These Air Fryer Cherry Pie Donuts are a quick and delicious treat made with sweet cherry filling and perfectly golden dough. Crispy on the outside and soft inside, they’re an easy dessert or breakfast made in minutes in the air fryer.
If you’re craving something sweet but don’t want to deal with deep frying, these Air Fryer Cherry Pie Donuts are the answer.
Soft, golden dough filled with sweet cherry pie filling cooks up perfectly in the air fryer, giving you a quick treat that’s great for breakfast, dessert, or a fun weekend snack.
Why You Will Love This Recipe!
- Quick to Make: These donuts come together fast in the air fryer, making them perfect for busy mornings or a last-minute dessert.
- No Deep Frying: Enjoy golden, delicious donuts without the mess or extra oil.
- Sweet Cherry Filling: The cherry pie filling brings a fruity burst of flavor in every bite.
- Simple Ingredients: Made with easy pantry staples you likely already have on hand.
- Great for Any Time: Perfect for breakfast, brunch, dessert, or a fun snack.
If you are looking for even more Air Fryer Donuts Recipes, some of my favorites recipes are AIR FRYER BANANA DONUTS, AIR FRYER POWDERED SUGAR DONUTS, AIR FRYER BACON SALTED CARAMEL DONUTS.
Ingredients Needed
- Cherry Pie Filling—I love using a can of store-bought cherry pie filling in this recipe; it’s delicious and easy to use. However, if you have a favorite homemade cherry pie filling, you can also use that to fill these donuts.
- All-Purpose Flour—flour acts as the base of your donut dough.
- Granulated Sugar—granulated white sugar is used to sweeten your donut dough.
- Milk—you’ll use warm milk in this recipe as the liquid base of your donut dough. The natural sugars in the milk make it a great liquid in which to bloom your yeast.
- Egg—the yolky richness of an egg helps to add elasticity and flavor to your donut dough.
- Butter—a splash of melted butter is used to add richness and depth of flavor to your dough.
- Active Dry Yeast—yeast is the leavening agent of choice in this cherry pie donut recipe. If you don’t have active dry yeast, you can use instant yeast instead.
- Vanilla Extract—a small amount of vanilla extract adds sweetness and complements the other tart flavors in these donuts.
How To Make Air Fryer Cherry Pie Donuts
Step One: Begin making your cherry pie air fryer donuts by blooming your yeast. Combine your warm milk, yeast, and 1 tsp of sugar to do this. Mix gently, then let the mixture sit for 5 minutes or until bubbly.
Step Two: Next, make your dough by combining the rest of your sugar, flour, yeast mixture, egg, melted butter, and vanilla. Once uniform in appearance, knead the mixture on a lightly floured surface until it is no longer sticky.
Step Three: Place the kneaded dough in a clean bowl, cover it with a lightweight dishcloth, and let it rise for 20 minutes.
Step Four: Once 20 minutes have elapsed, roll the dough into a ½”thick sheet. Using a circle cutter, cut out 4″ circles from your dough. Allow your shaped dough to rise for an additional 20 minutes.
Step Five: Preheat your air fryer to 350°F for 4 minutes. Once your air fryer is hot, place your donuts into your air fryer basket and fry them for 3-5 minutes at 350°F.
Step Six: While your donuts are frying, take a fork and roughly mash your cherry pie filling. Using a piping bag, fill each of your warm donuts with the mashed filling. Allow the filled cherry pie donuts to cool slightly before dusting with powdered sugar and enjoying!
Air Fryer Cherry Pie Donuts Recipe Tips
- Seal the Edges Well: Make sure to pinch the edges of the dough tightly to prevent the cherry filling from leaking during air frying.
- Use Refrigerated Dough: For a quicker process, opt for pre-made refrigerated dough like biscuit or crescent dough, which works great for a flaky crust.
- Don’t Overfill: Be careful not to overfill the donuts with cherry pie filling, as too much can cause them to burst open in the air fryer.
- Brush with Egg Wash: To achieve a golden, bakery-style crust, brush the donuts with a light egg wash before placing them in the air fryer.
- Cook in Batches: Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket. Cook the donuts in batches, so they have room to puff up and crisp evenly.
- Add a Sweet Glaze: After air frying, drizzle the donuts with a simple glaze made from powdered sugar and milk for an extra touch of sweetness.
- Check Doneness Early: Air fryers vary, so start checking the donuts a minute or two before the suggested cooking time to avoid overcooking.
- Cool Before Serving: Let the donuts cool slightly before serving to allow the filling to set and avoid burns from the hot cherry filling.
Storing, Freezing and Reheating Instructions
- Storing: Store cooled donuts in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days to maintain freshness. Keep them away from heat or direct sunlight to prevent the filling from leaking.
- Freezing: Wrap donuts individually in plastic wrap or place them in a freezer-safe container, then freeze for up to 1 month. Thaw at room temperature before enjoying for best texture and flavor.
- Reheating: Warm donuts in the air fryer at 320°F (160°C) for 2–3 minutes or in the microwave for 15–20 seconds. This restores their soft, fluffy texture and brings the cherry filling back to a warm, gooey consistency.
Air Fryer Cherry Pie Donuts Recipe Faqs
Can I use homemade dough instead of pre-made? Absolutely! You can use homemade dough for a more personalized touch, but using pre-made biscuit or crescent dough saves time and still gives a delicious, flaky result.
Can I substitute the cherry filling with other flavors? Yes, feel free to swap out the cherry filling for other pie fillings like apple, blueberry, or peach to create your own version of these donuts.
Why did my donuts burst open in the air fryer? This could be due to overfilling or not sealing the dough edges tightly enough. Ensure the filling is contained and the dough is properly sealed to prevent leaking.
Can I freeze Air Fryer Cherry Pie Donuts? Yes, you can freeze the cooked donuts for up to 1-2 months. Reheat them in the air fryer for a few minutes when ready to serve.
Do I need to flip the donuts while air frying? It’s not necessary to flip them, but if you notice uneven browning, you can gently flip the donuts halfway through the cooking time.
Can I make these donuts in advance? Yes, you can prepare the donuts in advance and store them in an airtight container for up to 2 days. Reheat them in the air fryer before serving for that fresh, crispy texture.
How do I make the glaze for the donuts? A simple glaze can be made by whisking together powdered sugar and a bit of milk or water. Drizzle it over the cooled donuts for an added touch of sweetness.
More Easy Air Fryer Recipes
- AIR FRYER PUMPKIN DONUT HOLES
- AIR FRYER CHOCOLATE CAKE MIX DONUTS
- EASY AIR FRYER BAKED CHOCOLATE DONUTS
- AIR FRYER BAKED CINNAMON SUGAR DONUTS
- EASY AIR FRYER CINNAMON SUGAR DONUT MUFFINS
- AIR FRYER PUFF PASTRY DONUTS
- AIR FRYER HOMEMADE YEAST DONUTS
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Air Fryer Cherry Pie Donuts
Description
Ingredients
- 1 cup milk, warm
- 2 1/2 teaspoon active dry yeast
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar, plus 1 teaspoon
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup butter, unsalted, and melted
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 14 ounces cherry pie filling
Instructions
- Combine the milk, yeast, and 1 tsp of sugar. Let sit for five minutes, or until foamy.
- In a large bowl, combine ¼ cup white sugar and flour. Add the milk/ yeast mixture, egg, melted butter, and vanilla and stir until well combined.
- Dump your dough onto a floured surface and knead for 5 minutes, or until the dough is no longer sticky.
- Cover your dough with plastic wrap or a dish towel and allow your dough to rise for 20 minutes.
- Roll out the dough into a ½ inch thick sheet and cut out 4-inch circles.
- Allow your cut donuts to rise for another 20 minutes. While they rise, preheat the air fryer for 4 minutes at 350°F.
- Cook 3 donuts at a time for 3-5 minutes at 350°F.
- While the donuts are cooking, prepare the filling by smashing it with a fork. The goal here is to break up any large chunks of cherry.
- Once donuts are fully cooked, immediately use a piping bag to fill each donut with the pie filling.
- Allow to cool slightly.
Equipment
- Cooking Spray
- Parchment Paper, optional
Nutrition
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L
Looks good