Pidvz

Air Fryer Glazed Donuts

Air Fryer Donuts are lightly crisp on the outside yet tender and fluffy on the inside! Made from scratch using pantry staple ingredients!

  • Prep30 min
  • Cook18 min
  • Total2 hr 18 min
  • Yield12 donuts
  • Calories359

Ingredients Steps Notes

If you have yet to sink your teeth into Air Fryer Donuts then you’re in for a real treat! My family loves these as well as the chocolate version, Air Fryer Chocolate Donuts!

A Sweet Treat For Breakfast OR Dessert!

These golden-brown Air Fryer Donuts are covered in a sweet, 5-ingredient homemade glaze! Sip on your favorite cup of coffee or tea while enjoying a couple for a delicious start to your day!

These donuts aren’t just a treat for bellies though, but for homes too! From the second the yeast is activated until the last cooked donut leaves the plate, the house is filled with the comforting smell of a homemade treat!

Short on time but still wanting to try an air-fried donut? Save these Yeast Donuts for another day and try my Air Fryer Biscuit Donuts that are made with canned biscuits in just 20 minutes!

Ingredients For Air Fryer Donuts

Pantry staples make up the majority of the ingredients list for this Air Fryer Donut Recipe. To start making the donut batter, the leavening agent, yeast, is mixed together with warm water to activate it.

Afterward, the remaining donut ingredients are combined. This list of ingredients includes evaporated milk, vanilla extract, cinnamon, sugar, salt, eggs, melted butter, shortening, and cake flour.

While the donuts are air frying you can prepare the homemade glaze. For this, you’ll heat powdered sugar, whole milk, light corn syrup, evaporated milk, and vanilla extract on the stovetop.

Make Ahead Option!

Make the dough the night before and allow it to slow-proof in the fridge overnight. In the morning you’re one step closer to mouthwatering homemade donuts!

How To Make Air Fryer Donuts From Scratch

I use a Cosori Air Fryer (affiliate link), other air fryers might vary in their cook time.

  1. Activate the yeast by combining it with warm water in your stand mixer or large bowl.
  2. Add in the warm milk, vanilla extract, cinnamon, sugar, salt, egg, egg yolk, melted butter, shortening, and flour. Mix on low speed until smooth.
  3. Cover the bowl and place it in a warm spot in your home to allow the dough to rise.
  4. Roll the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Cut the donuts out and place them onto a baking sheet.
  5. Cover the baking sheet to allow the donuts to rise. Then preheat the air fryer.
  6. Prepare the air fryer basket by lining it with aluminum foil and then spraying it with coconut oil. Then arrange the donuts in the air fryer basket and cook.
  7. Flip the donuts halfway through the cooking time. Afterward, place the fried donuts onto a wire rack-lined baking sheet to cool.
  8. Whisk all of the glaze ingredients together and then heat it on the stovetop. Pour the glaze back into the mixing bowl.
  9. Dip each donut in the glaze. Then place them back on the wire rack to allow the excess glaze to drop off.

How To Deep Fry These Donuts

  1. Heat about 4 inches of vegetable oil in a deep skillet or Dutch oven until it reaches 365 to 375 degrees F.
  2. Fry the donuts a few at a time. Make sure to flip the donuts over to fry both sides.
  3. Place the fried doughnuts on a paper towel-lined baking sheet.
  4. Glaze the donuts according to the recipe instructions.

Topping Options For Air Fried Donuts

Cinnamon Sugar Topping Option

  1. Mix 1 cup of granulated sugar with 1 Tablespoon of ground cinnamon.
  2. Roll the freshly fried donuts in the mixture.
  3. Transfer them back to the wire rack to set.

Chocolate Glaze Topping Option

  1. Whisk 1 cup + 2 Tablespoons of powdered sugar with 2 Tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder in a small bowl.
  2. Pour in 1/4 cup of heavy cream and continue to whisk the icing together.
  3. Dip the doughnuts in the chocolate glaze. Then transfer them to the wire rack to allow the excess glaze to drip off of them.

Or A Simple Sprinkle Of Powdered Sugar!

How To Store Glazed Donuts

For storage, place the air fried glazed donuts in an airtight container and store them at room temperature. Enjoy the homemade donuts for up to 2 days!

Check Out More Great Donut Recipes:

Steps

  1. In your stand mixer or a large mixing bowl, combine warm water and yeast. Allow to activate for 10 minutes.

  2. After 10 minutes the yeast should have small bubbles. Pour in the warm milk, vanilla extract, cinnamon, sugar, salt, egg, egg yolk, melted butter, shortening, and flour. Mix on low speed until combined and smooth. Do not overmix.

  3. Place a towel over the bowl and let rise for 1 hour.

  4. Lightly flour a wooden cutting board. Place the dough on the floured surface and roll out to 1” thick.

  5. Use a donut cutter, or a 4” and 1” biscuit/cookie cutter to cut out the donuts. Place the donuts onto a baking sheet as you work.

  6. Lay a towel over the baking sheet and allow donuts to rise for 30 minutes. Preheat the air fryer to 350°F for 5 minutes

  7. Line the air fryer basket with foil. Spray the foil with coconut oil to prevent sticking. Arrange donuts in a single layer leaving 1” space between each and cook for 6 minutes, stopping once halfway through to flip. Multiple batches may be necessary. Place cooked donuts on a wire rack lined baking sheet to cool.

  8. While the donuts are cooking, prepare glaze. Combine all of the glaze ingredients in a mixing bowl and whisk. Place into a saucepan over medium heat for 10 minutes. Pour glaze out of the saucepan and back into the mixing bowl.

  9. Dip donuts in the glaze and place back onto the wire to allow excess glaze to drip off and the glaze to harden.

Notes

  • How to Deep Fry: If you'd prefer to fry this recipe, simply heat 4 inches of vegetable oil in a deep skillet or Dutch oven until it reaches 365-375 degrees F. Fry the donuts 3 or 4 at a time cooking for about 1 1/2 minutes on each side. Flip with a metal slotted spoon or tongs. Transfer fried donuts to a paper towel-lined baking sheet then glaze as directed in the recipe.
  • How Can I Tell If The Yeast Activated? The yeast mixture will bubble up and create a foamy layer on top of the liquid. If that didn't occur with your yeast it, unfortunately, did not activate.
  • Why Didn't My Yeast Activate? I'd first suggest double-checking the expiration date on the yeast. If it's not expired I'd move on to the water temperature. For yeast to activate the warm water must be between 105 to 110 degrees F. If the water is too hot it will kill the yeast. You can easily track the temperature of the water by using a kitchen thermometer.
  • What Other Cooking Spray Can I Use Besides Coconut Oil? You can also use olive oil or avocado oil cooking spray. Just be sure NOT to use Pam Cooking Spray or it will ruin your air fryer basket.
  • Is There A Good Substitute For Evaporated Milk? Yes, you can swap evaporated milk out for half-and-half or heavy cream. Keep in mind the fat content is higher in those two than in evaporated milk. So the donut will likely turn out richer. To help with this you can create a lower fat content by mixing heavy cream with milk.
  • How Do I Store These Glazed Donuts Once They're Fried And Glazed? You can place them inside an airtight container and store them at room temperature. Enjoy them for up to 2 days.
  • Cinnamon Sugar Topping: If you'd prefer a sugar coating instead of a glaze, simply combine 1 cup of granulated sugar with 1 tablespoon of cinnamon. Roll the freshly fried donuts in the mixture.
  • How To Make The Chocolate Glaze Topping:
    1. Whisk 1 cup + 2 Tablespoons of powdered sugar with 2 Tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder in a small bowl.
    2. Pour in 1/4 cup of heavy cream and continue to whisk the icing together.
    3. Dip the doughnuts in the chocolate glaze. Then transfer them to the wire rack to allow the excess glaze to drip off of them.

Nutrition

  • Calories359
  • Carbs63g
  • Protein7g
  • Fat9g
  • Saturated fat4g
  • Fiber1g
  • Sugar39g
  • Sodium98mg

Estimates per serving, when a serving size is listed.

Vegetarian Breakfast Air Fryer Donuts

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