In today’s post: These are the most delicious pumpkin donuts you’ve ever tasted! Moist + delicious and full of pumpkin spice flavor with a crunchy cinnamon sugar topping.
If you’re a fan of pumpkin spice (and who isn’t?), you really need to try these baked pumpkin donuts. They only take 4 ingredients and a few minutes to mix up, and they taste amazing. They’re perfectly soft, like little pillows of pumpkin spice heaven. Top them with butter and cinnamon sugar and you have the perfect fall treat.
Baked Pumpkin Donuts
A couple of years ago I shared an easy recipe for baked mini donuts made from a cake mix and it’s been one of the most popular recipe posts on my site. This year I perfected a pumpkin version, and my kids and I can’t seem to stop eating them.
Starting with a cake mix means you only need 4 ingredients to make these pumpkin donuts. I cook them in my mini donut maker (affiliate link), which I love because it’s super easy and fast to use, and much simpler than frying! (Here’s a cheaper donut maker option.) My older kids are able to make donuts it in without any help from me.
If you don’t have a donut maker, you can bake these in a donut pan in the oven.
How to make pumpkin donuts
Watch this video to see exactly how to make baked pumpkin donuts (turn the sound on):
Pumpkin Spice Donut Recipe
Pumpkin Spice Donuts
Ingredients
- 1 Spice Cake Mix
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup oil
- 1 can pumpkin 15 oz
Cinnamon sugar topping
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 2 tbsp cinnamon
- 1/4 cup butter melted
Instructions
- In a bowl, whisk together the pumpkin, eggs, and oil until combined.
- Stir in the spice cake mix until combined.
- Preheat donut maker.
- Meanwhile, pour cake batter into a gallon size ziplock bag. Snip off a corner to make a dime sized hole.
- When donut maker is preheated, spray it with nonstick spray. Pipe out batter into each donut well, filling the bottom half of the donut well.
- Close the donut maker and cook for 5 minutes.
- Remove donuts to cooling rack and continue with the next batch. You'll be able to make about 36 mini donuts.
- Place melted butter in one small bowl. Mix together cinnamon and sugar in another small bowl. Dip the top side of each donut quickly in butter, then in the cinnamon sugar.
- Donuts taste best when completely cool. Store in a covered container at room temperature.
Notes
One last note: When making donuts in my donut maker I usually don’t time them; I just wait for the light to come on that tells me they are done. However, the pumpkin in these donuts keeps them very moist, meaning they take a bit longer to cook all the way through. So I’d recommend cooking for the full 5 minutes even if the “done light” comes on sooner.
Looking for more fall desserts? Try these:
Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Cookies
Tracey says
These were good but definitely not a “donut” consistency. More like a muffin. But still very tasty!
Vicki says
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this recipe! I used my “Baby Cakes” pop maker! Turned out PERFECT Pumpkin Spice doughnut holes. Cooked for 5 minutes by the timer. Coated with butter and rolled in cinnamon-sugar mixture. Will definitely be making these again. Thanks for sharing the recipe. (The cinnamon makes them look darker but they taste amazing.)
Ethel says
I made these pumpkin spice donuts day and they just melt in your mouth. This is the best donut recipe I have ever used. Not heavy like so many cake donuts. Just delicious. Thanks so much for this Fall treat.
Vanessa says
Thanks for sharing! Do they keep long?
autumn says
Hi Vanessa! I find that baked goods made with cake mixes do keep quite well for at least a few days – just store them covered.
Suzanne says
This looks so good! Do you use this donut recipe for any other kinds?
autumn says
Hi Suzanne! I have made donuts from other flavors of cake mix. You can find the recipe I use for other flavors here: https://www.itsalwaysautumn.com/quick-easy-baked-cake-mix-donuts-recipe.html
pat says
I am diabetic. Missing doughnuts so I’m gonna try a sf cake n add pumpkin spice. Wish me luck
Sarah says
I’d prefer not to buy a donut maker or pan. Has anyone tried these in a mini muffin tin?
Christine says
and always extra spice!
christine says
im going to add 3 eggs and butter for the oil and ue pumpkin pie mix because everybody brought all the canned pumpkin!
I’ll let you know!
or please comment if you have any tips!
Stephanie says
Not sure why it is recommended to pour batter into a disposable plastic bag just to squeeze batter into the donut maker. There are many ways to pour batter without using plastic bags which fill landfills and our ocean. There are mixing bowls with pouring spouts that make it easy and are better for the environment. Serve a donut with a smile knowing future generations can enjoy them too! 😊
Colleen says
Made these in a regular sized donut pan and they turned out great. Baked at 425 degrees for 9 minutes and got 11 donuts. Only needed half the glaze. Thanks for this very easy recipe!
Megan McEuen says
I LOVE THIS IDEA!
We have the mini donut maker and I had never thought to make them with the bread mixes. So easy. Thank you for sharing