Oh my gosh, you’re going to love these air fryer protein donuts! I know what you’re thinking—donuts can’t be healthy, right? Wrong! These babies are packed with protein, low in sugar, and so fluffy you won’t believe they’re made from scratch. The best part? No deep frying mess—just pop them in your air fryer, and ten minutes later, you’ve got warm, golden donuts that taste like a cheat meal but totally aren’t. Trust me, once you try these, you’ll never go back to store-bought!
Ingredients for Air Fryer Protein Donuts from Scratch
Okay, let’s gather our goodies! Here’s everything you’ll need to make these magical protein donuts—trust me, it’s all simple stuff you probably have already. The secret is in the protein powder (I’ll tell you my favorite brand later!), but feel free to use whatever vanilla protein you love. Just don’t skip the oat flour—it gives that perfect, cakey texture!
- 1 cup oat flour (or blend rolled oats until powdery)
- 1 scoop vanilla protein powder (about 30g—I like whey, but plant-based works too)
- 1 tsp baking powder (fresh is best—check the date!)
- ¼ tsp salt (just a pinch to balance the sweetness)
- 1 egg (room temp blends better)
- ¼ cup almond milk (or any milk you prefer)
- 1 tbsp honey (or maple syrup if you’re vegan)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract (real stuff, not imitation—it makes a difference!)
See? Nothing fancy! Now let’s make some donuts…
How to Make Air Fryer Protein Donuts from Scratch
Alright, let’s get these donuts going! I promise it’s easier than you think—just a few simple steps, and you’ll be sinking your teeth into the fluffiest protein-packed treats. The key? Don’t overmix the batter (we want tender donuts, not hockey pucks!), and make sure your air fryer is preheated. Ready? Let’s do this!
Mixing the Batter
First, grab a big bowl and whisk together all your dry ingredients—that’s the oat flour, protein powder, baking powder, and salt. In another bowl, beat the egg lightly, then stir in the almond milk, honey, and vanilla. Now, pour the wet into the dry and gently fold until just combined. A few lumps? Totally fine! Overmixing makes tough donuts, and nobody wants that.
Filling the Donut Molds
Here’s my trick: use a piping bag or a ziplock with the corner snipped off to fill your greased silicone molds. It’s way cleaner than spooning! Fill each mold about ¾ full—these babies rise, and you don’t want batter dripping everywhere. Smooth the tops lightly with a wet finger if needed.
Air Frying the Donuts
Pop those molds into your preheated air fryer at 350°F. No preheating? They won’t cook evenly! Set the timer for 8 minutes, then peek—they should be golden and spring back when touched. If not, add another minute or two. Let them cool in the molds for 5 minutes before flipping them out. Patience, my friend—they’re worth the wait!
Tips for Perfect Air Fryer Protein Donuts from Scratch
Okay, here’s the inside scoop for donut success! First, don’t skip greasing the molds—even with silicone, a quick spritz of oil prevents sticking. If your batter feels too thick, add a splash more milk (but go slow—you want it spoonable, not runny). For extra-fluffy donuts, let the batter rest 5 minutes before filling molds—the baking powder needs time to work its magic!
Flavor tweaks? Try adding cinnamon or lemon zest to the dry ingredients. If your donuts come out dense, check your baking powder’s expiration date—it loses power over time. And if they brown too fast? Lower the temp to 325°F and add a minute. Trust me, once you nail these tricks, you’ll be a protein donut pro!
Variations for Air Fryer Protein Donuts from Scratch
Oh, the fun part—getting creative! These donuts are like a blank canvas. Swap the vanilla protein for chocolate (hello, dessert vibes!), or add a teaspoon of cinnamon to the dry mix for cozy spice donuts. Feeling fancy? Fold in blueberries or dark chocolate chips—just don’t overdo it or they’ll sink.
Dietary tweaks? Easy! Use flax eggs for vegan donuts, or swap oat flour for almond flour if you’re keto-ish (just add an extra splash of milk). Peanut butter powder stirred into the batter? Yes, please! The possibilities are endless—make ’em your own. For more healthy air fryer inspiration, check out these easy air fryer protein balls.
Storage and Reheating Instructions
These donuts disappear fast at my house, but if you somehow have leftovers, here’s the drill! Let them cool completely, then stash them in an airtight container—they’ll stay fresh for 2 days at room temp or up to 5 days in the fridge. To revive that just-made warmth, pop ’em in the air fryer at 300°F for 60 seconds. Magic! If you are looking for other sweet treats, try these soft air fryer chocolate chip cookies.
Nutritional Information
Wanna feel good about eating donuts? Here’s the scoop! Each fluffy ring packs about 120 calories, with 8g protein to keep you full (thank you, protein powder!). They’ve got just 4g sugar from the honey and 15g carbs—mostly from the oat flour. Of course, these are estimates (your exact protein powder or milk might tweak things slightly), but hey, that’s still way better than a drive-thru donut, right? For more information on macronutrients, you can check out resources on official nutrition guidelines.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Can I use a different flour instead of oat flour?
Absolutely! Almond flour or whole wheat flour work great—just keep in mind the texture might be denser. If you’re gluten-free, try a 1:1 gluten-free blend. The key is to stick to 1 cup total, no matter which flour you choose. Just don’t use coconut flour—it’s too absorbent and will turn your donuts into dry little bricks!
Q2. My donuts stuck to the mold—what went wrong?
First, sympathy hug! This usually means either the molds weren’t greased enough, or you tried to remove them too soon. Next time, spritz with oil (even on silicone!) and let them cool for a full 5 minutes. Still stuck? Run a butter knife around the edges gently—they’ll pop right out!
Q3. Can I bake these instead of using an air fryer?
You bet! Bake at 350°F in a preheated oven for 10-12 minutes. They won’t get quite as golden on top, but they’ll still taste amazing. Just do the toothpick test—if it comes out clean, they’re done. Bonus: oven baking lets you do a whole batch at once if you’ve got multiple molds! If you like baked goods, you might enjoy these air fryer apple fritters.
Q4. Help—my donuts turned out dry! Any fixes?
Oh no! Usually, this means the batter was overmixed or overbaked. Next time, mix less and check for doneness at 8 minutes. For these dry ones? Brush ’em with a little melted butter or dunk ’em in almond milk—instant moisture rescue! (And hey, crumbled dry donuts make epic yogurt toppings too.)
“Unbelievably Fluffy Air Fryer Protein Donuts from Scratch in 8 Min”
- Total Time: 15 mins
- Yield: 6 donuts
- Diet: Low Fat
Description
Easy homemade protein donuts made in an air fryer.
Ingredients
- 1 cup oat flour
- 1 scoop vanilla protein powder
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup almond milk
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Mix dry ingredients in a bowl.
- Add wet ingredients and stir until smooth.
- Pour batter into greased donut molds.
- Air fry at 350°F for 8-10 minutes.
- Let cool before removing from molds.
Notes
- Use silicone molds for easy removal.
- Adjust sweetness with more or less honey.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container.
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 10 mins
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American