Pumpkin Donuts are the perfect treat for autumn! These donuts are soft, full of pumpkin flavor, and super easy to make. Read on to find out how you can bake these goodies at home.
These donuts are great for Halloween and Thanksgiving. Want more treats?
If you love these Pumpkin Donuts, you'll also want to try our Crunchie Bar (Honeycomb Toffee Recipe) and Reese's (Peanut Butter Cups). The Crunchie Bar gives you that sweet, honey-flavored crunch that pairs so well with the chilly fall air. And who can resist Reese's Peanut Butter Cups? They're the perfect blend of chocolate and peanut butter, making them another great treat for the fall season.
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Ingredients
- Cinnamon
- Ginger
- Nutmeg
- Cloves
- Eggs
- Brown Sugar
- Pumpkin Puree
- Heavy Cream
- Pumpkin Spice Mix
- Melted Butter
- Flour
- Baking Powder
- Salt
- Shortening
- Milk
- Icing Sugar
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
Step 1 - Homemade Pumpkin Spice Mix
First, mix cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves in a bowl. Set the bowl aside for later.
Step 2 - Dough Preparation
Start by whisking eggs and brown sugar in a bowl until fluffy. Add pumpkin puree, cream, and your homemade spice mix. Add in the melted butter too. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix these dry ingredients into your egg mixture a little at a time. The dough should be slightly sticky but not runny. If needed, add more flour. Wrap the dough and put it in the fridge for 30 minutes.
Step 3 - Shaping the Donuts
Take the dough out from the fridge. It's easier to handle now. Roll the dough on your counter. Use a cookie cutter to shape donuts. Cut out the middle with a bottle cap. Roll any leftover dough to make more donuts. Place the shaped donuts on a tray. Keep the small donut holes separate.
Step 4 - Frying the Donuts
Heat shortening in a saucepan to 350°F (175°C). Carefully add a few donuts to fry. After 1 minute, they should be golden. Flip them. Fry the other side for 30-40 seconds. Once both sides are golden, move them to a cooling rack. Put paper towels under the rack to catch extra shortening.
Step 5 - Pumpkin Spice Glaze
In another saucepan, mix brown sugar, milk, pumpkin puree, and butter. Add some of your pumpkin spice mix. Let it simmer for a minute. Then, let it cool off for a minute. Stir in powdered sugar until it reaches your desired thickness. Dip each donut in the glaze. Tap the donuts on the counter to smooth out the glaze. If needed, add more pumpkin to the glaze.
Hint: For the fluffiest donuts, make sure your baking powder is fresh. Old baking powder can make them flat.
Substitutions
If you're lactose intolerant, you can use coconut milk instead of heavy cream. For a vegan option, swap the regular egg for a flax egg (1 tablespoon flaxseed meal + 2.5 tablespoons water).
Note: Your results may vary.
Variations
Want to spice it up? Add a handful of chopped nuts to the dough. If you're aiming for a healthier version, you can use whole wheat flour instead of all-purpose flour.
Equipment
- Mixing Bowls: Needed for combining different ingredients for both dough and glaze.
- Whisk: Helps mix eggs and sugar till fluffy, and for combining other ingredients smoothly.
- Measuring Cups and Spoons: For accurate ingredient amounts.
- Cookie Cutters: To cut out the donut shapes from the dough.
- Baking Tray: To place the shaped donuts before frying.
- Saucepan: For heating shortening and making the glaze.
- Cooking Thermometer: To check the oil temperature for frying.
- Cooling Rack: To drain and cool down the fried donuts.
Most Useful Equipment
If I had to pick the most useful equipment, I'd choose the Cooking Thermometer. It's crucial to have the oil at the right temperature for perfect frying.
Storage
Store these Pumpkin Donuts in an airtight container for up to 3 days. They freeze well too. Just place them in a single layer in a freezer-safe bag. When you're ready to enjoy, thaw them at room temperature and warm up in the oven for a few minutes.
Top tip
The key to perfect Pumpkin Donuts is the temperature of the shortening. Make sure it's at 350°F (175°C) for a golden and crispy texture. Using a kitchen thermometer can be really helpful.
FAQ
Yes, canned works fine.
Use a cooking thermometer.
Yes, but expect a different texture and outcome. We haven't tested this.
Use a round cookie cutter and a bottle cap.
Yes, store it in the fridge for up to a day.
How to Make Pumpkin Donuts in Simple Steps
Make Pumpkin Donuts that are perfect for fall. With a homemade spice mix and pumpkin spice glaze, these donuts are a hit for any occasion.
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 14 donuts
Ingredients
Homemade Pumpkin Spice Mix
- 16g Cinnamon
- 8g Ginger
- 8g Nutmeg
- 2g Cloves
Pumpkin Donut Dough
- 50g Eggs
- 105g Brown Sugar
- 115g Pumpkin Puree
- 30ml Heavy Cream
- 5g Pumpkin Spice Mix
- 30g Melted Butter
- 240g to 270g Flour
- 4g Baking Powder
- 3g Salt
- 450g Shortening
Pumpkin Spice Glaze
- 120g Brown Sugar
- 30ml Milk
- 75g Pumpkin Puree
- 15g Butter
- 115g to 175g Icing Sugar
Instructions
1️⃣ Pumpkin Spice Mix
- Mix these spices in a bowl: cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves.
- Put it aside.
2️⃣Dough Preparation
- In a bowl, whisk together eggs and brown sugar until fluffy.
- Add pumpkin puree, cream, and the spice mix.
- Also, add melted butter.
- In another bowl, mix flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Add it to the egg mixture two or three times.
- Keep mixing until the dough comes together. It should be a little sticky but not runny.
- If it's too sticky, you can add more flour.
- Wrap the dough and put it in the fridge for about 30 minutes.
3️⃣Shaping the Donuts
- Take the dough out of the fridge (it's less sticky now).
- Roll it out on a counter.
- Use a cookie cutter to make donut shapes.
- Use a small bottle cap or something similar to cut out the center hole of each donut.
- If you have leftover dough, roll it again to make more donuts.
- Put the cut-out donuts on a baking tray, and keep the donut holes in a separate bowl for later.
4️⃣Frying the Donuts
- Heat some shortening in a saucepan until it's 350°F (175°C).
- Carefully put a few donuts in the hot shortening to fry.
- After about 1 minute, they should turn golden. Flip them to fry the other side.
- Fry for another 30-40 seconds until both sides are golden.
- Take the fried donuts out and put them on a cooling rack with paper towels under to catch any extra shortening.
5️⃣Pumpkin Spice Glaze
- In a saucepan, mix brown sugar, milk, pumpkin puree, pumpkin spices, and butter.
- Let it simmer for a minute.
- Take it off the heat and let it cool for a minute.
- Gradually add powdered sugar until it's the thickness you want.
- Dip each donut in the glaze.
- Tap them on the counter to make the glaze smooth.
- If the glaze gets too thick, add a little more pumpkin.
- Enjoy! 😊
- Prep Time: 40 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Food safety
- Always use fresh ingredients.
- Make sure to heat the shortening to the right temperature.
- Always wash your hands and cooking space.
Sandrine
These donuts are just so easy to do! They are THE fall dessert you don't want to miss out on!