Air Fryer Donuts
Air fryer donuts are about to become your new favorite way to enjoy fresh, warm pastries without the hassle of deep frying.
Skip the hot oil and long process — this air fryer recipe shows you how to make fluffy, golden donuts in just minutes.
With simple ingredients and easy steps, you’ll have a bakery-style treat right at home.
Air frying delivers the same soft, pillowy inside with a perfectly crisp outside, all while being quicker and lighter than traditional methods. I
Learn everything you need to create delicious donuts that taste like they came from your favorite shop—only faster, easier, and a whole lot more fun to make.
Can you air fry donuts?
Yes, absolutely! Instead of deep-frying them in oil, the air fryer uses hot circulating air to cook the dough, giving you that golden-brown outside with a soft, fluffy inside. You can make them from scratch, use canned biscuit dough for a shortcut, or even reheat leftover donuts to bring back that fresh taste.
The best part? They cook in just a few minutes and are a little lighter since you’re skipping all the extra oil.
How to Make Air Fryer Donuts
- Mix flour, sugar, salt, and nutmeg, then add egg, butter, milk, and yeast to form a dough.
- Knead and let rise for 1 hour.
- Roll out the dough, cut into donut shapes, and chill for 15 minutes.
- Preheat the air fryer to 350°F, then cook donuts in a single layer for 4–5 minutes.
- Let cool slightly, then dip warm donuts into a quick vanilla glaze made with powdered sugar, butter, milk, and vanilla.
Air fryer donuts usually cook in 4–6 minutes depending on your air fryer model and the size of the donuts. Always check for a golden-brown color.
The sweet spot is 350°F. This ensures the donuts cook through while staying light and fluffy.
Classic vanilla glaze, cinnamon sugar, chocolate icing, powdered sugar, caramel drizzle, or colorful sprinkles all make delicious options.
Ninja Air Fryer, Roast, Bake, Air Fry, Roast, Broil, Reheats, & Dehydrates, 4-in-1, Fries, Frozen Food, Veggies, and Juicy Meat, Less Oil, Easy Meals, Healthy Meals, Compact, 4 QT, Grey, AF101400 Pcs Air Fryer Paper Liners, 8
Mrs. Anderson’s Baking Donut Cutter with Handle, Stainless Steel, Makes 3-Inch Donuts
If you’re loving these donuts, you’ll want to check out these great ideas too!
- Air fryer dessert recipes make it easy to whip up sweet, crispy treats without turning on the oven.
- Homemade donut recipes let you enjoy warm, bakery-style donuts right from your own kitchen.
Air Fryer Donut Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 ¼ cups All Purpose Flour
- 4 tbsp Sugar
- ⅓ tsp Salt
- 1 Egg
- ⅓ cup Milk
- pinch Nutmeg
- 2 ½ tbsp butter
- ¼ oz yeast
- 3 cups Powdered sugar
- 6 tbsp Butter
- 4 tbsp Milk
- ½ tsp Vanilla Extract
Instructions
- Add dry ingredients to a large bowl: all of the flour, sugar, 13 tsp salt and pinch of nutmeg. Mix well.
- Add egg, butter, milk and yeast. Mix with a wooden spoon.
- Knead the dough.
- Let the dough rise in a warm place for 1 hour so that it rises.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to about ¼ inch thickness and use a donut cutter or a biscuit cutter to create the classic donut shape
- Place dough onto a parchment lined baking sheet and let rest in the fridge for at least 15 minutes before frying them in the air fryer.
- Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees f.
- Once the air fryer is preheated, place the donuts in the air fryer tray in a single layer, making sure they are not touching each other.
- Air fry donuts for 4-5 minutes.
- Remove from heat and let cool slightly on a wire rack before serving warm with your favorite topping(s).
- Prepare the vanilla glaze by mixing all of the ingredients in a small bowl.
- Dip the warm donuts in the glaze and then finish cooling on a cooling rack.