Air Fryer Donuts
Biscuit dough rings cooked in the air fryer, then brushed with butter and rolled in cinnamon sugar. Makes 8 in 23 minutes.
The Method for Air Fryer Donuts
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Mix the flour, yogurt and the 2 tablespoons of sugar into a soft dough. Roll out on a floured surface to 1.5 cm thick.
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Cut 8 rounds with a 7 cm cutter and a small hole in each centre. Heat the air fryer to 180°C / 355°F.
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Cook in two batches for 8 minutes each, turning once, until golden.
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Brush with the butter while hot and roll in the 60 g of sugar mixed with the cinnamon.
Things to Watch For
- Do not knead the dough, or the donuts turn tough.
- Cook in batches so the rings do not stick together.
- Brush with the butter while hot so the sugar clings.
- Check at 6 minutes if your machine runs hot.
Changing the Recipe
- No self-raising flour to hand? Use the same weight of plain flour plus 2 teaspoons of baking powder per 150 g.
The Short Version
These are not the yeast donuts of a bakery, and are not meant to be. The dough is a quick one of self-raising flour, yogurt and a little sugar, and the air fryer turns it into a soft, cake-style ring in 8 minutes with no deep oil.
The dough comes together in 2 minutes and should be soft, a little sticky and not kneaded. Roll it 1.5 cm thick on a floured surface and cut out rounds with a cutter, then cut the middles with a smaller cutter or a bottle top.
Cook the donuts in two batches without crowding, since they puff as they cook. Brush them with melted butter while they are still hot, then roll them in the cinnamon sugar so it sticks.
They are best eaten warm, the day they are made. If your machine runs hot, check at 6 minutes. The same dough can be cut into small rounds for donut holes, which cook in about half the time, so check them early and roll them in the sugar the same way.
What to Serve It With
Hot chocolate · Cup of tea · Jam · Fresh fruit
Leftovers
Best eaten on the day. They keep in an airtight tin for 1 day and lose their softness.
Questions People Ask
How long does Air Fryer Donuts take to make?
About 23 minutes in total — 15 minutes of preparation and 8 minutes of cooking. The recipe serves 8.
What are the key tips for making Air Fryer Donuts?
Do not knead the dough, or the donuts turn tough. Cook in batches so the rings do not stick together. Brush with the butter while hot so the sugar clings. Check at 6 minutes if your machine runs hot.
What should I serve with Air Fryer Donuts?
Hot chocolate; Cup of tea; Jam; Fresh fruit.
Is Air Fryer Donuts suitable for a special diet?
This recipe is vegetarian. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.
How many calories are in Air Fryer Donuts?
About 200 kcal per serving, with 6 g protein, 35 g carbohydrate and 4 g fat. The figures are calculated from the ingredient list and are an estimate.
Air Fryer Donuts Nutrition
Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.
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Written and tested by Turab
One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.
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