These Vegan Air Fryer Donuts are soft, fluffy, lightly crisp on the outside, and finished with a simple sweet glaze. Made with basic pantry ingredients and cooked in the air fryer, they give you that fresh homemade donut taste without deep frying.
If you love tender yeast donuts but do not want the mess of hot oil, this recipe is perfect. The dough is simple, the rise time is easy, and the donuts cook in just a few minutes. Once glazed, they taste like a bakery-style treat but feel much lighter than traditional fried donuts.
Serve them plain, coated in cinnamon sugar, dipped in vanilla glaze, or finished with chocolate glaze for a fun vegan dessert or weekend breakfast.
Why You’ll Love These Vegan Air Fryer Donuts
These donuts are everything you want in a homemade donut: soft, fluffy, golden, and sweet. The air fryer gives them a lightly crisp exterior while keeping the inside tender and pillowy.
You’ll love this recipe because it is:
- Made without eggs or dairy
- Cooked in the air fryer, not deep fried
- Soft and fluffy inside
- Lightly crisp outside
- Made with simple ingredients
- Perfect with vanilla or chocolate glaze
- Great for breakfast, brunch, or dessert
- Easy to customize with toppings
Why Make Donuts in the Air Fryer?
Air fryer donuts are faster and easier than deep-fried donuts. You do not need a big pot of oil, and there is no greasy cleanup afterward.
The air fryer circulates hot air around the donuts, helping them cook quickly while creating a lightly crisp outside. They are not exactly the same as deep-fried donuts, but they are delicious, tender, and much easier to make at home.
They are also a lighter option since you only brush the donuts with a little vegan butter before cooking.
Recipe Summary
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Rise Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 12 donuts
Course: Breakfast, Dessert
Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
For the Donuts
- 2 ½ teaspoons active dry yeast
- 2 tablespoons white sugar
- 1 ¼ cups warm oat milk, about 100°F
- 8 tablespoons vegan butter, melted and divided
- 3 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Oil, for coating the dough
For the Glaze
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 6 tablespoons oat milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Ingredient Notes
Active Dry Yeast
Active dry yeast helps the donuts rise and gives them that classic soft yeast-donut texture. Let it sit in warm oat milk with sugar until foamy before adding the rest of the ingredients.
Oat Milk
Oat milk adds moisture and a mild flavor. You can use any unsweetened plant-based milk, such as almond milk, soy milk, or cashew milk.
Vegan Butter
Melted vegan butter adds richness and helps make the dough tender. Some of the butter goes into the dough, and the rest is brushed over the donuts before air frying.
All-Purpose Flour
All-purpose flour gives the donuts structure while keeping them light and fluffy.
Powdered Sugar
Powdered sugar creates a smooth, sweet glaze that sets beautifully on the donuts.
How to Make Vegan Air Fryer Donuts
Step 1: Activate the Yeast
Warm the oat milk until it is about 100°F. It should feel warm, not hot.
Add the warm oat milk, sugar, and active dry yeast to the bowl of a stand mixer or a large mixing bowl.
Stir gently and let it sit for about 10 minutes, until the mixture becomes foamy.
Step 2: Make the Dough
Add 6 tablespoons of melted vegan butter, flour, and salt to the yeast mixture.
Mix on medium-low speed with a dough hook for about 3 minutes, or until a soft, tacky dough forms.
If making the dough by hand, knead it for a few extra minutes until smooth and elastic.
The dough is ready when you press it lightly and it bounces back.
Step 3: Let the Dough Rise
Remove the dough hook and drizzle the dough lightly with oil.
Turn the dough so it is coated on all sides.
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and a clean kitchen towel.
Let the dough rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until almost doubled in size.
Step 4: Shape the Donuts
Punch down the dough and transfer it to a lightly floured surface.
Roll the dough out to about ½ inch thick.
Use a 3-inch round cutter to cut out the donuts. Then use a 1-inch cutter to cut out the centers.
Place the donuts and donut holes on parchment-lined baking sheets.
Step 5: Second Rise
Cover the shaped donuts with greased plastic wrap and a kitchen towel.
Let them rise for about 30 minutes, until slightly puffy.
Step 6: Air Fry the Donuts
Preheat the air fryer to 350°F.
Place 2 to 4 donuts in the air fryer basket or tray, leaving space between them.
Brush the tops lightly with melted vegan butter.
Air fry for 4 minutes, then flip and cook for another 2 minutes.
Transfer the donuts to a wire rack to cool.
For donut holes, air fry for 2 minutes, flip, and cook for 1 more minute.
Step 7: Glaze the Donuts
In a bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, oat milk, and vanilla extract until smooth.
Dip the cooled donuts into the glaze and let the excess drip off.
Place the glazed donuts on a wire rack set over a baking sheet until the glaze sets.
How to Make Chocolate Glaze
For a simple chocolate glaze, make half a batch of the vanilla glaze and stir in about 20 grams of melted dark chocolate.
Mix until smooth, then dip the donuts as usual.
You can also add a little extra oat milk if the glaze becomes too thick.
Topping Ideas
These vegan air fryer donuts are easy to customize. Try them with:
- Vanilla glaze
- Chocolate glaze
- Cinnamon sugar
- Powdered sugar
- Maple glaze
- Sprinkles
- Crushed nuts
- Shredded coconut
- Strawberry jam filling for donut holes
Tips for the Best Air Fryer Donuts
Use warm milk, not hot milk. If the milk is too hot, it can kill the yeast.
Let the dough rise in a warm place. An unused oven with the light on works well.
Do not over-knead the dough. Once it is smooth, elastic, and bounces back when pressed, it is ready.
Do not overcrowd the air fryer. The donuts need space so they cook evenly.
Brush with vegan butter before air frying. This helps the donuts stay tender and gives them a better finish.
Cool before glazing. If the donuts are too hot, the glaze will melt and slide off.
Eat fresh when possible. These donuts taste best the day they are made.
What to Serve with Vegan Donuts
These donuts are delicious with coffee, tea, or iced coffee. For brunch, serve them with fresh fruit, vegan yogurt, or a smoothie.
They also make a fun dessert with a glass of cold plant-based milk.
Storage
Store the donuts at room temperature, loosely covered, for up to 3 days.
They are best enjoyed fresh, especially on the day they are made.
To refresh leftovers, warm them in the microwave for a few seconds or place them in the air fryer for 1 to 2 minutes.
Make Ahead
You can prepare the dough ahead of time and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours.
When ready to use, remove the dough from the fridge and let it come to room temperature. Let it rise until doubled, then shape and continue with the recipe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are air fryer donuts healthy?
Air fryer donuts use less oil than deep-fried donuts, making them a lighter option. They are still a sweet treat, so enjoy them in moderation.
Can I use instant yeast instead of active dry yeast?
Yes. If using instant yeast, you can mix it directly with the flour. However, you can still proof it in warm milk if you want to make sure it is active.
Can I use almond milk instead of oat milk?
Yes. Any unsweetened plant-based milk will work.
Can I bake these donuts instead?
Yes, but the texture will be more like a soft baked roll than an air-fried donut. Bake at 350°F until lightly golden.
Can I freeze these donuts?
Yes. Freeze unglazed donuts in a freezer-safe bag for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature, warm slightly, then glaze before serving.
Why are my donuts dense?
Dense donuts usually happen when the dough does not rise enough, the yeast is old, or too much flour is added. Make sure your yeast becomes foamy and your dough is soft and slightly tacky.
Recipe Card
Vegan Air Fryer Donuts
Soft and fluffy vegan yeast donuts made in the air fryer and finished with a simple vanilla glaze. They are tender inside, lightly crisp outside, and perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dessert.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Rise Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 12 donuts
Ingredients
Donuts
- 2 ½ teaspoons active dry yeast
- 2 tablespoons white sugar
- 1 ¼ cups warm oat milk, about 100°F
- 8 tablespoons vegan butter, melted and divided
- 3 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Oil, for coating the dough
Glaze
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 6 tablespoons oat milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Add warm oat milk, sugar, and yeast to a stand mixer bowl or large mixing bowl. Stir and let sit for 10 minutes, until foamy.
- Add 6 tablespoons melted vegan butter, flour, and salt.
- Mix with a dough hook on medium-low speed for about 3 minutes, until a tacky dough forms. If kneading by hand, knead until smooth and elastic.
- Drizzle the dough lightly with oil and turn to coat.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and a towel. Let rise for 1 hour, or until almost doubled.
- Punch down the dough and roll it out to ½ inch thick.
- Cut donuts with a 3-inch cutter and cut centers with a 1-inch cutter.
- Place donuts and donut holes on parchment-lined baking sheets.
- Cover and let rise for 30 minutes.
- Preheat the air fryer to 350°F.
- Place 2 to 4 donuts in the air fryer, leaving space between each one.
- Brush tops with melted vegan butter.
- Air fry for 4 minutes, flip, and air fry for another 2 minutes.
- Air fry donut holes for 2 minutes, flip, and cook for 1 more minute.
- Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
- Whisk powdered sugar, oat milk, and vanilla until smooth.
- Dip cooled donuts in glaze and let them set on a wire rack.
Notes
For chocolate glaze, make half a batch of vanilla glaze and stir in about 20 grams of melted dark chocolate.
For cinnamon sugar donuts, brush warm donuts with melted vegan butter, then roll in cinnamon sugar.
Do not overcrowd the air fryer. Cook in batches for the best texture.
Final Thoughts
These vegan air fryer donuts are soft, sweet, and surprisingly easy to make at home. They give you the fun of fresh yeast donuts without the mess of deep frying. Whether you glaze them, roll them in cinnamon sugar, or turn the donut holes into jelly bites, this recipe is a delicious vegan treat everyone will love.