This Baked Pumpkin Donuts Recipe Is the Perfect Fall ‘Lazy Dessert’
Make a dozen delicious donuts with very little effort.
From lattes to pies, the pumpkin food craze is in full swing — and it won’t let up until well into November. This gives you plenty of time to infuse your recipes with the vibrant, earthy fruit (that’s right: pumpkin is a fruit, not a vegetable!). The list of foods that could use a seasonal orange touch is long, but you should make sure to add donuts to yours. Although apple cider donuts are already a fall staple, baked pumpkin donuts are just as tasty. Plus, you can make them at home with less than five ingredients by following this recipe.
How To Make Baked Pumpkin Donuts
Cake donuts are your best bet for a quick version of this dessert that doesn’t involve kneading or rolling out dough. Food and lifestyle blogger LORAfied (@lorafied on TikTok) shares a pumpkin donuts recipe, the two main ingredients of which are boxed cake mix and pumpkin puree. Instead of deep-frying the donuts, she bakes them to avoid grease splatters and save on calories; once baked, the donuts get dipped in cinnamon sugar. This recipe will come in handy if you’re looking for a yummy but speedy fall treat to make with your kids or grandkids.
Ingredients:
- 1 (15.25-ounce) box spice cake mix
- 1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin puree
- ½ cup white sugar
- 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
- Non-stick cooking spray
Directions:
- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 12 to 14 mins
- Total time: 29 mins
- Yield: 12 donuts
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- In bowl, combine cake mix and pumpkin puree until thick batter forms. Spray two 6-ring donut pans with cooking spray. Fill large plastic bag with batter; snip off corner. Pipe batter into donut pans.
- Bake for 12 to 14 minutes, until golden brown and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Allow donuts to cool 1 to 2 minutes before carefully removing from pan and placing on wire rack.
- In small bowl, mix together cinnamon and sugar. Dip each donut into cinnamon sugar. Serve on plate and enjoy.
My Taste Test
Before I even tasted these donuts, the recipe had won me over with its simplicity. After actually making them, I remained impressed: The donuts’ soft and tender texture was delightfully chewy, while the pumpkin’s naturally sweet flavor complemented the warming, spiced taste of the cake mix. The cinnamon sugar coating provided the donuts with an additional layer of sweetness that wasn’t overpowering.
Ultimately, the versatility of pumpkin and the ease of this recipe are a match made in heaven. As someone who loves “lazy desserts,” I’m bookmarking this one for times when I need a pumpkin-flavored treat to satisfy my sweet tooth.
