Air-Fryer Krispy Kreme Donuts: Quick, Easy, And Delicious!

There's nothing quite like a Krispy Kreme doughnut, but you can come close to replicating the experience at home with an air fryer. This recipe will give you light and soft doughnuts that melt in your mouth. The air fryer method is quicker and less messy than traditional frying or baking, and you'll still get that classic deep-fried texture with significantly less oil.

Choosing the right ingredients

Dry Ingredients

Flour: The type of flour you use can vary depending on the recipe. Some recipes call for self-rising flour, which already contains leavening agents, simplifying the dough-making process. If you don't have self-rising flour, you can make your own by combining all-purpose flour with baking powder and salt. Alternatively, you can use plain all-purpose flour, bread flour, or even gluten-free flour.

Sugar: Granulated sugar is typically used in the dough, adding sweetness and helping to feed the yeast so your donuts rise and develop a light, airy texture. You'll also need powdered sugar for the glaze, which gives that signature Krispy Kreme sweetness and glossy finish.

Salt: Salt is important for enhancing the flavours of the other ingredients and regulating yeast growth, ensuring the donuts don't rise too quickly.

Wet Ingredients

Milk: Milk is often used as the base liquid for the dough, contributing to the tenderness and richness of the donuts. Warm milk is also essential for activating the yeast. You can also use water instead of milk to create a leaner dough.

Yogurt: Greek yogurt adds moisture, richness, and a slight tang to the dough, resulting in airy and tender donuts. Regular yogurt can also be used, but it may make the dough a bit stickier, so you might need to adjust the flour quantity.

Butter: Unsalted butter adds moisture and flavour to the dough and is used both in the dough and for brushing onto the finished donuts.

Eggs: Eggs are a common ingredient in donut dough, providing structure and helping with leavening.

Vanilla Extract: Vanilla infuses the dough with a sweet, aromatic flavour that complements the sugary glaze.

Other Ingredients

Yeast: Yeast is crucial for the dough to rise and create that light, airy texture. You can use active dry yeast, instant yeast, or fresh yeast, but make sure it's fresh and active to ensure successful doughnuts.

Shortening or Oil: For frying, you can use vegetable shortening or oil. Vegetable shortening, such as Crisco, is made from a mixture of palm oil, soybean oil, cottonseed oil, and/or canola oil. Alternatively, you can use vegetable oil, canola oil, peanut oil, or even lard for frying.

When choosing your ingredients, always opt for high-quality, fresh products. The quality of your ingredients will impact the final result, so it's worth investing in good-quality flour, yeast, and other ingredients. Additionally, take the time to measure your ingredients accurately, as the right proportions are essential for successful donut-making.

Preparing the dough

After the dough has risen, it's time to roll it out to the desired thickness. This can vary depending on the recipe, but it's important not to roll the dough too thin. Once the dough is rolled out, use a donut cutter or cookie cutters to cut out the donut shapes. If you don't have a donut cutter, you can use a drinking glass or a wide-mouth canning ring for the outer circle and a smaller circle, such as a shot glass, for the inner circle.

The donuts are then placed on parchment paper and brushed with melted butter before being allowed to rise again. This second rise gives the donuts their characteristic light and fluffy texture. After the final rise, the air fryer is preheated, and the donuts are placed inside and cooked for a few minutes until golden brown.

The key to achieving the perfect Krispy Kreme texture is in the preparation and cooking of the dough. By following these steps and allowing the dough sufficient time to rise, you'll be well on your way to enjoying delicious, airy donuts that rival those from your favorite donut shop.

Shaping the donuts

If you don't have a donut cutter, there are several household items you can use to shape your donuts. A wide drinking glass or a wide-mouth canning ring, along with a shot glass or small cookie cutter for the center hole, can work well. Simply look around your kitchen and pantry for circular items that are the right size.

Air-frying the donuts

Step 1: Prepare the Dough

The first step is to prepare the dough by mixing the dry ingredients, including flour, sugar, and salt, in a large bowl. Then, add the wet ingredients, such as Greek yogurt or milk, and mix until a dough forms. You can use your hands or a stand mixer for this step.

Step 2: Roll Out the Dough

On a clean work surface lightly dusted with flour, roll out the dough to a thickness of about 1/2 inch. Use a cookie cutter or a donut cutter to cut out the donuts and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet. If you don't have a donut cutter, you can use a wide drinking glass or a small cookie cutter to make the holes.

Step 3: Preheat the Air Fryer

Preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. This step is crucial as it ensures a consistent cooking temperature for your donuts.

Step 4: Prepare the Air Fryer Basket

Brush the air fryer basket with melted butter or cooking spray to prevent the donuts from sticking. Place the donuts in the basket, making sure they don't touch each other, and brush them with butter.

Step 5: Air Fry the Donuts

Air fry the donuts at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 5-6 minutes, or until they are lightly golden brown. You may need to cook them in batches to avoid overcrowding the air fryer.

Step 6: Make the Glaze

While the donuts are air frying, prepare the glaze by mixing powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract in a shallow bowl. The glaze should be thin enough to coat the donuts but thick enough to set as it cools.

Step 7: Dip the Donuts in the Glaze

As soon as the donuts are done cooking, dip them into the glaze and coat them evenly. Place the glazed donuts on a wire rack to cool.

Tips for Air-Frying Donuts:

• Use high-quality, thick Greek yogurt for a richer and tangier flavor.
• Aim for an even thickness when rolling out the dough to ensure uniform cooking.
• Use well-floured donut cutters or round cookie cutters for clean edges.
• Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket to ensure even cooking.
• Gently flip the donuts halfway through the cooking process for even browning on both sides.
• Dip the donuts in the glaze while they are still slightly warm for better adhesion and the signature Krispy Kreme experience.
• Adjust the consistency of the glaze by adding more powdered sugar or milk as needed.

Making the glaze

To make the glaze, mix together melted butter, warm milk, sugar, and vanilla extract. The exact quantities will depend on how much glaze you want to make and how thick you want it to be, but a good starting point is 2 cups of powdered sugar, 5-7 tablespoons of butter, 3-5 tablespoons of milk, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract.

If you want to get creative, you can experiment with different flavors in your glaze. Try adding a hint of cinnamon or lemon to the mixture, or go for a chocolate glaze. You could even make a maple glaze by stirring together powdered sugar and maple syrup.

For an authentic donut shop glaze that dries with a crackly finish, you'll need butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. This type of glaze requires a bit more effort, but it's worth it for that classic donut shop experience.

Remember, the key to a perfect glaze is getting the right consistency. Too thin, and it will run right off your donuts. Too thick, and it won't coat them properly. So, take your time, experiment, and have fun!

Frequently asked questions