Air Fryer Donuts - How to Bake Crispy, Indulgent Pastries With 70% Less Fat

Exploring Air Fried Doughnut Recipes

Doughnuts represent an indulgent, beloved treat for good reason. Their taste and texture absolutely delight. However, traditional doughnut preparation poses notable health drawbacks. Frying bakes in ample added fats and oils, while factory varieties contain lengthy ingredient lists.

As consumer interest grows for better-for-you takes on typically sinful items, air fried donuts present an intriguing option. Using an air fryer may allow enjoying doughy, sweet creations while minimizing negatives of traditional preparation.

Benefits of Air Frying

This innovative cooking approach relies on super heated, rapidly circulating air instead of simmering oil to crisp up items. Food essentially stir fries in the air fryer chamber, without submerging it in abundant added fats.

Accordingly, air fried donuts absorb only a fraction of the oils compared to their deep fried counterparts. This significantly cuts overall calories and fat content from an otherwise indulgent food.

Adapting Traditional Recipes

Use traditional doughnut recipes as a template for air frying, but account for key technique adjustments. Batters may require slight tweaks to turn out properly.

Typically, air fried items call for lightly oiled batters versus heavily enriched doughs. Adjust any recipe lowering liquids, butters, oils so the air fryer can still rapidly dry out the exterior.

Choosing a Quality Air Fryer

Not all air fryer models perform equally, especially for more complex products like dough-based items. Optimize outcomes using an air fryer with higher wattage and reliable temperature controls.

This allows quickly evaporating moisture without burning delicate doughs. Check your machine’s capacity as well - smaller batches may work best for air fried donuts.

Mouthwatering Air Fried Donut Recipes

Ready to give air fried doughnuts a try? Explore an array of sweet and savory takes perfect for your multifunctional fryer.

1. Classic Glazed

For a back-to-basics air fried doughnut, stick with a sweetly glazed or frosted option. Cut the overall sugar content by 30-50% compared to baking recipes.

Coat your air fried donut ring or hole with a thin tangy glaze or whipped vanilla cream cheese frosting instead of overtly sugary gloss.

2. Apple Cider

Fall flavors shine for doughnuts, no matter the preparation method. Allow cut apples to stew down into a thick, concentrated cider reduction.

Brush this over air fried donut dough for plenty of seasonal essence without needing to submerge entire pastries in fatty liquid.

3. Pumpkin Spice

Similarly, richness of pumpkin puree makes a perfect canvas for cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and other cozy spice flavors.

Amp up nutrition by using 100% canned pumpkin, not pre-spiced pie mix fillers. Top air fried donuts with vanilla Greek yogurt rather than heavy cream cheese.

4. Chocolate Orange

Boost antioxidant levels along with chocolatey decadence by incorporating dark cocoa powder and pure orange extract into doughnut batter.

A bittersweet glaze or dipping sauce accentuates those notes. The air frying process concentrates natural orange oils for intensified citrus taste.

5. Lemon Blueberry

Allow juicy berries to macerate in fresh lemon juice to pull out plump moisture and tangy notes. Gently fold into batter prior to air frying.

The berries will caramelize and their liquid will suffuse the entire air fried donut, creating delicious fruity accents throughout.

6. Onion and Cheese

For a savory, appetizer-style air fried doughnut, load up the dough with caramelized onions, nutty Gruyere, Parmesan or aged cheddar cheese.

Offer a ramekin of warm marinara sauce for dipping to allow the cheese to ooze and incorporate rich, savory flavors into each bite of your air fried donut.

Tips for Air Frying Doughnuts

Adapting favorite recipes requires some trial and error to achieve your preferred texture. Follow general tips for air frying doughy items.

1. Grease Wells

Thoroughly grease wells of nonstick air fryer pans, or use liners made for your model. This prevents sticking or dough absorbing cooking oils.

2. Cut Fat Content

The air frying process eliminates much added fat absorption compared to frying, so cut back enriching agents in dough recipes by at least 25%.

3. Adjust Liquids

Similarly, lower any liquids called for in baked doughnut recipes too. Air frying rapidly evaporates moisture, so drier batters perform best.

4. Work in Small Batches

Only air fry a few donuts at a time so the machine can properly distribute heat and airflow around each one.

5. Flip Halfway

Gently flip each air fried doughnut about halfway through cook time to achieve an evenly crisped, golden exterior.

6. Check Frequently

Open the drawer to inspect each batch often as frying times may vary. Adjust cook times as needed to get your perfect texture.

Indulging Without Deep Frying

Employing an air fryer allows preparing delectably tender, sweet pastries like classic doughnuts with up to 70% less fat and 40% fewer calories on average.

This opens the door for occasional enjoyment of timeless food favorites with less health downsides. Explore the possibilities baking up air fried donuts in new, better-for-you ways.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.