One of my favorite Rhode Island summertime rituals – a pilgrimage to Allie's Donuts in North Kingstown. Those fluffy, pillowy donuts glazed to perfection have been a local legend for decades. The only downside? The line can sometimes stretch out the door, and who wants to stand in the summer heat when there's a perfectly good air fryer waiting at home?
Forget the gallons of oil – this method uses hot air circulation to create light, golden donuts that are just as delicious as their deep-fried counterparts. Plus, you get to control the ingredients, so you can customize your donuts with your favorite flavors. They're easier than you think, and trust us, they'll become your new weekend obsession!
Gone are the days of deep-frying envy! This recipe for Air Fryer Donuts topped with a sugar glaze lets you indulge in those classic donut flavors without the greasy aftermath. They're surprisingly simple to make, and perfect for a quick weekend treat or a midweek pick-me-up.
The best part? Your air fryer does all the hard work. You get fluffy, golden donuts with a perfectly crisp exterior, all in a fraction of the time and with a fraction of the oil needed for traditional frying. Plus, the simple sugar glaze adds a touch of sweetness that takes these donuts over the top.
Air Fryer Donut Magic: A Few Tips
While your air fryer does most of the work, here are a few things to keep in mind for donut-making success:
Don't Crowd the Basket: Air circulation is key for even cooking. Work in batches to ensure your donuts have enough space to rise and brown properly.
Oil Spray is Your Friend: A quick spritz of cooking spray on the donuts before air frying helps them achieve a beautiful golden brown color.
Peek-a-Boo Cooking: Cooking times can vary depending on your air fryer model. Keep an eye on your donuts during the last few minutes of cooking to ensure they don't get over-browned.
Beyond the Glaze: Donut Toppings
The beauty of these air fryer donuts lies in their versatility. While the sugar glaze is a classic crowd-pleaser, why not explore a world of delicious toppings? Here are a few ideas to get your creative juices flowing:
Chocolate Glaze: For a richer flavor, create a chocolate glaze by whisking together melted chocolate, powdered sugar, milk, and a touch of vanilla extract. Dip your warm donuts or drizzle the glaze over the top for a decadent treat.
Cinnamon Sugar: Embrace the classic donut shop experience with a cinnamon sugar coating. Combine cinnamon and sugar in a shallow bowl. Dip your warm donuts into the mixture, coating them completely.
Sprinkles Galore: Add a touch of fun and festivity with colorful sprinkles! Dip the glazed donuts (or donuts coated in chocolate glaze) into a bowl of sprinkles, pressing gently to ensure they adhere.
Fruity Fancy: For a burst of freshness, drizzle your glazed donuts with melted fruit jams, fresh berries or add a touch of lemon zest to your sugar glaze for a citrusy twist.
Air Fryer Donut Recipe
SERVINGS: 12 DONUTS | TIME: 2.5 HOURS | SOURCE: BAKED & SMOKED
Ingredients
For the Donuts
1 cup milk, lukewarm
2 1/2 tsp active dry yeast or instant yeast
1/4 cup granulated sugar plus 1 tsp
1/2 tsp salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1 egg
1/4 cup unsalted butter melted
3 cups all-purpose flour
Cooking spray (coconut oil works best)
For the Glaze
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 cups powdered sugar
2 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 tablespoon hot water or as needed
Preparation
Step 1
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook, gently stir together milk, 1 tsp of sugar, and yeast. Let it sit for 5 minutes until active and foamy .
Step 2
Add the 2 cups of flour, remaining sugar, salt, egg, cinnamon, nutmeg, and melted butter to the milk mixture. Mix on low speed until combined, then with the mixer on low add the remaining flour slowly until the dough comes away from the sides. Increase speed to medium-low and knead for 5 minutes, until the dough is smooth.
Step 3
Place the dough into a greased bowl and cover it with plastic wrap or towel. Let rise in a warm place until doubled in size. Dough is ready if you make a dent with your finger and the indent remains.
Step 4
Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface, punch it down and gently roll out to about 1/2 inch thickness. Cut out 12 donuts using a donut cutter or 3-inch round cutter and a 1-inch round cutter to remove center.
Step 5
Transfer donuts to lightly floured parchment paper and cover loosely with greased plastic wrap. Let donuts rise for 30 minutes, or doubled in size. Preheat Air Fryer to 350F.
Step 6
Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir in powdered sugar and vanilla extract until smooth. Remove from heat and stir in hot water one tablespoon at a time until the icing is somewhat thin, but not watery. Set aside.
Step 7
Carefully transfer donuts to Air Fryer basket in a single layer. Spray donuts with oil spray and cook at 350F until golden brown, about 4 minutes. Repeat with remaining donuts and holes.
Step 8
Dip hot donuts and donut holes in the glaze. Place on a wire rack set over a rimmed baking sheet to allow excess glaze to drip off. Let sit until glaze hardens. Enjoy!