top of the glaze while it's still wet. This will give your doughnuts a little bit of crunch and a decorative touch.

So, there you have it! Making a delicious glaze for your air fryer doughnuts is a simple way to elevate your dessert and impress your family and friends.

Storing the doughnuts

Storing your doughnuts correctly is essential to keeping them as fresh as possible. Here are some tips for storing your doughnuts made in the power air fryer oven:

• Airtight Containers: The key to storing doughnuts is to prevent air from reaching them. Use airtight containers or zip-top bags with the surplus air squeezed out. You can also use plastic wrap or lidded plastic containers.
• Avoid Sunlight: Keep the sealed containers away from direct sunlight, which can dry out the doughnuts and cause condensation, leading to mould.
• Room Temperature Storage: Store the doughnuts at room temperature; they will last for 1-2 days.
• Refrigerate Filled Doughnuts: If your doughnuts have dairy-based or jelly fillings, it is best to refrigerate them in an airtight container. Refrigerated doughnuts will keep for 3-4 days.
• Storing in the Fridge: You can store unfilled doughnuts in the fridge, although it is not necessary. This will give them a firmer texture and may prolong their lifespan by a few days.
• Freezing Doughnuts: If you want to store your doughnuts for longer, freezing is an option. Place the doughnuts in a single layer in a freezer-safe bag or container. They can be frozen for up to 3 months. However, note that glazed doughnuts are best enjoyed fresh, as the glaze may soften or melt in the fridge or freezer.

Remember, doughnuts are always best enjoyed fresh, so try to eat them on the day they are made if possible. If you need to store them, follow these tips to maximise their lifespan and minimise dryness.

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