If your air fryer has already changed your life, then we bet you’re looking for more fun and easy recipes to make with your favourite small kitchen appliance. With a taste that’ll make you wonder if you should open your own doughnut shop, these round little wonders will (yet again!) have you looking at your air fryer with utmost admiration.
Yeast-based and easy to personalize, this recipe will have you tasting classic doughnuts in under two hours. Top them with whatever you heart desires, from sprinkles to matcha glaze, or even chocolate shavings.
Here’s what you’ll need:
Ingredients:
Doughnuts:
- 1 cup lukewarm milk (about 100°F)
- 2 1/2 tsp instant yeast
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar, plus 1 tsp
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- Oil spray
Glaze:
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 6 tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 4 tbsp hot water, or more as needed
Preparation:
Doughnuts:
- In a stand mixer, stir together the lukewarm milk, 1 tsp of sugar, and yeast on low speed using the dough hook. Once well mixed, let the mixture sit for 10 minutes. The mixture should foam up while it sits. (If your mixture doesn’t foam up, your yeast may have been too old or your milk too hot – please discard and start again.)
- Add the salt, the sugar, the egg, the melted butter, and 2 cups of flour to the foamy mixture. Still with the dough hook, mix on low speed until combined, then slowly add the remaining cup of flour while the mixer is running. Mix until the dough no longer sticks to the bowl. Then, increase the speed to medium-low and mix with the dough hook for 5 minutes. The dough should become smooth and elastic.
- Using butter, margarine or oil, grease a bowl. Place the dough into the greased bowl before covering it with plastic wrap. Place it in a warm location (we recommend inside a turned off oven with the light on or in a microwave!) and let the dough rise until it has doubled in size. You’ll know the dough is ready when an indentation remains if you poke it with your finger.
- Flour a clean working surface and place the dough on it. Punch down the dough and gently roll it out in a flat sheet about 1/2 inch thick. Using a cookie cutter or a drinking glass, cut out 10 to 12 doughnuts, about 3-inch round. Make a hole in the middle using a small round cookie cutter or a shot glass. Do not discard the doughnut holes.
- Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper and flour it lightly. Transfer the doughnuts and the doughnut holes to the sheet before covering loosely with plastic wrap. Let the doughnuts rise until they have doubled in size, about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat your air fryer to 350°F.
- Spray the basket of your air fryer using your favourite oil spray. Then, carefully transfer your first batch of doughnuts to the air fryer basket without overlap. Spray the donuts with your oil spray and cook for about 4 minutes, or until golden brown. Repeat with the remaining doughnuts and doughnut holes.
- Cool on a cooling rack.
Glaze (optional):
- Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat while the doughnuts are in the air fryer. Stir in the powdered sugar and vanilla extract and whisk until smooth. Remove the mixture from the heat and whisk in one tablespoon of hot water at a time until the icing is thin, but not watery. Set aside.
- Dip the cooled down doughnuts and doughnut holes into the glaze before placing them on a wire rack over a baking sheet. If using, add sprinkles, chocolate shavings, or other fun toppings now. Let sit and allow the glaze to drip off and harden (about 10 minutes).
The best doughnuts in town, straight from your kitchen! Hot tip: Doughnuts are always best eaten the same day, but don’t hesitate to store them in an airtight container for up to 2 days. Enjoy! If you make this recipe and want to share it with us, tag us on Instagram @stokesstores and use the hashtag #StokesMoments.