🍩 Air Fryer Donuts
Soft, fluffy, lightly sweet, and golden on the outside, these easy Air Fryer Donuts are a quick homemade treat without the need for deep frying.
Made with simple pantry ingredients, these donuts have a tender, cake-style crumb with a subtle warmth from nutmeg and vanilla. Finish them with a simple glaze, cinnamon sugar, or powdered sugar for a bakery-style treat at home.
⏱ Recipe Information
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 8–10 minutes per batch
Total Time: About 30 minutes
Servings: 8–10 donuts
Difficulty: Easy
Method: Air Fryer
Ingredients
Donuts
- 250 g (2 cups) all-purpose flour
- 50 g (¼ cup) granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 2 large eggs
- 120 ml (½ cup) milk
- 60 g (¼ cup) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Optional Toppings
- Powdered sugar
- Cinnamon sugar
- Chocolate glaze
- Vanilla glaze
- Melted chocolate
- Sprinkles
- Chopped nuts
Instructions
1. Preheat the Air Fryer
Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C) for approximately 3–5 minutes.
If your air fryer doesn’t require preheating, you can skip this step.
Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray or brush it with a small amount of melted butter.
2. Combine the Dry Ingredients
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together:
- Flour
- Granulated sugar
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Ground nutmeg
Mix until the ingredients are evenly distributed.
3. Combine the Wet Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, melted butter, and vanilla extract.
Make sure the melted butter has cooled slightly before adding it so it doesn’t cook the eggs.
4. Make the Dough
Pour the wet ingredients into the bowl with the dry ingredients.
Using a spatula or wooden spoon, gently mix until a soft dough forms.
Do not overmix.
The dough should be soft and slightly tacky but firm enough to shape.
If it feels excessively sticky, add a small amount of flour, about 1 tablespoon at a time.
5. Roll Out the Dough
Lightly flour your work surface.
Transfer the dough onto the surface and gently knead it just a few times to bring it together.
Roll the dough to approximately ½-inch (1.25 cm) thickness.
Avoid rolling it too thin, as thicker dough produces softer, fluffier donuts.
6. Cut the Donuts
Use a donut cutter or two round cookie cutters to cut out the donuts.
Cut the center holes approximately 1 inch wide.
Gather the leftover dough, gently re-roll it once, and cut additional donuts.
Avoid repeatedly re-rolling the dough because this can make the donuts tough.
7. Arrange in the Air Fryer
Place the donuts in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
Leave a little space between each donut to allow hot air to circulate.
Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook them in batches.
Lightly spray or brush the tops with a little melted butter if desired.
8. Air Fry
Cook at 350°F (175°C) for approximately 4–5 minutes.
Carefully flip the donuts and cook for another 3–5 minutes, or until golden and cooked through.
Cooking time can vary depending on your air fryer and the thickness of the donuts.
Avoid overcooking—the donuts should be lightly golden and tender inside.
9. Cool Slightly
Transfer the cooked donuts to a wire rack.
Allow them to cool for approximately 5 minutes before glazing or coating.
10. Add Your Favorite Topping
Choose your favorite finish.
For cinnamon sugar, brush the warm donuts lightly with melted butter and immediately toss them in cinnamon sugar.
For powdered sugar, dust generously once the donuts have cooled slightly.
For glazed donuts, dip the tops into your favorite glaze and allow the excess to drip off.
🍯 Easy Vanilla Glaze
For a quick bakery-style topping, combine:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Whisk until smooth.
If the glaze is too thick, add milk ½ teaspoon at a time.
If it’s too thin, add a little more powdered sugar.
Dip the cooled donuts into the glaze and place them on a wire rack until set.
🍫 Easy Chocolate Glaze
Combine:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2–3 tablespoons milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Whisk until smooth and glossy.
Dip the tops of the donuts into the glaze and finish with sprinkles or chopped nuts if desired.
Chef’s Tips
Don’t Overmix the Dough
Overworking the flour develops gluten and can make the donuts dense and chewy instead of soft.
Don’t Overcrowd the Basket
Air needs to circulate around the donuts for even browning.
Watch the Cooking Time
Air fryers vary considerably. Start checking the donuts after about 7 minutes total.
Don’t Make Them Too Thin
A thicker donut produces a softer, more cake-like center.
Re-Roll Only Once
Repeatedly working the scraps can result in tougher donuts.
Serve Fresh
These donuts are at their best while still slightly warm.
🍩 Flavor Variations
Cinnamon Sugar Donuts
Coat warm donuts in a mixture of:
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Maple Donuts
Add 1–2 tablespoons maple syrup to your glaze and top with chopped pecans.
Chocolate Chip Donuts
Fold ½ cup mini chocolate chips into the dough.
Lemon Donuts
Add 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest to the dough and finish with a lemon glaze.
Pumpkin Spice Donuts
Replace the nutmeg with 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice.
Nutella Donuts
Pipe a small amount of Nutella into the center of each cooled donut.
Make-Ahead Instructions
For the best results, prepare and cook the donuts fresh.
However, the dough can be prepared several hours ahead and refrigerated, tightly covered.
Allow it to sit at room temperature for approximately 10–15 minutes before rolling and cutting.
Storage
Store cooled donuts in an airtight container at room temperature.
Room temperature: Best within 1–2 days.
For the best texture, reheat briefly in the air fryer at 300°F (150°C) for 1–2 minutes.
Avoid refrigerating unless necessary, as refrigeration can make cake-style donuts dry.
❄️ Freezing
Freeze unglazed donuts in a single layer until solid, then transfer them to a freezer-safe container or bag.
Freezer: Up to 2 months.
Thaw at room temperature and warm briefly in the air fryer before glazing.
Serving Suggestions
These donuts are delicious with:
- Fresh coffee
- Hot chocolate
- Tea
- Fresh berries
- Whipped cream
- Vanilla ice cream
- Caramel sauce
- Chocolate sauce
For a brunch spread, serve several toppings alongside the warm donuts and let everyone decorate their own.
Recipe Summary
These Air Fryer Donuts are an easy homemade alternative to deep-fried donuts, with a soft, tender cake-like center and beautifully golden exterior.
Nutmeg adds classic donut-shop warmth while vanilla and butter give the dough a rich, comforting flavor.
Soft homemade donuts + no deep frying + your favorite glaze = an easy treat everyone will love.