Actually light and fluffy Air Fryer Protein Donuts in under 15 minutes with no donut pan needed! Healthy air fryer donuts recipe uses protein powder and is sugar free too.
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I had this air fryer doughnut recipe on my list for a while, and finally got around to it while waiting for something to bake in the oven. What a quick and easy protein donut recipe here.
Actually just mix the ingredients, roll into balls and shape, then air fry!
Ingredients For Air Fryer Protein Donuts
This air fryer protein donut is a great easy donut recipe since it has no yeast and uses baking powder instead. And of course all healthy ingredients and no sugar.
Here’s what you need:
- Whole Wheat Pastry Flour
- Vanilla Protein Powder – This is the replacement for sugar. I use the whey-caesin blend from HTLT Supps, since its great for baking.
Another option is Quest. - Non-Fat Greek Yogurt for extra protein
- Almond milk
- Cold Butter this has to be straight out of the fridge and cold
- Baking Powder
For Glazed Air Fryer Protein Donut
- Non fat Greek Yogurt
- Vanilla Protein Powder
- Almond milk or any other dairy or non dairy milk
Tips for the perfect Air Fryer Protein Powder Donuts Recipe
- Make sure to use cold butter for this air fryer donut so that it creates those nice airy pockets in the middle when exposed to the high temperature.
- To prevent your protein air fryer donut from being too dry, make sure you have enough moisture from the milk and yogurt; The vanilla protein powder is extremely absorbent and can make the donut holes dry hard hard – make sure your dough is a little sticky (it should slightly stick to your hands when kneading).
- Don’t over-mix the dough or add too much flour – this will give you dry and tough donuts. It should take about 10 seconds.
- Let donut cool completely before glazing or the yogurt will melt away
The perfect temperature and timing for making an Air Fryer Protein Doughnut
Since protein powder dries up and burn very quickly, you want to air fry these donut holes for just 8-9 minutes at 325°F.
For a Baked Donut Recipe
If you don’t have an air fryer, you can also make these protein powder donuts in the oven – with no donut pan or muffin tin needed!
All you need to do is place the doughnut rings on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake the at 350°F for about 12 minutes.
How to store Air Fryer Protein Doughnuts
These homemade air fryer protein doughnuts keep really well at room temperature, in the fridge or freezer depending on whether or not you’ve added the glaze.
Without the glaze, air fryer doughnuts keep on the countertop in an airtight container for 2 days.
Store the glazed air fryer protein donuts for one for up to 5 days in the fridge in an airtight container.
For a freezer friendly option, freeze the air fryer doughnuts on a baking sheet and then transfer to freezer safe zipper bag. It should keep up to 2 months.
When it’s time to eat, thaw to room temperature and warm them in the microwave for extra goodness.
Alternatives for Healthy Air Fryer Donut Recipe
- Whole Wheat Pastry Flour: All purpose flour or 1:1 Gluten Free Baking Flour, with the same amount by weight, not cups.
- Greek Yogurt: Coconut yogurt
- Almond Milk: Any other milk
For Vegan Air Fryer Doughnuts
The original recipe here has no eggs and no milk, so these air fryer protein doughnuts can be easily turned Vegan.
Replace the Greek Yogurt with Coconut Yogurt, plant based protein powder and a Vegan butter substitute. I actually used Vegan butter for these protein donuts so I know that substitute definitely works.
More Air Fryer Protein Desserts recipes you’ll love:
- Air Fryer Protein Donut Holes
- Healthy Protein Pop Tarts
- Air Fryer Protein Cookie for One
- Brown Sugar Cinnamon Protein Pop Tarts
More Protein Donut Recipes to try:
- Cranberry Orange Protein Donuts
- Oreo Protein Donuts
- Peanut Butter Cup Protein Donuts
- Chocolate Coffee Protein Donuts
- Samoa Protein Donuts
Air Fryer Protein Donuts
Ingredients
- ½ cup + 2 Tbsp Whole Wheat Pastry Flour, see post for sub, 75g
- ½ cup Vanilla Protein Powder, Whey-caesin, 45g
- 1 tsp Baking Powder
- 1 Tbsp Cold Butter, Grated, 14g
- ⅓ cup Unsweetened Almond Milk, 80ml
- ⅓ cup Non-fat Greek Yogurt, 75g
Protein Yogurt Glaze
- 2 Tbsp + 1 tsp Non-fat Greek Yogurt, 33g
- 1½ Tbsp Unsweetened Almond Milk, 22ml
- 1½ Tbsp Vanilla Protein Powder, 8g
Instructions
- In a bowl, combine flour, protein powder and baking powder.
- Add butter, yogurt and milk – little at a time – and mix with a spoon to until just combined. You should have a smooth dough.
- Lightly flour a work surface, transfer dough to surface and knead until smooth – about 10 seconds.DO NOT OVER-MIX or the protein powder will make the donut tough.
- Divide into 6 pieces.Roll into a log about 6-8” long, shape into a ring, overlap and pinch ends together.
- Spray inside of air fryer basket with cooking spray, and place donut in.
- Cook at 325°F for 6 minutes, flip, then cook another 2 mins.Or bake 350°F for about 12 minutes.
- Transfer to cooking rack to cool completely.
Protein Yogurt Glaze:
- In a shallow bowl, whisk together Greek yogurt, almond milk and protein powder.
- Dunk donut in glaze, place on cooling rack to set, add toppings.
Notes
- Taste tough and add stevia sweetener if your protein powder is not sweet enough.
- Nutrition information is calculated using the products recommended below.
- See post for alternate ingredients, tips and storage options.
- HTLT Supps Whey-Caesin Protein Powder
- Servings: 6 3” donuts | Serving size: 1 with glaze
- Calories: 102kcal
- Fat: 2.7g | Saturated fat: 1.3g
- Carbohydrates: 10.9g | Fiber: 1.7g | Sugar: 0.5g
- Protein: 9.8g
Highly recommend this recipe so delish and love that you don’t have to feel guilty after!Cant wait to make more to share with friends!
Omigosh thank you so much! Really hope your friends like them as much as you 🙂