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    Home » Dessert

    The Best Baked Pumpkin Donuts Recipe

    Published: Jun 26, 2019 · Modified: Jan 27, 2021 by Shadi HasanzadeNemati · This post may contain affiliate links .

    2296 shares
    • 4
    Jump to Recipe

    These are the best pumpkin donuts you'll ever taste! Baked Pumpkin Donuts are so simple and can be made in less than an hour using basic ingredients that are already in your pantry.

    We are already super excited about fall and can't wait to make some of our favorite pumpkin recipes such as pumpkin pie brownies , Pumpkin Pull Apart Bread and pumpkin cheesecake bars. These would make perfect fall desserts and you can serve them with a warm cup of tea or coffee. 

    Baked Pumpkin Donuts are so simple and can be made in less than an hour using basic ingredients that are already in your pantry. From UnicornsintheKitchen.com

    A delicious way to use pumpkin

    There's so much you can make with pumpkin in fall and one of them is this healthy pumpkin donut recipe which is perfect for an afternoon with a cup of tea or coffee. Donuts baked in a donut pan are super easy to make and my family loves them!

    Fall is all about pumpkins, apples and baking. Have you gone pumpkin picking yet? Speaking of pumpkins, how do you like baked pumpkin goods? I'm a big fan and I go beyond pumpkin pie. After all,  pumpkin season is short so I try to make as many pumpkin treats as possible, hopefully we'll get to make my favorite pumpkin bread pudding and pumpkin pancakes again, but first let's talk more about these tasty and healthy baked donuts. 

    Baked Pumpkin Donuts are so simple and can be made in less than an hour using basic ingredients that are already in your pantry. From UnicornsintheKitchen.com

    Baked or fried pumpkin donuts?

    Like my pumpkin banana bread, these baked pumpkin donuts are quite healthy recipe. They have a cake-y texture that fried pumpkin donuts don't have. They're airy and fluffy and stay that way for at least 4-5 days, though they disappear faster than that.

    This healthy donut recipe uses very little oil compared to the fried version and there is also less mess involved thanks to baking. These pumpkin donuts scream fall in every bite and they're lightly sweetened so they're perfect for a midday or afternoon snack. 

    Why this recipe works

    • There is only ¼ cup of oil in the whole recipe.
    • They're baked which means there's no mess with frying.
    • These donuts super fluffy thanks to buttermilk. I always make buttermilk at home by mixing 1 cup milk with 2 tablespoons white vinegar and set it aside for 10 minutes. This amount equals one cup of buttermilk.

    Ingredients 

    You need the following ingredients to make pumpkin donuts:

    • Vegetable oil 
    • Eggs
    • Buttermilk
    • Granulated sugar
    • Brown sugar
    • Pumpkin puree
    • Pumpkin pie spice
    • All purpose flour, baking powder and baking soda

    You can use store-bought or homemade buttermilk for this recipe. To make homemade buttermilk, mix 1 cup of milk with two tablespoons of lemon juice or white vinegar. Let it sit for 10 minutes and use it in the recipe. I prefer using canned pumpkin puree for this baked pumpkin donuts recipe because it has less moisture compared to homemade pumpkin puree. 

    Baked Pumpkin Donuts are so simple and can be made in less than an hour using basic ingredients that are already in your pantry. From UnicornsintheKitchen.com

    Instructions

    Mix vegetable oil and sugar well then add the buttermilk and continue by adding the eggs one by one. Add in pumpkin puree and mix well.

    Then add all the dry ingredients and mix using a whisk or a wooden spoon. Once the batter is ready, fill donut molds and bake in the oven for about 15 minutes. This is an easy donut recipe that you will want to make over and over!

    The batter of these healthy baked doughnuts is quite forgiving. You can use either canned pumpkin or pumpkin puree. Don't forget to use pumpkin pie spice but if you don't have it, a combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and all spice would work, too. Or, you can make your own homemade pumpkin pie spice. Check out this pumpkin pie spice mix by Epicurious.

    Storing instructions

    Place cooled pumpkin donuts in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days. You can reheat them for a few minutes in the oven if you like them warm. 

    Baked Pumpkin Donuts are so simple and can be made in less than an hour using basic ingredients that are already in your pantry. From UnicornsintheKitchen.com

    Notes and tips

    • Use a doughnut pan and pour the batter in a piping/pastry bag, and then fill the doughnut pan. You can also scoop the batter with a spoon and fill the pan if a pastry bag isn't available.
    • Before filling the pan, make sure you have coated it with non stick spray every time.
    • You can dust these baked donuts with powdered sugar or top them with this delicious maple glaze.
    • Let the donuts cool in the pan for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack.
    • If you have extra pumpkin puree left, make this pumpkin smoothie for breakfast, it's quick, easy and perfect for a fall morning.

    Baked Pumpkin Donuts are so simple and can be made in less than an hour using basic ingredients that are already in your pantry. From UnicornsintheKitchen.com

    Step-by-Step Recipe

    Healthy Baked Pumpkin Donuts

    Shadi HasanzadeNemati
    Baked Pumpkin Donuts are so simple and can be made in less than an hour using basic ingredients that are already in your pantry.
    5 from 20 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 45 minutes mins
    Total Time 55 minutes mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 24 Donuts
    Calories 110 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • ¼ cup Vegetable Oil
    • 3 Eggs
    • ⅓ cup Buttermilk mix ⅓ cup milk + 1 tablespoon white vinegar or lemon juice and let it sit for 10 minutes
    • ¾ cup White Sugar
    • ½ cup Brown Sugar
    • 1 ½ cup Pumpkin Puree
    • 1 teaspoon Pumpkin Pie Spice
    • ½ teaspoon Baking Powder
    • ½ teaspoon Baking Soda
    • 2 ⅓ cup All Purpose Flour

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat the oven to 350F. Coat a donut pan with non stick spray.
    • Mix oil and sugar in a large bowl. Add in buttermilk and mix well.
    •  Add in the eggs one by one, mix well after adding each egg. Then add the pumpkin puree. Mix well.
    • Add in all dry ingredients and mix using a wooden spoon or a spatula until combined. Don't over mix.
    • Fill the donut molds to two thirds and bake in the oven for 15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the donut comes out clean. let cool for 5 minutes then take the donuts out.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 110kcal
    Did you make this recipe? Let us know how it was by leaving a comment and a 5-star review!

     

     

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    2296 shares
    • 4

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lois. O

      October 20, 2017 at 9:28 am

      5 stars
      If I eat 10 of these in one sitting will it still count as healthy... asking for a friend. She really loves doughnuts, and these look really yummy.

      Reply
      • Shadi HasanzadeNemati

        October 23, 2017 at 8:39 am

        Yes my friend 😀 It will still count as healthy 😀

        Reply
    2. Ashley @ Big Flavors from a Tiny Kitchen

      October 20, 2017 at 7:55 am

      This is the perfect excuse to break out my donut pan! And it's always great to have more ways to use those partial containers of buttermilk that tend to linger in the fridge. YUM!

      Reply
      • Shadi HasanzadeNemati

        October 23, 2017 at 8:38 am

        Buttermilk makes donuts so fluffy! 😀

        Reply
    3. Lisa | Garlic + Zest

      October 20, 2017 at 6:56 am

      5 stars
      Ok, I admit it. I've never made doughnuts -- unless beignets count -- which I think they kind of do. I just don't have a doughnut pan - so I think I'll have to look into getting one. I love that these are baked instead of fried and the texture looks absolutely perfect for dunking in a cup of coffee. I think I might sprinkle a little cinnamon sugar on top for added spice and crunch - what do you think?

      Reply
      • Shadi HasanzadeNemati

        October 23, 2017 at 8:36 am

        I've never made beignets! They do count as donuts! 😀 Having a donut pan is great because you can make baked donuts all the time which have no mess! Cinnamon sugar on top sounds awesome! I will definitely do that next time!

        Reply
    4. Veena Azmanov

      October 19, 2017 at 12:23 pm

      5 stars
      My son is a huge fan of doughnuts so often I make the baked instead of deep fried version. I love trying new recipes so saving this for later. can't wait to try it. Love the golden color.

      Reply
      • Shadi HasanzadeNemati

        October 23, 2017 at 8:33 am

        Baked donuts are so good! Hope you love these!

        Reply
    5. Ben Myhre

      October 19, 2017 at 5:18 am

      I haven't met a doughnut I didn't like.

      Reply
      • Shadi HasanzadeNemati

        October 19, 2017 at 6:01 am

        Same here! 😀

        Reply
        • Mary

          November 15, 2020 at 1:19 pm

          5 stars
          Love these donuts. I can't seem to find the maple glazed frosting recipe. Also is the buttermilk recipe correct? I thought it was a tblp. To one cup.

        • Shadi HasanzadeNemati

          January 27, 2021 at 11:48 am

          Thank you Mary, here is the recipe for maple glazed donuts, you can find the recipe for the glaze in the recipe card:
          https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/2014/09/17/maple-glazed-donuts/
          As for the buttermilk, I always add a bit more lemon juice or vinegar to have it on the tangy side.

    6. Camilla Hawkins

      October 18, 2017 at 8:38 am

      5 stars
      I have never made my own donuts and seeing your delicious creations makes me think I need to fix this situation!

      Reply
      • Shadi HasanzadeNemati

        October 19, 2017 at 5:59 am

        Hope you love it!

        Reply
    7. Amanda

      October 18, 2017 at 8:24 am

      5 stars
      I just came across my doughnut pan in my drawer the other day and thought to myself that I don't use it enough. Can't wait to make your recipe! This looks like the perfect doughnut for fall. The texture looks fantastic and your photos are absolutely beautiful, Shadi!

      Reply
      • Shadi HasanzadeNemati

        October 19, 2017 at 5:55 am

        Thank you so much Amanda! Hope you love them! <3

        Reply
    8. Sandi

      October 18, 2017 at 8:18 am

      5 stars
      I love that these donuts are baked Shadi! They look delicious.

      Reply
      • Shadi HasanzadeNemati

        October 19, 2017 at 5:52 am

        Thank you Sandi! They're our favorite!

        Reply
    9. Jenni LeBaron

      October 18, 2017 at 7:34 am

      5 stars
      I'm so thrilled it's pumpkin season again. These look fantastic. I'd love to dunk them in a cuppa.

      Reply
      • Shadi HasanzadeNemati

        October 18, 2017 at 8:00 am

        Isn't pumpkin season the best? 😀

        Reply
    10. Suzy | The Mediterranean Dish

      October 18, 2017 at 7:24 am

      What a great recipe! And I love the photos!

      Reply
      • Shadi HasanzadeNemati

        October 18, 2017 at 7:57 am

        Thank you Suzy! <3

        Reply
    11. Jenn

      October 12, 2017 at 12:10 pm

      I look forward to pumpkin donuts every year. These look incredible!

      Reply
      • unicornsinthekitchen@gmail.com

        October 12, 2017 at 12:57 pm

        Thank you so much! I love pumpkin donuts!

        Reply
    12. Ali Randall

      October 12, 2017 at 11:55 am

      5 stars
      This recipe looks easy and something I can do. I just need to order a donut pan and get started. It's been in my cart for a while, now I just need this recipe. Looks delicious.

      Reply
      • unicornsinthekitchen@gmail.com

        October 12, 2017 at 12:56 pm

        Baked donuts are a favorite of ours, hope you like this recipe!

        Reply
    13. Lisa

      October 12, 2017 at 11:41 am

      These are a brilliant idea! I have tried baked donoughts before and struggles, so can't wait to try your recipe! Thanks

      Reply
      • unicornsinthekitchen@gmail.com

        October 12, 2017 at 12:56 pm

        Hope you like this recipe!

        Reply
    14. Dahn

      October 12, 2017 at 11:27 am

      I have days that I just CRAVE a donut but abstain because of the fat and calories. These are so perfect, low fat in the batter and baked for even fewer calories. I love it.

      Reply
      • unicornsinthekitchen@gmail.com

        October 12, 2017 at 12:55 pm

        I have those cravings sometimes so I totally get you!

        Reply
    15. Elizabeth

      October 12, 2017 at 11:03 am

      5 stars
      Mmm these sound lovely! I need to get one of those lovely little doughnut pans so I can make them!

      Reply
      • unicornsinthekitchen@gmail.com

        October 12, 2017 at 12:55 pm

        These pans are really good! They're so easy to use!

        Reply
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