Spice cake mix baked pumpkin donuts baked in the oven + homemade recipe are so easy with no deep frying required. Healthier from scratch or super easy cake mix recipe variety we love to make during the weekends and for holidays.
These aren’t just to be fried or bought at a store. They are quite easy to make at home with a pan and in the oven, eliminating the grease. Plus you can make whatever flavor you want, and top with anything you’d like. Just one pumpkin dessert recipe we love. (post may contain affiliate links present)
Baked Pumpkin Doughnuts
We love pumpkin anything, and not just during Oct. – Nov. seasons. You can make boxed moist pumpkin bread but these homemade baked pumpkin donuts might just hit the spot for some extra special morning fun.
Follow this recipe and use a donut pan to create your own yummies at home. You’ll be amazed at just how easy cake donuts are to make yourself at home. This spiced mix really is quite versatile, we have made all sorts of things with it from Pumpkin Bars with Cake Mix to muffins, blondies and more.
with Cake Mix
To make this deliciously easy breakfast creation you are going to need the following ingredients: If you are making this as cake mix donuts you would want spice version + 2 eggs + 3/4 c buttermilk + 4 tbsp pumpkin puree. Whisked together you will have the batter you need to bake in a donut pan.
Homemade
We have exact ingredients necessary to make these from scratch below. Pumpkin puree can either canned or you can make Instant Pot pumpkin, blend with a bit of pumpkin pie spice and use that. I will say that we have done both, and there isn’t a huge difference in flavor or texture.
with Refrigerated Biscuits
If you didn’t want to go all out and just wanted to make a Fall flavored glaze instead I would start by making air fryer biscuit donuts. Then whisk powdered sugar, a bit of milk until thick and then incorporate pumpkin puree or extract until it is the right consistency to pour over the top of them to coat.
For homemade or with boxed mix you will need to use a donut pan and a wire rack for cooling + a medium bowl for mixing.
in Air Fryer
Preheat the air fryer at 400˚F for 5 minutes. Place donut mold (small enough to fit) in the air fryer and bake at 350˚F for 4-6 minutes or until firmed to the touch on top.
in the Ove
Below are instructions for the oven which is what is suggested. You can make a larger batch than air fried and come out more tender as well. I like to offer options though so try both and decide for yourself.
Can you make donuts with pumpkin bread mix?
You can use boxed pumpkin bread mix that is all around during the holidays if you aren’t into “from scratch”. Sometimes I’m in the mood and want to start from the beginning though. In this case you’d just add a bit less liquid for the mix to be thicker.
Donut Glaze
You can go simple for the cake mix donuts glaze and just mix about 1 c. powdered sugar with water. Slowly whisk until it is the thickness you want. Then add toppings…or you can melt chocolate too. Most of the time I use pint sized freezer bags and cut the tip off to pipe into a pan or use for frosting, but if I find these on sale I will buy them instead….it’s all about economics. lol
If you want to make the chocolate glaze mix ingredients listed in a bowl until smooth. When cool hold the edges and dip the top, place back on cooling rack. When cooled glaze, frost, or top as you’d like and enjoy away!
What to Serve With Donuts
These are fantastic just as is as you see here. You don’t have to use chocolate at all for the top if you don’t want to. I mean all sorts of things can be used as alternatives, or leave them plain. You could use a tub of ready made frosting and let the kids go to town decorating the tops once they are cooled. Another option is to just use cinnamon sugar sprinkle like our donut muffins did. Or just serve as is with a cup of Dalgona coffee and your morning will be perfection.
Don’t stop with our baked pumpkin donuts with glaze though! You can bake donuts of all kinds with this same pan too. If you want to get the kiddos involved you should. You could even bake our 2 ingredient pumpkin muffins in this pan.
Make an evening of it. Allow the kids to spoon on some frosting and a bunch of different candies on top. Makes for a yummy and fun afternoon for everyone.
Baked Pumpkin Donuts
Equipment
- 1 Bowl
Ingredients
- 2 c all purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
- 1/2 c vegetable oil
- 3/4 c brown sugar
- 2 eggs, room temperature
- 1 c pumpkin, canned, puree
- 1/3 c milk
- 1 tsp vanilla
- glaze, you can melt candy melts and pour over the top to harden once donuts are cooled or use below
- 1 c powdered sugar
- 3 tbsp cocoa powder
- 2 tbsp milk, or more to thin out
- 1 tsp vanilla
Instructions
- Baked Pumpkin Donuts – Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray donut pan with non stick spray.
- In a bowl mix dry ingredients together, in another whisk the wet ingredients together. Then slowly incorporate the two until combined.
- Add batter into a freezer bag or pastry bag. Cut off the tip and squeeze inside prepared donut pan. Do not fill more than halfway full to create the perfect donut shape with hole in the center.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes until outsides are lightly browned. Let cool in pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack.
- If you want to make glaze mix ingredients listed above in a bowl until smooth. When cool hold the edges and dip the top, place back on cooling rack.
Video
Notes
Cake Mix Pumpkin Donuts
- Mix together 1 box cake mix + 2 eggs + 3/4 c buttermilk + 4 tbsp pumpkin puree or butter (melted) in a bowl and mix together until smooth but thick.
- Spray donut pan and set into preheated oven at 350 F for 10 minutes.
- Cool in pan, melt candy melts or frosting, set on a cooling rack set on top of a baking pan and pour on top to coat, decorate each.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How do you keep cake donuts fresh?
Do not refrigerate them, they’ll dry out that way. It isn’t necessary either so instead wrap them individually in plastic wrap, then into a freezer bag together. Kept on the countertop they will keep moist for up to 4 days.
Sure! If you buy or make a bunch but can’t eat them all then allow them to cool and wrap in plastic wrap. Stack them in a gallon freezer bag until full and zip closed. Freeze flat and take out one at a time. To reheat them allow to come to room temperature instead of microwaving for best results.
