Air Fryer Doughnuts are a fun, easy, healthier way to enjoy everyone’s favorite treat! These Air fryer Doughnuts only take about 5 minutes to cook in the air fryer.
Want to make your Valentine something special for Valentine’s Day, that will not ruin all the work in January, trying to lose that extra holiday baggage? Here I am at the rescue! These Air Fryer Doughnuts are “The Bomb!”
When my kids were little, their favorite thing to do at the grocery store was pick out their favorite looking doughnut for that trip! Of course, most of time, it was the frosted ones with the pretty sprinkles.
So for this Valentine’s Day, I thought I would treat my guys to these tasty, healthier doughnuts in the air fryer! I made a few batches, some with the frosting and sprinkles, to commemorate the day!
Of course, I had to do a chocolate batch for them too. They are both choc-o-holics!
I have been wanting to try a baked good in the air fryer. This Air Fryer Doughnut recipe did not disappoint!
The Doughnuts turn out a bit less sweet and a lot less greasy than Dunkin’ Donuts’ versions of doughnuts, but super tasty, nonetheless!
They are soft on the outside, yet fluffy and tender on the inside just like a fried donut!
Why does this recipe work?
This recipe is made with traditional doughnut dough, so the texture and flavor is so similar to traditional doughnuts, you will be amazed.
They have slightly less sugar, so they are better for you.
They are not fried in oil, so they are healthier.
The glaze or frosting adds just the right amount of sweetness.
They are fast and easy. They only take about 1.5 from start to finish, including rising time. Only about 20 minutes active time!
I did several batches of these delicious Air Fryer Donuts! They turned out delicious!
Believe it, or not, the general concensus was that everyone who has tried them prefers the plain to the chocolate. Luckily I did the chocolate first, so they had nothing to compare them to.
Optional toppings for these donuts
- Powdered sugar glaze, plain or topped with
- Toasted coconut
- Chopped peanuts
- Buttercream frosting, with any sprinkles or decorating sugars you like
- Chocolate frosting
- Cinnamon sugar
- Orange or lemon zest added to glaze or frosting
- Powdered sugar
The recipe for the chocolate doughnuts is identical, just add cocoa powder, if you would like chocolate doughnuts!
Optional flavorings for donuts
- chocolate powder
- chocolate chips
- teaspoon vanilla extract
- cinnamon sugar mixture
- chopped and drained fresh or frozen blueberries, well drained.
- chopped apples and cinnamon
- lemon or orange zest
- maple syrup or extract
Are air fried foods healthier for your family?
The inspiration and recipe for these lighter for you doughnuts comes from Cooking Light, one of my favorite magazines! I love learning about different cooking techniques that can improve my family’s overall health!
These doughnuts only contain 4 grams of fat! They still have the carbs, but you have splurge a bit for the holidays, right?
Ingredients you need
- warm water
- yeast
- sugar
- flour
- cocoa powder (for chocolate doughnuts)
- salt
- warm milk
- melted butter – always use unsalted butter in baked goods
- large egg
For glaze
- powdered sugar
- warm water
How to Make Donuts in the Air Fryer
- Measure water. Heat to between 105-115°F. Add yeast and sugar.
- Add butter to milk.
- Microwave for 30 seconds, or so to melt butter.
- Whisk eggs in bowl.
- Measure dry ingredients.
- After resting 5 minutes, you will notice the yeast “blooming”, bubbling.
- Add yeast mixture, milk (make sure temperature is 105-115°F), and eggs to dry ingredients.
- Knead in stand mixer, with bread hook, or mix by hand and knead for a few minutes, until dough is smooth. Place in greased bowl. Cover with kitchen towel, and set in warm place. Let rise 1 hour until doubled.
- Roll out to 1/4″ thick, on lightly floured board.
- Use biscuit cutters. Cut out with 3″ cutter. Then cut hole out of center with 1″ cookie cutter. (You can make donut holes with the 1-inch piece that you cut out.)
- Cover. Let rise until doubled, 30 minutes, or so.
- Place in air fryer basket. Doughnuts shouldn’t touch. Air fry for 4 to 5 minutes, at 350°F, until golden-brown. Internal temperature of doughnut should be 200°F.
Cool on rack. Dip in powdered sugar glaze or make a chocolate glaze for chocolate doughnuts, or frost with buttercream frosting.
How to store doughnuts
Store leftover doughnuts at room temperature in an airtight container for a couple days. Or in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. Store them in the freezer for up to three months and take one out any time you’d like a sweet treat.
So whether your Valentine is a chocolate lover, or not, (honestly, who is not a chocolate lover? 🙂 ) make them these delicious doughnuts! For other delicious edibles for your Valentine, see here!
Thanks for stopping by to check out this Air Fryer Doughnut recipe! Happy Valentine’s Day, one and all!
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Tools I Use to Make Air Fried Donuts
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Enjoy! And have fun cooking!
Xoxo,
Air Fryer Doughnuts
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup warm water (between 100-115°F)
- 1 tsp active dry yeast
- 1/4 cup sugar, plus 1/2 tsp for yeast blooming
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 Tbsp cocoa powder (optional for chocolate doughnuts)
- 1/4 tsp Salt
- 1/4 cup warm milk
- 2 Tbsp Butter
- 1 large egg, beaten
For glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 3-4 tsp water
For buttercream frosting
- 1/3 cup Butter
- 4.5 cups powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup Milk
- 1.5 tsp pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Bloom yeast. Heat water to 100-115°F. Add 1/2 teaspoon sugar and yeast. Let rest 5 minutes.
- Meanwhile, measure dry ingredients into mixer bowl.
- Melt butter in milk, in the microwave for 30 seconds. Stir and continue 10 second bursts in microwave, until melted. ***Be sure to let it cool to between 100-115°F, before using.
- Whisk egg.
- When yeast is frothy, add all of the rest of the ingredients to the mixer bowl and mix, using dough hook. Mix until dough is smooth. (you can mix by hand and knead on lightly floured surface for a couple minutes, as well.)
- Cover and let rise for about an hour until doubled.
- Lightly flour board. Gently roll out dough to 1/4″ thickness. Cut out doughnuts with 3″ cookie cutter. Cut out doughnut hole with 1″ cookie cutter.
- Cover doughnuts with plastic wrap and then kitchen towel. Let rest on board 30 minutes, until about doubled.
- Place 4 doughnuts and 4 doughnut holes in the basket of air fryer. (Or however many fit in your air fryer, without touching.)
- Air fry at 300°F for about 5 minutes. Internal temperature should read 200°F. Let cool on cooling rack. SEE NOTES***
For glaze
- Mix sugar and water well, until no lumps of sugar remain. Dunk cooled doughnuts in glaze.
For buttercream frosting
- Beat butter until fluffy. Gradually add 2 cups of powdered sugar, beating well between additions.
- Add milk and vanilla. Slowly incorporate the rest of the powdered sugar. Thin with a few drops of milk, if needed. Frost doughnuts. Freeze any unused portions for another use.
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Notes
Air Fryers vary in wattage, and therefore in cooking times. This recipe is based using my Cuisinart TOA60. If your air fryer is different, carefully watch food the first time you make it, so that it doesn’t burn.
Preheating your air fryer will give you the best, crispiest result. Check your brand of air fryer user manual to see if preheating is recommended.
Air fryers preheat in about 3-4 minutes.
Use cooking spray or a fine mist sprayer to spray food prior to cooking, with the exception of baked goods.
Don’t overcrowd foods so air can circulate all around.
Flip foods over half way through cooking.
Nutrition
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I get a small commission if you click the link and purchase something, at no additional cost to you. See FTC Disclosure, here.
reynold
it looks soooooooo good!!!!
Beth Neels
We really love them! And they are so easy! Thanks Reynold!
Chantal
I chose to try this recipe based on an all-around 5 star review. Had I actually read the reviews I would have seen that most people who rated it had not actually tried the recipe. I made it and had to double the time in the air fryer for the inside to be cooked. My husband thought they didn’t have much flavour and would need more sugar. I didn’t make a glaze or frosting. I wouldn’t make these again. At least not without modifying the ingredients. They looked like good doughnuts though!
Beth Neels
Air fryers differ in there wattage, and therefore, in their cooking time, as is clearly stated in the post. I gave an internal done-ness temperature, to help determine this fact. These doughnuts were also labelled as a healthier version of store bought doughnuts! Obviously to make them healthier, some of the sweetness would need to be decreased. As an air fryer recipe, my goal was healthier. We found them excellent, especially with the glaze, which did certainly add to the sweetness, but they are by no means Dunkin’ Donuts. I appreciate your review and the fact that you tried the recipe! Thanks! I will add notes to the recipe card to reflect your statements.
Tonia
I got an air fryer a week ago so I was trolling the internet for recipes when I found your blog. I will try your pork tenderloin tonight, then it’s on to these donuts. I never new an air fryer could produce donuts, can’t wait to try them out.Tonia
Beth Neels
Hello Tonia! I’m glad you found me! I have a lot more air fryer coming up soon! I hope you enjoyed the pork loin! We all agreed that we like the chocolate doughnuts, bu the plain ones are even better! (Even my chocoholic son!) Thanks for stopping by!
Patty
These donuts look so pretty and easy to make Beth, I haven’t got a air fryer yet but still want to try, balancing between plain or chocolate first, well I’ll decide in the spurr of the moment!
Binky
Thank you Patty! We liked them both but the plain were our favorite!
Caroline
I’ve not yet been tempted into getting an air fryer (not enough space for another gadget!) but these look great and love that they are healthier. Cute decoration too!
Binky
That is the difficult part. My Air fryer is quite large, so I had to rearrange my counters! I just love it, though! Thanks for checking them out, Caroline!
Amanda Wren-Grimwood
Love donuts but hate the greasiness so these sound perfect! I have an airfryer so these are on my list of treats when the family come.
Binky
I agree. They are sooo greasy! I think you will like these, Amanda! Let me know! And thanks!!
Lesli Schwartz
OK, I literally just bought an air fryer today! Can’t wait to try out recipes, especially sweet treats like these donuts. Yay, and thanks! (Timing is everything!)
Binky
Yes. Fact. Time is everything! 🙂 You will love the air fryer Lesli! Let me know how you like the doughnuts!
Ramona
Omg I really need to get an air fryer- it looks like I’m missing out here. These doughnuts look soooo delish ????
Binky
I really love mine, Ramona! It is like a new adventure, learning how to cook with it!
Caitlyn Erhardt
You had me at donuts! These look so tasty!
Binky
Thanks Caitlyn! I appreciate you stopping by!
Pam Greer
I love Cooking Light recipes! I don’t have an air fryer, but I will try these in the oven. They sound delicious!
Binky
I have never made donuts in the oven, Pam! Thanks so much for your comment!
Claudia Canu
Awesome, one more recipe to send to my mum 🙂 I’m sure she will be especially happy about this one!
Binky
Oh, great! I hope she will enjoy them!! Thank you Claudia!
Pina
Love this healthier take on doughnuts! They’re so cute for Valentine’s Day too 🙂
Binky
Thank you Pina! We really loved them! Have a great weekend!
Emily Krill
Well, you’ve inspired me to buy an air fryer. These donuts just sounded too delicious. Can’t wait to make them!
Binky
I am really enjoying mine! Thank you Emily! I hope you like it too! The Cuisinart I bought is awesome because it is multi function!
Adrianne
Wow what beautiful donuts! I love the pink icing too as they definitely fit the Valentines Day theme!! I can also see how they would be less greasy. Yum!
Binky
Thank you Adrianne! They are not at all greasy! Light and crispy!
Joanne
These are so fun! I just got an air fryer for Christmas and have been researching recipes! I can’t wait to try these! I have all of the ingredients!
Binky
Oh, great Joanne! Let me know how your family likes them! We really enjoy them!