Delicious Air Fryer Donuts in Just 20 Minutes – Must Try!

Who knew making donuts at home could be this easy? I used to think you needed a deep fryer and a whole lot of patience, but then I discovered air fryer donuts. The first time I tried them, I was shocked—crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and ready in under 20 minutes! Plus, you barely use any oil compared to traditional frying. I love that I can make them fresh anytime my kids (okay, or me) get a craving. Forget the drive-thru—nothing beats warm, homemade donuts with your favorite toppings. Trust me, once you try these, you’ll never go back to store-bought!

Table of Contents

Why You’ll Love These Air Fryer Donuts

These air fryer donuts are about to become your new obsession—here’s why:

• Crazy fast: No waiting for oil to heat up—they’re ready in minutes!
• Healthier(ish): Just a spritz of oil compared to swimming in grease.
• Endless fun: Dunk in glaze, roll in cinnamon sugar, or go wild with sprinkles.
• Kid magic: My little ones love cutting out shapes and decorating their own.
• Hot & fresh: Way better than stale bakery donuts (and cheaper too!).

Seriously, they disappear faster than I can make them—every single time.

Ingredients for Air Fryer Donuts

Here’s everything you’ll need for these magical little donuts—I bet you’ve got most of it in your pantry already! The key is using simple, fresh ingredients (and yes, that means *real* butter—no substitutes, okay?). Here’s the lineup:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour (sift it if yours is clumpy—lumps are for gravy, not donuts)
• 1/4 cup sugar (granulated works best, but brown sugar adds a caramel twist)
• 1 tsp baking powder (make sure it’s fresh, or your donuts won’t puff properly)
• 1/4 tsp salt (just a pinch to balance the sweetness)
• 1/4 cup milk (whole milk for richness, but any kind works—pull it out early to take the chill off)
• 1 egg (room temp! Cold eggs make the dough stubborn)
• 1 tbsp melted butter (unsalted, and let it cool slightly so it doesn’t cook the egg)
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract (the good stuff—imitation vanilla tastes like sadness)
• Cooking spray or oil (just enough to spritz—avocado or coconut oil adds nice flavor)

See? Nothing fancy. Now grab that mixing bowl—let’s make some donuts!

Print

How to Make Air Fryer Donuts

Okay, let’s get to the fun part—transforming that simple dough into golden, irresistible donuts! I’ve made these dozens of times (for research purposes, obviously), and these steps guarantee perfect results every time.

Mixing the Dough

First, grab two bowls—one for dry ingredients, one for wet. Whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in the first bowl. In the second, beat the egg lightly, then mix in the milk, melted butter, and vanilla. Now, here’s the key: pour the wet into the dry and stir just until combined. A few lumps are fine! Overmixing makes tough donuts, and nobody wants that. The dough should be soft and slightly sticky—like a thicker pancake batter. Cover it and let it rest for 5 minutes while you prep your workspace.

Shaping and Preheating

Dust your counter or cutting board lightly with flour (too much makes dry donuts). Plop the dough onto it and gently pat it into a ½-inch thick circle—no rolling pin needed! Use a donut cutter or two round cookie cutters (one large, one small) to stamp out your shapes. Pro tip: Dip the cutter in flour between cuts to prevent sticking. Don’t twist—just press straight down. Meanwhile, preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C) for 3 minutes. This ensures even cooking from the start.

Air Frying the Donuts

Lightly spray or brush both sides of each donut with oil—this gives them that beautiful crispness. Arrange them in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving space between (they’ll puff up!). No overcrowding! If needed, cook in batches. Fry for 5-7 minutes, flipping halfway, until they’re golden brown and spring back when touched. Watch closely after the 5-minute mark—air fryers vary. Transfer to a wire rack immediately (they’ll steam if left sitting). Now, the hardest part: waiting until they’re cool enough to glaze!

Try our fluffy Cottage Cheese Pancakes for another quick breakfast treat.

Tips for Perfect Air Fryer Donuts

Want bakery-quality donuts every time? Here are my hard-earned tricks for air fryer donut perfection:

• Peek early: Check at 5 minutes—some air fryers run hotter than others. Better to undercook slightly than burn!
• Give them space: Crowding = steamed donuts. I’d rather do two perfect batches than one sad, squished batch.
• Flip with care: Use silicone tongs—they won’t tear the soft dough like metal ones can.
• Glaze while warm: The donuts absorb flavors best when fresh from the fryer (and the glaze gets that pretty drip effect).
• Rotate racks: If your air fryer has multiple layers, swap their positions halfway for even browning.

Follow these, and you’ll be the donut hero of your household—I promise!

Air Fryer Donuts Variations

Here’s where the real fun begins—making these air fryer donuts uniquely yours! My kids love when we turn this into a DIY topping bar. Some of our go-to favorites:

• Cinnamon sugar: Toss warm donuts in a mix of ¼ cup sugar + 1 tsp cinnamon (trust me, it’s addictive).
• Chocolate glaze: Melt ½ cup chocolate chips with 1 tbsp coconut oil for dunking—add sprinkles while wet!
• Lemon zest glaze: Mix 1 cup powdered sugar with 2 tbsp lemon juice + zest for a tangy twist.

The best part? These air fryer donuts are like edible blank canvases—get creative!

Serving and Storing Air Fryer Donuts

Oh, the bliss of eating these air fryer donuts fresh—warm, fragrant, and crispy on the outside! Serve them right away if you can resist (I never can). Leftovers? Pop them in an airtight container for up to a day—but they’re best revived with a quick 1-2 minute blast in the air fryer to bring back that just-made magic. Pro tip: Store unglazed donuts and add toppings right before serving to keep things from getting soggy.

Air Fryer Donuts FAQs

I’ve gotten so many questions about these donuts—here are the answers to the ones I hear most often!

Nutritional Information

Okay, let’s keep it real—these are still donuts, but air frying makes them way lighter than the deep-fried kind! Here’s the scoop per plain donut (without toppings—because let’s face it, we all go wild with those):

• Calories: 150 (but totally worth every one)
• Sugar: 8g (mostly from that touch of sweetness in the dough)
• Fat: 5g (thank you, butter—the good kind of fat!)
• Carbs: 24g (for that perfect fluffy texture)
• Protein: 3g (surprising little protein boost from the egg and milk)

Note: Estimates vary based on ingredients—your exact flour brand or milk fat percentage might tweak these numbers slightly. Values calculated per donut without toppings (because if you’re like me, that chocolate glaze adds at least another 50 calories of happiness).

Try This Recipe and Tag Us With Your Donut Creations!

Now that you’ve got all my best air fryer donut secrets, it’s your turn to work some magic! I want to see what delicious creations you come up with—whether you keep it classic with cinnamon sugar or go wild with rainbow sprinkles. Snap a pic of your golden beauties and tag me on Instagram. There’s nothing I love more than seeing your kitchen wins (and yes, even the “oops” moments—we’ve all been there!). Trust me, once you taste that first warm, homemade donut fresh from the air fryer, you’ll be hooked just like I was. Happy frying, friends!

Follow us on Pinterest for daily recipe ideas and food trends.