Easy Air Fryer Donut Holes Recipe (No Yeast Needed)
If you’ve ever had a donut craving but realized you’re out of yeast, this one’s for you. These air-fried donut holes come together quickly, use just a few pantry staples, and don’t require any rise time. No fuss, no waiting around—just soft, golden donut holes with a slightly crisp outside and a tender, cakey center.
They’re made with Greek yogurt, which gives them a boost of protein, and they’re easy to adjust if you’re gluten-free or vegan. Honestly, they’re great for a quick dessert, a sweet snack, or even something fun to make when you want a treat without a whole production.
Also, if you’re into easy air fryer desserts, you might want to check out my Air Fryer S'mores and my Air Fried Peaches!
Why You’ll Like This One:
No yeast required. Just a few pantry staple ingredients!
It’s a quick dessert.
It is high in protein with the Greek yogurt
It can be gluten-free using gluten-free flour.
They make a great post-workout snack or treat.
They can be made vegan by using a thick, plain, non-dairy yogurt like almond yogurt.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Gluten-free all-purpose flour: Use gluten-free all-purpose flour for a gluten-free option. You can also use regular all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, almond flour, or oat flour as substitutions.
Baking powder: This helps the donut holes rise and become fluffy because we don't use yeast in this recipe!
Greek yogurt: Choose a thick, plain Greek yogurt for the best results and the highest protein content.
Vanilla: This adds a hint of sweetness and flavor to the donut holes.
Avocado or olive oil spray: To coat the donut holes before air frying. I prefer using avocado or olive oil as my oil of choice.
Milk: Makes the delicious glaze! You can either use dairy or plant-based milk.
Powdered sugar or monk fruit: Use powdered sugar for a traditional glaze or monk fruit for a lower-sugar alternative.
Jazz's Recommended Products For This Recipe
Here are a few of my favorite tools and ingredients that make this recipe super easy to whip up:
Glass Mixing Bowls – Great for mixing, kneading, and prepping. I use these all the time.
Wonder Oven Air Fryer – The key to golden, crispy donut holes without deep frying.
Gluten-Free Baking Flour – My go-to blend for light, fluffy results in gluten-free baking.
Fine Mesh Strainer – Super handy for sifting dry ingredients to avoid clumps.
How to Make Air Fryer Donut Holes
1. Pour the flour, baking powder, and salt through a sieve to remove all of the clumps. Place that flour in a large bowl
2. Add the thick Greek yogurt and vanilla to the flour and knead until it forms into a dough. This may get a bit messy. But just keep kneading until a dough ball forms.
3. Depending on the consistency, you may need to add 1 teaspoon of flour or Greek yogurt. Every flour and yogurt is different.
4. Divide the dough into 16 equal parts, about golf ball sizes. It helps to do this on a floured surface so it does not stick to the surface and rolls easily.
5. Place the dough balls into the air fryer basket in a single layer. Spray with some avocado oil or olive oil spray. Toss to coat.
6. Air fry at 350F for 9 minutes until golden brown, giving them a slight toss halfway through.
7. While the dough balls are in the air fryer, mix together the milk and powdered sugar to create a smooth glaze.
8. Let the donut holes cool, then dip into the glaze. Allow the glaze to harden.
9.Enjoy!
Ingredient Substitutions
Flour: I have used all different flours for this, and they all work really well. You can swap the gluten-free all-purpose flour for regular all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, almond flour, or oat flour. Please note that coconut flour will not work.
Greek-style yogurt: It’s really important to get a really thick, plain Greek-style or Icelandic yogurt. The watery yogurts will not work for this. I like to choose an organic, thick, plain Greek Yogurt. Alternatively, you can use a flavored Greek yogurt, like vanilla or coconut, for a slightly different flavor.
Milk (for the glaze): You can swap the milk for plant-based milk (almond milk, soy milk, coconut milk, cashew milk, and oat milk all work). Or you can use regular milk.
Powdered sugar: I have used both monk fruit and powdered sugar. Remember, when using monk fruit, it will give a slightly cooling effect on the tongue.
Jazz's Tips to Make the Best Donut Holes
When placing the dough balls in the air fryer, make sure they are not overcrowded in the basket. They should be in a single layer with enough room around each donut hole to cook evenly. This allows for proper air circulation and helps achieve a crispy texture.
You can adjust the sweetness of the glaze to your preference. If you prefer a sweeter glaze, you can add additional powdered sugar or monk fruit. Taste the glaze as you mix it, and add more sweetener if needed. You have the flexibility to customize the glaze to suit your taste buds.
If you prefer that your donut holes be sweeter, you can incorporate 2 tablespoons of coconut or brown sugar into the dough. This will add a subtle sweetness to the donuts and enhance their flavor. Experiment with different sweeteners to find your perfect level of sweetness.
Before dipping the donut holes into the glaze, make sure they are completely cooled. This ensures that the glaze adheres properly to the surface of the donut holes and doesn't slide off. Allowing the glaze to harden will also give the donuts a nice, glossy finish. Patience is key in achieving perfectly glazed donut holes.
Storage
Store these air fryer donut holes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. This will help to keep them fresh and prevent them from drying out. When you're ready to enjoy them, you can eat them cold or warm them up slightly in the air fryer for 30-60 seconds if you prefer them warm.
Note: the glaze can soak into the donut holes over time. To keep them shiny, apply more glaze before serving.
Watch How To Make It!
Behind The Scenes!
FAQs
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To make donuts without yeast, you'll need gluten-free all-purpose flour (you can also use regular all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, almond flour, or oat flour), baking powder, salt, plain thick Greek-style yogurt (make sure to use a thick yogurt, not a watery one), vanilla extract, and avocado or olive oil spray (for greasing the donuts).
For the glaze, you'll need milk (you can use plant-based milk if you prefer) and powdered sugar or monk fruit, depending on your preference.
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I have used all different flours for yeast-free donuts, and they all have worked really well. You can swap the gluten-free all-purpose flour for regular all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, almond flour, or oat flour. Keep in mind that coconut flour will not work!
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There is no need to rest the donut dough for this air-fried donut holes recipe, I love how quick, easy, and healthy it is! You can go ahead and start shaping the dough into golf ball-sized portions right away and pop them in the air fryer for just under 10 minutes.
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Eggs are not necessary for donuts without yeast! This air fryer donut holes recipe's main ingredients are gluten-free all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, and thick Greek-style yogurt. The yogurt provides the necessary moisture and helps bind the ingredients together, making eggs unnecessary. This makes the recipe suitable for those with egg allergies or dietary restrictions.
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Avocado oil and olive oil are both excellent choices for frying donuts without yeast, and they offer some health benefits compared to other oils. Compared to other oils like vegetable oil or canola oil, they offer a healthier alternative. They are natural oils that are minimally processed and contain beneficial nutrients. These oils are also free from trans fats, which are known to contribute to heart disease and other health problems.
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This recipe makes donut holes in the air fryer and skips the yeast altogether! Instead, we use baking powder to give them a nice fluffy texture. This donut recipe is faster because you don't have to wait for the dough to rest like you would with yeast.
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Glaze: Prepare a glaze by mixing powdered sugar with a small amount of milk or water until smooth and pourable. For a unique twist, you can flavor the glaze with vanilla extract, lemon zest, or even matcha powder.
Sugar and Cinnamon: Mix some granulated sugar and ground cinnamon and sprinkle it generously over the donuts. This cinnamon sugar mixture is a classic combination, adding a sweet and warming touch.
Powdered Sugar: Dust the donuts with powdered sugar for a simple and elegant topping. It adds a sweet and delicate touch.
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Definitely. If you’d rather skip kneading by hand, mix the dry ingredients in the bowl of a stand mixer and use a dough hook on low speed until a dough forms. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. It’s a neat, hands-off option—especially helpful if doubling the recipe.
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Start by flattening your dough to about ½-inch thickness on a lightly floured surface. Then use a 1-inch cookie cutter or even the center of a biscuit cutter to portion out your dough. You can gently roll each piece into a ball before placing them inside of your air fryer basket.
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To bring back that “fresh from the fryer” texture, pop your leftover homemade donuts into the air fryer at 300°F for 2–3 minutes. Let them sit on a wire rack afterward to avoid sogginess. Reheating this way keeps them crisp on the outside and soft on the inside—just like real donuts.
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To prevent sticking, line the inside of your air fryer basket with parchment paper (poke a few small holes to keep air circulating). You can also use non-stick sprays like avocado or olive oil spray. Just be sure not to oversaturate, especially if your air fryer has a nonstick coating.
Making these donut holes is a fun and easy way to bring that classic doughnut shop vibe into your own kitchen—no deep fryer required. With simple ingredients, no yeast, and no need for a dough rise, this is one of those air fryer recipes you’ll keep coming back to. You can roll them in icing sugar, dip them in a rich chocolate glaze, or keep it classic with a simple sugar coating. Let them cool on a wire rack just long enough so the glaze sets (or don’t, because warm donuts are kind of the best part). However you top them, these air-fryer doughnuts deliver all the flavor of the real thing, with a lot less oil and effort.
Air Fryer Donut Holes
These donuts are made with just a few pantry staple ingredients and can be whipped up in no time. Not only are they super easy to make and delicious, these homemade donut holes are full of protein and can be a healthy dessert or a post-workout snack.
Ingredients
- 1 cup GF all purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup plain thick greek style yogurt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- Avocado or olive oil spray
- 2 teaspoons of milk
- 2-3 teaspoons of powdered sugar or monk fruit
Instructions
- Pour the flour, baking powder and salt through a sieve to remove all of the clumps. Place that flour in a large bowl
- Add the thick greek yogurt and vanilla to the flour and knead until it forms into a dough. This may get a bit messy. But just keep kneading until a dough ball forms. You may need to add 1 teaspoon of flour or greek yogurt depending on the consistency. Every flour and yogurt is different.
- Divide the dough into 16 equal parts, about golf ball sizes. It helps to do this on a floured surface so it does not stick to the surface and rolls easily.
- Place the dough balls into the air fryer in a single layer. Spray with some avocado oil or olive oil spray. Toss to coat.
- Air fry at 350F for 9 minutes, giving them a slight toss half way through.
- While the dough balls are in the air fryer, mix together the milk and powered sugar to create a smooth glaze.
- Let the donut holes cool, then dip into the glaze. Allow the glaze to harden.
- Enjoy!
