Amazing pumpkin donuts: 12 simple joys

Oh, fall! Honestly, if there’s one season that just makes me want to bake all the cozy things, it’s this one. And when it comes to easy, delicious treats that scream autumn, you just HAVE to try these pumpkin donuts. Seriously, they’re the easiest baked pumpkin donuts you’ll ever whip up! I remember when I first discovered how much joy baking could bring – no more stressful dinners, just pure, simple happiness. That’s exactly the feeling I wanted to capture here. These aren’t complicated, they’re just straightforward, flavorful, and perfect for bringing a little bit of that cozy kitchen magic into your home, just like I aim for with all our recipes.

Gather Your Ingredients for Perfect Pumpkin Donuts

Alright, let’s get all our goodies together so we can make these amazing pumpkin donuts! Having everything ready makes the whole process so smooth, kind of like how I learned to find joy without all the kitchen stress. We’re talking simple things that come together for a truly delicious fall treat.

For the Pumpkin Donuts

Here’s what you’ll need to make the actual donuts:

• 1 and 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda (makes them nice and fluffy!)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened (make sure it’s not too melty!)
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup pumpkin puree (just plain pumpkin, not pie filling!)
• 1/2 cup milk

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For the Cinnamon Sugar Topping

And for that perfect sweet coating:

• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

How to Prepare Your Delicious Pumpkin Donuts

Alright, let’s get these amazing pumpkin donuts into the oven! It’s really straightforward, and I promise, the smell that fills your kitchen will be absolutely divine. Think of it as my way of sharing that “pure cooking joy” I found, turning simple ingredients into something everyone will love.

Mixing the Pumpkin Donut Batter

First things first, let’s get cozy with our ingredients. Grab a big bowl and whisk together all your dry stuff: the flour, baking soda, salt, and those warm spices like pumpkin pie spice and a touch of cinnamon. Give it a good mix so everything’s friends. In another bowl, cream that softened butter and sugar together until it’s light and fluffy – that’s our base for fluffiness! Beat in the eggs one by one, then add the vanilla. Now, it’s time for the pumpkin and milk mixture. Gently add about a third of the dry ingredients to the wet, mix a bit, then add half the pumpkin mixture. Alternate like this, ending with the dry ingredients. Easy does it – don’t overmix, or they can get a bit tough!

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Baking Your Pumpkin Donuts to Perfection

Now comes the fun part! Get your donut pan ready – a little grease and flour or even some non-stick spray works wonders. Spoon or pipe your batter into each donut cavity, filling them about two-thirds full. They’ll puff up a bit, but we don’t want them overflowing. Pop them into your preheated oven, give them about 10 to 12 minutes, and then do the toothpick test. Stick one right in the center – if it comes out clean, your beautiful baked pumpkin donuts are ready! Let them chill in the pan for just a few minutes to firm up before carefully moving them to a wire rack to cool down completely.

Creating the Irresistible Cinnamon Sugar Coating

While those gorgeous donuts are cooling off, let’s whip up the magic coating. Melt your butter in a little bowl – nothing fancy needed. In a separate shallow dish, mix your granulated sugar and cinnamon together until it’s perfectly combined. Once the donuts are totally cool (this is important, otherwise, the coating will melt right off!), dip each one first into that melted butter, making sure it’s coated all over, then straight into the cinnamon sugar. Roll them around gently until they’re beautifully covered. They are just begging to be eaten!

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Tips for Your Best Baked Pumpkin Donuts

Let’s talk about making these baked pumpkin donuts absolutely perfect, every single time you bake them. It really doesn’t take much, just a few little nudges in the right direction, and you’ll have the most amazing, tender donuts. It’s all about that simple joy in cooking I love so much!

Achieving the Perfect Texture

The secret to a tender pumpkin donut is really in how you mix the batter. Remember how I said not to overmix? That’s key! Just mix until those streaks of flour disappear. Overmixing develops the gluten too much, which can make your donuts a little tough instead of melt-in-your-mouth tender. Your batter should be thick but still pourable.

Don’t Forget the Cooling Step

Now, this might seem obvious, but letting your donuts cool completely before dunking them in the butter and cinnamon sugar is super important. If they’re still warm, that butter will just melt right off, and your delicious cinnamon sugar coating will slide away. Patience is a baker’s best friend here!

Variations for Your Pumpkin Spice Doughnuts

You know, one of the best things about these pumpkin donuts is how easy they are to switch up! If you’re looking for something a little different, or have special dietary needs, we’ve got you covered. It’s all part of finding that pure joy in cooking!

Glazed Pumpkin Donuts

Want to try a different topping? A simple maple glaze is fantastic with these pumpkin spice doughnuts. Just whisk together some powdered sugar with a splash of maple syrup until it’s smooth and pourable. Dip your cooled donuts in, let excess drip off, and place them on the wire rack to set. So easy, so good!

Gluten-Free Pumpkin Donuts

For anyone going gluten-free, you can totally make these work! Just swap out the all-purpose flour for a good quality gluten-free baking blend. You might need just a tiny bit more milk or pumpkin puree to get the batter to the right consistency, but it’s a small tweak for delicious gluten-free pumpkin donuts!

Serving Your Easy Fall Breakfast

These delightful pumpkin donuts are perfect for so many occasions! They’re an absolute dream for an easy fall breakfast, especially on a chilly weekend morning with a cup of coffee or spiced cider. They also make a wonderful treat for school bake sales, a sweet addition to a holiday brunch, or just because you deserve a little something special!

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Storing and Reheating Your Pumpkin Donuts

Got leftover pumpkin donuts? Hooray! To keep them tasting fresh and delicious, just pop them into an airtight container at room temperature for a couple of days. If you need them to last a bit longer, the fridge works too, though they can get a tad firmer. For a quick refresh, a few seconds in the microwave or toaster oven brings back that cozy, just-baked warmth!

Frequently Asked Questions About Pumpkin Donuts

Nutritional Estimate for Your Pumpkin Donuts

Just a little heads-up: this nutrition info is an estimate, because how much you eat and exact ingredients can change things! But generally, one of these tasty pumpkin donuts is around 250 calories, with about 25g of sugar and 12g of fat. Enjoy them as part of a balanced day!

Share Your Pumpkin Donut Creations!

I’d just love to see your beautiful pumpkin donuts! Did you try a different topping? Maybe you made them gluten-free? Let me know in the comments below or tag me on social media. Seeing your creations makes my day!

Easy Baked Pumpkin Donuts

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Enjoy these simple baked pumpkin donuts, perfect for a fall breakfast. They’re topped with a sweet cinnamon sugar coating.

• Author: purejoyalex
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 12 minutes
• Total Time: 27 minutes
• Yield: 12 donuts 1x
• Category: Breakfast
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American
• Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

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• 1 and 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup pumpkin puree
• 1/2 cup milk
• For the Cinnamon Sugar Topping:
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

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Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a donut pan or line with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, pumpkin pie spice, and cinnamon.
3. In a separate bowl, cream together the sugar and softened butter until light and fluffy.
4. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract.
5. In a small bowl, whisk together the pumpkin puree and milk.
6. Add the pumpkin mixture to the butter mixture alternately with the dry ingredients, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined. Do not overmix.
7. Spoon or pipe the batter into the prepared donut pan, filling each cavity about two-thirds full.
8. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
9. Let the donuts cool in the pan for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
10. While the donuts are cooling, prepare the cinnamon sugar topping. In a small bowl, combine the sugar and cinnamon.
11. Once the donuts are cool, dip each donut into the melted butter, then into the cinnamon sugar mixture, coating evenly.

Notes

• For gluten-free pumpkin donuts, substitute a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend for the regular flour. You may need to adjust the liquid slightly.
• You can also air fry these donuts. Place them in the air fryer basket and cook at 350°F (175°C) for about 5-7 minutes, or until golden brown.
• A maple glaze can be used as an alternative topping. Mix powdered sugar with a little maple syrup until you reach your desired consistency.

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 donut
• Calories: 250
• Sugar: 25g
• Sodium: 150mg
• Fat: 12g
• Saturated Fat: 7g
• Unsaturated Fat: 5g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 35g
• Fiber: 2g
• Protein: 3g
• Cholesterol: 50mg