I’m so excited to share my favorite fall treat with you: pumpkin donuts!
There’s something magical about the aroma of warm spices mixing with sweet pumpkin that just screams autumn.
Whether you’re a baking pro or a kitchen newbie, these donuts are surprisingly simple to whip up.
Once you bite into that soft, spiced goodness topped with your favorite glaze, you’ll wonder why you don’t make them year-round.
Ready to discover the secret to perfect pumpkin donuts?
Ingredients
- All-purpose flour
- Baking soda
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Ground cinnamon
- Ground ginger
- Ground nutmeg
- Ground cloves
- Light brown sugar
- Granulated sugar
- Unsalted butter
- Eggs
- Pumpkin puree
Recommended Tools
Making perfect pumpkin donuts is a breeze when you have the right kitchen tools on hand. These must-have items will help you mix, bake and coat your donuts with that irresistible cinnamon sugar topping without any fuss or frustration.
- Donut Pan
Essential for giving your pumpkin treats that classic donut shape without deep frying.
- Mixing Bowls
You’ll need separate bowls for whisking dry ingredients and combining wet ingredients before bringing them together.
- Whisk
Perfect for thoroughly combining your flour, spices and leavening agents without clumps.
- Silicone Spatula
Helps you fold wet and dry ingredients together gently to avoid overmixing the batter.
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
Ensures your ingredients are precisely measured for the perfect pumpkin spice flavor.
- Pastry Bag
Makes filling the donut pan neat and easy without messy drips around the edges.
- Pastry Brush
Ideal for brushing the warm donuts with melted butter before coating with cinnamon sugar.
- Cooling Rack
Allows your donuts to cool slightly while maintaining their texture before adding the sweet coating.
Instructions
Let’s bake some amazing pumpkin donuts! Here’s how to whip up these fall favorites:
1. Start by preheating your oven to 350°F and giving your donut pan a good greasing. This will ensure your donuts pop right out after baking!
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together 2 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon of baking soda, ½ teaspoon of baking powder, and ½ teaspoon of salt. Don’t forget to add those warm fall spices: 1½ teaspoons of ground cinnamon, ½ teaspoon of ground ginger, ¼ teaspoon of ground nutmeg, and ¼ teaspoon of ground cloves. This spice blend is what gives these donuts their irresistible flavor!
3. In a separate larger bowl, mix ¾ cup of packed light brown sugar and ½ cup of granulated sugar with ½ cup of melted unsalted butter until well combined.
Then beat in 2 large eggs and 2 cups of pumpkin puree until everything is smooth and incorporated.
4. Now for the magic moment! Combine your wet and dry ingredients, but remember – don’t go crazy with the mixing! Overmixing will make your donuts tough instead of tender. Just stir until everything is combined.
5. Spoon the batter into your prepared donut pan, filling each cavity about ¾ full. Don’t worry if it’s not perfect – they’ll still taste amazing!
6. Bake for 12-14 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Your kitchen will smell incredible!
7. Let the donuts cool slightly in the pan (about 5 minutes) before removing them. They should still be warm for the coating step!
8. For that irresistible finish, brush each warm donut with some of your 6 tablespoons of melted butter, then roll in a mixture of ⅔ cup granulated sugar and 2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon.
Pro tip: Make sure to coat your donuts while they’re still warm – the coating sticks much better this way and creates that classic donut shop texture we all love!
Pro Tips
For perfectly shaped donuts with clean edges, transfer your batter to a large zip-top bag, snip off one corner, and pipe the batter into the donut pan instead of spooning it in, which prevents messy overflow and ensures even baking.
Substitutions & Variations
While this pumpkin donut recipe is delicious as is, adding creative twists can transform these treats into something uniquely yours.
- Gluten-Free Version: Substitute the all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking mix and add 1/4 teaspoon of xanthan gum for proper texture.
- Maple Glazed: Skip the cinnamon sugar coating and instead dip cooled donuts in a glaze made from 1 cup powdered sugar, 3 tablespoons maple syrup and 1 tablespoon milk.
- Apple Butter Swirl: Fold 1/3 cup apple butter into the batter before baking for a fruity twist that complements the pumpkin flavor.
- Chai Spiced: Replace the individual spices with 2 teaspoons of chai spice blend for a unique flavor profile with cardamom and black pepper notes.
- Mini Donut Holes: Use a mini muffin tin instead of a donut pan and reduce baking time to 8-10 minutes for bite-sized treats.
Leftovers & Storage Tips
Three simple storage techniques will keep your pumpkin donuts fresh and delicious for days after baking.
Store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, or refrigerate them for 5 days.
You can even freeze these treats for up to 3 months! Just thaw overnight in your fridge when that pumpkin craving hits.
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Pumpkin Donuts
Moist, spiced pumpkin donuts coated in cinnamon sugar for a perfect fall treat.
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground ginger
- ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
- ¼ tsp ground cloves
- ¾ cup packed light brown sugar
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- 2 large eggs
- 2 cups pumpkin puree
- ⅔ cup granulated sugar (for coating)
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon (for coating)
- 6 tbsp melted butter (for coating)
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a donut pan.
- Whisk flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and spices.
- Mix sugars with butter; add eggs and pumpkin puree.
- Combine wet and dry ingredients; spoon into pan.
- Bake 12–14 minutes; cool slightly.
- Brush donuts with melted butter and coat with cinnamon sugar.
