When I got my first air fryer, there’s nothing I wouldn’t put in it. Whole pies, seitan roasts, random leftovers; things that absolutely did not need to be air fried, and probably would have been better if not. More than the promise of cooking with less fat, it was the convenience and speed that reeled me in. The promise of never navigating a vat of bubbling hot oil didn’t hurt, though.

Naturally, pushing it to the extreme limits of this concept, I had to try my hand at doughnuts. Yeasted doughnuts seemed too easy, or maybe just too precious for something I was fully prepared to get wrong. Cake doughnuts were a challenge within a puzzle, lighting up the problem-solving part of my brain like a glow stick, since there was no way in hell I could fit a conventional metal mold in that tiny countertop oven.

The trick is to make a batter as thick as cookie dough, easily sculpted in the palm of your hands. Landing somewhere between a light brownie and a dense cupcake, these rustic rings have a homespun kind of charm as a result. Those ridges and dips catch the glaze differently, creating little pockets of sweetness that contrast with the darker, more cocoa-forward crumb underneath.

How this recipe could sit in my drafts for all these years is beyond me. Unlike many other unhinged air fryer experiments, this one has withstood the test of time, even if that original air fryer didn’t withstand my trials.

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Yield: Makes 10 Doughnuts

Air Fryer Chocolate Cake Doughnuts

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Yes, you can make doughnuts in the air fryer! Best enjoyed warm, these chocolate cake doughnuts have a rich cocoa flavor, a dense crumb, and lightly crisp edges that give way to a soft center.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 8 minutes

Additional Time 30 minutes

Total Time 53 minutes

Ingredients

Chocolate Doughnuts:

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• 1 1/2 Cups All-Purpose Flour
• 1/2 Cup Dutch-Processed Cocoa Powder
• 1/2 Cup Granulated Sugar
• 2 Tablespoons Arrowroot or Cornstarch
• 1 Teaspoons Baking Powder
• 1/2 Teaspoon Baking Soda
• 1/2 Teaspoon Salt
• 1/3 Cup Plain Non-Dairy Milk
• 1/4 Cup Agave Nectar or Maple Syrup
• 1 Teaspoon Apple Cider Vinegar
• 1/3 Cup Refined Coconut Oil, Melted

Vanilla Glaze:

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• 1/2 Cup Confectioner's Sugar
• 2 - 3 Teaspoons Plain Non-Dairy Milk
• 1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, sugar, arrowroot or cornstarch, baking powder and soda, and salt. Separately, mix together the non-dairy milk, agave or maple syrup, and vinegar. Pour the liquid ingredients into the bowl of dry an mix lightly. It should still be a bit coarse and crumbly. Add in the melted coconut oil last, stirring well to incorporate. The batter will be very thick, much like cookie dough.
   
2. Scoop out 1/4 cup of the dough for each doughnut, rounding them into even balls between the palms of your hands. Use your fingers to poke a hole in the center, smoothing out the ring shape as best you can. Place them on air fryer racks lined with foil; about 4 per sheet. Chill for at least 30 minutes and ideally 1 hour.
   
3. Preheat your air fryer to 360 degrees for 3 minutes, then cook one sheet at a time on the bottom 1/3rd of the air fryer for about 8 minutes.
   
4. To make the glaze, whisk together the confectioner's sugar, 2 teaspoons non-dairy milk, and vanilla in a small dish. Slowly drizzle in more non-dairy milk as needed to reach your desired consistency. Dip the tops of the doughnuts into the glaze while they're still warm.
   

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All nutritional information presented within this site are intended for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information on BitterSweetBlog.com should only be used as a general guideline. This information is provided as a courtesy and there is no guarantee that the information will be completely accurate. Even though I try to provide accurate nutritional information to the best of my ability, these figures should still be considered estimations.

• 
  Wholesome, Organic Blue Agave, 44 oz (1.25 kg)
• 
  Wholesome, Organic Powdered Confectioners Sugar, 1 lb (454 g)
• 
  Nutiva, Organic Coconut Oil, Refined, 15 fl oz (444 ml)

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

10

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 418Total Fat: 11gSaturated Fat: 8gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 5mgSodium: 277mgCarbohydrates: 71gFiber: 4gSugar: 32gProtein: 8g

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