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Whip up a batch or two of these air fryer doughnuts for breakfast this weekend. A delicious, homemade baked yeast donut that is then dipped in a sweet vanilla glaze. The best part is that you will use much less oil but won’t skimp on flavor. These delicious donuts truly are an irresistible treat your whole family will enjoy!

Is it better to fry or bake doughnuts?

If you are looking for a healthier donut, baking is much better. An air fryer allows you to have the best of both world for a delicious doughnut that is covered in a homemade vanilla glaze. Instead of deep frying, you will allow the hot air to bake the dough. This air fryer donut recipe allows you to treat yourself with less guilt.

Homemade donuts never tasted so good! Plus, with air frying, you get that deep-fried texture without the excess oil. Trust me: you will make the best air fryer donuts with this simple recipe.

Easy Air Fryer Doughnuts 

This fluffy doughnut recipe stacks up to a bakery donut! So skip getting out, and stay in. This recipe is super simple and won’t disappoint

Ingredients Needed

Flour – all-purpose flour is what I used for these donuts. Make sure to measure your flour correctly. 

Milk – I used whole milk, but even skim milk will work. 

Eggs – I prefer to use room-temperature eggs when I make donuts. 

Active Dry Yeast – Yeast will help the donuts rise and give them that light and fluffy texture when you bite into them. This will be a pillowy yeast donut recipe, not a cake donut style.

Butter – I prefer to use unsalted butter over margarine. If you use salted butter, omit the salt in the recipe. 

Salt – Classic table salt is what you want. This will help to enhance the flavor of your glazed donuts. 

How to Make Air Fryer Doughnuts

Full directions and measurements for these donuts in the air fryer are in the recipe card below. Here is a quick overview of this easy air fryer donut recipe.

Step 1: Add your milk into a microwave-safe bowl and heat in the microwave as directed in the recipe card. Add in your yeast, gently stir, and allow your yeast to activate. 

Step 2: In a stand mixer, with a paddle- you will then put your eggs, butter, milk and yeast mixture, sugar, and salt and mix, incorporating your flour. 

Step 3: Switch to the dough hook and knead your donut dough. You will knead your dough as directed in the recipe card below. 

Step 4: Transfer the dough to a greased bowl and cover, and allow it to rise. You want it to double in size. Punch down the dough once it has risen. 

Step 5: Place the donut dough on a floured surface. Roll out the dough, and then use a round cookie cutter to shape your donuts. Use a smaller circle to cut out the centers. 

Step 6: Preheat the air fryer, then place donuts in the air fryer basket and spritz with oil. Air fry till golden brown. 

Step 7: Whip up the homemade vanilla glaze, dip your slightly cooled doughnuts in the glaze, and place them on a cooling rack. 

Add sprinkles if you would like, and serve up these to die for doughnuts. 

How to Know If The Yeast Has Activated

If you are new to working with active dry yeast, it can be a little bit of a learning curve. 

You want to heat your milk to 90-105 degrees. Then sprinkle in the yeast and let it rest. After a bit, you will see the yeast begins to grow and bubble. 

That means your yeast is activated, and it will allow your donut dough to rise. If the yeast and milk don’t bubble and foam up, your yeast didn’t work and will not allow the dough to increase the way you need. 

What If I Don’t Have Cookie Cutters for Doughnuts

No cookie cutters? No problem! Use a glass to cut out the donuts. And for the hole, reach for a shot glass or even a bottle cap! 

Expert Tips

• Make sure to allow the dough to rise an hour; this provides that light and fluffy donut. 
• Use an oil mist, not a cooking spray, in your air fryer. Cooking spray in aerosol cans eats the enamel off air fryer trays and baskets. 
• All air fryers cook slightly differently, so test out the cooking time and check on the donuts. 
• Don’t overlap your donuts. They need to be in a single layer and not touching. If they touch, the donuts will stay soggy in that area. 
• Cook up the donut holes as well! They will cook faster than full-size donuts. 

Storage

Like any donut, your homemade donuts are best eaten fresh. If you don’t eat all your donuts right away, they will store up to 2 days on the counter in an airtight container. 

Or consider freezing some of your donuts! Just allow the donuts to cool thoroughly, then place them in a freezer container in a single layer. If you stack, put wax paper in between the layers to prevent sticking together. 

Then freeze your homemade donuts for up to 3 months. Thaw on the counter or warm in the microwave for a few seconds! 

Air Fryer Doughnuts Recipe

Makes about 18 doughnuts

Ingredients:

• 1 ¼ cups milk
• 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast
• 2 eggs
• ½ cup (1 stick) butter, melted and cooled
• ¼ cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 4 ½ to 5 ½ cups all-purpose flour

For the glaze:

• ½ cup butter, melted
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 6 tablespoons evaporated milk

Instructions:

1. Heat milk in the microwave about 60 seconds until 90 degrees.Transfer to a stand mixer mixing bowl and stir in yeast until dissolved. Allow yeast to rest for 5 minutes.
2. With the paddle attachment, beat in the eggs, butter, sugar, salt, and 4 cups flour. 
3. Switch the mixer to the dough hook attachment. Knead at medium speed, adding flour ¼ cup at a time until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl. Continue kneading at medium speed for about 3 minutes. Dough will be soft and a little sticky.
4. Transfer the dough to a greased bowl, turning once. Cover and place in a draft-free spot for 1 hour or until the dough has doubled in size.
5. Punch dough down and place on a lightly floured surface.
6. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough to ½ inch thickness. Using round cookie cutters in two sizes, cut dough into circles and place on a parchment lined baking sheet at least 1 inch apart. Knead any scrap pieces of dough into a mound of dough and continue rolling out and cutting the doughnuts until all of the dough is used.
7. Cover the doughnuts and place in a draft-free spot for 1 hour or until the doughnuts have doubled in size.
8. Preheat air fryer to 350 degrees F. Spray basket with nonstick cooking spray.
9. Place doughnuts in basket in a single layer. Do not overlap. Spritz with oil spray. Air fry on each side for about 3 to 6 minutes (depending on the wattage of your air fryer) or until golden.

For the glaze:

1. Mix all ingredients together until smooth. Add additional evaporated milk if a thinner consistency is desired.
2. Invert the doughnut and dip in the glaze.
3. Place on a wire rack. Allow the glaze to run over the doughnut. Add sprinkles if desired.

Can I use the leftover dough to make doughnut holes?

Yes! You can use the same steps to make the easy air fryer donuts to bake and glaze the air fryer donut holes.

Let me know if you enjoy these delicious air fryer donuts for a sweet breakfast or afternoon treat.

Variations to Air Fryer Donuts

• Use a chocolate glaze for your donuts instead of vanilla. 
• Skip the glaze and roll the warm donut in a cinnamon-sugar mixture. 
• Add in a teaspoon of sprinkles into the donut batter to make a birthday-themed donut! 
• Add coconut or almond extract to the glaze to add in flavor. 
• Roll of shredded coconut after you dip the donuts in the glaze

Want More Breakfast Recipes?

• 3 Ingredient Breakfast Cookies
• Apple French Toast Casserole
• Smoothie Recipes 

I hope you enjoy this easy homemade doughnut recipe with vanilla glaze made in the air fryer.

More Air Fryer Recipes

• Yummy Air Fryer Nutella Breakfast Pastries
• Air Fryer Teriyaki Drumsticks 

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