Air Fryer Jelly Donuts
The following recipe and photography were provided by our partner, Megan Weimer of Dollop of Dough.
If we’re talking about beloved sweet treats, a freshly fried donut probably ranks high for most people! Maybe you’re a frequent customer of a local mom-and-pop donut shop for their rotating selection of scratch-made donuts, or perhaps you prefer the classic varieties from one of the larger chains. Now you can join the many bakers whipping up fresh batches of donuts with this simple Air Fryer Jelly Donut recipe!
That’s right! The infamous air fryer is the perfect vessel for frying donuts without the mess and extra calories that come from frying with oil!
Nostalgic to the eye and the taste buds, these Air Fryer Jelly Donuts feature a minimal-ingredient homemade dough that comes together in a stand mixer, so there is no hand kneading required. Once risen, the dough is sliced into equal sections, air fried until golden, brushed with butter, rolled in sugar, and generously filled with a high quality ready-made jam from Heinen’s. The hardest part of this recipe is simply waiting for the dough to rise, but it is definitely worth it!
Perfect for any holiday occasion or if you just need to satisfy your sweet tooth, this is a treat everyone will want to sink their teeth into!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It’s fried without frying. Anyone who has attempted frying food at home knows how messy it can get. Skip the cleanup and extra calories by frying these jelly donuts in the air fryer! It only takes five minutes to achieve the perfect golden brown color.
- You don’t have to be a baker. Donuts are often perceived as hard to make but rest assured that the hardest part of this recipe is waiting for the dough to rise!
- They’re filled with a fruity premade jelly. The best jelly donuts are oozing with fruity filling! This recipe offers exactly that, and the best part is you don’t have to make the jam yourself. This recipe calls for Stonewall Kitchen strawberry jam, but Heinen’s offers a vast selection, so choose what you and your guests like best!
Air Fryer Jelly Donuts
Servings: 12 Donuts
Ingredients
- ¾ cup Heinen’s milk, whole or 2%
- 2 1/4 tsp. instant yeast
- ⅓ cup Heinen’s granulated sugar
- 4 Tbsp. Heinen’s unsalted butter, melted
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1 large Heinen’s cage free egg
- 3 cups all purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp. Kosher salt
- ½ jar Stonewall Kitchen strawberry jam
Instructions
- Microwave the milk for 45-60 seconds until it reaches 110°F.
- Pour the warm milk into the bowl of a stand mixer and sprinkle the yeast on top. Add the sugar, egg, melted butter, and vanilla. Whisk until combined.
- Using a silicone spatula, stir in the flour and salt until a dough begins to form.
- Place the dough hook on stand mixer and knead the dough on medium speed for 8-10 minutes. The dough should form into a slightly sticky ball that pulls away from the sides and bottom of the mixer. If it’s sticking to the bottom, add 2 more tablespoons of flour.
- Transfer the dough ball to an oiled bowl. Cover with plastic wrap or a warm towel and let rise for 60-90 minutes, or until it doubles in size.
- Divide the dough into 12 equal size pieces and roll into balls. Place on a lined sheet pan and let rise for 30-45 minutes until they double in size.
- Brush the tops of the donuts with oil and air fry at 350°F for 5 minutes, flipping halfway through. For a 4-quart air fryer, cook 3-4 donuts at a time. For a 6-quart air fryer, cook 5-6 at a time.
- Once cool, brush the donuts with the melted butter and roll in the granulated sugar.
- Transfer the strawberry jam to a piping bag.
