TL;DR: Air fryer gluten free donuts are ready in about 12 minutes. Make the batter from a gluten free donut mix, pipe it into silicone donut molds that fit your basket, and air fry at 350°F for 6 to 8 minutes. One pouch of West Food Brands Sweet Potato Donut Mix makes 12 donuts, and the air fryer bakes 3 to 4 at a time with a soft, cakey crumb and lightly crisp edges.
The air fryer is the fastest way to bake a small batch. There is no oven to preheat for 15 minutes and no deep frying. You do need silicone or metal donut molds, since the batter is too loose to hold a ring on its own. Here is the full method, plus timing, the molds that work, vegan swaps, and how to fix common problems.
How do you make air fryer gluten free donuts from a mix?
You whisk three wet ingredients into the dry mix, fill greased donut molds, and air fry at 350°F for 6 to 8 minutes. A mix already contains the gluten free flour blend, so there is no measuring of separate flours or xanthan gum.
Here is what you add to one pouch of West Food Brands Sweet Potato Donut Mix:
· 2 large eggs, or 2 flax eggs for a vegan batch
· 1/4 cup melted butter or coconut oil
· 1/2 cup milk, dairy or plant based such as almond, oat, or coconut
1. Preheat the air fryer to 350°F for 3 minutes. Lightly grease your donut molds.
2. Whisk the eggs, melted oil, and milk in a bowl until smooth.
3. Add the donut mix and stir until it just comes together. Stop as soon as the dry powder disappears, since overmixing makes gluten free donuts gummy.
4. Spoon or pipe the batter into the molds, filling each about two thirds full.
5. Set the molds in the basket, leaving space around each one for airflow. Air fry at 350°F for 6 to 8 minutes, until the tops spring back when touched.
6. Let the donuts cool in the molds for 5 minutes, then turn them out onto a rack.
One pouch makes 12 standard donuts or 24 mini donuts, so plan on 3 or 4 batches depending on your basket size. Check the back of your pouch, since amounts can vary by batch.
What temperature and time do air fryer gluten free donuts need?
Set the air fryer to 350°F and bake for 6 to 8 minutes. Start checking at 6 minutes, because air fryers run hotter than ovens and the edges set fast. The donuts are done when a toothpick comes out clean and the tops bounce back. Here is how the air fryer compares to a standard oven:
|
Method |
Temperature |
Time |
Batch size |
|
Air fryer |
350°F |
6 to 8 minutes |
3 to 4 donuts |
|
Oven baked |
350°F |
12 to 15 minutes |
12 donuts at once |
|
Air fryer, mini |
350°F |
5 to 6 minutes |
6 to 8 mini donuts |
Every air fryer is a little different. A basket model heats faster than an oven-style unit, so treat the first batch as your test and adjust by 1 minute either way.
What kind of donut molds work in an air fryer?
Use silicone donut molds rated for the oven, since they flex so the donuts pop out clean and they sit safely in the heat. Small metal donut pans work too if they fit your basket with room around the edges. Avoid filling the basket with loose batter, because it will spread instead of holding a ring. A few tips:
· Measure your basket first, then buy molds that leave at least half an inch of space on each side for airflow.
· Grease the molds even if they are nonstick, since the low sugar batter can grip.
· For donut holes, use a silicone mini muffin mold and fill each cup two thirds full.
How do you make air fryer gluten free donuts vegan or dairy free?
You swap two ingredients. The dry mix is already plant based, so it does most of the work. For the eggs, use 2 flax eggs by stirring 2 tablespoons of ground flaxseed into 5 tablespoons of water and letting it sit for 5 minutes until it thickens. For the fat, use melted coconut oil instead of butter, and for the milk, use any plant milk. Flax eggs make the crumb a little softer, so let the donuts cool fully in the molds before you lift them out.
Are air fryer gluten free donuts healthier than fried donuts?
They are a lighter choice, mainly because air frying uses a few spoons of oil instead of a deep fryer full of it. Air frying cooks with rapidly circulating hot air, so the donuts get a baked texture rather than a deep-fried one. Cutting the cooking oil also lowers the total fat compared with a traditional fried donut, a point the American Heart Association makes about air frying in general.
These donuts are also certified gluten free, non GMO, and made with no preservatives or artificial sweeteners, which suits people with celiac disease or a gluten sensitivity. They are still a treat, so portion them like any baked good. For the full ingredient breakdown, see what is in our mixes.
How do you store and reheat air fryer donuts?
Store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. To keep them longer, let them cool completely, lay them flat in a freezer bag, and freeze for up to 3 months. The air fryer is also the best way to refresh a day-old donut. Reheat at 320°F for 2 to 3 minutes to bring back the soft center and crisp edge. Glaze the donuts only after they cool, and only on the day you serve them.
Why are my air fryer donuts dry, dense, or stuck?
A few small mistakes cause almost every air fryer donut problem, and each has a quick fix.
· Dry donuts usually mean they baked too long. Pull them at 6 minutes and test, since air fryers finish faster than ovens.
· Dense or gummy donuts usually mean the batter was overmixed. Stir only until the powder disappears.
· Stuck donuts usually mean the molds were not greased. Grease even nonstick molds, and let the donuts cool 5 minutes before turning them out.
· Uneven baking usually means the molds were crowded. Leave space around each one so the air can move.
Frequently asked questions about air fryer gluten free donuts
Can you put donut batter directly in an air fryer?
No. The batter is too loose to hold a shape on the basket, so it will spread and run through. You need silicone or metal donut molds to get the ring.
Do you preheat an air fryer for donuts?
Yes, a short preheat helps. Run the air fryer at 350°F for about 3 minutes so the donuts start baking the moment they go in, which gives a more even rise.
Can I make regular gluten free donuts and cookies in the air fryer?
Yes. The same mix works in molds for donuts, and many gluten free cookie doughs bake well in the air fryer on parchment at 320°F. Start checking cookies at 5 minutes.
How many donuts fit in an air fryer at once?
Most baskets fit 3 to 4 standard donut molds, or 6 to 8 mini molds, with enough room for airflow. Bake in batches for a full pouch.
Are air fryer donuts gluten free?
Only if every ingredient is. The donut is gluten free when the mix is certified gluten free, which means it is tested to contain less than 20 parts per million of gluten, the threshold the U.S. Food and Drug Administration sets for that label.
Can I use flax eggs in the air fryer version?
Yes. Flax eggs work the same in the air fryer as in the oven. The donuts are a little more tender, so cool them fully before lifting them out.
Key takeaways
· Air fryer gluten free donuts bake at 350°F for 6 to 8 minutes, faster than the oven for a small batch.
· You need silicone or metal donut molds, since loose batter will not hold a ring on the basket.
· Start from a mix, then add eggs or flax eggs, oil, and milk for 12 donuts per pouch.
· Make them vegan with flax eggs, plant milk, and coconut oil.
· Pull the donuts at 6 minutes to check, because air fryers run hotter than ovens.
Ready to bake? Grab the Sweet Potato Donut Mix, or see the slower oven version in our guide to gluten free baked sweet potato donuts.
Trusted sources
· American Heart Association: Are Air Fryers a Healthy Way to Cook?
· U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Gluten-Free Labeling of Foods
· Celiac Disease Foundation: Sources of Gluten
· Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, The Nutrition Source: Sweet Potatoes
