Air Fryer Doughnuts

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 12/27/22
Air Fryer Doughnut Recipe

The Spruce / Diana Rattray
Prep: 30 mins
Cook: 10 mins
Proofing/Resting: 100 mins
Total: 2 hrs 20 mins
Servings: 8 servings
Yield: 8 doughnuts
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
339 Calories
10g Fat
57g Carbs
5g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories 339
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 10g 13%
Saturated Fat 6g 29%
Cholesterol 48mg 16%
Sodium 94mg 4%
Total Carbohydrate 57g 21%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Total Sugars 34g
Protein 5g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 36mg 3%
Iron 2mg 9%
Potassium 81mg 2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

The air fryer cooks delicious yeast doughnuts with very little extra fat, and each batch takes only four minutes. The air fryer circulates super-heated air around items, making it more efficient than the oven. And because it uses far less oil, it's healthier than the deep fryer. These yeast doughnuts are a great example of what the air fryer does well.

The doughnuts come out golden brown on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside. The recipe includes a vanilla glaze, but feel free to use another flavor in the glaze. A chocolate glaze is an excellent option, or brush them with melted butter and coat them with cinnamon sugar.

Ingredients

For the Doughnuts:

  • 2/3 cup warm milk, 100 F to 110 F

  • 3 tablespoons granulated sugar

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast, or instant yeast

  • 2 cups (240 grams) all-purpose flour

  • 1 large egg

  • 3 tablespoons melted unsalted butter, more to brush on the doughnuts

  • 1/2 teaspoon table salt

  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

For the Glaze:

  • 8 ounces (2 cups) confectioners' sugar

  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter

  • 2 to 3 tablespoons hot water, more as needed

  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

  • 1/4 teaspoon maple flavor, or to taste, optional

  • 1 teaspoon sprinkles, optional

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Air fryer doughnuts ingredients
    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

  2. To make the doughnuts, combine the milk, sugar, and yeast in a mixing bowl and let stand for 5 to 10 minutes.

    Yeast and sugar in warm milk
    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

  3. Add about half of the flour, egg, 3 tablespoons of melted butter, salt, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla; whisk until well blended.

    Yeast dough in progress in bowl
    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

  4. Add the remaining flour and mix with a wooden spoon to make a soft dough. Let the dough rest for 5 minutes.

    Mixed doughnut dough
    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

  5. Remove the dough to a floured surface and knead for about 7 to 8 minutes, adding more flour as needed to keep it from sticking.

    Yeast dough for doughnuts on a floured board
    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

  6. Transfer the dough to a greased bowl; turn it to grease the entire surface of the dough. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it rise for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, or until doubled in bulk.

    Risen ball of dough for doughnuts
    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

  7. Punch the dough down and roll it out to a thickness of about 1/4 inch to 3/8 inch. Use a round, 2 1/2-inch to 3 1/2-inch cutter to cut out rounds. Use a small, round cutter, such as the base of a large piping tube, to make the hole. Alternatively, use a doughnut cutter. Gather the scraps and reroll them to cut out more doughnuts and holes.

    Roll the dough and cut out the doughnuts
    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

  8. Place the cutout doughnuts on lightly floured parchment paper and cover them with a greased sheet of plastic wrap or kitchen towel. Let them rise for about 30 minutes, or until doubled.

    Cut-out doughnuts to rise 30 minutes
    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

  9. Brush the air fryer basket with vegetable oil. Set the temperature to 350 F and preheat for about 3 minutes. Place 2 to 4 doughnuts and holes in the preheated air fryer basket; brush with melted butter or with vegetable oil. Cook the doughnuts for 4 minutes. Turn them out and repeat with the remaining doughnuts.

    Cooked doughnuts in the air fryer basket
    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

  10. Meanwhile, make the glaze. Sift the confectioners' sugar into a medium bowl. Add the 3 tablespoons of melted butter, 2 tablespoons hot water, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla. Mix until blended, adding more water as needed to make a thin glaze. Add maple flavoring if desired.

    Glaze for air fryer doughnuts
    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

  11. Dip the tops of the doughnuts in the glaze. Set the doughnuts on a rack and let stand until the glaze sets. If the glaze becomes too thick, warm it in the microwave oven for about 10 to 20 seconds or add a bit more hot water.

    Glazing warm doughnuts
    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

  12. If desired, double dip the doughnuts for a thicker glaze or add sprinkles while the glaze is still wet.

    Stacks of air fryer doughnuts with vanilla glaze
    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

Tips

  • For golden brown doughnuts, brush them evenly with melted butter just before they go into the air fryer.
  • The glaze can be mixed ahead of time. Just warm it in the microwave when you're ready to dip the doughnuts.
  • Some of the prep may be done a day in advance. Prepare the dough, knead it, and put it in the greased bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate it overnight. Even refrigerated, the retarded dough will slowly rise. The next day, take the dough out of the refrigerator about 1 to 1 1/2 hours before you plan to roll it out and shape the doughnuts. It should be doubled in bulk—if not, give it a little more time at room temperature.

Recipe Variation

  • To make cinnamon-sugar doughnuts, combine 1/2 cup of granulated sugar with 1 tablespoon of cinnamon. Coat the doughnuts and holes with melted butter and then roll them in the cinnamon-sugar mixture.