Easy Air Fryer Glazed Donuts: Your New Favorite Sweet Treat

Air fryer glazed donuts are the ultimate solution for a quick, homemade indulgence that tastes bakery-fresh. Who doesn’t love a warm, soft donut with a glossy vanilla glaze? The best part? You don’t need a deep fryer or a second pot of oil—your air fryer does it all.

I’ve always been a fan of making donuts from scratch, but the frying part? Not my favorite. That’s where the air fryer steps in to save the day. The donuts come out perfectly golden, soft, and irresistible. Plus, cleanup is a breeze. Whether it’s a lazy weekend morning or an impromptu dessert craving, this recipe strikes the perfect balance of easy and wow-worthy. Let’s dive in!

How to Make Air Fryer Glazed Donuts

Making these homemade air fryer donuts is easier than you think! With just a few basic ingredients and a little patience for the dough to rise, you’ll be on your way to enjoying fresh, fluffy donuts in no time.

What You’ll Need

Here’s everything you need to bring these magical donuts to life. You might already have most of it in your pantry:

• Milk: Use lukewarm milk to activate the yeast—around 100°F is perfect.
• Active dry yeast: Vital for that fluffy, airy texture.
• Granulated sugar: Adds sweetness and helps activate the yeast.
• Salt: Balances out the sweetness.
• Egg: Gives the dough richness and structure.
• Unsalted butter: For both the dough and the glaze—so good!
• All-purpose flour: The base of your dough.
• Coconut oil spray: Keeps the donuts from sticking to the air fryer basket.
• Powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and hot water: These three ingredients combine to make the classic shiny glaze.

And of course, you’ll also need an air fryer for this recipe. Let’s get cooking!

Step-by-Step Instructions

Here’s how to make easy air fryer donuts, step by step:

1. Activate the yeast: In the bowl of a stand mixer, mix lukewarm milk with 1 teaspoon of sugar and yeast. Let it sit for about 10 minutes until it’s foamy. This is crucial for ensuring the donuts rise correctly.
2. Make the dough: Add the remaining sugar, salt, egg, melted butter, and 2 cups of flour to the yeast mixture. Mix it on low speed. Slowly add the last cup of flour until the dough no longer sticks to the bowl. Knead it for 5 minutes on medium-low speed until it’s elastic and smooth.
3. Let it rise: Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover it with plastic wrap, and set it in a warm place to rise. It’s ready when it doubles in size (about 1 hour).
4. Cut the donuts: Roll the dough out on a floured surface to 1/2-inch thickness. Use a 3-inch round cutter to cut the donuts, and a 1-inch cutter to make the center holes. Save the holes for tasty little treats!
5. Final rise: Place the donuts and holes on floured parchment paper, and cover them loosely with greased plastic wrap. Let them rise for another 30 minutes, until puffed.
6. Cook in the air fryer: Preheat your air fryer to 350°F and spray the basket with coconut oil spray. Place the donuts in a single layer and spray the tops lightly with oil. Cook for 4 minutes or until golden brown.
7. Make the glaze: While the donuts are cooking, melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth. Gradually add hot water one tablespoon at a time, until the glaze is thin enough to dip but not too runny.
8. Glaze the donuts: Dip the hot donuts (and holes!) into the glaze, turning them to coat evenly. Place them on a wire rack over a baking sheet to let the excess drip off. The glaze hardens in about 10 minutes, and then they’re ready to eat!

Jake’s Tips for Perfect Air Fryer Glazed Donuts

• Don’t skip the yeast proofing step. It only takes a few minutes, and it’s key to fluffy donuts. If your mixture doesn’t get foamy, the yeast might be expired or your liquid was too hot or cold.
• Room temperature ingredients make a world of difference in baking. Let your egg and butter reach room temp before starting the recipe.
• When rolling out the dough, flour your surface lightly to avoid sticking, but don’t overdo it—too much flour can make the dough tough.
• If you have leftovers (unlikely, but just in case!), store them in an airtight container at room temp for 1-2 days. Pop them in the microwave for 10 seconds to refresh them.

Common Questions About Air Fryer Glazed Donuts

Here are some handy tips and answers to common questions about this recipe:

Can I make the dough ahead of time?

Yes! After the first rise, you can cover the dough in an airtight container and refrigerate it overnight. Take it out about 30 minutes before rolling, cutting, and cooking.

What’s the best way to reheat these donuts?

The air fryer works great for reheating! Pop them in for 1 minute at 350°F to restore some of that fresh-made texture.

Can I freeze the donuts?

Yes, freeze them after cooking but before glazing. When you’re ready to eat, let them thaw, heat briefly, and glaze fresh.

My donuts aren’t rising. What went wrong?

Check your yeast and milk temperature—they’re the common culprits. The milk should be warm but not hot (around 100°F), and your yeast should be active and not expired.

Time to Get Frying!

I hope you’re as excited as I am to try these air fryer glazed donuts. They’re soft, sweet, and simply delightful. Once you whip up a batch, I’d love to hear how they turned out for you—leave a comment or tag me on social media with your donut creations!

If you’re looking for more air fryer recipes, you’ve got to check out my other favorites—like crispy air fryer chicken tenders or even air fryer churros. Happy cooking!