This recipe will show you exactly how to make Air Fryer Donuts! They're moist, fluffy, and have a zesty lemon glaze. The dough for these yeast donuts is super easy to put together, then just leave it to rise, cut out the rings, and air fry them in just a few minutes!
I have the perfect sweet treat air fryer recipe for you - lemon-glazed air fryer donuts!
These delicious treats are crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside, with a tangy burst of lemon flavor in every bite.
Not only are these donuts incredibly easy to make, with a simple yeasted donut dough, but they are also a healthier alternative to traditional fried donuts.
By using an air fryer, you can achieve the same crispy outside texture without all the added oil and calories from the traditional deep frying method.
If you love summery, springy, zesty desserts, then be sure to also try Lemon Blueberry Cookies or Cream Cheese Lemonade Pie!
These lemon air fryer donuts are sure to hit the spot. Let's get started and whip up a batch of these mouth-watering treats!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Air fryer donuts are a healthier alternative to traditional deep fried donuts. By using an air fryer, the donuts get soft and cooked inside, but slightly crisp outside, without all the added oil and calories!
- Making air fryer donuts is a quick and easy process that takes only a few minutes. You can have fresh, delicious donuts in no time!
- You can easily customize air fryer donuts to suit your taste preferences. Add different toppings or fillings to create unique flavor combinations. I've used a lemon glaze, but you could swap it for a vanilla glaze, donut glaze, cinnamon sugar, or chocolate glaze.
- Air fryer donuts make a great addition to any special occasion, such as birthdays or holidays. They are sure to impress your guests! We love to use holiday-colored sprinkles: red and green for Christmas, brown and orange for Thanksgiving, and brighter colors for birthdays!
- Making air fryer donuts is a fun activity to do with kids. I love getting my kids to help with mixing the ingredients and decorating the donuts, and they love it too!
Ingredients
You only need simple pantry ingredients for this recipe!
For the yeasted air fryer donuts:
- Flour - regular plain flour forms the bulk of the donuts.
- Yeast - regular dried yeast will help the donuts to get that classic risen texture.
- Milk - regular whole milk - ensure it is lukewarm (100°F/38°C)
- Egg - the egg gets the perfect donut texture.
- Butter - adds a richness and fat to the recipe. The butter is melted for this recipe but should be used lukewarm.
- Sugar - to sweeten the air fryer donuts. Just use regular white granulated sugar.
- Vanilla - use pure vanilla extract for a great flavor.
- Salt - to balance the flavors.
For the lemon glaze:
- Powdered sugar - also called icing sugar or confectioners' sugar.
- Lemon juice - you can use it from a bottle, but for the zestiest results, use freshly squeezed.
- Lemon zest - this is to decorate and is optional, so if you use bottled lemon juice, just leave out the zest.
See the recipe card for quantities and method.
Instructions
Follow these step-by-step instructions, then scroll down for the full ingredients list and method.
Yeast: Stir the milk, melted butter, yeast, half the sugar, and the vanilla in the bowl of a stand mixer, then leave it for 10 mins so the yeast activates.
Dry Ingredients: Whisk the rest of the sugar, along with the flour and salt, in a mixing bowl.
Combine: Stir the beaten egg into the wet mixture, then pour it all into the dry mixture.
Knead: Knead it with the dough hook in the stand mixer, on medium for approx 7 minutes or until the dough becomes smooth and stretchy. (Alternatively, knead it by hand for 12-15 minutes or until very smooth).
Rise: Lightly grease a mixing bowl with oil, then place the ball of donut dough into it, and cover it with a tea towel or plastic wrap. Place it into a warm place to rise, until doubled in size - approximately 1 ½ hours.
Roll and Shape: Lightly flour the work surface, then tip the ball of risen dough onto it and punch it down by pressing down into it a few times.
Roll the dough out to about ½-inch thickness. Cut out donuts using a 3-inch round cutter, plus a 1-inch round cutter in the center to cut out the hole in the middle of the larger rounds.
Second Rise: Place the donuts and donut holes onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and cover with plastic wrap or a clean tea towel. Leave it to rise for 30 minutes in the refrigerator (or up to overnight).
Glaze: Make the glaze, by stirring the ingredients together until smooth, then pour into a shallow bowl. Place a wire rack over a rimmed baking sheet (to catch glaze drips).
Air Fry: Preheat the air fryer to 350°F. Spray the basket of the air fryer with the spray oil, then place in some of the donut rings and holes in a single layer (you will need to cook them in batches, and spray the donuts with more oil. Air fry at 350°F for 4-5 minutes or until golden brown. Repeat with the remaining donut rings and holes.
Glaze: While the donuts are still a bit warm, into the glaze and place onto the wire rack for the glaze to firm up. While the glaze is still wet, sprinkle with the lemon zest, if using.
Scroll down for the full ingredients list and method.
More Dessert Recipes
If you love these air fryer donuts, be sure to also try these other tasty sweet treats too!
- Salted Caramel Cheesecake Pie
- Funfetti Cake Mix Cookies
- Kool-Aid Pie
- Striped Red White and Blue Cookies
- Mrs. Fields Oatmeal Raisin Cookies (copycat)
- Lorna Doone Cookies (Copycat)
- Dunkaroo Dip
Storage and Freezing
Store: These air fryer donuts are best served on the same day. However, you can store them in an airtight container for one day.
Reheat: If you need to soften stored donuts, try microwaving them for 20 seconds.
Freeze: This recipe doesn't stand up well to freezing.
Top tip
The butter and milk needs to be lukewarm so that it activates the yeast but doesn't kill it. For best results check with a food thermometer (100°F/38°C).
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📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Donuts
Equipment
- Mixing Bowl
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- ¾ cup milk lukewarm (about 100°F)
- ¼ cup unsalted butter melted
- 2 ½ teaspoon active dry yeast
- 4 tablespoons granulated white sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 egg
- Oil Spray
Instructions
- Ensure the milk and melted butter are lukewarm (approx 100°F/38°C).
- Stir the milk, melted butter, yeast, half the sugar and the vanilla in the bowl of a stand mixer, then leave it for 10 mins for the yeast to activate and it becomes a bit foamy.
- Add the rest of the sugar to a mixing bowl, along with the flour and salt and whisk to combine.
- Stir the beaten egg into the wet mixture, then pour it all into the dry mixture.
- Knead it with the dough hook in the stand mixer, on medium for approx 7 minutes or until the dough becomes smooth and stretchy. (Alternatviely, knead it by hand for 12-15 minutes or until very smooth).
- Lightly grease a mixing bowl with oil, then place the ball of donut dough into it, and cover it with a tea towel or plastic wrap. Place it into a warm place to rise, until doubled in size - approximately 1 ½ hours.
- Lightly flour the work surface, then tip the ball of risen dough onto it and punch it down by pressing down into it a few times.
- Roll the dough out to about ½-inch thickness. Cut out donuts using a 3-inch round cutter, plus a 1-inch round cutter in the centre to cut out the hole in the middle of the larger rounds.
- Place the donuts and donut holes onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and cover with plastic wrap or a clean tea towel. Leave it to rise for 30 minutes in the refrigerator (or up to overnight).
- Make the glaze, by stirring the ingredients together until smooth, then pour into a shallow bowl. Place a wire rack over a rimmed baking sheet (to catch glaze drips).
- Preheat the air fryer to 350°F.
- Spray the basket of the air fryer with the spray oil, then place in some of the donut rings and holes in a single layer (you will need to cook them in batches, take care not to overcrowd them so they cook evenly all round), and spray the donuts with more oil.
- Air fry at 350°F for 4-5 minutes or until golden brown. Remove the donuts with tongs and place on the wire rack. While the next batch is cooking, dip the cooked donuts, while still a bit warm, into the glaze and place onto the wire rack for the glaze to firm up. While the glaze is still wet, sprinkle with the lemon zest, if using.
- Repeat with the remaining donut rings and holes.
Notes
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors, so is not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietician for special diet advice.
Biana
These donuts look amazing! I like that you can make them faster in the air fryer.
Alison Saalbach Corey
I can't believe how easy it is to make homemade donuts using an air fryer! These are a great treat for breakfast, dessert, or anytime in between. Thank you for sharing such an easy-to-prepare kind of recipe.
Dannii
I love any kind of lemon dessert and these were amazing. Very lemony.
Savita
This was so good, donut in the air fryer was on my booklist for a long, never got the right recipe. But this turned out really amazing. Great Recipe!!