Try This Irresistible Pumpkin Cake Doughnuts Recipe Today

Pumpkin cake doughnuts blend seasonal warmth with irresistible sweetness, creating a delightful autumn treat that redefines ordinary baking into something magical.

Soft, pillowy textures merge with rich, deep flavors that dance across your palate.

Warm spices weave through each tender bite, promising comfort and nostalgia in every mouthful.

These delectable rings capture the essence of crisp fall mornings and cozy kitchen moments.

Delicate yet satisfying, they offer a perfect balance between cake-like tenderness and doughnut-style indulgence.

Fragrant notes of classic autumn spices elevate this recipe beyond simple pastry, making it a cherished seasonal favorite.

Prepare to experience a delicious journey that celebrates the best of fall baking.

Why Pumpkin Cake Doughnuts Are a Fall Favorite

• Capture Autumn's Essence: These pumpkin cake doughnuts burst with warm, cozy fall flavors that instantly transport you to crisp leaf-covered streets and pumpkin patch memories.
• Foolproof Baking Delight: Perfect for baking novices, this recipe requires minimal skills and simple ingredients, delivering professional-looking doughnuts with minimal effort and maximum deliciousness.
• Versatile Breakfast or Dessert: Enjoy these tender, spice-infused treats as a morning indulgence or an afternoon sweet snack, complementing coffee, tea, or hot chocolate with their rich pumpkin warmth.
• Quick Kitchen Magic: Ready in under 30 minutes, these doughnuts offer a speedy solution for sudden cravings, transforming basic pantry ingredients into a mouthwatering seasonal treat that impresses everyone.

What You’ll Need for Pumpkin Cake Doughnuts

• Vegetable Oil: Adds moisture and helps create a soft, tender texture in the doughnuts.
• Eggs: Provides structure and helps bind the ingredients together.
• Pumpkin Purée: Gives a rich, autumnal flavor and contributes to the cake's moistness.
• Sugar: Sweetens the doughnuts and helps with caramelization.

• All-Purpose Flour: Forms the base of the doughnut, providing structure and texture.
• Baking Powder: Helps the doughnuts rise and become light and fluffy.
• Salt: Enhances the overall flavor of the doughnuts.

• Pumpkin Pie Spice: Adds warm, classic fall flavors to the doughnuts.
• Cinnamon-Sugar or Pumpkin Spice-Sugar: Provides a sweet, spicy coating for the warm doughnuts.

How to Bake Soft and Spiced Pumpkin Doughnuts

Step 1: Prepare Oven and Baking Pans

Warm up the oven to 350°F. Lightly coat 2 doughnut pans with cooking spray. No doughnut pans? Muffin tins work perfectly as a backup.

Step 2: Mix Wet Ingredients

• Vegetable oil
• Eggs
• Sugar
• Pumpkin purée
• Pumpkin pie spice
• Salt
• Baking powder

Whip until the mixture looks smooth and well combined.

Step 3: Add Flour

Gently fold flour into the wet ingredients. Stir just until the batter looks uniform with no flour streaks.

Step 4: Fill Baking Pans

Carefully spoon batter into prepared pans. For doughnuts, use per well, filling about 3/4 full. Distribute evenly.

Step 5: Bake Doughnuts

Slide pans into the oven. Bake doughnuts for 15-18 minutes. Check doneness by inserting a cake tester – it should come out clean. For muffins, bake 23-25 minutes.

Step 6: Cool and Coat Doughnuts

Let doughnuts rest in the pan for 5 minutes. Gently loosen edges and transfer to a cooling rack. While still warm, roll in cinnamon-sugar or pumpkin spice-sugar by shaking in a bag. Serve immediately for best flavor and texture.

Tips for Glazing and Texture Perfection

• Measure Precisely: Use level measuring cups and spoons to ensure the perfect balance of ingredients, especially for flour and spices.
• Avoid Overmixing: Stir the batter just until ingredients are combined to keep the doughnuts tender and light.
• Check Freshness: Use fresh pumpkin pie spice and baking powder for maximum flavor and rising power.
• Grease Generously: Thoroughly coat the doughnut pan or muffin tin to prevent sticking and ensure easy removal.
• Temperature Matters: Let ingredients like eggs and pumpkin purée come to room temperature for smoother mixing and better texture.

Store and Reheat Doughnuts Without Losing Moisture

• Refrigerate doughnuts in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Separate layers with parchment paper to prevent sticking. Avoid covering while warm to maintain crispness.
• Freeze unfrosted doughnuts by wrapping individually in plastic wrap, then placing in a freezer bag. They'll stay fresh for 2 months. Thaw at room temperature for best texture.
• Reheat gently in the microwave for 10-15 seconds or warm in a 300°F oven for 5 minutes. Dust with fresh cinnamon-sugar just before serving to revive their delicious flavor.

What to Drink or Serve with Pumpkin Cake Doughnuts

• Pair with Warm Spiced Chai Latte: The creamy, spicy notes of chai perfectly complement the pumpkin's warm autumn flavors, creating a cozy taste experience that enhances the doughnuts' sweet and spicy profile.
• Match with Maple Bourbon Cream: Drizzle a rich maple bourbon cream sauce over the doughnuts to elevate their flavor, adding a luxurious depth that brings out the pumpkin's natural sweetness and spice complexity.
• Serve with Caramel Apple Cider: The crisp, tangy apple cider cuts through the doughnuts' richness while the caramel undertones harmonize with the pumpkin pie spices, creating a balanced and delightful seasonal pairing.
• Complement with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream: A scoop of creamy vanilla bean ice cream provides a cool, smooth contrast to the warm spiced doughnuts, creating a classic dessert combination that delights the palate.

Unique Variations on Pumpkin Cake Doughnuts

• Maple Pecan Pumpkin Doughnuts: Enhance the recipe by adding chopped pecans to the batter and drizzling maple glaze on top for a rich, nutty flavor profile.
• Cream Cheese Frosted Pumpkin Doughnuts: Whip up a smooth cream cheese frosting with a hint of vanilla to spread over the cooled doughnuts for extra decadence.
• Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Doughnuts: Fold in mini chocolate chips into the batter before baking to create a sweet, chocolatey contrast with the pumpkin spice.
• Gluten-Free Pumpkin Doughnuts: Substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free blend to make these treats accessible for those with dietary restrictions.

Pumpkin Cake Doughnuts Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.5 from 28 reviews

• Total Time: 45 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Homemade Pumpkin Cake Doughnuts offer warm autumn spices and rich seasonal comfort in every delightful bite. Baked with fragrant cinnamon, nutmeg, and a perfect pumpkin base, these treats bring cozy bakery magic right to kitchen counters.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups (340g) pumpkin purée
• 3 large eggs
• 1 to 1 ½ cups (198g to 298g) granulated sugar
• 1 ¾ cups + 2 tablespoons (227g) all-purpose flour

Spices and Seasonings:

• 1 ½ teaspoons pumpkin pie spice (or ¾ teaspoon cinnamon plus heaping ¼ teaspoon each nutmeg and ginger)
• 1 ½ teaspoons salt
• 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder

Liquid and Fat:

• ½ cup (99g) vegetable oil

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Warm the oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare two standard doughnut pans by lightly coating with non-stick cooking spray. Muffin tins can serve as an alternative if doughnut pans are unavailable.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine vegetable oil, whole eggs, granulated sugar, pure pumpkin purée, pumpkin pie spice, salt, and baking powder. Whisk the mixture until it reaches a smooth, uniform consistency.
3. Gradually incorporate all-purpose flour into the wet ingredients, stirring gently until the batter becomes completely smooth without overmixing.
4. Carefully distribute the batter into the prepared pans, filling each cavity approximately 3/4 full. Use roughly of batter per doughnut well or muffin cup.
5. Place the pans in the preheated oven and bake for 15 to 18 minutes for doughnuts, or 23 to 25 minutes for muffins. Check doneness by inserting a cake tester into the center; it should emerge clean when the baked goods are fully cooked.
6. Once baked, remove from the oven and allow the doughnuts to rest in the pan for approximately 5 minutes. Carefully loosen the edges and transfer to a wire cooling rack.
7. While still warm, gently roll the doughnuts in a mixture of ground cinnamon and granulated sugar or pumpkin spice-sugar blend. Serve immediately for optimal flavor and texture.

Notes

• Create these doughnuts in advance for a quick autumn breakfast or delightful afternoon snack that celebrates seasonal flavors.
• Ensure vegetable oil is fresh and pumpkin purée is smooth for the best texture and consistent moisture in your doughnuts.
• Use fresh spices like pumpkin pie spice to maximize the warm, aromatic flavors that make these doughnuts irresistibly delicious.
• Test doneness by inserting a cake tester or toothpick into the center – it should come out clean without any wet batter clinging.
• Store leftover doughnuts in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, or refrigerate for extended freshness.
• Customize coating by mixing different spices into sugar or trying powdered sugar for a lighter, sweeter finish.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 260 kcal
• Sugar: 18 g
• Sodium: 250 mg
• Fat: 14 g
• Saturated Fat: 2 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 32 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 3 g
• Cholesterol: 45 mg