Fluffy, baked pumpkin cake donuts are the easy dessert you didn't know you needed to make this fall. Enjoy them plain or with a variety of toppings, including my scratch-made cream cheese frosting, which pairs perfectly. Originally posted October 2016. Last updated September 2021.
It seems like everyone is ready to break out everything pumpkin before we've even felt the slightest hint of a fall breeze this year. And I get it. Life is more than a bit weird right now and looking ahead to good things can be a comfort. In that spirit, I present my pumpkin cake donuts recipe to you. They are easy, baked donuts filled with complementary pumpkin and spice flavors then finished with a sweet and tangy cream cheese frosting. Simply put, this is the perfect fall donut recipe. Let's get into the details.
And if you like unique donut recipe ideas, try these next!
Pumpkin Cake Donut Ingredients
- Brown Sugar
- Butter
- Cinnamon
- Clove
- Eggs
- Flour
- Ginger
- Nutmeg
- Pumpkin Puree
- Sea Salt
- Vanilla Extract
Canned pumpkin puree is a pantry staple for me this time of year. And it adds the pumpkin flavor and beautiful orange color to the donuts. And I love baking with pumpkin and warm spices in the fall. The whole house smells wonderful and the outcome is like something from a professional bakery--just scrumptious. These pumpkin-flavored donuts come out perfectly cakey and sweet and you could definitely enjoy them as is but I highly recommend you make the cream cheese frosting. It's easy and adds the perfect touches of creaminess and tanginess to complement the donuts.
Tips for this Recipe
- What can I do with leftover pumpkin puree? This recipe calls for one cup of pumpkin puree, which isn't quite a full can that you'd find at the grocery store. I suggest using the extra in a batch of baked oatmeal muffins, making sweet and salty pumpkin kitchen sink cookies, or my chai pumpkin cookies. You can't go wrong with any of these options.
- What kind of pan to use to bake donuts? I use a nonstick donut pan--six count for smaller batches and either 20-count pan for when I'm baking for parties. These have given me beautiful results for all kinds of baked donuts.
- How to pipe donuts for baking? Transfer your spiced pumpkin cake batter into a pastry bag or (my personal favorite) a ziploc bag with one corner snipped off. Gently squeeze the bag to express batter into each cavity of the donut pan, using a swooping motion to make a circle. Fill the pan so that the batter just slightly domes over the top of each cavity.
- How to bake donuts in the oven? Bake your donuts in a prepared nonstick pan at 350 degrees and be sure to place the pan on the middle oven rack. This helps keep the donuts from browning unevenly and prematurely. I also recommend placing a pan on the rack below to catch any drips. This shouldn't be an issue as long as you don't overfill the donut pan but better safe than sorry.
- How to remove baked donuts from pan? Even though I use a nonstick donut pan, I still spray it down with oil, just in case. To remove your baked donuts from the pan, let them cool slightly in order to be able to handle them safely. Place the cooling rack on top of the donut pan and the donuts hey should practically fall out of the pan once you flip it over but if they need a nudge, use a butter knife to gently tilt each one out of the pan then place them onto the cooling rack.
- What other tools will I need for this recipe? You'll need a mixing bowl, a silicone spatula for scraping down the bowl and transferring batter into the piping bag, and lastly, a cooling rack for your finished donuts.
How to Frost Cake Donuts Easily
While you could certainly pipe the cream cheese frosting onto your finished pumpkin babies, there's a much quicker and simpler way to get the job done. Place one donut upside-down into the bowl of frosting and gently press until it's about halfway submerged then twist it horizontally and pull it straight up to remove. This trick cuts down on cleanup, too, because you keep the frosting in the same bowl where you mixed it. And I love that simplicity for you. I really do. After frosting, I like to adorn some of the donuts with cinnamon sugar, sliced almonds. Mini chocolate chips are also good. Feel free to get creative with it!
I hope you enjoy this fall donut recipe and share it with everyone you love. It is a winner in ease and taste. And sharing is caring on the internet, too, so go pin this pumpkin cream cheese donuts recipe on Pinterest. Thanks for reading!
Baked Pumpkin Donut Recipe
Pumpkin Donuts with Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
Pumpkins
- 1 ½ cup flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground clove
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup butter melted (you can also use oil)
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 4 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar sifted
- ⅛ cup butter softened
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
Donuts
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a nonstick donut pan with oil and set aside. Whisk together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, clove, ginger, nutmeg, and sea salt in a large bowl.
- In another bowl, combine pumpkin puree, brown sugar, butter, eggs, and vanilla extract and mix until smooth. Add wet mixture to dry mixture and stir until just combined and you have a uniform batter with no dry pockets.
- Transfer batter into a pastry bag or ziploc bag with one corner snipped off and pipe into prepared donut pan.
- Place pan onto middle oven rack and bake for about 12 minutes or until tops of donuts are very slightly browned and a toothpick inserted in the center donut comes out clean. Place donuts onto cooling rack and allow to cool to room temperature.
Cream Cheese Frosting
- Add all frosting ingredients to a bowl and beat with a hand or stand mixer until and smooth. Frosting should be thick but spreadable.
- Place one donut, upside down, into bowl of frosting and gently press until halfway submerged. Twist the donut horizontally then lift it straight up out of the bowl. Repeat with remaining donuts until all are frosted.
Nutrition
Share this Recipe on Pinterest
candy says
Always enjoy a great donut, toppings are always fun.
Jazz says
Me too. Thanks for reading!
Brandy says
Those donuts look like the type to get me in trouble - I can never say no to donuts! The chai spice completely says "fall" - good call putting it on top!
Jazz says
Yes! The chai and cream cheese frosting make these perfect. Thanks for reading!
Amber says
I just bought a pan to make mini donuts!!! This recipe would be perfect for my first mini donut attempt!
Jazz says
Yes! Do it lol. These would be so cute in mini form.
Kristi @ Happily Ever Griedls says
These look so good and perfect for Fall!
happilyevergriedlscom.wordpress.com/
Jazz says
Thank you!
Maria says
This just went on my Saturday morning breakfast list of "things to make". My kids and husband would love this!
Jazz says
I hope y'all enjoy them!
Maria says
These are absolutely going on my Saturday morning "things to make" list. My kids and husband will love these!
Emily says
ohmygoodness those look absolutely delicious! And what an easy recipe. I'm a sucker for cream cheese and pumpkin so that combination sounds divine!
Emily
http://darlingdearestblog.com
Jazz says
It's such a great combo 🙂
Heather @Boston Girl Bakes says
Oh OMG I want all of these donuts! And your shoes..I want those too 🙂
Jazz says
Thanks Heather! The donuts are so easy to make and those are some of my favorite booties. I should have included them now that I think about it lol.
Sharon says
These look sooo yummy! And I absolutely love the measuring cups and spoons in the pic. So adorable!!
Jazz says
Thanks! The measuring cups and spoons are from Sur La Table!
Hey Sharonoox says
Oh my gosh! These donuts so delicious! I always enjoy a good donut and this makes me crave one now.
Jessica says
Leaves is one of my favorite fall candles too! These donuts look amazing!!!
Jazz says
Thank you! Leaves is really one of my overall favorites but definitely for Fall, in particular. 🙂
Kelly says
I have got to try those donuts!! And how funny are you, smashing acorns with those cute shoes, hahahaha!!
Jazz says
Lol! The crunch is so satisfying, I can't even tell you.
Rachel Lynn says
Candles are my favorite in the fall! They always put me in the mood for the season 🙂 & those donuts seriously look amazing! I'm already drolling, hahha!
Jazz says
Thanks for reading, Rachel! I'm a huge candle fan year round but there's just something special about them when the weather gets cooler.
Sannimaria says
Jazz! How dare you! When I just started my healthy eating plan. I LOVE donuts! The cardio I' ll have to do will be worth it! It's the CLOSE UP for me!😘
Jazz says
Lol my bad! You're right, though--these are SO worth it.
Marta says
We love a good doughnut and these didn't disappoint. Made a batch for breakfast and they all disappeared! Delicious.
Tamara Johnson says
These are my favorite pumpkin donuts ever! The recipe is easy to follow, and every time I make them, the kids gobble them up!
Jeri says
Made these just in time for the weekend and they're AWESOME. Even better with my morning coffee! Can't wait to try your other recipes that call for pumpkin puree!
Dee Moore says
I love doughnuts and these pumpkin cake doughnuts with cream cheese frosting was easy to make and absolutely perfect size, it was difficult to eat just one.
Lilly says
These donuts are so delicious!!! I’ve been munching on them everyday for breakfast this week! Thank you fir the recipe!
Britney Brown says
The texture and flavor of these donuts was truly amazing! I enjoyed these with my morning coffee and I fell in love with them!
Chenée says
I'm definitely in full pumpkin mode, and these donuts were the perfect treat for me today! I especially love the cream cheese frosting -- it was the perfect consistency and just the right amount of sweetness.