How to Make Perfect Air Fryer Donuts: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners and Seasoned Bakers

2025-11-08

If you’ve ever craved warm, fluffy donuts but hesitated to fry them in a pot of hot oil, air fryer donuts are your new best friend. This method delivers the same golden, tender results with a fraction of the mess and fewer calories—no deep fryer required. Whether you’re a baking novice or a seasoned home cook, making donuts in an air fryer is simpler than you think. With the right ingredients, a bit of patience, and these detailed steps, you’ll master homemade air fryer donuts that taste just as good as (or better than) store-bought. Let’s dive into why air fryers are ideal for donuts, what you’ll need, and exactly how to turn simple ingredients into a batch of irresistible treats.

Why Air Fryer Donuts Beat Traditional Frying (and Even Oven-Baked)

Before we get to the recipe, let’s address the elephant in the room: why choose an air fryer over a deep fryer or oven? First, air fryers use convection heat to circulate hot air around food, cooking it quickly and evenly with minimal oil—usually just a light spray or brush. This means your donuts stay moist inside while developing a crisp, golden exterior without soaking up excess grease.

Compared to oven baking, air fryers cook donuts faster (thanks to their compact size and focused heat) and produce a lighter, airier texture. Ovens often dry out baked donuts, but air fryers’ rapid air movement locks in moisture. Plus, cleanup is a breeze: most air fryer baskets are nonstick or come with removable trays, so you can wipe away any stray sugar or dough bits in seconds.

For those health-conscious bakers, air fryer donuts cut down on oil drastically—traditional fried donuts can absorb 2-3 tablespoons of oil each, while air-fried versions might only take on a teaspoon or less. This makes them a guilt-free indulgence you can enjoy more often.

What You’ll Need: Ingredients and Tools for Success

To make perfect air fryer donuts, you’ll need basic baking ingredients and a few key tools. Let’s break it down:

Ingredients (Makes 6-8 Donuts)

All-purpose flour: 1 ½ cups (190g) – Provides structure; avoid self-rising flour, as it contains leavening agents that can throw off the rise.
Active dry yeast: 1 ¼ tsp (4g) – Activates to make the dough rise and develop a light texture.
Granulated sugar: ¼ cup (50g) – Feeds the yeast and adds subtle sweetness to the dough.
Warm milk: ½ cup (120ml), 110°F (43°C) – Warm (not hot) milk activates the yeast; too hot kills it, too cold slows rising.
Egg: 1 large, room temperature – Adds richness and helps bind the dough.
Unsalted butter: 2 tbsp (28g), softened – Adds flavor and tenderness; use unsalted to control salt content.
Salt: ½ tsp – Balances sweetness and strengthens the dough.
Vegetable oil or melted butter: 1-2 tsp – For greasing the bowl and coating donuts before air frying.
Optional add-ins: ¼ cup (30g) chocolate chips, raisins, or cinnamon sugar for extra flavor.

Tools

Large mixing bowl: For kneading and proofing the dough.
Stand mixer or wooden spoon: To mix and knead the dough (a stand mixer with a dough hook saves time).
Plastic wrap or clean kitchen towel: To cover the bowl during proofing.
Baking sheet: To freeze the shaped donuts (critical for holding their form).
Air fryer: Any model with a 5-6 quart capacity works; a nonstick basket or perforated tray is ideal.
Parchment paper or silicone mat: To line the air fryer basket and prevent sticking.
Wire rack: For cooling donuts after cooking (optional but helps prevent sogginess).

Step 1: Making the Donut Dough from Scratch

The foundation of great air fryer donuts is a soft, elastic dough that rises properly. Here’s how to nail it:

Activate the yeast: In a small bowl, combine the warm milk, sugar, and yeast. Stir gently and let sit for 5-10 minutes until foamy. If it doesn’t foam, your milk was too hot or the yeast is expired—start over with fresh yeast.
Mix the wet ingredients: In the large bowl, whisk the egg and softened butter until smooth. Add the activated yeast mixture and stir to combine.
Combine dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour and salt. Gradually add the dry mix to the wet ingredients, stirring with a wooden spoon or stand mixer until a shaggy dough forms.
Knead the dough: Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 8-10 minutes by hand, or 5-7 minutes with a stand mixer’s dough hook. The dough should become smooth, elastic, and slightly sticky (not overly wet). If it’s too sticky, add 1 tbsp of flour at a time; if too dry, add 1 tsp of milk.
First rise: Lightly grease the mixing bowl with oil or butter. Place the dough in the bowl, turning to coat all sides. Cover with plastic wrap or a damp towel and let rise in a warm, draft-free spot (75-80°F/24-27°C) for 1-1.5 hours, or until doubled in size.

Step 2: Shaping, Proofing, and Freezing the Donuts (The Secret to Perfect Form)

Once the dough has risen, it’s time to shape your donuts—and this step is crucial for even cooking in the air fryer.

Punch down the dough: Gently press down on the risen dough to release excess air. Turn it onto a lightly floured surface and roll it out to ½-inch thickness.
Cut out donuts: Use a 3-inch round cookie cutter (or a shot glass for smaller donuts) to cut out circles. Use a smaller cutter (1-inch) to remove the center hole, creating classic ring-shaped donuts. Reroll the scraps and cut additional donuts—aim for 6-8 total.
Second rise (proofing): Place the shaped donuts on a parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing them 2 inches apart. Cover with a damp towel and let rise for 30-45 minutes, or until puffy (they’ll double slightly in size).
Freeze the donuts: This is the pro tip most home bakers miss. Transfer the proofed donuts to a freezer-safe plate or tray, spacing them so they don’t touch. Freeze for at least 1 hour (or up to 2 weeks). Freezing firms up the dough, preventing them from losing their shape or sticking together in the air fryer. It also ensures the center cooks through without burning the exterior.

Step 3: Cooking Air Fryer Donuts: Temperature, Time, and Techniques

Now comes the fun part—cooking your donuts to golden perfection.

Prep the air fryer: Preheat your air fryer to 180°C (360°F) for 3-5 minutes. Line the basket with parchment paper or a silicone mat to prevent sticking.
Coat the donuts: Remove the frozen donuts from the freezer. Brush or spray them lightly with vegetable oil or melted butter—this helps them brown evenly. If desired, roll them in cinnamon sugar now, or wait to glaze later.
Air fry in batches: Place 2-3 donuts in the basket, ensuring they don’t overlap. Cook for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway through. Check after 6 minutes—cooking time varies by air fryer model. They’re done when golden brown and firm to the touch. The internal temperature should reach 190°F (88°C) to ensure they’re cooked through.
Cool slightly: Transfer cooked donuts to a wire rack to cool for 5 minutes. They’ll firm up as they cool but stay soft inside.

Step 4: Glazing, Topping, or Rolling Your Donuts (Flavor Ideas)

Air fryer donuts are delicious plain, but adding a glaze or topping takes them to the next level. Here are our favorite options:

Classic Glaze

Whisk together 1 cup (120g) powdered sugar, 2-3 tbsp milk, and ½ tsp vanilla extract until smooth. Dip cooled donuts in the glaze and let excess drip off. Let set for 10 minutes.

Chocolate Glaze

Melt ¼ cup (45g) semisweet chocolate chips with 1 tsp coconut oil. Dip donuts halfway and sprinkle with sprinkles or chopped nuts.

Cinnamon Sugar

Mix ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar with 1 tsp cinnamon. Roll warm donuts in the mixture immediately after cooking.

Maple Bacon Topping

Mix ¼ cup (60g) maple syrup with 1 tsp bacon grease (or melted butter). Drizzle over donuts and top with crumbled cooked bacon.

Troubleshooting Common Air Fryer Donut Issues

Even with the best recipe, hiccups happen. Here’s how to fix common problems:

Donuts are too dark/burned: Lower the temperature to 170°C (340°F) or reduce cooking time by 1-2 minutes. Air fryers vary—use a kitchen thermometer to check internal temp.
Center is raw: Ensure donuts were frozen long enough (at least 1 hour) and increase cooking time by 2-3 minutes. Thicker donuts may need an extra minute.
Sticking to the basket: Always use parchment paper or a silicone mat. If using a nonstick basket, lightly spray with oil.
Dry texture: Brush cooked donuts with melted butter immediately after air frying, or store them in an airtight container with a slice of bread (the bread adds moisture).

Storing and Reheating Your Homemade Donuts

Homemade donuts are best eaten fresh, but they’ll keep for 1-2 days at room temperature in an airtight container. For longer storage:

Refrigerate: Up to 3 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 160°C (320°F) for 2-3 minutes to restore softness.
Freeze: Up to 1 month. Place cooled donuts in a single layer on a tray, freeze, then transfer to a zip-top bag. Reheat directly from frozen at 160°C (320°F) for 4-5 minutes.

Advanced Tips: Customizing Your Air Fryer Donuts

Once you’ve mastered the basic recipe, experiment with these twists:

Gluten-free donuts: Substitute 1:1 gluten-free all-purpose flour blend (check that it includes xanthan gum).
Vegan donuts: Use flax eggs (1 tbsp ground flax + 3 tbsp water per egg), plant-based milk, and vegan butter.
Filled donuts: After proofing, inject donuts with jam, custard, or Nutella using a piping bag fitted with a long tip.
Flavored dough: Add 1 tsp lemon zest, almond extract, or cocoa powder (replace ¼ cup flour with cocoa) for a unique twist.

Conclusion: Enjoy Your Fresh, Homemade Air Fryer Donuts

Air fryer donuts are proof that you don’t need a deep fryer or bakery skills to make indulgent treats at home. By following these steps—from activating yeast to freezing the dough—you’ll achieve fluffy, golden donuts with a crisp exterior and tender interior. Whether you top them with glaze, cinnamon sugar, or keep them plain, they’re sure to become a family favorite.

The best part? Air fryer donuts are flexible. Adjust flavors, sizes, or fillings to suit your taste, and don’t be afraid to tweak cooking times based on your air fryer model. Now, grab your ingredients and start mixing—your kitchen will smell like a bakery in no time. Happy frying (well, air frying)!

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