Air Fryer Protein Donuts – Easy and Sugar Free

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