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Air Fryer Donuts

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Tender, golden cake donuts made from scratch in the air fryer — no yeast, no hot oil. Finished with a classic vanilla glaze that adheres perfectly to the lightly crisp exterior.

Ingredients

Scale
  • For the donuts:
  • 1½ cups (190g) all-purpose flour
  • ¾ cup (150g) granulated sugar
  • 1½ tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp fine salt
  • ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
  • ¾ cup (180ml) whole milk
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 tbsp neutral oil (vegetable or canola), plus oil spray for the donuts
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • For the classic vanilla glaze:
  • 1 cup (120g) powdered sugar, sifted
  • 2–3 tbsp whole milk
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract
  • Pinch of fine salt

Instructions

  1. Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together milk, egg, oil, and vanilla extract until fully combined. Pour wet into dry and stir until just combined — stop as soon as no dry flour streaks remain. Do not overmix. Refrigerate dough for 10 minutes to firm it slightly.
  2. Dust a work surface lightly with flour. Roll dough to ½-inch thickness. Cut circles with a 3-inch cutter, then remove the center hole with a bottle cap or small round cutter. Collect and re-roll scraps once.
  3. Spray the air fryer basket with oil. Spray both sides of each donut generously with cooking spray. Place in a single layer with space between each donut. Air fry at 350°F (175°C) for 8–10 minutes, checking at 8 minutes — tops should be golden and spring back when pressed. Transfer to a wire rack.
  4. Whisk powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons milk, vanilla, and salt until smooth. Add the third tablespoon of milk if needed — glaze should coat a spoon but flow slowly. Dip the top of each warm donut into the glaze, let excess drip off, and return to the wire rack. Glaze sets in about 5 minutes.

Notes

Oil spray is essential for color: Spray both sides of every donut generously before air frying. Skipping this produces a pale, steamed-looking exterior rather than a golden one.

Do not overmix: Mix until just combined — about 15–20 strokes with a spatula. The dough should look slightly lumpy, not smooth.

Roll to exactly ½ inch: Too thin produces flat, dense donuts. Use guide rings or wooden dowels on either side of the dough for consistent thickness.

Adjust for your model: Air fryer temperatures vary by brand. Check your first donut at 8 minutes. If deeply browned, reduce to 325°F for subsequent batches.

Donut holes: Cook the center holes at the same temperature for 5–6 minutes.

Find it online: https://airfrycentral.com/air-fryer-donuts/