Make Perfect Air Fryer Doughnuts at Home
Air Fryer Doughnuts are the easiest way to enjoy a classic treat without the oily mess. With the help of your favorite Bucket of Bread baking kit, you can whip up soft, golden doughnuts in your own kitchen—no deep fryer required. Whether you’re craving a weekend indulgence or looking for a fun family baking activity, this simple method delivers fresh, homemade results every time.
Skip the splatter, ditch the extra cleanup, and enjoy a more convenient way to make doughnuts that taste just as good as the traditional kind—maybe even better.
Why Air Fryer Doughnuts Just Make Sense
Fried doughnuts are delicious, but they also come with downsides—grease, cleanup, and lingering smells. Enter the air fryer, your countertop hero. It circulates hot air around the dough to create that perfect golden crust while keeping the inside soft and pillowy. You get the same satisfying texture and taste, but with much less fuss.
Plus, air frying cuts out the need for excess oil. That means fewer calories and fewer dishes—without compromising on flavor.
Better Dough, Less Guesswork
Thanks to Bucket of Bread baking kits, making doughnuts is easier than ever. Each kit comes with a pre-measured flour mix and yeast packet, so you can skip the complicated prep work. Just add a few everyday ingredients from your fridge and pantry, and you’re on your way.
We used the Traditional White mix in this version, but the Hearty Wheat or Seven Grains varieties would work beautifully too—each bringing a different flavor profile to the doughnuts.
Top Them Your Way
This recipe includes a rich vanilla glaze that complements the warm, fluffy doughnuts perfectly. Want something different? Brush them with butter and toss in cinnamon sugar for an old-fashioned twist. Either way, you’ll end up with a batch of irresistible air fryer doughnuts that look and taste like they came from a bakery.
Air Fryer Doughnuts
Ingredients
For the Dough
- 1 bag Your favorite Bucket of Bread Brand Dough We used the Traditional White mix. Save about a tablespoon of the dry mix to the side so you can roll the dough onto your countertop after it rises.
- 3 Tbsp Granulated sugar
- ¼ tsp Ground nutmeg
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup Whole milk Warmed to 100-110 °F
- 3 tsp Unsalted butter Melted (This is ⅓ of a standard stick)
- 1 Packet Yeast from your baking kit
For the Glaze (Optional)
- 2 cups Powdered sugar
- 3 Tbsp Unsalted butter
- 3-5 Tbsp Whole Milk Use more or less depending on how thick you like your glaze
- 1 tsp Vanilla extract
Optional Cinnamon Sugar Coating
- 3 Tbsp Unsalted butter melted for brushing
- ½ cup Granulated Sugar
- 1 Tbsp Ground cinnamon
Instructions
Prepare the Dough for Your Air Fryer Doughnuts
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour component from your Bucket of Bread baking kit keeping about a tablespoon for later.
- Add the 3 tablespoons of granulated sugar, and ¼ teaspoon of ground nutmeg.
- Warm the milk until it reaches about 100–110°F.
- Add the 1 cup warm milk, 1 egg, 3 tablespoons of melted unsalted butter, and the yeast packet to the bowl.
- Mix everything together until no dry flour remains. Use a stand mixer for about 3 minutes, or mix by hand until fully combined.
- Transfer the dough to a greased bowl or your bucket. Cover with a towel or plastic wrap.
- Let the dough rise in a warm place for 2 to 3 hours, or until it has risen. You're on your way to make Air Fryer Doughnuts!
Shape the Air Fryer Doughnuts
- Lightly flour your work surface.
- Roll out the dough to about 1-inch thickness.
- We used a pint glass for the main doughnut shape. For the hole we used the small end of a jigger. But, get creative with what you have. A bottle cap can even work for the middle hole. But if you have a doughnut cutter, you've earned bonus points!
- Place the cut doughnuts and holes onto parchment paper.
- Lightly brush the tops with melted butter.
- Cover again and let rest for up to 45 minutes, allowing the doughnuts to puff up.
Air Fry the Doughnuts
- Set your air fryer to 350°F (180°C).
- Use some parchment paper or lightly grease the air fryer basket with oil or nonstick spray, if needed.
- Carefully place the doughnuts into the basket, leaving space between each.
- Air fry for 3 to 5 minutes. Check at the 3-minute mark and remove when light golden brown.
Glaze or Sugar Coat the Air Fryer Doughnuts
- While the doughnuts are cooking, make the glaze by mixing all of the glaze ingredients from above together.
- Once cooked, lay the tops of the warm doughnuts onto the glaze. Then, set them on a plate for serving or on a rack to let the glaze set.
Alternative Options
- Brush hot doughnuts with melted butter and immediately roll in cinnamon sugar.
- Use the glaze to let sprinkles stick to them.
- Skip the sprinkles and use your favorite kid's cereal treat.
- Use a chocolate frosting.
Enjoy Your Homemade Air Fryer Doughnuts!
- Serve your warm, freshly made doughnuts right away.
- Whether glazed or dusted in cinnamon sugar, or created how you want them, these are best enjoyed fresh out of the air fryer. They are soft, sweet, and made with love. You did it—time to dig in and enjoy every bite!
- They are soft, sweet, and made with love.
- You did it!
- Time to dig in and enjoy every bite!
