Our Air Fryer Doughnuts are completely homemade. This simple recipe uses a yeasted dough that tastes exactly like your favorite traditional doughnut. Top them with a creamy chocolate frosting or dip them in cinnamon and sugar for extra decadence.
“I don't mind admitting that I was rather skeptical about this, but I was pleasantly surprised! The doughnuts turned out perfectly and I just had to give myself a little pat on the back. I'm not a confident cook, but you gave me the confidence to try something new and it worked!”
Deliciously Easy Air-Fried Doughnuts
Making homemade doughnuts is a fun way to create special moments with the family. And trust us, they’re easier to whip up than you might think—and way better than anything you’ll find in the store.
While you’re here, check out a few of our other favorite air fryer baked goods recipes, like Air Fryer Monkey Bread and Air Fryer Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies.
Ingredients you’ll Need
- Milk – Milk adds moisture and richness to the donuts. We’re 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 doughnuts.
- Yeast – Yeast helps the doughnuts rise and gives us the classic yeasted doughnut flavor.
- Butter – Butter adds richness to the doughnuts. 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 doughnuts.
- Flour – Flour gives the doughnut structure. I recommend measuring using the spoon and level method as adding too much flour can result in dry doughnuts.
- Salt – Salt balances out the sweetness in the doughnuts. Make sure to use kosher salt, not table salt.
How to make air fryer Donuts
No stand mixer? No Problem!
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.
- Here’s a more concise version of the recipe steps, keeping it to 8 steps:
- In a stand mixer, whisk together warm milk, sugar, and yeast. Let sit until foamy.
- Add melted butter, egg, and vanilla, then whisk to combine.
- Attach the dough hook, set it to low, and slowly add flour and salt. Scrape the bowl as needed.
- Mix until the dough pulls away from the sides. If too sticky, add flour one tablespoon at a time.
- Knead until smooth, transfer to an oiled bowl, and let rise until doubled in size.
- Punch dough down, roll out to ½” thick, and cut out donuts and holes. Avoid re-rolling the dough.
- Let donuts rise on a parchment-lined sheet for 30 minutes. Preheat air fryer to 350ºF/176ºC.
- Lightly spray the air fryer, cook donuts for 5 minutes until light brown, then garnish with glaze and enjoy.
Serving Ideas
These Air Fryer Doughnuts are perfect for breakfast. Serve with a side of Air Fryer Bacon and a homemade Oat Milk Latte and you’re ready to take on the day.
How to make an easy frosting
To make a chocolate frosting topping like what we used, whisk together 1 cup of powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon of cocoa powder, and 2 tablespoons of heavy cream. Dip the cooled donuts into the glaze and garnish with sprinkles.
Or try rolling them in a cinnamon-sugar mixture fresh out the air fryer.
Storing Directions
You can store these Air Fryer Doughnuts in an airtight container at room temperature for 1-2 days, but they are best enjoyed right out of the air fryer.
More Sweet Tooth Air Fryer Recipes 🍬
- Air Fried Oreos
- Air Fryer Peanut Butter Cookies
- Sweet Potatoes In Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Breakfast Potatoes
Air Fryer Doughnuts
Equipment
- 1 Biscuit Cutter
Ingredients
- ½ cup whole milk warmed to 100-110 F
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1½ tsp active dry yeast
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter melted
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ tsp kosher salt
Instructions
- Add the warm milk, granulated sugar, and yeast to the bowl of a stand mixer and whisk to combine. Allow the mixture to sit for 5 minutes, or until the yeast is foamy and fragrant.
- Next add the melted butter, egg, and vanilla. Whisk again to combine.
- Attach the dough hook to the stand mixer and set the speed to low (Kitchenaid #2). Slowly add the flour and salt. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
- Continue mixing until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl and begins to form a ball. If the dough is too wet (sticking to the sides of the bowl) add more flour one tablespoon at a time until the dough begins to pull away from the sides of the bowl.
- Knead the dough (on low speed for 5 minutes if using a stand mixer) until the dough is smooth and just 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– about 1 hour.
- 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 (3”) and then use a smaller (1”) round cookie cutter to cut out the center of the doughnuts. This dough is best if not re-rolled so try to cut as many doughnuts as possible the first time.
- Place the doughnuts and doughnut holes on a parchment-lined baking sheet and allow them to rise for an additional 30 minutes, or until they have increased in size by about 50%. In the meantime, preheat your air fryer to 350ºF/176ºC for 5 minutes.
- Lightly grease your air fryer with nonstick baking spray and add a few doughnuts (or doughnut holes) to the basket. Make sure not to overcrowd the air fryer! Spray the tops of the doughnuts with nonstick baking spray. Cook the doughnuts (or doughnut holes) for 5 minutes, or until they are light brown and a toothpick inserted into the doughnut comes out clean. Continue cooking the doughnuts in batches. Garnish the doughnuts with your favorite glaze and enjoy!
Notes
powder, and 2 tablespoons of heavy cream. Dip the cooled donuts into the glaze and
garnish with sprinkles. Directions for Without 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.
Nutrition
I don’t mind admitting that I was rather skeptical about this, but I was pleasantly surprised! The doughnuts turned out perfectly and I just had to give myself a little pat on the back.
I’m not a confident cook, but you gave me the confidence to try something new and it worked!
Oh Geraldine that’s lovely of you to say!
Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment & rating – I’m so happy you enjoyed the air fryer doughnuts! 🙂