Air Fryer Doughnuts

4.77 from 17 votes
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Make light and fluffy air fryer donuts from scratch with this delicious vanilla bean air fryer doughnuts recipe.

air fryer donuts made from scratch with vanilla icing and sprinkles

Did you know that you can make donuts in your air fryer?

While there is no doubt that doughnuts are an indulging breakfast or dessert, you can make them a bit healthier and lighter if you skip deep frying your doughnuts and prepare them in your air fryer without all that extra oil.

hand holing doughnut with vanilla frosting

And the truth is that the air fryer makes yeast doughnuts so perfectly– golden brown on the outside yet soft and fluffy on the inside–just like air fryer cookies. I am getting hungry just thinking about them!

So satisfy your doughnut cravings with this incredible vanilla bean air fryer donut recipe.

several homemade air fryer donuts with vanilla icing, one with bite taken out of it to show cake-like inside

Smothered in sweet vanilla icing, you too are sure to fall in love with this tasty air fryer treat.

Ingredients for Homemade Air Fryer Donuts

You will need:

Doughnuts

  • ½ cup milk, 100-110 F
  • 2 ¼ teaspoons instant yeast (¼ ounce packet)
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour

Vanilla Bean Icing

  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 3 Tablespoons heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
  • optional: white sprinkles

Substitutions

VANILLA: You can use the same amount of vanilla extract in place of the vanilla bean paste, although I do prefer the rich tastes of vanilla bean paste in this recipe.

How to Make Air Fryer Doughnuts with Vanilla Icing

You can prepare the dough using a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment or by hand with a dough whisk.

First, mix the milk, yeast, and sugar until well combined.

Next, add the egg, vegetable oil, and vanilla bean paste; mix well.

With the mixer on low speed, slowly mix in the flour. Continue kneading on low speed until the dough is smooth and slightly tacky– about 5 minutes.

How to make yeast doughnut batter

Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover in plastic wrap, and set it aside to rise for one hour.

let the dough rise for 1 hour
Roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface until it is about ½” thick.

Use a doughnut cutter or biscuit cutter and a small circular object such as a piping tip to cut out 3-inch doughnuts.

dough rolled out on floured surface and a cookie cutter cutting it into 3 inch circles with hole in the middle

Set the doughnuts (and donut holes, because why not?) on a silicone or parchment-lined sheet pan to rise for an additional hour.

allow to rise (again) for 1 hour

Give your air fryer basket a coat of non-stick spray. Air fry in batches, a few at a time, at 365 F for 7-8 minutes, or until they are a deep golden brown.

Place on a cooling rack and repeat with the remaining dough.

image of donuts in air fryer basket; reads: cook at 365 F for 7-8 minutes
To make the Vanilla Bean Icing, stir to combine the powdered sugar, heavy cream, and vanilla bean paste in a small bowl.

Dip the doughnuts in the icing and place on a wire rack so that any excess can drip off.

Mix icing, dip doughnuts, and serve warm

Serve warm and enjoy!

air fryer doughnuts with vanilla bean icing

How to Store

IN THE FRIDGE: While these donuts are best when enjoyed freshly baked, you can store any extra in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Warm in the microwave on low for 10 seconds.

IN THE FREEZER: You can freeze the unbaked dough for up to three months. Place unbaked doughnuts on a parchment-lined baking sheet in the freezer. Once frozen, transfer to a zip-tock freezer baggie. Defrost at room temperature before air frying.

More tasty donut recipes to try

Recipe
Air Fryer Donuts from Scratch
Recipe
4.77 from 17 votes

Vanilla Bean Air Fryer Doughnuts

Author: Jaclyn
Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Rest Time 2 hours
Total: 2 hours 40 minutes
Make light and fluffy air fryer donuts from scratch with this delicious vanilla bean air fryer doughnuts recipe.

Ingredients
 

For the Doughnuts:

  • ½ cup milk 100-110 F
  • 2 ¼ teaspoons instant yeast .25 ounce packet
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour

For the Vanilla Bean Icing:

  • 1 cup confectioners' sugar
  • 3 tablespoons heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste

Instructions

  • For the Doughnuts
  • Add the milk, yeast, and sugar to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment (or into a large bowl in mixing by hand). Mix until well combined.
  • Next, add the egg, vegetable oil, and vanilla bean paste and mix well.
  • Add the flour gradually with the mixer on low speed. Continue kneading on low speed until the dough is smooth and slightly tacky-- about 5 minutes.
  • Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover in plastic wrap, and set it aside to rise for one hour.
  • Roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface until it is ½” thick. Use a doughnut cutter (or a biscuit cutter and a small circular object such as a piping tip) to cut out 3-inch doughnuts. Set the doughnuts (and doughnut holes, because why not?) on a silicone or parchment-lined sheet pan to rise for an additional hour.
  • Grease basket of air fryer with non-stick spray. Air fry in batches, a few at a time, at 365 F for 7-8 minutes, or until they are a deep golden brown. Place on a cooling rack and repeat with the remaining dough.
  • For the Vanilla Bean Icing
  • Combine the powdered sugar, heavy cream, and vanilla bean paste in a small bowl.
  • Dip the doughnuts in the icing, and place them on a wire rack to set. Serve warm.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 349kcal
Air Fryer Donuts from Scratch

Did You Make This Recipe?

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Air Fryer Vanilla Bean Donuts

This recipe was shared on Meal Plan Monday.

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6 Comments

  1. 1 star
    These doughnuts were very dense and did not taste good at all, not sweet or doughnut like

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