There’s something magical about cozy fall mornings—the air turns crisp, the leaves start to fall, and your kitchen begins to smell like cinnamon and spice. That’s exactly why baked pumpkin donuts have become a seasonal staple. These soft, cake-like treats combine the comforting taste of pumpkin spice with the ease of baking, making them the perfect way to welcome autumn.

Unlike traditional fried donuts, baked pumpkin donuts are lighter and easier to prepare at home. You won’t need any fancy equipment or deep frying, just a simple donut pan, some pantry staples, and a can of pumpkin purée. The result is a batch of soft, spiced donuts with just the right balance of sweetness and moisture. They’re ideal for serving at fall breakfasts, casual weekend brunches, or as a dessert that feels like a warm hug.

Pumpkin has long been a symbol of the season and is a versatile ingredient in fall recipes. According to Wikipedia, pumpkin is a type of winter squash rich in fiber, vitamin A, and natural sweetness, making it a great base for baked goods. The use of canned pumpkin in this recipe provides consistency and convenience without compromising on flavor. Learn more about the difference between canned pumpkin and pumpkin pie filling from Wikipedia, which explains why only pure pumpkin purée should be used in this recipe.

This easy pumpkin donut recipe captures the essence of fall without overwhelming your schedule. Whether paired with a warm mug of coffee, apple cider, or a chai latte, these donuts are a crowd-pleaser for all ages. You can even use them as a cozy alternative to traditional pastries on a brunch board, like those seen in fall brunch recipe ideas on Pinterest. If you’re someone who enjoys baking seasonally, you’ll appreciate the versatility and flavor that this recipe brings to your autumn routine.

Ingredients You’ll Need for Baked Pumpkin Donuts

Creating baked pumpkin donuts at home is simple, but using the right ingredients ensures the perfect texture and flavor. Each component plays an important role in achieving that signature soft, spiced, and moist donut that defines cozy fall baking.

Dry Ingredients

• All-purpose flour: The base of the donut, providing structure and tenderness. For a gluten-free version, substitute with a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend.
• Baking powder and baking soda: These leavening agents help the donuts rise and stay fluffy. You can learn more about their unique properties on Wikipedia’s baking powder page.
• Salt: Enhances sweetness and balances flavors.
• Ground spices: A warm combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves creates the signature pumpkin spice aroma. Read more about the history and uses of cinnamon and nutmeg to understand why they’re essential in fall desserts.

Wet Ingredients

• Vegetable oil: Keeps the donuts tender and prevents them from drying out.
• Brown sugar and granulated sugar: The mix of both gives depth of flavor—brown sugar adds caramel-like notes while granulated sugar adds lightness.
• Eggs: Bind the batter and contribute to the moist texture.
• Canned pumpkin purée: Be sure to use pure pumpkin, not pumpkin pie filling. Wikipedia’s canned pumpkin article details why pure purée is the correct choice for baking.
• Vanilla extract: Adds warmth and enhances the overall flavor profile.
• Milk: Creates the perfect batter consistency. You can use any milk, including almond or oat milk for a dairy-free version.

Optional Cinnamon Sugar Coating
For a finishing touch, coat your donuts in a blend of granulated sugar and cinnamon once baked. This adds a sweet crunch and intensifies the fall flavors. Check out creative donut baking hacks on Pinterest for fun coating variations, like adding a hint of cardamom or maple sugar.

If you enjoy experimenting with seasonal recipes, browse through these homemade pumpkin recipes on Pinterest for more ideas on how to use leftover pumpkin purée.

By keeping these ingredients handy in your pantry, you can whip up easy baked pumpkin donuts anytime you crave a touch of autumn. In the next section, we’ll explore why using pumpkin purée—especially canned—is essential to getting the perfect texture and taste in your donuts.

Why Use Pumpkin Purée? Canned vs. Homemade

The heart of any pumpkin donut recipe lies in one essential ingredient: pumpkin purée. It’s what gives these donuts their rich color, velvety texture, and unmistakable autumn flavor. But not all pumpkin purée is created equal. To get the best results, it’s important to understand the difference between canned pumpkin and pumpkin pie filling, and whether making it from scratch is worth the effort.

Canned Pumpkin vs. Pumpkin Pie Filling
Many home bakers confuse these two products, but they are not interchangeable. Canned pumpkin, as described on Wikipedia, contains only cooked, mashed pumpkin with no added sugar or spices. This is exactly what you want when baking, because it allows you to control the flavor and sweetness of your donuts.

On the other hand, pumpkin pie filling comes pre-seasoned and sweetened. It might seem convenient, but it can make your donuts overly sweet, with overpowering spice notes that clash with the rest of your ingredients. When the goal is balance, pure pumpkin purée is the only way to go.

Why Canned Pumpkin Is Best for Baking
Canned pumpkin offers consistent moisture, flavor, and color. It’s also easy to measure, store, and incorporate into batter without the variability that sometimes comes with homemade purée. In most store-bought varieties, the pumpkin is pressure-cooked to perfection, giving it that smooth, dense texture ideal for baked goods.

For bakers who want a more rustic or farm-to-table feel, making homemade purée is an option. However, the water content in homemade pumpkin can vary greatly. To make it usable in baking, you’d need to strain or cook it down—an extra step that adds time and effort without necessarily improving the final result. If you’re curious, though, the process is straightforward: roast a sugar pumpkin, scoop the flesh, and purée it until smooth. Then let it drain for several hours to remove excess moisture.

For the average home cook, however, a can of 100% pumpkin is the fastest, most reliable route to delicious, easy baked pumpkin donuts. If you’re planning a weekend brunch or a cozy breakfast spread, check out cozy fall breakfast ideas on Pinterest to get inspired on how to serve your donuts alongside other seasonal dishes.

Essential Tools for Baking Pumpkin Donuts

You don’t need a commercial kitchen to make perfect baked pumpkin donuts—just a few reliable tools. Each one plays a key role in ensuring your donuts bake evenly, hold their shape, and turn out with the soft, cakey texture you’re looking for.

Donut Pan
The most essential tool is a donut pan. These pans typically come in metal or silicone varieties and are designed with donut-shaped cavities that help the batter bake evenly without frying. Metal pans tend to brown the edges more, while silicone offers easier release. Look for one that holds six or twelve donuts to match your batch size.

Piping Bag or Zip-Top Bag
For neat, mess-free filling, use a piping bag or a plastic zip-top bag with the corner snipped off. This makes it much easier to distribute the batter evenly and cleanly into each cavity, avoiding overflow or air pockets.

Mixing Bowls and Measuring Tools
Use two separate mixing bowls: one for dry ingredients and one for wet. A set of measuring cups and spoons ensures accurate proportions, which is key to getting the right texture and rise. Digital scales can be even more precise if you’re a meticulous baker.

Cooling Rack
After baking, transfer the donuts to a wire cooling rack. This prevents sogginess by allowing steam to escape, and it’s the best setup for applying any toppings, such as the optional cinnamon sugar coating.

With just these few tools—most of which you likely already have—you’ll be set up to bake flawless, fluffy pumpkin donuts every time. Let’s now go through the full step-by-step instructions to bring this recipe to life.

Step-by-Step Instructions (With Tips)

Preheat and Prep

• Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
• Grease your donut pan with nonstick spray or softened butter to prevent sticking.

Mix Dry Ingredients

• In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves.
• Make sure spices are evenly distributed for consistent flavor in every bite.

Mix Wet Ingredients

• In a large bowl, whisk together the oil, brown sugar, granulated sugar, eggs, pumpkin purée, vanilla extract, and milk until smooth and fully combined.
• Use room temperature ingredients to help the batter mix more easily.

Combine Wet and Dry

• Slowly add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture. Stir gently until just combined.
• Avoid overmixing to keep the donuts light and fluffy.

Fill the Donut Pan

• Spoon the batter into a piping bag or a zip-top bag with the corner cut.
• Pipe the batter into each donut cavity, filling them about ¾ full.
• For clean shapes and even cooking, don’t overfill.

Bake

• Bake for 12–15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
• Avoid overbaking—they should be springy and lightly golden.

Cool

• Let donuts cool in the pan for 5 minutes.
• Carefully remove and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

These detailed steps help you avoid common mistakes and deliver baked pumpkin donuts with perfect flavor and texture. For more tips, explore donut baking hacks on Pinterest to refine your technique.

How to Make Cinnamon Sugar Coating (Optional But Recommended!)

Adding a cinnamon sugar coating gives your baked pumpkin donuts a satisfying crunch and extra warmth—perfect for those crisp autumn mornings. This quick extra step transforms your donuts into something reminiscent of apple cider donuts or fried fair treats, all without the oil.

What You’ll Need

• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ cup melted butter (for brushing)

How to Apply

• In a small bowl, mix the sugar and cinnamon together until evenly combined.
• Once the donuts are slightly cooled but still warm, use a pastry brush to lightly coat each donut with melted butter.
• Immediately toss or roll the donut in the cinnamon sugar mixture until fully coated.

Tips for Best Results

• Coat the donuts while they’re still warm so the mixture sticks better.
• If you want less sweetness, you can dip just the tops instead of the whole donut.
• For a different flavor twist, add a pinch of cardamom or pumpkin pie spice to the mix.

You can find visual inspiration and ideas for flavor tweaks by browsing cozy fall breakfast ideas on Pinterest.

Now let’s explore some fun ways to customize your donuts or change them up based on your dietary needs or preferences.

Recipe Variations and Add-Ins

One of the joys of baking pumpkin donuts is how customizable they are. Whether you’re looking to add more texture, switch up the coating, or make them dietary-friendly, there’s a variation that suits every kitchen.

Flavor and Texture Add-Ins

• Mini chocolate chips: Fold in ½ cup for a pumpkin-chocolate combo.
• Chopped nuts: Add ⅓ cup of walnuts or pecans for crunch.
• Raisins or dried cranberries: Stir in for a chewy texture and subtle sweetness.

Alternative Coatings and Glazes

• Maple glaze: Mix powdered sugar, maple syrup, and a bit of milk. Drizzle over cooled donuts.
• Cream cheese glaze: Blend cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla.
• Powdered sugar dusting: For a minimalist finish.

Dietary Swaps

• Vegan option: Use flax eggs and plant-based milk. Replace butter in the coating with vegan margarine.
• Gluten-free version: Use a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend.
• Low sugar: Substitute coconut sugar or monk fruit sweetener for part of the sugar.

Looking for more pumpkin-based ideas? Check out these homemade pumpkin recipes on Pinterest to expand your fall baking repertoire.

Next, we’ll explore how to serve these delicious donuts to create the perfect fall moment.

Serving Suggestions for Fall Mornings

Serving baked pumpkin donuts is all about creating that warm, welcoming autumn vibe. Whether you’re setting up for a fall brunch, enjoying a slow weekend morning, or hosting a gathering, these donuts fit right in.

Pairings

• Hot coffee with a touch of cinnamon or pumpkin spice
• Apple cider, served warm or chilled
• Chai latte or spiced black tea

Creative Serving Ideas

• Add to a fall-themed brunch board with apples, cheeses, and other pastries
• Serve with a maple glaze drizzle and a scoop of vanilla yogurt for dessert
• Use as a sweet bite in an office breakfast or school bake sale

Explore more seasonal presentation ideas through fall brunch recipes on Pinterest, where you’ll find creative layouts and pairing inspiration.

Ready to enjoy your donuts later? Let’s go over how to store and freeze them for maximum freshness.

How to Store and Freeze Baked Pumpkin Donuts

To keep your baked pumpkin donuts tasting fresh and moist, it’s important to store them properly—especially if you’re baking ahead or saving extras for the week.

At Room Temperature

• Store in an airtight container
• Best enjoyed within 2–3 days
• Place parchment between layers to prevent sticking

In the Refrigerator

• Keeps for up to 5–6 days
• Reheat briefly in the microwave to soften before serving

Freezing Tips

• Freeze without the cinnamon sugar coating
• Place in a single layer on a baking sheet until solid, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag
• Reheat in oven at 300°F for 5–10 minutes, then add coating after thawing

Need make-ahead ideas for busy mornings? Let’s dive into how you can prep these ahead of time and enjoy them all week.

Make-Ahead Tips and Meal Prep Ideas

If you love having a warm breakfast ready with minimal effort, this pumpkin donut recipe is perfect for meal prep. Here’s how to make it work:

Make the Batter Ahead

• Prepare the batter the night before
• Store covered in the fridge
• Pipe and bake fresh in the morning

Bake and Freeze

• Bake a full batch and freeze uncoated donuts
• Reheat one or two at a time
• Coat only when ready to serve for the best texture

Batch Prep

• Double the recipe and freeze half
• Ideal for holidays, guests, or weekend brunch planning

These tips allow you to enjoy the comfort of fall flavors any day of the week—without sacrificing quality or time.

Now let’s address some of the most common questions people have about baked pumpkin donuts.

FAQs

Can I make these donuts without a donut pan?
Yes. Use a muffin tin and roll foil into small rings to create a center hole. Or simply bake as pumpkin donut muffins.

Can I use pumpkin pie filling instead of purée?
No. Pumpkin pie filling includes added sugar and spices that throw off the recipe’s balance. Stick to 100% pumpkin purée like the kind described on Wikipedia.

What’s the best flour for baked donuts?
All-purpose flour works best, but a 1:1 gluten-free blend can be used without sacrificing texture.

Can I freeze baked pumpkin donuts?
Yes, but for best results, freeze them without the cinnamon sugar coating. Add the coating after reheating.

How long do pumpkin donuts stay fresh?
They’ll keep at room temp for 2–3 days, or up to two months in the freezer when properly stored.

Print