The first time I made these I expected a healthy snack—but they tasted like a bakery treat you could justify for breakfast.
They’re small, soft, and just sweet enough from honey and fresh blueberries.
They come together in one bowl and finish in the air fryer in under 15 minutes.
These donut holes are great for meal prep, kid lunches, or a quick protein-rich dessert.
Pair them with a bright salad or a smoothie for a full snack spread like this blueberry goat cheese salad I often make.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Fast: ready in about 20 minutes from start to finish.
- Simple: one bowl, seven ingredients, no rolling or frying.
- Healthy-ish: cottage cheese adds protein, oat flour keeps them gluten-friendly.
- Bite-sized: easy portion control and perfect for kids.
- Versatile: swap the fruit or sweetener to suit your diet.
The texture is tender and slightly cakey from the cottage cheese and oat flour, with pockets of juicy blueberry that burst as you bite.
The taste balances mild dairy tang, gentle honey sweetness, and a toasted exterior from the air fryer that mimics traditional donut holes without the oil.
"Five stars — my kids gobbled them at breakfast and I loved that they were actually nutritious. Quick, delicious, and no mess." — Reader review
Key Ingredients
Cottage cheese (½ cup)
Cottage cheese is the backbone here. It adds moisture and protein while keeping the batter loose enough to yield tender, cakey donut holes. Use full-fat for richer flavor and better browning, or low-fat if you prefer fewer calories.
Oat flour (½ cup)
Oat flour gives a soft crumb and mild, nutty flavor that pairs perfectly with blueberries. If you buy it, choose a fine-milled brand; if you make your own, pulse rolled oats until very fine for a consistent texture.
Fresh blueberries (½ cup)
Fresh berries hold their shape and offer a burst of juiciness as they heat. Freeze-dried or too-large berries can disrupt the batter balance, so stick to fresh when possible, and gently fold them in to avoid blue streaks in the dough.
Egg (1)
The egg binds and helps with lift when paired with the baking powder. It also contributes to the tender crumb and a glossy exterior. For egg-free swaps see the Variations section below.
Full ingredient list:
- ½ cup cottage cheese
- 1 egg
- ½ cup oat flour
- 2 tbsp honey
- ½ cup fresh blueberries
- 1 tsp baking powder
- Pinch of salt
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Preheat the air fryer
Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C).
Lightly grease the basket or line it with parchment rounds to prevent sticking.
Pro Tip: If you use parchment, poke a few tiny holes or weight it with a couple of donut holes so it doesn’t fly up into the heating element.
Step 2: Mix the wet ingredients
In a medium bowl whisk the cottage cheese, egg, honey, and a pinch of salt until the mixture looks relatively smooth.
You can use a fork, whisk, or a handheld blender for a silkier texture.
Pro Tip: If you prefer a uniform batter, pulse cottage cheese in a mini food processor before mixing.
Step 3: Add the dry ingredients
Stir in the oat flour and baking powder until just combined; avoid overmixing.
The batter should be thick but scoopable — like a thick muffin batter.
Visual cue: when you lift the spoon, the batter should fall in soft clumps rather than run in a thin stream.
Step 4: Fold in blueberries
Gently fold the fresh blueberries into the batter to distribute without crushing them.
Try not to overwork the batter or the berries will bleed and make the dough purple.
Pro Tip: If your berries are very large, halve them so each donut hole gets even bursts.
Step 5: Form the donut holes
Use a small cookie scoop or teaspoon to form evenly sized balls and place them in the air fryer basket with space between each.
You should get about 12 small donut holes depending on size.
Visual cue: they’ll puff slightly in the first few minutes — if they touch they won’t crisp as well.
Step 6: Air fry until golden
Air fry for 8–10 minutes until golden and set in the center.
Rotate the basket halfway through if your fryer heats unevenly.
Pro Tip: Test doneness by inserting a toothpick; it should come out mostly clean with a few moist crumbs.
Step 7: Cool and serve
Remove the donut holes and cool slightly on a wire rack for 5 minutes before serving warm.
They firm up a touch as they cool and are best eaten the same day for optimal texture.
Pro Tip: Warm them briefly in a 300°F oven for 3–4 minutes if they’ve been chilled.
Expert Tips for Success
- Measure the oat flour by spooning into the cup and leveling it; packed flour will make the batter too dense.
- If your cottage cheese is very wet, drain briefly in a fine mesh sieve for 5 minutes to avoid a runny batter.
- For even browning, preheat the air fryer and don’t overcrowd the basket; work in batches if necessary.
- If donut holes spread flat, the batter is too loose — add a tablespoon more oat flour at a time until scoopable.
- Use a small cookie scoop for uniform size so they cook evenly; inconsistent sizes lead to some being overcooked.
- If blueberries sink to the bottom in the bowl, toss them in a teaspoon of oat flour before folding to suspend them.
- For a fluffier interior, let the mixed batter rest 5 minutes before scooping; baking powder blooms in that time.
- Swap honey for maple syrup if you want a vegan-friendly sweetener — reduce any extra liquid with an extra tablespoon of flour.
- Use a silicone liner or parchment circles cut to size to avoid sticking and make cleanup faster.
- If you see a wet, undercooked center, reduce the air fryer temp to 325°F and extend time by a minute or two to cook through without over-browning.
- Want to serve with a spread? A smear of plain Greek yogurt or ricotta complements the blueberry sweetness beautifully.
- If you’re doubling the recipe, mix in two batches rather than one giant bowl to maintain even folding and distribution of berries.
Storage & Freezing
Fridge storage: Place cooled donut holes in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days.
Line the container with a paper towel to absorb excess moisture and keep the bottoms from getting soggy.
Freezer: Flash freeze the donut holes on a tray for 1–2 hours, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag for up to 2 months.
Freeze in a single layer first so they don’t stick together and you can remove a few at a time.
Reheating from fridge: Reheat in the air fryer at 300°F for 3–4 minutes or in a 300°F oven for 6–8 minutes until warmed through.
From frozen: Reheat straight from the freezer at 325°F for 6–8 minutes in the air fryer, flipping once.
Pro tip: Avoid microwaving unless you’re in a hurry — microwave makes them gummy instead of restoring the exterior crispness.
Variations & Substitutions
- Lemon-Blueberry: Add 1 tsp lemon zest to the batter and finish with a light lemon glaze.
- Apple-cinnamon: Swap blueberries for finely diced apples and add ½ tsp cinnamon for a fall twist, similar in spirit to air fryer apple fritters.
- Vegan/egg-free: Replace the egg with a flax egg (1 tbsp flax + 3 tbsp water) and use maple syrup instead of honey; expect a slightly denser texture.
- Chocolate chip: Swap blueberries for mini dark chocolate chips and add a pinch more salt for contrast.
- Reduced-sugar: Use a sugar-free honey alternative or half the honey and add a bit more vanilla for perceived sweetness.
- Savory twist: Omit honey and blueberries, add shredded cheddar and chives, then air fry until golden for a savory bite — great served alongside air fryer mushroom cheese bites.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I use dry cottage cheese or ricotta instead?
A: Dry curd cottage cheese is fine, though traditional small-curd cottage cheese gives the best texture. Ricotta works well as a one-to-one swap and yields a slightly silkier crumb. If your cheese is watery, drain it briefly to keep the batter from becoming too loose.
Q: Will these work in a convection oven instead of an air fryer?
A: Yes — place donut holes on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake at 350°F for 10–12 minutes. Check earlier as ovens vary. The air fryer gives a slightly crisper exterior, but the oven produces the same tender interior.
Q: How do I keep blueberries from bleeding into the batter?
A: Fold them in gently and use fresh, cold berries. Tossing berries in a teaspoon of oat flour before folding helps suspend them and prevents color bleeding as they warm.
Q: Can I make these dairy-free?
A: To make dairy-free, use a firm plant-based cottage cheese alternative or full-fat tofu blended until smooth, plus a flax egg. Texture will differ slightly but flavor can be similar with the right sweetener.
Q: Are these suitable for meal prep?
A: Absolutely. They make a portable protein-rich snack. Store in the fridge up to 4 days or freeze portions for up to 2 months. Reheat in the air fryer to restore texture.
Final Thoughts
These air fryer blueberry cottage cheese donut holes are proof you can have a quick, tasty treat without deep frying.
They’re forgiving, adaptable, and a great way to sneak protein into a snack-oriented day, much like my go-to cottage cheese blueberry smoothie or savory cottage cheese avocado toast on busy mornings.
Conclusion
If you enjoyed this recipe, you might also like the original inspiration and variations on the web, including a similar take at Air Fryer Blueberry Cottage Cheese Donut Holes which dives into texture tweaks.
For a different simple donut hole idea, check out this two-ingredient option at 2-Ingredient Banana Donut Holes to compare techniques.
And if you want to explore other air-fryer donut ideas, this roundup at Air Fryer Donut Holes has useful tips and variations.
Please leave a star rating in the recipe card below and pin this to Pinterest if you try them!
Blueberry Cottage Cheese Donut Holes
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- ½ cup cottage cheese Use full-fat for richer flavor.
- 1 piece egg Helps bind and lift the donut holes.
- ½ cup oat flour Provides a soft crumb; make your own with rolled oats.
- 2 tbsp honey Acts as a natural sweetener.
- ½ cup fresh blueberries Gently fold to avoid crushing.
- 1 tsp baking powder Helps the donut holes rise.
- Pinch salt Enhances flavor.
Instructions
Preparation
- Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C) and lightly grease the basket or line it with parchment rounds.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the cottage cheese, egg, honey, and a pinch of salt until relatively smooth.
- Stir in the oat flour and baking powder until just combined; avoid overmixing.
- Gently fold in the fresh blueberries.
- Use a small cookie scoop or teaspoon to form evenly sized balls and place them in the air fryer basket, ensuring space between each.
Cooking
- Air fry the donut holes for 8–10 minutes until golden and set in the center, rotating halfway through if necessary.
- Remove from air fryer and cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes before serving warm.
