These fluffy donuts use a dough that is just 2 ingredients. The donuts are not fried and can be baked or cooked in the air fryer. The donuts don’t need any yeast, eggs, or butter. This recipe is an easy way to make homemade donuts.
I have had so many requests for an easy donut recipe that can be made in the air fryer or oven. After much testing, I’m finally ready to share my version of air fryer or baked donuts using a super easy dough.
Ingredients
- Self-Rising Flour
- Vanilla Greek Yogurt
These two ingredients are all that is needed to make the donut dough.
Self-Rising Flour: Self-rising flour is all purpose flour that is already pre-mixed with baking powder and salt, saving a few extra steps when making this recipe. However, if you don’t have self-rising flour, you can make your own by mixing together all purpose flour, baking powder and salt.
Vanilla Greek Yogurt: Make sure to use vanilla flavored Greek yogurt. I used nonfat vanilla Greek yogurt. It is important to use vanilla flavored and not plain because vanilla yogurt is sweetened. This adds the necessary sweetness to make the dough taste like donuts. The sugar from the yogurt also contributes to the texture of the donuts. If you use plain Greek yogurt your donuts will taste very bread-like. In fact, I use plain Greek yogurt to make my 2 Ingredient Bread Rolls. I also highly recommend you use Greek yogurt. I did test this with regular yogurt (also vanilla flavored) and found that the texture of the donuts was very bready because the dough requires so much more flour.
How to Make Air Fryer or Baked Donuts
Add the self-rising flour with the yogurt until a sticky dough forms. Sprinkle your pastry board or whatever surface you are using for rolling out the dough with a small amount of self-rising flour. Make sure it is spread out so it’s just a thin layer on the surface. Roll your dough lightly across the flour just until it is no longer too sticky to work with. Divide the dough into 8 pieces.
Roll each dough piece out into a rope about 7 inches long and 3/4 inch thick. Then connect the end pieces to make a circle.
If you don’t want to make donut rings, you can also make donut holes as well. It is faster but the donut holes won’t be quite as evenly round because of how the donut dough spreads as it cooks.
The donuts are then ready to be cooked. The donuts will need about 5 minutes in the air fryer and 12 minutes in the oven. Be careful not to overcook them. If you cook them too long, the exterior will be more crusty and they will turn out more bready.
If you prefer traditional fried donuts, I have a fried version using 2 ingredient dough also.
Donut Making Tips
Don’t overcook the donuts. The donuts may look pale and not evenly golden but this is normal. You want to cook them until they are just cooked. If you cook them longer, they will be more like bread.
Do add a glaze or roll the donuts in sugar. Unlike fried donuts, which I think can be enjoyed on their own and still taste like donuts, these donuts don’t have quite the same texture and without the glaze they won’t taste as much like donuts.
Donut Glaze
I recommend that you either add a glaze or roll the donuts in cinnamon sugar. Without it, the donuts won’t taste quite as much like donuts especially since the donuts are not fried.
The ones in the pictures are dipped in vanilla glaze, chocolate ganache (though you can also do a chocolate icing) and sprinkles. You can also coat the donuts in melted butter and then roll them in sugar if you prefer something simpler.
More Donut Recipes
2 Ingredient Air Fryer or Baked Donuts
Ingredients
- 1 7/8 cups (234 g) self-rising flour plus additional for flouring surface
- 1 1/2 cups (358 g) vanilla Greek yogurt
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, add flour and yogurt. Mix with a spatula until yogurt and flour are fully mixed. Your dough should be sticky.
- Lightly sprinkle the surface you will be using for rolling out the dough with self-rising flour. I started with 1 tbsp. Roll your dough on the floured surface until it is coated in just enough flour that the dough is no longer too sticky to work with. If you need more flour, you can sprinkle the surface with another 1 tbsp (or more as needed).
- Divide the dough evenly into 8 pieces. Roll out one piece of dough into a rope about 3/4 inch thick and 7 inches long. Form a circle with the rope and pinch the two end pieces together. Repeat with remaining dough.
- Air Fryer Donuts: Preheat air fryer to 350°F (177°C). Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking oil spray. Place 4 donuts in the basket, spaced 1.5 inches apart. Lightly coat the donut surfaces with cooking oil spray (see notes if you don't want to use a spray). Cook donuts for about 5 minutes in preheated air fryer. Donuts will have some browning on top but it won't be even and some parts will remain pale. This is normal. Repeat with remaining donuts.
- Baked Donuts: Preheat oven to 400°F (204°C). Line a large baking pan with parchment paper. Place donuts on prepared baking sheet, spaced 1.5 inches apart. Lightly coat the donut surfaces with cooking oil spray (see notes if you don't want to use a spray). Cook donuts for about 12 minutes in preheated oven. Donuts will remain pale and only lightly tanned on top.
- Once donuts are cool, top with your favorite glaze.
Notes
- These donuts will not taste the same as fried donuts because they are baked or air fried and not actually deep fried. However, they are very fluffy and when topped with glaze they do taste like a healthier baked donut.
- The donuts are best consumed soon after cooking. That is when they are the fluffiest. If eating leftover donuts, I recommend reheating them briefly in the microwave or air fryer.
- I prefer the air fryer version. It's faster and the donuts come out slightly fluffier, but the baked version is similar.
- When measuring out the flour, spoon the flour into the measuring cup and then level off with a knife. Do not directly scoop your measuring cup into the flour because this results in too much flour. This is the technique you should use if you are using already pre-mixed self-rising flour or you are measuring out the all purpose flour to make your own self-rising flour.
- To make your own self-rising flour, whisk together 2 cups all purpose flour, 1 tbsp baking powder and 1/2 tsp salt. Measure out the amount needed for the dough and save the rest for flouring your surface.
- The donuts are coated in cooking oil before cooking. This is an optional step. The donuts will taste the same even without the cooking oil. What the cooking oil does is add some color (it helps the donuts brown better) and it also helps stabilize the surface so that the donuts don't puff up too much. If you don't use any spray on top, the donuts will puff up a lot more (almost like bagels or bread). If you don't want to use cooking oil spray you can also brush with oil. You can also brush with water if you don't want to use any oil. Brushing with water will also keep the donuts from expanding too much but it will have a more floury/dry appearance when finished cooking compared to the oil (though you don't notice once it's covered in glaze).
- Please make sure to use vanilla Greek yogurt. See post for more details.
- Vanilla glaze: 2 cups powdered sugar, 1/2 tsp vanilla, 6 tbsp milk (any kind) or more as needed. Add all ingredients to a bowl. Whisk until sugar is fully dissolved and the mixture is smooth. If you desire a thinner glaze, add more milk. If you desire a thicker glaze, add more powdered sugar. If you want a thicker, less transparent glaze, use heavy cream instead of milk (you will likely need more than 6 tbsp). You can make a chocolate version of this icing by adding in 2 tbsp of unsweetened cocoa powder.
- Chocolate ganache glaze: 1/2 cup (118 ml/4 oz) heavy cream, 1 cup chocolate chips. Heat heavy cream until it is simmering, then add to a bowl with the chocolate chips. Whisk until a smooth ganache forms.
- If you want something easier than a glaze, you can dip the donuts in melted butter and then roll in sugar.
- Instead of donut rings you can make donut holes. However they will not be perfectly round because the donut puffs unevenly when it cooks.
- Inspired by recipe from Fabulessly Frugal.
- Nutrition estimate is for the donut without any glaze.
Nutrition
The nutrition information provided are only estimates based on an online nutritional calculator. I am not a certified nutritionist. Please consult a professional nutritionist or doctor for accurate information and any dietary restrictions and concerns you may have.
I accidentally got self-rising flour instead of AP flour and looked for a fun recipe to use it with. This was so heavenly, I loved these donuts. The mess on my counter was SOOO worth the nice fun flavor of the donuts. I made the glaze a bit thin let and it really made it perfect. For anyone wondering, it is chewy and taste like whatever yogurt you used. I love these, this will be a repeat recipe!! 10/10 (thank you so much for the detailed instructions, really helped a girl out)
We’re so glad you tried them! Thanks for the great review.
How wonderful that you are including air fryer oven roasting. Thank you soooooooo much!! I’ll not use my regular oven again.
Hope you enjoy! I love making recipes in my air fryer
Assume the yogurt is full fat? If I make my own vanilla Greek yogurt, how much sugar is needed to add to 1 1/2 cups of plain, full fat Greek yogurt?
Actually most vanilla Greek yogurts I’ve found are nonfat. The one I used is nonfat, though I think using full fat should be okay.