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Baked Pumpkin Donuts (Easy Recipe)

Tender Baked Pumpkin Donuts recipe combines warm fall spices with a drizzle of sweet cream cheese glaze. These homemade pumpkin donuts will disappear faster than the 10 minutes it takes them to bake.

Top shot of a pumpkin donut on a white plate sitting on a striped towel with a pan of donuts, bowl of pecans sitting next to it.

Do you think it’s difficult make homemade pumpkin donuts? Not this pumpkin donut recipe. It takes 10 minutes to mix the batter and 10 minutes to bake them up.

The truth is that I love pastries and doughnuts for breakfast. So, when I mix up a batch, I’m in heaven while everyone else feels special as well. Win win!

Glass pitcher pouring glaze on a pumpkin donut sitting on a white plate. A pan of donuts sit behind it.

Items needed to make the best baked Pumpkin Donut recipe!

  • Donut pans – These non-stick donut pans are so easy to use and the baked donuts pop right out.
  • Cooling racks – I love these large racks. I can get an entire batch of cookies on one and they’re tough enough to hold large loaves of bread. It fits into my half-sheet pan for baking bacon too!

Don’t have a donut pan? You can make this Pumpkin Donut mini muffin pan too!

Ingredients in these Pumpkin Donuts with Cream Cheese Glaze:

Pumpkin Donut Recipe Ingredients

  • Flour – all-purpose flour
  • Sugar
  • Brown Sugar – I prefer the dark variety but you can use lite or dark.
  • Pumpkin Pie Spice
  • Baking Soda
  • Eggs – Grade A, large is what I use.
  • Salt – Fine sea salt is my favorite but table salt is perfectly fine.
  • Pumpkin – pumpkin puree not pumpkin pie filling.
  • Applesauce – any variety. I prefer no sugar added variety.

Pumpkin Donut Glaze Ingredients

  • Cream Cheese – You can use regular or light versions.
  • Powdered Sugar – also called confectioners sugar.
  • Milk – Any variety including milk alternatives
  • Vanilla Extract – Pure or imitation
  • Pecans – optional garnish
Top down photo of a pumpkin donut with cream cheese glaze and garnished with pecans on a white plate over a striped green napkin. A baking sheet of more donuts sit in the background.

How to make Pumpkin Donuts

  1. Preheat the oven and spray the donut pan with non-stick cooking spray.
  2. In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, brown sugar, salt, baking soda, and pumpkin pie spice. Whisk together and set aside.
  3. In a medium-sized bowl, combine eggs, pumpkin, and applesauce.
  4. Pour the wet ingredients into the center of the dry ingredients. Stir until combined.
  5. Fold the pecans into the batter.
  6. Fill a pastry bag or a plastic bag with batter. Snip off a corner of the bag and fill the donut pan cavities. Using the back of a spoon, smooth the batter.
  7. Bake and cool.
  8. Prepar the glaze and drizzle the baked pumpkin pecan dounuts right before serving.

How to bake perfect baked donuts every time!

As you can see in the video, this batter is fairly thick. If you make any substitutions, pay attention to the consistency of the batter. It’s like a pancake batter on the thicker side.

Tips to make the perfect Baked Pumpkin donuts:

  • This pumpkin donut recipe makes 11 to 12 donuts. I recommend using 2 6-donut pans and bake them at the same time. If you only have one pan, allow the pan to cool between batches.
  • If you are using one pan, refrigerate the batter between batches.
  • Be sure to spray the pan thoroughly between batches.
  • If you use a piping bag to fill your pan, use a new one between filling. Trying to fill a used bag is a mess. Also, don’t cut the hole in the bag too small. You’ll have to squeeze it to death to get this thick batter out.
  • Don’t glaze the donuts until you are ready to eat them. They will become soggy.
Pumpkin Donut with blaze and chopped pecans with a section cut out showing the center.

Easy Donut Recipe Substitutions and Variations

  • Add Chocolate Chips for a real people pleaser!
  • Not a pecan fan? Leave them out or substitute them with another nut such as walnuts, peanuts or macadamia.
  • Skip the glaze and dust with powdered sugar or cinnamon sugar.
  • Glaze and sprinkle with toasted coconut or SPRINKLES!
  • Don’t have applesauce? Increase the pumpkin by the same amount.

How to Store Pumpkin Spice Donuts

Baked pumpkin donuts can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container before they’re glazed for 3 to 4 days.

Glazed pumpkin donuts should be kept in a single layer in an airtight container in the refrigerator to keep them from getting soggy.

Unglazed donuts freeze amazingly well for up to 3 months in an airtight container.

Can this recipe for pumpkin donuts be made ahead of time?

Yes, this recipe for baked donuts can be made ahead of time! Bake the donuts the day before and store in an airtight container and glaze right before eating.

Make the batter the day before and store covered in the refrigerator. Bake and glaze when you’re ready.

I love to make a double batch and freeze one for overnight guests. They love fresh homemade pumpkin donuts!

If you enjoyed this pumpkin donut recipe, here are a few more recipes you may like

Don’t Forget To Come Back And Let Me Know How liked my Pumpkin Donuts Recipe!

Top down photo of a pumpkin donut with cream cheese glaze and garnished with pecans on a white plate over a striped green napkin. A baking sheet of more donuts sit in the background.

Baked Pumpkin Donut Recipe with Cream Cheese Glaze

Author: Julie Menghini
Baked Pumpkin Pecan Donuts with Cream Cheese Glaze are soft, tender, and delicious. This pumpkin spice donut takes 10 minutes to bake and 2 seconds to devour.
5 from 6 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Keyword: baking, breakfast, Donuts, pumpkin
Servings: 12

Ingredients
  

Doughnuts

  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 3/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 3/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice
  • 1/4 cup chopped pecans plus additional for optional garnish
  • 2 eggs beaten
  • 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
  • 1/2 cup applesauce

Pumpkin Donut Glaze

  • 2 oz cream cheese
  • 3/4 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 3 tbs milk or cream

Garnish with additional pecans if desired.

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a Donut Pan with non-stick cooking spray.
  • In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, brown sugar, salt, baking soda, and pumpkin pie spice.
  • In a medium-sized bowl, combine eggs, pumpkin, and applesauce.
  • Pour the wet ingredients into the center of the dry ingredients. Stir until combined.
  • Fold the pecans into the batter.
  • Fill a pastry bag or a plastic bag with batter. Snip off a corner of the bag and fill the donut pan cavities. Using the back of a spoon, smooth the batter.
  • Bake 8-10 minutes, turning the pan at the 5-minute mark. Donuts are done when a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
  • Remove the donuts immediately from the pan to a cooling rack.
  • Combine cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and enough milk to make a thin glaze. Drizzle each donut and sprinkle with additional pecans.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 212kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 4gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 39mgSodium: 160mgFiber: 1gSugar: 25g

Nutritional Disclaimer

This recipe was calculated using the exact brands and measurements I used to make this recipe. If you are following a strict diet please note changing anything will cause the nutritional info to change. My calculations are intended as a guide only.

Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!

Pin these Pumpkin Donuts to your favorite board!

Two photo collage for Pinterest. The top photo is Top down photo of a pumpkin donut with cream cheese glaze and garnished with pecans on a white plate over a striped green napkin. A baking sheet of more donuts sit in the background. The bottom photo is a broken open donut showing the tender center.

This pumpkin donut post was updated to improve my reader’s experience. No changes were made to the recipe.

5 from 6 votes (5 ratings without comment)
Recipe Rating




Sally Tieso

Wednesday 26th of May 2021

We tried these donuts on Mother's Day and they were a huge hit. They're perfect with just a cup of java any time.

Amy

Wednesday 18th of September 2019

Oh my goodness, these were heavenly! I love all things pumpkin, and the crunch of the pecans and cream cheese glaze were perfect!

Julie Menghini

Friday 20th of September 2019

Thank you Amy! We loved them too!

Nikki

Tuesday 17th of September 2019

These are going to be breakfast Thanksgiving morning! Delicious!

Julie Menghini

Friday 20th of September 2019

Thank you Nikki!

Kylee from Kylee Cooks

Sunday 15th of September 2019

wow - just 10 minutes? that's amazing!!

Julie Menghini

Friday 20th of September 2019

That makes my impatient donut loving self very happy LOL!

Brandi Burgess

Saturday 14th of September 2019

The best Fall dessert! Love these!

Julie Menghini

Saturday 14th of September 2019

I agree, Brandi!

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