Pumpkin Spice Donuts: Easy Homemade Baked Donuts for Cozy Fall Mornings
Pumpkin spice donuts with cinnamon sugar coating are one of the best ways to celebrate fall flavors at home. These baked donuts come out soft and tender, filled with warm spices and real pumpkin purée. Rolling them in cinnamon sugar gives them that classic donut shop finish while keeping everything easy and homemade. This recipe includes both oven and air fryer methods, so you can make them whichever way works best for you.
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Why You’ll Love These Pumpkin Spice Donuts
This recipe is really straightforward, and the donuts are always a hit. The batter is simple to mix and uses familiar ingredients you probably already have. You can bake them in the oven or use the air fryer for a quicker option. Either way, you get that soft, spiced crumb you expect from a great donut.
The cinnamon sugar coating adds just the right sweetness and texture. They’re the kind of treat that feels special but doesn’t take much time or effort, making them ideal for any morning you want something warm and homemade.
They’re perfect for sharing with family over coffee, adding to a brunch table, or making ahead to enjoy during a busy week. If you’re in the mood for cozy fall baking, these donuts deliver all the flavor without any fuss.
Pro Tip: Mix the batter just until the dry ingredients are combined with the wet. Overmixing can make the donuts dense instead of soft and light. Keeping the mixing gentle is the easiest way to guarantee that perfect texture every time.
Variations and Ideas
You can easily change up the flavor or finish of these pumpkin spice donuts. Try adding a pinch of cardamom or extra ginger for an even spicier flavor. Swap the cinnamon sugar coating for a simple vanilla glaze if you prefer.
They store well in an airtight container for a couple of days, making them easy to bake ahead of time.
If you’re planning a seasonal menu or just want more cozy options to start the day, you’ll find plenty of inspiration in this full collection of Fall Breakfast Ideas, everything from baked goods to savory skillet recipes.
More Fall Baking Ideas
- This chocolate pumpkin patch brownie cake is fudgy, festive, and almost too pretty to cut into. The candy-coated strawberry pumpkins make it a perfect centerpiece for fall parties and holiday tables.
- These apple cider cookies are soft, warmly spiced, and finished with a rich brown sugar glaze that melts into every bite. They’re perfect for cozy fall weekends, bake sales, or anytime you want your kitchen to smell like cinnamon and cider.
- Pumpkin cottage cheese donuts are the ultimate high protein fall treat. Baked, fluffy, and rolled in cinnamon sugar, each donut has 7g of protein for a cozy snack or dessert you’ll crave all season.
- For a cozy fall baking, these pumpkin spice bagels hit the mark. Soft, chewy, and infused with warm spices and real pumpkin, they’re baked to golden perfection. Serve them with maple cream cheese or enjoy them fresh from the oven for a comforting breakfast that feels like a weekend treat any day of the week.
- These apple oatmeal raisin cookies are soft, chewy, and perfectly spiced, making them a timeless favorite. With their cozy flavor and just the right amount of sweetness, they’re the kind of cookie you’ll want to bake again and again.
Tried these Pumpkin Spice Donuts with Cinnamon Sugar Coating? Let me know how they turned out, what you loved, or any twists you added. I’d love to hear how you made it your own. Please don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave a comment.
Equipment
Ingredients
For the Donuts:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- ½ cup brown sugar packed
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup canned pumpkin purée (not pumpkin pie filling)
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup vegetable oil or melted butter
- ½ cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Cinnamon Sugar Coating:
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 ½ tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 4 tablespoons melted butter for brushing
Instructions
- Lightly grease two standard donut pans or silicone donut molds if using an air fryer. If you are planning to bake the donuts in the oven, start preheating the oven to 350℉
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves.
- In another bowl, whisk the brown sugar, granulated sugar, pumpkin purée, eggs, oil or melted butter, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir gently until just combined. Do not overmix. Spoon or pipe the batter evenly into the prepared donut pans, filling each cavity about ¾ full.
- Oven Method: Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the donuts cool in the pan for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
- Air Fryer Method: Place molds in the air fryer basket. Cook at 320°F for 8-10 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool in the molds for 5 minutes before removing.
- Mix the cinnamon sugar coating in a shallow bowl. While the donuts are still slightly warm, brush them with melted butter and roll generously in the cinnamon sugar mixture to coat all sides.
- Serve fresh or store in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
Notes
- Use canned pumpkin purée, not pumpkin pie filling.
- For extra depth of flavor, use melted butter instead of oil.
- Brushing with butter while warm ensures the cinnamon sugar sticks evenly.
