Irresistible Baked Pumpkin Donuts with Spiced Glaze: Your Ultimate Fall Treat

Embrace the cozy essence of autumn with these incredibly moist Baked Pumpkin Donuts. Bursting with warm, inviting spices and generously coated in a decadent spiced glaze, these delightful treats are the perfect companion for a steaming cup of coffee or a refreshing glass of milk. As the air turns crisp and leaves begin to change, there’s truly nothing quite like the comforting aroma of homemade pumpkin donuts baking in your kitchen to set the perfect fall mood.

The much-anticipated pumpkin season is officially here, and we’ve got a treat that will make your taste buds sing! Forget the rush to the local donut shop; these fluffy, homemade baked pumpkin donuts offer a superior experience, filling your home with an intoxicating aroma that store-bought pastries simply can’t match. This easy fall breakfast recipe is designed to help you kick off the season right, combining simplicity with unparalleled flavor.

Discover the Magic of Homemade Baked Pumpkin Donuts with Spiced Glaze

There’s an undeniable charm to homemade pumpkin donuts that captivates everyone who takes a bite. Each donut is a testament to delicious pumpkin flavor, perfectly complemented by a rich, spiced vanilla glaze. These aren’t just donuts; they’re a craving satisfier, delivering that quintessential fall warmth with every mouthful.

Our journey with this delightful pumpkin donut recipe began back in 2015. Initially, the plan was to simply roll the freshly baked donuts in a classic cinnamon sugar topping. However, a moment of inspiration struck – why not elevate them with a unique glaze? While a pumpkin-infused glaze crossed my mind, I decided to lean into the cozy warmth of fall spices, opting for a distinct spiced donut glaze instead. This decision, I happily report, was nothing short of brilliant! The spiced glaze transformed these donuts from merely good to absolutely phenomenal.

If you’re a donut enthusiast, you’ll also love exploring some of our other favorite recipes: Double Chocolate Baked Donuts, Powdered Sugar Donuts, and Baked Banana Donuts. Each offers a unique flavor profile to satisfy any donut craving.

Essential Ingredients for Your Pumpkin Glazed Donuts

Gathering your ingredients is the first step to creating these delectable fall treats. For precise measurements and detailed instructions, refer to the full recipe card towards the end of this post. Here’s what you’ll need to make these easy and irresistible donuts:

For the Donuts:

• Vegetable Oil: Provides moisture and helps create a tender crumb.
• Eggs: Act as a binder and add richness to the donut batter.
• Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the donuts to perfection.
• Pumpkin Puree: The star ingredient, bringing authentic pumpkin flavor and incredible moisture. Be sure to use pure pumpkin puree and NOT pumpkin pie filling, which contains added sugars and spices.
• Baking Powder: Our leavening agent, ensuring fluffy, well-risen donuts.
• Warm Spices: A blend of Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Ginger, and Cloves creates that signature fall flavor. For convenience, you can substitute these individual spices with a good quality Pumpkin Pie Spice blend.
• Salt: A pinch of salt balances the sweetness and enhances all the flavors.
• All-Purpose Flour: The structural base for our donut batter.

For the Spiced Donut Glaze:

• Powdered Sugar: Also known as confectioner’s sugar, it forms the sweet and smooth base of our glaze.
• Milk: Any type of milk (dairy or non-dairy) will work to achieve the desired glaze consistency.
• Vanilla Extract: Opt for pure vanilla extract; its rich, aromatic flavor truly makes a difference in the glaze.
• Additional Spices: A touch of Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Ginger, and Cloves (or pumpkin pie spice) in the glaze amplifies the overall spiced warmth, creating a perfect complement to the pumpkin donuts themselves.

Your Step-by-Step Guide to Making Glazed Baked Pumpkin Donuts

Creating these delightful pumpkin spice donuts is wonderfully straightforward, ensuring you can enjoy a perfect fall breakfast or snack with minimal effort. Follow these simple steps for a truly rewarding baking experience:

Step 1: Prepare Your Oven and Pan. Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175°C). While the oven heats, lightly spray your donut pan with a nonstick cooking spray. This crucial step prevents sticking and ensures your donuts release easily, maintaining their perfect shape. If you don’t have a donut pan, a muffin tin can be used by placing small balls of aluminum foil in the center of each muffin cup to create the donut hole shape.

Step 2: Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, preferably using a stand mixer or a hand mixer, combine the pumpkin puree, vegetable oil, eggs, and sugar. Mix these wet ingredients until they are well blended and smooth. Next, add in your warm fall spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, or pumpkin pie spice), baking powder, and salt. Mix again until just combined. Finally, gradually add the all-purpose flour, mixing on low speed until the flour is just incorporated into the batter. Be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to tough donuts.

Step 3: Fill the Donut Pan and Bake. Carefully spoon about 3-4 tablespoons of the prepared donut batter into each section of your greased donut pan. A piping bag with a wide tip or a zip-top bag with the corner snipped off can make this process much cleaner and easier, ensuring even distribution. Bake for 13-15 minutes, or until a wooden toothpick inserted into the thickest part of a donut comes out clean, indicating they are fully cooked. The donuts should be lightly golden brown and spring back when gently pressed.

Step 4: Cool Your Baked Donuts. Once baked, remove the donut pan from the oven. Allow the donuts to cool in the pan for just a couple of minutes before gently transferring them to a wire cooling rack. This brief cooling period in the pan helps them firm up slightly, making them easier to handle without breaking. Let them cool on the wire rack for another few minutes while you prepare the glaze.

Step 5: Prepare and Apply the Spiced Glaze. In a separate bowl, whisk together all the glaze ingredients: powdered sugar, milk, vanilla extract, and the additional fall spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves). For the best results and an optimal pourable consistency, heat the glaze in the microwave for a few seconds until it’s slightly warm and perfectly smooth just before you’re ready to dunk the donuts. Take each slightly warm donut, carefully dunk its top into the spiced glaze, allowing any excess to drip off, then return it to the wire rack. Let the glaze set for a few minutes before serving. The slight warmth of the donut helps the glaze adhere beautifully.

For a different presentation or if you prefer a lighter coating, you can easily transfer the prepared glaze to a piping bag (or a sturdy plastic bag with a corner snipped off) and artfully drizzle it over the tops of the donuts. Alternatively, if you’re looking for a classic alternative to glaze, these baked pumpkin donuts are equally delicious when tossed in a simple cinnamon sugar mixture while still warm from the oven. Regardless of your chosen topping, these homemade pumpkin donuts are sure to be a hit!

Enjoy the fruits of your labor and savor every bite of these delightful autumn treats!

Tips for Storing Your Delicious Pumpkin Glazed Donuts

These baked pumpkin donuts are exceptionally moist, and for the very best experience, we highly recommend enjoying them fresh, ideally on the day they are made. The delicate balance of moisture in the donut and the sweetness of the glaze is at its peak immediately after preparation.

If you do have leftovers, be aware that storing them in an airtight container can cause the glaze to become overly gooey and the donuts to absorb too much moisture, leading to a soggy texture. To minimize this, once the glaze has fully set, it’s best to leave them on a baking rack and lightly cover them with a clean tea towel. This allows some air circulation while still protecting them. They will maintain their quality at room temperature for about 1-2 days this way.

Should you wish to prepare a batch in advance or save some for later, freezing is an excellent option. To freeze, allow the baked donuts to cool completely after baking, but before applying the glaze. Arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Once frozen, transfer them to an airtight freezer-safe bag or container. They can be stored for up to 2-3 months. When you’re ready to enjoy them, thaw the donuts at room temperature and then prepare and apply the spiced glaze as instructed. This method ensures they retain their wonderful texture upon thawing.

Loved This Recipe? Pin It for Later!

If these easy Baked Pumpkin Donuts have captured your heart, make sure to save this recipe! Pin it to your favorite Pinterest recipe board so you can easily find it whenever that autumn craving strikes. Sharing is caring, and we’d love for you to share the joy of these delicious homemade treats!

Unlock Authentic Pumpkin Spice Flavor in All Your Fall Baking

The secret to truly vibrant fall flavors lies in the quality of your spices. Elevate all your autumn-inspired dishes with homemade pumpkin pie spice! Crafting your own blend is not only more economical than purchasing it from the store, but it also allows you to customize the freshness and intensity of each spice. Once you experience the difference, we guarantee you’ll want to sprinkle it on everything!

Beyond these delightful donuts, homemade pumpkin pie spice is fantastic in pancakes, waffles, or even simply sprinkled over sliced apples or pears for a quick, wholesome, and sweet treat. It’s an indispensable blend for any fall kitchen.

Explore More Irresistible Pumpkin Recipes for the Season

If you’re as enamored with pumpkin as we are, you’re in for a treat! The versatility of pumpkin shines in a wide array of dishes, from comforting baked goods to refreshing beverages. Dive into our collection of other fantastic pumpkin-inspired recipes that are perfect for celebrating the fall season:

• Pumpkin Spice Banana Muffins (pictured above) – A delightful combination of two classic flavors.
• Pumpkin White Russian Cocktail – A sophisticated and festive drink for cooler evenings.
• Apple Pumpkin Strudel – A flaky, fruity, and spiced dessert that’s perfect for gatherings.
• The BEST Pumpkin Bread – A timeless classic, moist and perfectly spiced.
• Savory Pumpkin Cheese Dip with Bacon – A surprising savory twist, excellent for appetizers.
• Pumpkin Zucchini Streusel Bread – Combining vegetables with indulgence for a healthier, delicious loaf.
• Pumpkin Cheesecake Swirl Brownies – Rich, decadent, and beautifully marbled.
• Cinderella Cake (Pumpkin Bundt Cake) – A show-stopping cake, elegant and full of flavor.
• Pumpkin Spice Latte – Recreate your favorite coffee shop drink at home.

We hope you’ll fully embrace the delightful fall season and find immense joy in baking and savoring these yummy pumpkin doughnuts. Don’t forget to let us know how much you loved them!

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Glazed Baked Pumpkin Donuts

Moist Baked Pumpkin Donuts, bursting with warm spices and generously coated in a spiced glaze, are the perfect pairing for a hot cup of coffee or a cold glass of milk. These delicious baked donuts are an essential treat for every cool fall morning.

Prep Time: 10 mins | Cook Time: 15 mins | Total Time: 25 mins

Course: Donuts & Pastries | Cuisine: American | Keyword: baked donuts, fall donuts, Glazed Baked Pumpkin Donuts, glazed donuts, pumpkin cake donuts, pumpkin donuts, pumpkin glaze

Servings: 1 1/2 Dozen Donuts | Calories: 194 kcal | Author: Michaela Kenkel

Equipment

• Rubber Spatulas
• Glass Batter Bowl
• Kitchenaid Stand Mixer
• KitchenAid Hand Mixer
• Wilton Non-Stick 6-Cavity Donut Baking Pans, 2-Count

Ingredients

• FOR THE DONUTS:
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 3 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 1/2 cups pumpkin puree (do NOT use pumpkin pie filling)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 3/4 cups + 2 Tablespoons all purpose flour
• FOR THE SPICED DONUT GLAZE:
• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 3-4 Tablespoons milk
• 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/8 teaspoon ginger
• 1/8 teaspoon cloves

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175°C) and spray your donut pan with non-stick cooking spray.
2. In your mixer, combine pumpkin, oil, eggs, and sugar. Add in spices, baking powder, and salt; mix until combined. Slowly add in flour, and mix until just incorporated.
3. Spoon about 3-4 Tablespoons of donut batter into each donut section. Bake for 13-15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
4. Remove from the pan and let cool on a wire rack for a couple of minutes.
5. Whisk Glaze ingredients together, and heat in the microwave until warm right before you dunk the donuts. Dunk the top of each donut, return to the rack, and let the glaze set.

Notes

• These donuts are best when eaten right away. To prevent the glaze from getting gooey and the donuts from becoming soggy, do not cover or seal them in an airtight container immediately. Instead, leave them on the baking rack, and once the glaze is set, you may lightly cover them with a tea towel.
• You can replace the individual spices in both the donuts and the glaze with an equal amount of good quality pumpkin pie spice if preferred. Here is the link to my Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice recipe.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 194kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 32mg | Sodium: 125mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 27g

This recipe was originally published on October 11, 2015. It has been thoroughly updated and re-shared on September 20, 2022, to enhance user experience, provide more detailed instructions, and optimize for the best possible results.

For those interested in the exact tools used, many have asked where to purchase my specific donut pan — you can conveniently grab one HERE!