Amazing Instant Air Frier Doughnuts

Who says you need yeast, eggs, or deep frying to enjoy warm, fluffy doughnuts? These Air-Fried Instant Doughnuts are the perfect solution for anyone craving a healthier twist on a classic treat — made with wholesome ingredients like yogurt, jaggery, wholewheat flour, and baked in an air fryer instead of oil. They’re soft, golden, and coated in cinnamon sugar — just as indulgent, but way lighter!

Whether you’re baking with kids, looking for festive treats, or just need a sweet snack without turning on the oven — this recipe is your new go-to.

Let’s look at the main ingredients!

Yogurt / Curd

A natural tenderizer that helps create a soft, fluffy texture. The acidity also works as a leavening agent when combined with baking soda — no need for yeast! Greek Yogurt also works in this recipe.

Jaggery or Raw Sugar

Unrefined sweeteners like jaggery provide caramel-like depth while offering trace minerals. Lower glycemic than white sugar and more wholesome in flavour.

Wholewheat Flour

Adds fiber and a subtle nuttiness. It also keeps the doughnut more filling and nutritious than using only all-purpose flour.

All-Purpose Flour

Gives structure and softness. Combining it with wholewheat flour ensures a light, fluffy texture without being too dense.

Salt

Enhances flavor and balances sweetness.

Cinnamon or Vanilla

Adds aroma and warmth. Cinnamon pairs especially well with the jaggery and final sugar coating.

Baking Powder + Baking Soda

The leavening combo that makes the doughnuts rise instantly. No yeast = no waiting time!

Milk (for brushing)

Helps achieve a soft, golden crust when air-fried.

Ghee or Melted Butter (for coating)

Gives that rich doughnut finish without deep frying — plus helps the cinnamon sugar stick.

Cinnamon Sugar (raw sugar + cinnamon)

A classic doughnut topping! Using raw sugar adds more texture and a rustic flavor.

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Why You’ll Love These Doughnuts

• Eggless & yeast-free
• No proofing, no long wait
• Air-fried instead of deep fried
• Sweetened with jaggery
• Soft, fluffy & ready in just 15 minutes!

These Instant Air-Fried Doughnuts are a total game changer — fluffy, satisfying, and just sweet enough. They come together in under 20 minutes with simple pantry staples and can easily be made vegan by swapping yogurt with plant-based curd and ghee with vegan butter. So next time that sweet craving hits, skip the deep fryer — and make these instant air-frier no yeast doughnuts instead.

Instant Air Frier Doughnuts

Serves: 8 doughnuts Prep Time: 10 mins Cooking Time: 4 mins 4 mins

Rating: 5.0/5

( 1 voted )

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Ingredients

For Doughnuts - 

• 1 cup (130 g) - Wholewheat Flour
• 1 cup (120 g) - All Purpose Flour
• 1 cup (220 g) - Yogurt/Dahi/Curd
• 1/4 cup (40 g) - Powdered Jaggery
• 1/8 - 1/4 tsp - Salt
• 1/2 tsp - Powdered Cinnamon
• 2 tsp - Baking Powder
• 1/2 tsp - Baking Soda
• 1 tbsp (15 ml) - Milk (for brusing)
• 1 tbsp (15 ml) - Butter/Ghee (for tossing the doughnuts)

For Cinnamon Sugar -

• 1/2 cup (80 g) - Raw sugar
• 1/2 tsp - Cinnamon

Instructions

 

1. Mix yogurt and jaggery until smooth and combined. If you want to use vanilla extract, add it in at this stage.

2. In a large bowl, whisk together both flours, salt, cinnamon, baking powder, and baking soda.

3. Add the yogurt mix to the dry ingredients and gently knead into a soft dough. Do not over-knead. 

4. Roll the dough to about ½ inch thick on a floured surface. Cut out doughnuts using 2 cookie cutters, one larger cutter and a smaller one to cut out holes.

5. Brush the tops with milk and tap the edges lightly to round them. 

6. Preheat your air fryer at 200°C for 5 minutes. Lightly brush the net or rack with butter or ghee or oil, to prevent the doughnuts from sticking.

7. Place the doughnuts in the air fryer and cook at 200°C for 4 minutes.

8. Remove the basket, take the doughnuts out in a bowl, and cover for 5 minutes to soften.

9. Drizzle the doughnuts with 1 tbsp melted ghee or butter.

10. Toss these one by one in cinnamon sugar and serve warm!

Notes

1. You can make these doughnuts with just wholewheat flour too. You may need 1-2 tbsp more yogurt/curd to form our dough. It will be less fluffy than the combination of wholewheat and maida (all purpose flour) but the doughnuts will still be delicious!
2. You can use sugar to sweeten the dough too.
3. In your air frier, if you notice the doughnuts have not cooked thoroughly in 4 mins, cook them for 1 more minutes.
4. If you notice the doughnuts have gone too dark in 4 mins, decrease the temperature to 180C and bake them for 4 mins.
5. If you do not want to make cinnamon sugar, you can coat the doughnuts in melted white, milk or dark chocolate too, as per your preference.

Did You Make This Recipe?

Have you made this recipe? Tag me on Instagram at @VanillaTrails and use the hashtag #MadeWithVanillaTrails.