Air Fryer Doughnuts
Air Fryer Doughnuts are a fun, easy, healthier to enjoy everyone’s favorite treat! These Air fryer Doughnuts only take about 5 minutes to cook in the air fryer.
Servings 8 doughnuts
Calories 238kcal
Cost $2
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.
Video
Notes
General yeast bread tips
If your dough is sticky, make sure to measure your liquid very carefully. Also, make sure your butter is measured carefully.
Next, use large eggs. Not extra large, or jumbo eggs.
Third, measure flour carefully. Also know that different brands and types of flour can affect the stickiness of the dough.
Fourth, humidity plays a large factor in the texture of yeast doughs. If it is very humid, more flour will be needed.
Fifth, the hydration of your starter can play a big factor as well. These buns were made with a 100% hydration starter. If you use a different hydration starter, more, or less flour may be needed to form a ball. So, don’t add flour all at once. Add it by heaping tablespoons full at a time, after the first 2 cups.
If your dough is still sticky, do not be afraid to add more flour. In my experience, you can not add too much flour to a yeast dough. They are very forgiving. Just continue to add flour to make a nice ball, even if it is over a cup of flour.
These are not ultra sweet, like "Dunkin Donuts" doughnuts. They are light and low in sugar and a healthier alternative to deep fried doughnuts!
General Air Fryer Tips
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.
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
Calories: 238kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 28mg | Sodium: 111mg | Potassium: 76mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 21g | Vitamin A: 130IU | Calcium: 18mg | Iron: 1.7mg