How to Make Easy Homemade Pumpkin Donuts: The Perfect Fall Treat
Fall is in the air, and that means it’s time for all things pumpkin! If you’re a fan of warm, cozy flavors and the crisp autumn weather, then this easy homemade pumpkin donuts recipe is a must-try. Made with simple ingredients and filled with the delicious flavors of pumpkin and warm spices, these donuts are perfect for a cozy breakfast, snack, or even a dessert.
In this blog post, I’ll walk you through how to make soft, fluffy pumpkin donuts that are perfect for fall. These donuts are baked—not fried—so they’re a lighter option that doesn’t sacrifice flavor. Whether you’re making them for your family or serving them at a fall gathering, these donuts are sure to be a hit!
Why You’ll Love These Pumpkin Donuts
Pumpkin donuts are the ultimate fall indulgence, offering the perfect blend of sweetness and spice. Here’s why you’ll love them:
Quick and Easy: With simple ingredients and minimal prep time, these donuts are perfect for busy mornings or last-minute dessert ideas.
Healthier Option: Because they’re baked, not fried, these donuts are a lighter treat you can enjoy without feeling too guilty.
Fall Flavors: The combination of pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice gives these donuts a delicious seasonal flavor that’s hard to resist.
Ingredients Needed
Donut Dough
½cup milk, warm
1 ½teaspoons active yeast
⅔cup pumpkin puree
1 large egg
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
½cup white granulated sugar
3 ¼cupflour
¾teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
½teaspoon salt
Cinnamon Sugar Mixture
½cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Cinnamon Sticks
Instructions For Your Pumpkin Donuts
Directions:
- In a small bowl, add the yeast and a couple tablespoons of the white sugar to the warm
milk. Mix together and set aside for 5 minutes to allow the yeast to activate. - In a large mixing bowl, add the pumpkin puree, egg, melted butter and the rest of the
white sugar. Whisk together until smooth. - Once the yeast and milk mixture has become puffy, pour into the rest of the wet
ingredients and mix again until combined. - Then pour in the flour, pumpkin pie spice and salt.
- Use arubber spatula to fold these dry ingredients into the wet until a thick dough forms.
- Chill in the fridge for 1 hour, covering the bowl in plastic wrap.
- Once the dough has chilled, transfer to a clean, floured surface.
- Knead for a few minutes until the dough is firm and bouncy. Cut the dough into 8 equal
pieces. - Roll each piece of dough into a ball. Take some thick string and cut a long piece. Tie
around each dough ball like a present, wrapping around 4 times to create 8 equal
pumpkin indentations. - Place these on a prepared parchment covered baking sheet.
- Heat the oil to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Once hot, place 4 pumpkin donuts in the oil at a
time. - Fry each side for about 3 minutes on each side or until both sides are a deep golden
brown. - Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Also prepare the cinnamon sugar mixture
by adding the cinnamon into the sugar in a small bowl. Whisk together until combined. - Once the pumpkin donuts have fried completely remove from the oil and place on a wire
cooling rack. - Repeat with the other 4 donuts.
- A couple minutes after the donuts have cooled and excess oil has dripped off, cut and
remove the string from each donut. - Place in the oven for another 5-8 minutes to ensure the center of each donut is cooked
through, due to the thickness of these pastries with no round cut center. - Once you remove from the oven, let cool again for a couple minutes.
- Then dip in the cinnamon sugar mixture, rolling the donut in it until completely coated
and place back on a baking sheet. - Once all donuts have been coated in cinnamon sugar, take cinnamon sticks and press in
the center of each pumpkin to act as the stem to finish these festive desserts. - Serve and enjoy
Variations and Tips for Success
Make them Gluten-Free: Simply swap out the all-purpose flour for a gluten-free flour blend, and make sure your baking powder and baking soda are gluten-free.
Use a Donut Maker: If you have a donut maker at home, you can use it for this recipe. Just follow the manufacturer’s instructions for cooking times.
Add a Glaze: For an extra indulgent touch, you can drizzle the donuts with a simple glaze made from powdered sugar, milk, and a touch of vanilla extract.
Add Chocolate Chips: To make the donuts even more indulgent, add a handful of mini chocolate chips to the batter before baking.
Why Pumpkin Donuts Are the Perfect Fall Dessert
These pumpkin donuts are ideal for fall because they capture the warm, cozy flavors of the season in every bite. Pumpkin puree not only gives the donuts their signature flavor, but it also adds moisture, making them extra soft and fluffy. The spices—cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger—give the donuts a warm depth of flavor that pairs perfectly with your favorite fall beverages, like hot chocolate, spiced tea, or coffee.
They’re also perfect for a wide range of occasions, from Halloween parties to Thanksgiving brunch. You can even make them ahead of time, making them a convenient option for entertaining.
Budget-Friendly Fall Baking
Pumpkin donuts are a great option if you’re looking for a budget-friendly fall recipe. Canned pumpkin is typically inexpensive, especially during the fall months, and the rest of the ingredients are likely things you already have in your pantry. By baking these donuts at home, you can save money compared to buying gourmet donuts at a bakery, all while enjoying the satisfaction of homemade treats.
For those of you who love saving money, don’t forget to look for coupons on baking supplies like flour, sugar, and spices. Many stores offer great deals on fall baking essentials during this time of year.
There’s nothing quite like the taste of homemade pumpkin donuts to welcome the fall season. With their rich pumpkin flavor and warm spices, these donuts are a must-try for any autumn lover. They’re easy to make, budget-friendly, and perfect for sharing with family and friends.
So why not whip up a batch of these delicious donuts today? You’ll love how simple and satisfying they are, and they’ll fill your home with the wonderful scent of fall. Don’t forget to share your creations and tag me—I’d love to see how your donuts turn out!
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Directions:
- In a small bowl, add the yeast and a couple tablespoons of the white sugar to the warm
- milk. Mix together and set aside for 5 minutes to allow the yeast to activate.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the pumpkin puree, egg, melted butter and the rest of the
- white sugar. Whisk together until smooth.
- Once the yeast and milk mixture has become puffy, pour into the rest of the wet
- ingredients and mix again until combined.
- Then pour in the flour, pumpkin pie spice and salt.
- Use arubber spatula to fold these dry ingredients into the wet until a thick dough forms.
- Chill in the fridge for 1 hour, covering the bowl in plastic wrap.
- Once the dough has chilled, transfer to a clean, floured surface.
- Knead for a few minutes until the dough is firm and bouncy. Cut the dough into 8 equal
- pieces.
- Roll each piece of dough into a ball. Take some thick string and cut a long piece. Tie
- around each dough ball like a present, wrapping around 4 times to create 8 equal
- pumpkin indentations.
- Place these on a prepared parchment covered baking sheet.
- Heat the oil to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Once hot, place 4 pumpkin donuts in the oil at a
- time.
- Fry each side for about 3 minutes on each side or until both sides are a deep golden
- brown.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Also prepare the cinnamon sugar mixture
- by adding the cinnamon into the sugar in a small bowl. Whisk together until combined.
- Once the pumpkin donuts have fried completely remove from the oil and place on a wire
- cooling rack.
- Repeat with the other 4 donuts.
- A couple minutes after the donuts have cooled and excess oil has dripped off, cut and
- remove the string from each donut.
- Place in the oven for another 5-8 minutes to ensure the center of each donut is cooked
- through, due to the thickness of these pastries with no round cut center.
- Once you remove from the oven, let cool again for a couple minutes.
- Then dip in the cinnamon sugar mixture, rolling the donut in it until completely coated
- and place back on a baking sheet.
- Once all donuts have been coated in cinnamon sugar, take cinnamon sticks and press in
- the center of each pumpkin to act as the stem to finish these festive desserts.
- Serve and enjoy!
