Spice up breakfast with my air fryer donut holes! Made with a 3-ingredient dough, cozy spices and grated apple - air fried to tender perfection. No donut-pan, no yeast required.
‘Tis the season! Apple season, that is. And these air fryer donut holes are sure to get you in the mood for fall. Perfectly cute little balls of lightly sweetened apple dough, air fried to tender perfection. These apple donut holes are melt-in-your-mouth soft and dunked in a delicious cinnamon sugar coating for a crispy exterior that's seriously addictive.
The best part? They are SO easy to make and you can use the base recipe to make donut holes all year round! Meal prep a batch for the ultimate grab and go breakfast or bite-sized treat.
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Ingredients
- flour - all purpose flour will produce a perfectly soft dough. For an extra boost of fiber, use half whole wheat flour (anymore and the dough will be too tough). This recipe combines all-purpose flour with baking powder and salt to make the dough rise. *If using self-rising flour do NOT add baking powder or salt.
- baking powder & kosher salt - key ingredients to make the dough rise without any yeast. Omit if using self-rising four.
- apple pie spice - for the ultimate fall flavor. You can use a store bought blend or make your own with a combination of ground cinnamon, ground ginger, nutmeg, and cardamom.
- ground cinnamon - totally optional to use for the dough, but adds an extra bit of flavor. You will need it to make the cinnamon sugar mixture.
- grated apple - fresh apples bring moisture and sweetness to the dough. Honeycrisp apples will always be my go-to, but you can use any red or green variety. Green apples will add a bit of sour flavor to balance out the sweet. Make sure to squeeze out any excess juice to prevent the dough from becoming too wet.
- non-fat plain Greek yogurt - drain excess liquid if needed for the dough. Non-fat Greek yogurt will give you the best texture. You can also use low-fat cottage cheese.
- butter - melted butter, coconut oil or vegan butter helps the cinnamon sugar adhere to the donut holes.
- sugar - makes a crispy cinnamon coating. You can substitute it with coconut sugar for a more caramel-like flavor, or use a sugar-free monk fruit blend for a lower-carb option.
Instructions
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, kosher salt, cinnamon, and apple pie spice.
Add greek yogurt and grated apple. Mix until dough starts to form.
Lightly dust a clean surface with flour. Knead dough for about 30 seconds
Roll into 12 golf ball sized pieces. Spray air fryer tray and add donuts. Air fry at 350F for 8-10 minutes.
Remove and lightly brush with melted butter or coconut oil.
Roll donut holes in cinnamon sugar.
Hint: be sure to drain any excess liquid from the apples and yogurt. I've had the best results with Trader Joe's non-fat Greek yogurt (no draining required!), Stonyfield and Fage. If you feel the dough is still too sticky, add more flour!
Substitutions
- To make vegan or dairy free - You can easily replace the Greek yogurt with coconut or plant-based yogurt and brush with melted coconut oil.
- Gluten-free - Substitute all purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free flour if needed.
If you're looking for more gluten-free breakfast options, try these: strawberry banana baked oatmeal cups, over hard eggs, overnight oats with water.
Variations
Want to make these air fryer donut holes even MORE delicious? Look no further!
- Plane Jane - omit the apple pie spice, cinnamon, and grated apple.
- Jelly donut - add raspberry chia jam to the filling or use as a dip.
- Chocolate - swap the fall spices and grated apple for cocoa powder.
- Glazed donut hole - roll the donuts in a yogurt glaze instead of cinnamon sugar. Just mix together Greek yogurt, powdered sugar and vanilla extract.
- Blueberry - add a handful of blueberries to the dough.
Equipment
Storage
Fresh is definitely best with these air fryer donut holes, BUT they can absolutely be stored in the fridge (without the melted butter or cinnamon sugar) for 3-4 days. Reheat in the microwave for 1 minute and roll in butter + sugar mixture.
Top Tips
Drain excess liquid - be sure to drain any excess liquid from the yogurt and apples. If you feel the dough is still too sticky, add more flour. You want the dough to be soft without sticking to your hands.
Don't overwork the dough - knead just enough to combine the ingredients. You want a soft, slightly sticky dough.
FAQ
Nothing beats the taste of deep fried donut, but these air fryer donuts come extremely close! They are just as delicious with significantly less calories and fat compared to deep fried donuts.
Yes! Just fill a greased donut pan with the dough instead of rolling into balls.
More tiny bites of goodness
Make it a balanced breakfast
Serve with air fryer donut holes for an easy, balanced breakfast!
Air Fryer Donut Holes
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon apple pie spice
- 1 cup non-fat plain greek yogurt, excess liquid drained
- ½ cup grated apple, excess liquid drained
- 2 tablespoon sugar
- 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
- 1-2 tablespoon melted butter
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, kosher salt, cinnamon, and apple pie spice.
- Strain any excess liquid from yogurt and grated apple. Add to flour mixture. Mix until dough starts to form.
- Lightly dust a clean surface with flour. Knead dough for about 30 seconds (don’t over do it or dough will be too hard). Roll dough into 10-12 golf ball sized pieces.
- Spray air fryer tray and add donuts (work in batches if needed, don’t overcrowd the basket). Air fry at 350℉ for 8-10 minutes.
- Mix together sugar and cinnamon while they cook. Remove and lightly brush with melted butter. Roll donut holes in cinnamon sugar and enjoy!
Did you try this? Let us know!