Easy Glazed Air Fryer Donuts Everyone Will Love

The moment that warm vanilla glaze hits your nose, it’s like walking into the corner bakery with your grandmaonly this time, you made it at home in your slippers. These glazed air fryer donuts are hitting every cozy craving on TikTok right nowand for good reason. Less oil, less fuss, still totally amazing.

The dough is soft, slightly sweet, and built from fridge-staple ingredients like milk, flour, and butter. You let the air fryer do the heavy lifting, then dip those golden rings in glossy vanilla glaze. Kind of like your favorite bakery donut, but quicker and way more fun. Full details in the blog!

My daughter and I made a Sunday habit out of these. We’ve had flop batches, extra-glazed ones, and a couple that looked like flying saucersbut every time, they disappeared fast. I tested it until it was foolproof. You’ll love the secret!

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Why You’ll Love These Glazed Air Fryer Donuts

Craving fresh donuts without the deep-frying hassle? These air fryer donuts are the perfect solution. They offer an ideal blend of indulgence and convenience: soft, airy, and coated in an irresistible vanilla glaze. The best part? No splattering oil or lingering fryer smell in your kitchen.

These donuts are incredibly beginner-friendly, relying on common pantry staples like flour, milk, and butter. You’ll feel confident as the dough rises and the glaze sets, even if you’re new to working with yeast. These golden, lightly crisped treats are sure to become a cherished family favorite.

Whether for a special breakfast, a cozy Sunday baking session, or simply a delicious treat, these donuts bring that favorite bakery experience right into your home, effortlessly.

Ingredients and Tools You’ll Need

Let’s break down what you’ll be working with. Most of these are probably waiting in your pantry or fridge. (For specific measurements, please refer to the full recipe card usually provided with this article.)

• Dry Ingredients: All-purpose flour for structure, granulated sugar for sweetness (for the dough and yeast activation), and salt to balance flavors.
• Yeast: Dry active yeast is essential for pillow-soft donuts. Always check the expiration date; fresh yeast is crucial for a good rise!
• Liquids & Dairy: Warm milk and warm water (for yeast activation) provide moisture, while butter adds richness. A little cooking spray is key for preventing sticking in the air fryer.
• Enrichment: An egg adds richness and helps with texture.
• Flavor: Vanilla extract (used in both the dough and the glaze) brings that classic bakery flavor home.
• For the Glaze: Powdered sugar (also known as confectioners’ sugar), milk, and additional vanilla extract.

Tools: A stand mixer with a dough hook makes mixing easy, though you can knead by hand if that’s your speed. You’ll also need a rolling pin, two biscuit cutters (or a donut cutter, if you have one), parchment paper, and an air fryer. That’s it!

Step-by-Step: How to Make Glazed Air Fryer Donuts

This process is straightforward, I promise! Here’s how to tackle these step by step:

1. Activate the Yeast: In a medium bowl, combine the warm water, warm milk, yeast, and a bit of granulated sugar. Let this mixture sit for about five minutes until it becomes bubbly and frothy, indicating the yeast is active.
2. Mix the Dough: In a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook (or a large bowl if kneading by hand), combine the activated yeast mixture with the all-purpose flour, remaining granulated sugar, eggs, melted butter, and salt. Knead on low speed for 5-7 minutes (or by hand for 8-10 minutes) until the dough is soft, smooth, and slightly sticky.
3. First Rise: Lightly grease a large bowl. Place the dough in the bowl, turn it once to coat, then cover with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel. Let it rest in a warm, draft-free spot for about an hour, or until it has doubled in size.
4. Roll and Cut: Gently punch down the risen dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Roll the dough out to an even ½-inch thickness. Using a 3-inch biscuit or donut cutter, cut out donut shapes. Use a smaller cutter (like a 1-inch biscuit cutter or bottle cap) for the donut holes. Gather and lightly re-roll any scraps to cut more donuts.
5. Second Rise: Carefully transfer the cut donuts and holes to squares of parchment paper. Arrange them on a baking sheet, leaving some space between each. Cover loosely with plastic wrap or a kitchen towel and let them rise again for 20–30 minutes, or until visibly puffy. This crucial step ensures a light and airy texture.
6. Prepare the Glaze: While the donuts are on their second rise, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract in a shallow bowl until completely smooth. Adjust consistency with more powdered sugar (for thicker) or milk (for thinner) as needed.
7. Air Fry: Preheat your air fryer to 345°F (175°C). Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray. Working in batches, carefully transfer a few donuts (with their parchment paper squares if helpful) to the air fryer basket, ensuring they don’t touch. Fry for about 4 minutes, flipping halfway through, until they are golden brown and cooked through. Remove and transfer to a wire rack.
8. Glaze While Warm: Once slightly cooled but still warm to the touch, dip each donut into the prepared glaze, coating both sides if desired. Place them back on the wire rack (with parchment underneath for drips) to allow the glaze to set. Repeat with remaining donuts and donut holes.

Pro tip: Don’t skip the second rise it’s what gives your donuts that soft, bakery-quality texture!

Tips, Swaps, and Troubleshooting

Let’s address some common queries to ensure your donut-making experience is seamless:

• Dough Too Sticky? If your dough is challenging to handle, gradually add a tablespoon of flour at a time until it’s workable. Remember, the goal is for the dough to remain soft and slightly tacky, not dry.
• No Donut Cutters? Don’t worry! A wide-mouth jar lid or an overturned glass can substitute for biscuit cutters. For the donut holes, a clean bottle cap works perfectly.
• Glaze Consistency Issues? If your glaze is too thick, thin it out by adding milk, a teaspoon at a time, until it reaches a smooth, dippable consistency. If it’s too thin, gradually whisk in more powdered sugar.
• No Air Fryer? You can still enjoy these! Bake the donuts in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for approximately 10 minutes, or until they are lightly golden brown.

Overnight Dough Shortcut: To save time on baking day, prepare the dough through its first rise, then place the greased, covered bowl in the refrigerator overnight. The next day, let it come to room temperature for about 30 minutes, then proceed with rolling, cutting, and the second rise.

Serving and Storing Your Donuts

Once glazed, these donuts are truly best enjoyed warm for that melt-in-your-mouth experience. Caution: Freshly glazed donuts can be hot; allow them to cool slightly before handling and eating. Leftovers can also be delicious with proper storage:

Storage Method	What to Do	How Long
At Room Temperature	Store in an airtight container away from sunlight.	3–4 days
Refrigerated	Wrap in plastic or use a container.	Up to 1 week
Frozen	Lay flat in a zip-top bag, then thaw and refresh in the air fryer.	Up to 3 months

Reheating Tip: To bring back that fresh-from-the-fryer texture, warm leftover donuts in the air fryer at 300°F for 2–3 minutes.

Expert Insight: Mastering Glazed Air Fryer Donuts

Utilizing an air fryer for glazed donuts yields a beautifully crisp exterior, significantly reducing the oil typically found in traditional frying. The rapid circulation of hot air achieves a wonderfully light and airy texture, making these glazed air fryer donuts a remarkably satisfying, and slightly healthier, homemade indulgence.

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The Long Road to Glazed Air Fryer Donuts

Perfecting these glazed air fryer donuts was a journey, not an overnight success. I genuinely lost count of the batches that turned out dense or undercooked before finally nailing the precise timing and achieving the ideal glaze balance. Every single attempt taught me valuable lessons, and the recipe you see today is the culmination of that real-world experience, ensuring you get those perfectly light, sweet donuts straight from your air fryer.

FAQs ( Glazed Air Fryer Donuts )

Conclusion

These Easy Glazed Air Fryer Donuts are a true delight, coming together efficiently and filling your kitchen with that irresistible vanilla aroma. You’ll be thrilled with the results: soft, airy, and adorned with a perfectly shiny glaze that evokes the warmth of your favorite bakeryall without the fuss or mess. It’s comforting food that consistently feels special.

For the exact ingredient quantities and detailed instructions, please refer to the full recipe card accompanying this article. Want to personalize them? Try adding a sprinkle of cinnamon to the glaze, or swap vanilla for almond extract for a delightful twist. As for leftovers, a quick 2-minute refresh in the air fryer, a tip I cherish from my grandma, will bring back that “fresh out of the fryer” magic. Trust me, it’s a game-changer.

I’d genuinely love to see your creations, whether they’re perfectly uniform or uniquely charming, just like mine were in the beginning! Do these donuts bring back any sweet memories for you? Please share your photos and stories below, and don’t forget to save this recipe for those mornings when a little kitchen magic is just what you need. Happy baking, friends!