Air Fryer Maple Donuts
There’s just something magical about donuts in the fall. The smell of yeast dough rising, the sweetness of maple glaze, and the joy of biting into a warm, fluffy donut – all without the mess of deep-frying. These Maple Air Fryer Donuts are golden on the outside, pillowy soft inside, and finished with a rich maple glaze that screams autumn comfort food.
Thanks to the air fryer, you can enjoy bakery-style donuts at home without standing over a pot of hot oil. They’re lighter, easier, and just as delicious – perfect for breakfast, brunch, or an afternoon treat with coffee.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Customizable – Add bacon crumbles, nuts, or seasonal spices for fun twists.
- Cozy fall flavors – The maple glaze makes these donuts ideal for autumn mornings.
- Air fryer magic – No messy frying, just golden, fluffy donuts.
- Make-ahead friendly – Prep the dough ahead of time for fresh donuts anytime.
Ingredients
- All-Purpose Flour – common baking flour that adds chew and stability to these spongy donuts.
- Whole Milk – adds extra chew and richness to these maple donuts, but really any kind of cow’s or plant-based milk will work.
- Active Dry Yeast – can be found in the baking aisle of most grocery stores; will help your donut dough to rise evenly and thoroughly.
- Sugar – adds sweetness and a slight caramel flavor to your finished maple donuts.
- An Egg acts as a binding agent to bring all of your other dough ingredients together.
- Salted Butter – when melted, adds flavor and richness to these air fryer donuts.
- Maple Syrup – I prefer to use 100% pure maple syrup as I find it has the best flavor.
- Warming spices, such as cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and vanilla, bring out the maple undertones in your donut dough.
How To Make Air Fryer Maple Donuts
- Begin making these sweet air fryer donuts by blooming your yeast. To do this, combine your warm milk, yeast, and 1 teaspoon of sugar in a small bowl. Cover and let the mixture sit until foamy.
- In a larger bowl, combine your flour, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and remaining sugar. Whisk briefly before adding your bloomed yeast mixture, egg, vanilla, melted butter, and maple syrup.
Continue whisking this mixture until the dough is uniform and pulls away from the sides of the bowl.
- On a lightly floured surface, knead the dough until it’s smooth and elastic.
- Place your kneaded dough back into your bowl, cover it, and allow the dough to rise for 30 minutes.
- Once risen, shape your donuts, place them onto a baking sheet, and allow to rise for an additional 30 minutes.
- While your donuts are rising, make your maple glaze by combining your confectioners’ sugar, maple syrup, and softened butter. The resulting mixture will be somewhere between a thick glaze and a thin frosting.
- Preheat air fryer to 350°F.
- Place your risen maple donuts into the basket, making sure to leave room in between the donuts. Spray the tops of your donuts with a small amount of cooking spray before air-frying them for 3 minutes.
- Allow your donuts to cool slightly before dipping the top of each into your maple glaze. Serve warm and enjoy!
If you love the cozy comfort of these maple air fryer donuts, you’ll also adore some of our other fall-ready favorites. Try the Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting for brunch, or treat yourself with Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie for dessert. And when you’re craving something lighter, the Simple Smoothie Bowl is a delicious morning pick-me-up.
Air Fryer Maple Donuts
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
Doughnut
- 1 cup milk warm
- 2 ½ teaspoon dry active yeast
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 large egg at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup butter (½ stick) melted
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 teaspoon nutmeg
Maple Glaze
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 2 ½ tablespoon butter softened
Instructions
- Combine milk, yeast, and 1 teaspoon of sugar in a small bowl. Allow the mixture to sit until it begins to foam, about 5 minutes.
- Combine flour, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and remaining sugar. Add the yeast mixture, egg, vanilla, melted butter, and maple syrup. Whisk together until the components are fully incorporated and no clumps of flour remain.
- Knead the dough by hand on a lightly floured surface until it is only slightly sticky to the touch.
- Place the dough in a bowl that has been sprayed with non-stick spray, cover, and allow it to rise for 30 minutes.
- Roll dough into a ½-inch thick rectangle on a lightly floured surface and use a glass to cut out circles (approximately 4-inches in diameter). Cut out a small circle in the center of each doughnut using a butter knife or small glass.
- Let the cut doughnuts rise for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare the maple glaze by combining powdered sugar, softened butter, and maple syrup. Whisk vigorously until smooth. Set the glaze aside.
- Preheat air fryer to 350° Fahrenheit.
- Place three doughnuts in the air fryer basket at a time and spritz with non-stick cooking spray. Bake for 3 minutes. Remove the doughnuts from the air fryer and repeat with remaining doughnuts.
- Let the doughnuts cool for 5 minutes before dipping in the maple glaze.
Notes
Nutrition
Variations & Substitutions
- Dairy-Free: Swap in almond milk and use coconut oil or vegan butter.
- Gluten-Free: Try a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend in place of all-purpose flour.
- Shortcut Glaze: Out of pure maple syrup? Use a quick glaze with powdered sugar, milk, and a touch of maple extract.
- Maple Bacon Donuts: Add crispy bacon over the glaze for the ultimate sweet-and-savory treat.
- Spiced Sugar Coating: Instead of glaze, brush the donuts with melted butter and dip in cinnamon-maple sugar.
Make-Ahead & Storage Tips
- Overnight Prep: Shape the donuts, cover, and refrigerate overnight. In the morning, let them rest at room temperature for 20 minutes, then air fry as directed.
- Storage: Keep donuts in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
- Reheat: Pop leftovers in the air fryer at 325°F for 2–3 minutes to bring back that fresh-from-the-oven taste.
- Freezing: Freeze unfrosted donuts for up to 2 months. Thaw, then glaze after reheating.
FAQs
Yes, but the texture will change. Baking powder donuts (cake-style) won’t have the same light, airy chew that yeast gives.
Make sure donuts cool for 5 minutes before dipping. If they’re too hot, the glaze will melt and soak in instead of setting on top.
All-purpose flour works perfectly. For a slightly chewier donut, try bread flour; for lighter, cake-like donuts, use cake flour.
Yes! Bake at 375°F for 10–12 minutes or until golden, then glaze as directed.
Final Bite
I’d love to hear from you! Did you make these Maple Air Fryer Donuts? Share your favorite variations (maple-bacon, pumpkin spice, you name it!) in the comments, and be sure to share this recipe with a friend who loves donuts as much as you do.
