Mini Air Fryer Doughnuts
These mini air fryer doughnuts highlight how you can make tasty doughnuts without deep frying. They’re a healthier option, soft and fluffy inside, with a slight hint of nutmeg and cinnamon. The dough takes time, but a bread machine makes it easy. Once shaped, coat them in sugar, glaze, or spices for a simple homemade treat.
Oh, and if you like a classic doughnut as much as me, check out my glazed doughnut cake. I used a couple of these mini doughnuts to top it off.
Can you really make great doughnuts in an air fryer?
Yes, you can make fantastic doughnuts in an air fryer, and it’s a great way to enjoy a homemade treat with less oil and mess. While you still need to prepare the dough from scratch, the air fryer makes the cooking process easier and quicker.
Although they won’t have the crispy outside you get from deep frying, they are a lighter option that still tastes delicious. Air fryers are a versatile kitchen appliance that works by circulating hot air around the food, providing a “frying” effect without the need for submerging items in oil. This method drastically reduces the amount of fat while still achieving a satisfying soft, tender interior with a slightly firm exterior.
Deep fried vs air fried
It’s important to note that while air fryer doughnuts offer a healthier alternative, they won’t replicate the exact texture of traditional deep-fried doughnuts. Deep frying creates that signature crispy exterior and airy, fluffy interior that’s hard to beat. In contrast, air fried doughnuts have a denser texture, with a slight firmness on the outside but without the deep-fried crunch.
While the air fryer reduces oil and cooking time, it can’t fully mimic the richness of deep-fried doughnuts, so it’s a trade-off between a healthier option and the indulgent, classic experience.
Preparing the dough in a bread machine
Using a bread machine to prepare dough for air fryer doughnuts is a convenient and hands-off method. It gives you perfectly mixed and kneaded dough with minimal effort. Simply add the ingredients into the bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer. This is usually liquids first, followed by dry ingredients. Set the machine to the dough setting and let it work its magic.
The bread machine kneads the dough, then allows it to rise and develop the right texture. There’s no need for manual kneading. Once the dough has risen, it’s ready to be shaped into doughnuts and air fried. This saves time and effort while ensuring a smooth, elastic dough that’s perfect for frying.
Alternatively, if you don’t have a bread machine, you can prepare the dough by hand or with a stand mixer. To knead by hand, mix the ingredients in a large bowl. Knead for about 8–10 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic. If you have a stand mixer, use the dough hook attachment. Mix and knead the dough on low speed for about 5–7 minutes. Once the dough is ready, let it rise in a warm place until doubled in size. Then shape the doughnuts and air fry them.
Using cold butter and milk
When preparing dough for air fryer doughnuts, there’s no need to worry about warming butter or milk, especially when using dried yeast. Unlike fresh yeast, dried yeast works effectively even with cold liquids, making the process simpler and more convenient. Just add cold butter and milk directly into the bread machine or mixing bowl along with the other ingredients. This eliminates the need for extra steps, streamlining the dough-making process while still achieving a perfectly risen dough.
If you prefer using fresh yeast, it’s best to dissolve it in a small amount of warm liquid before adding it to the dough. Fresh yeast is often considered to create a slightly softer dough, but it has a shorter shelf life and needs to be refrigerated. On the other hand, dried yeast is more commonly used due to its long shelf life and convenience. There are two main types of dried yeast: active dry yeast and instant yeast.
Active dry yeast needs to be proofed in warm water before being mixed with the other ingredients, while instant yeast can be added directly to the dry ingredients without proofing, making it the quickest and easiest to use. Both fresh and dried yeasts will produce great results, so you can choose the one that works best for you.
For my Nutella doughnuts, I used fresh yeast, and both give delicious results depending on the texture you’re after. If you’re unsure, King Arthur has aninformative post about which yeast to use.
Adding nutmeg and cinnamon
Nutmeg and cinnamon are classic spices that add a warm, familiar and comforting flavour to doughnuts. A pinch of cinnamon brings subtle sweetness and depth. Nutmeg adds a hint of aromatic warmth that lifts the overall flavour. These spices are often used in traditional recipes to give doughnuts that cosy, spiced taste that pairs perfectly with sugar or glaze.
Adding nutmeg and cinnamon to the dough creates a delicious base and fills your kitchen with an irresistible aroma, which makes your air fryer doughnuts even more tempting.
Coating the doughnuts
Once your air fryer doughnuts are cooked and slightly cooled, it’s time to add a coating. I like to brush mine with melted butter, then roll them in plenty of sugar. This gives them a sweet, slightly crispy exterior. Sugar is the most common coating for doughnuts in the UK, so it’s what I’m most used to. It’s a simple but satisfying finish.
However, there are plenty of other delicious options to suit your taste. You could dip the doughnuts in a glaze made from powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract for a smoother, sweeter finish. If you’re craving something spiced, try rolling the doughnuts in a cinnamon-sugar mixture for an extra layer of warmth and flavor.
For a more indulgent option, drizzle melted chocolate over the top or even coat the doughnuts in a light dusting of powdered sugar for a more elegant look. Whatever coating you choose, it’ll enhance the flavor and make these air fryer mini doughnuts even more irresistible.
Mini Doughnuts
Ingredients
Dough:
- 125ml (½ cup) milk
- 30g (2 tbsp) butter
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 200g (1⅔ cups) flour (see note 2)
- 7g (2½ tsp) dried yeast (see note 1)
- 30g (⅛ cup) sugar
- ¼ tsp nutmeg
- ¼ tsp cinnamon
- 1-2 tbsp vegetable oil
Coating:
- 30g (2 tbsp) butter (melted)
- sugar
Instructions
- Add the milk, butter, and vanilla to your bread machine pan.
- Follow this with the flour, yeast, sugar, nutmeg, and cinnamon.
- Set your bread machine to the dough setting.
- When the dough is ready, remove it from the pan and place it on a floured surface. If it’s a little sticky, add more flour and knead it in. The dough should be pliable and easy to handle.
- Divide the dough into 14 equal pieces (see note 3).
- Pull the edges of each piece into the middle and pinch together. Then roll into a ball.
- Brush each ball with vegetable oil and place them — spaced apart — into an air fryer that has been preheated for a minute or two at 200°C (400°F).
- Cook for 2–4 minutes, just until the tops are golden brown. They cook quickly, so keep an eye on them.
- Allow to cool for about 5 minutes.
- Coat with melted butter and dip into sugar, making sure they’re well coated. Best eaten warm. If not eating immediately, cover or freeze. Enjoy!
Notes
- In Sweden, we have something called dried yeast. It is used both in warm liquid to proof and also added directly to flour. I am aware that the US has two options for dried yeast, and I believe instant yeast is the most similar for the purpose of making this particular bread.
- You can use all-purpose (plain) or bread flour — just use the same amount.
- You can make them as small or as large as you like, but the cooking times may need to be adjusted.
