Air Fryer Donut Holes

These air fryer donut holes are the perfect bite-sized treat. Toss them in a cinnamon and sugar coating for an extra bit of indulgence.

Why these are the best!

These Air Fryer Donut Holes are so simple to make and taste even better, than store-bought doughnuts.

The air fryer gives these a crumply core and a crispy outer layer. Watch your friends and family gobble this sweet treat up. We think it would be the perfect addition to a fun party or on a platter at a brunch.

Check out a few of our other favorite air fryer baked goods recipes, like Air Fryer Monkey Bread, Air Fryer Churros, and Air Fryer Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies.

What You’ll Need

• Milk – Milk adds moisture and richness to the donuts. I’m using whole milk but 2% dairy or unsweetened almond or soy milk would also work. Make sure to warm the milk so the yeast activates– I recommend 30-45 seconds in the microwave.
• Granulated Sugar – Granulated sugar acts as food for the yeast so we end up with really light and fluffy donuts.
• Yeast – Yeast helps the donuts rise and gives us the classic yeasted donut flavor.
• Butter – Butter adds richness to the donuts. If you use salted butter, you won’t need to add kosher salt.
• Egg – The egg enriches the dough and gives it structure. It also adds a bit more moisture to hold the dough together.
• Vanilla – Vanilla adds a subtle sweetness to the donuts.
• Flour – Flour gives the donuts structure. I recommend measuring using the spoon and level method as adding too much flour can result in dry donuts.
• Salt – Salt balances out the sweetness in the donuts. Make sure to use kosher salt, not table salt.

How to make these donut holes

1. Add the warm milk, granulated sugar, and yeast to the bowl of a stand mixer and whisk to combine. Allow the mixture to sit until the yeast is foamy and fragrant.
2. Add the melted butter, egg, and vanilla. Whisk again to combine.
3. Attach the dough hook to the stand mixer and set the speed to low. Slowly add the flour and salt.
4. Continue mixing until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl and begins to form a ball.
5. Knead the dough until the dough is smooth and barely sticks to your hands. Transfer the dough to a lightly oiled bowl and then place it in a warm spot to rise until doubled in size. 
6. Punch the dough down slightly and then transfer it to a lightly floured surface. Use a floured rolling pin to roll the dough until it is ½” thick. Cut out large round circles and then use a smaller round cookie cutter to cut out the center of the donuts. This dough is best if not re-rolled so try to cut as many donuts as possible the first time.
7. Place the donuts and donut holes on a parchment-lined baking sheet and allow them to rise until they have increased in size by about 50%. In the meantime, preheat your air fryer to 350ºF/176ºC for 5 minutes.
8. Lightly grease your air fryer with nonstick baking spray and add a few donuts (or donut holes) to the basket. Spray the tops of the donuts with nonstick baking spray. Air fry the donut holes for 5 minutes.

Topping and Glaze Recommendations

Cinnamon-Sugar Coating – For a cinnamon sugar coating, melt 3 tablespoons of butter and set it aside to cool slightly. In another bowl, stir together ½ cup granulated sugar and 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon. Dip the donuts in melted butter and then in the cinnamon sugar. 

Traditional Glaze – For a traditional glazed coating, mix together 2 cups of powdered sugar with 1/4 of your milk of choice. Dip the donut holes in the glaze until completely covered and set on a rack until the glaze hardens.

Powdered Sugar – For a powdered sugar coating, melt 3 tablespoons of butter and set it aside to cool slightly. Fill another bowl with powdered sugar. Dip the donuts in melted butter and then in the powdered sugar.

Storing leftover donuts

These are obviously best if eaten fresh, but you can save them in an airtight container at room temperature for 1-2 days.

Don’t have a stand mixer?

If you don’t have a stand mixer, don’t worry– this recipe can be easily made by hand. Follow the instructions as written in Steps 1 and 2 and then use a wooden spoon or dough whisk to incorporate the dry ingredients. Knead by hand for 5-7 minutes and continue with the recipe as written.