Can I make these donuts without a stand mixer?

Yes! While a stand mixer makes the process easier, you can mix the dough by hand. Combine ingredients in a large bowl and knead on a floured surface for about 10 minutes until smooth and elastic.

Why did my donuts come out dense instead of fluffy?

Dense donuts usually result from insufficient rising time or killing the yeast with water that's too hot. Make sure your rising area is warm but not hot, and be patient with both rising periods. Also check that your yeast is fresh and active.

Can I use regular milk instead of evaporated milk?

Yes, you can substitute regular whole milk, but the donuts might be slightly less rich. For the closest result, use whole milk and consider adding an extra tablespoon of butter to the dough.

My air fryer is different from most. How do I adjust the cooking time?

Air fryers can vary significantly in how they cook. Always do a test run with one donut, checking it at the 2-minute mark after flipping. Adjust your time based on how quickly your model browns the donuts. They should be golden on the outside but fully cooked inside.

Air Fryer Glazed Donuts Recipe

Description

A delightful and easy way to make donuts at home using your air fryer. These donuts are soft, fluffy, and absolutely delicious with your choice of a sweet glaze or a cinnamon sugar coating. Perfect as a quick treat for breakfast or dessert!

Ingredients

Units Scale

Donut Dough:

2 1/2 teaspoons instant dry yeast
1/2 cup warm water (about 100°F)
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup evaporated milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup vegetable shortening
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/2 to 3 cups all-purpose flour
Cooking oil spray

Donut Glaze:

2 tablespoons melted butter
1 1/3 cups powdered sugar
1 pinch salt
2 teaspoons evaporated milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 to 4 teaspoons water

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Instructions

Prepare the Dough
In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the yeast, warm water, sugar, evaporated milk, salt, shortening, eggs, and vanilla extract. Start with 2 cups of the all-purpose flour and knead at medium-low speed using a dough hook until the ingredients are well combined. Gradually add more flour until the dough is smooth and slightly moist but no longer sticky to the fingers or sides of the bowl.
First Rise
Transfer the dough to a lightly greased bowl, then cover it with plastic wrap or a clean dish towel. Allow the dough to rise for about 1 1/2 hours, or until it doubles in size.
Shape the Donuts
Roll out the risen dough on a lightly floured surface to a thickness of 1/4 to 1/2 inch. Use a round cookie cutter or a drinking glass to cut out 12 donuts, re-rolling scraps as needed. Let the cut donuts rise again for an additional 30 minutes.
Air Fry the Donuts
Preheat your air fryer to 350°F. Place 3-4 donuts in the air fryer basket, ensuring they do not touch. Lightly spray the donuts with cooking oil spray and air fry them until golden brown, about 4 minutes, flipping halfway through. Perform a test run with one donut to ensure proper cooking.
Cool and Glaze
Transfer the cooked donuts to a wire rack with paper towels placed underneath. Let them cool for 1-2 minutes. If glazing, dip the top of each donut into the prepared glaze and return to the wire rack. Alternatively, for a cinnamon sugar coating, dip each donut in melted butter and then into a cinnamon sugar mixture, coating both sides evenly.

Notes

Instead of glaze, you can dip the donuts in melted butter and coat them with cinnamon sugar for a delicious twist.
Rising times may vary depending on the temperature and humidity in your kitchen, so ensure the dough has doubled in size.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 donut
Calories: 230
Sugar: 16g
Sodium: 150mg
Fat: 7g
Saturated Fat: 2g
Unsaturated Fat: 5g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 36g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 4g
Cholesterol: 30mg