Air Fryer Chocolate Glazed Donuts (Krispy Kreme Copycat)

Our Air Fryer Chocolate Glazed Donuts are a copycat recipe of the famous Krispy Kreme donuts that everyone loves. Learn how to make yeasted donuts from scratch, in your air fryer, then top them with creamy chocolate frosting.

recipe overview

These scratch-made yeast donuts with chocolate frosting are so chocolatey and delicious! If you love Krispy Kreme donuts, you’ll be thrilled at how easy it is to make these amazing, melt-in-your-mouth copycats at home.

Donuts are traditionally a deep fried food, but I’ve figured out how to get that same slightly crispy yet super soft texture that donuts are known for, right in the air fryer. Just a quick spritz of cooking oil does the job, rather than a whole pot of oil. Try our Air Fryer Donut Holes too, they are adorable and perfect to pop into your mouth.

Just 7 simple ingredients and a few hours – because proofing yeast dough takes time – and you’ll have tender and sugary donuts that the whole family will love.

ingredients you’ll need

• Milk – Warm your milk on the stovetop until it’s 100°F. The warm milk will wake up the yeast.
• Active Dry Yeast – You’ll need 2 1/2 tsp. This is slightly more than a packet of yeast holds, so you’ll either need to borrow some from a second packet or buy your yeast in a jar for easy measuring. Make sure to keep your yeast in the fridge once it’s been opened.
• Sugar – Sugar adds a delightful sweetness to the donuts and also feeds the yeast in the dough to create air.
• Egg – Egg holds everything together.
• Butter – One stick of melted butter adds so much moisture and that perfect mouth-feel.
• Flour – All-purpose flour is perfect here.
• Chocolate Frosting – You can use a canned chocolate frosting, or make your favorite chocolate glaze. I’ve put some recipes and ideas below.

how to make them

1. In a mixing bowl, gently stir warm milk, yeast, and a tablespoon of sugar together. Allow it to sit for 10 minutes or until it starts foaming.
2. Add egg, melted butter, and remaining sugar. Stir until completely combined.
3. Using a dough hook in an electric mixer, add the flour slowly, mixing on low. Once mixed, increase speed and knead until dough forms into a ball.
4. Place the dough in a large, oiled bowl and cover with a damp towel. Allow the dough to double in size. This will take about an hour.
5. Remove dough and roll out on a floured surface until dough is 1/2 inch thick. Using a circle cutter or a wide-mouth jar, cut out 10-12 donuts. Using a smaller cutter, punch out a center hole in each donut.
6. Place donuts on a rack that has been placed on top of a baking sheet and cover with plastic wrap. Allow the donuts to rise for 20 minutes.
7. Place 2 or 3 donuts in the air fryer basket, allowing them room to expand. Spray donuts with oil and air fry as directed in the recipe below. Flip over halfway through cooking time.
8. Remove the donuts from the air fryer using a fork and dip just the top half of each into the chocolate frosting. Place on a rack to cool and set.

how to make chocolate glaze

I’m not adding a specific glaze recipe in the recipe card, because I want you to have the freedom to use whatever sort of chocolate (or not chocolate) frosting that you like.

Here are some suggestions:

donut breakfast ideas

These air fryer donuts are perfect for breakfast! Serve them with Air Fryer Sausage Links and Air Fryer Bacon. Go big or go home, right?