Air Fryer Donuts

These air fryer donuts are an easy way to enjoy homemade treats like yeast donuts, cherry donuts, or healthy donuts. Perfect for baking and desserts, these air fried donuts are a fun addition to any recipe collection!

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time 20

Cook Time 15

Proofing time 2 30

Total Time 3 5

Course Breakfast, Snack

Cuisine American

Servings donuts

Calories 371 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

For the donuts

1⅓ tablespoon active dry yeast divided
1 cup whole milk divided
2 tablespoons maraschino cherry juice
3½ cups bread flour divided
2 large egg yolks
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
1 teaspoon almond extract
2 tablespoons sugar
½ teaspoon salt
¼ cup butter room temperature
½ cup Maraschino cherries chopped

For the cherry-vanilla glaze

2 cups powdered sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste
2 tablespoons maraschino cherry juice more if you want the glaze to be thinner
⅛ teaspoon salt
¼ cup Maraschino cherries chopped

Instructions

In a medium bowl, warm ¾ cup of milk to between 100º-110ºF. Add 1 tablespoon of yeast to the warm milk and stir. Add 2 tablespoons of maraschino cherry juice. Add 1 cup of the bread flour and mix all together. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside for 30 minutes to rise.
When dough has risen, in a stand mixer, add the remaining ¼ cup milk, warmed to 100º-110ºF. Add remaining 1 teaspoon yeast to warm milk, egg yolks, vanilla bean paste, almond extract, and the original dough, plus 2½ cups of remaining flour, sugar, and salt to the mixer bowl. With a dough hook, mix all together on low for about 30 seconds. While the mixer is going, add butter, 1 tablespoon at a time until incorporated.
Turn mixer to medium low and knead dough for about 5 minutes. If dough is not pulling away from the sides after that time, add up to ½ cup more of flour one tablespoon at a time. Place the ball of dough in an oiled or buttered bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and set aside to rise for 30 minutes.
Punch down dough after 30 minutes. Add ½ cup of the maraschino cherries and knead in on the counter. Return dough to the bowl, cover, and place in the refrigerator to proof again for 1 hour.
Remove dough from the refrigerator and roll out on a well floured surface to about ½-inch thick. Cut the donut circle out with a 3” circle biscuit cutter. Cut the center with a 1” circle cutter and set the centers aside for donut holes.
Place donuts and donut holes on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper to proof one more time for about 45 minutes (or until doubled in size).
Preheat the air fryer to 350ºF for about 2 minutes. Spray racks with cooking spray and place donuts on the racks leaving room in between. Spray tops of donuts with cooking spray. Air fry donuts for 3 minutes or until golden brown. Use the same process for the donut holes, air frying for 2 minutes or until golden brown. Remove donuts and donut holes from the air fryer and place on a wire rack to cool.
In a small bowl, mix together powdered sugar, vanilla, milk and salt. Place a rack of donuts back on the baking sheet and pour the glaze over the donuts. Top the glaze with more maraschino cherries. You can also pour the glaze into a wide, shallow pan and dip the donuts into it.

Nutrition

Keyword air fryer, cherry, donuts

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