Spice cake mix baked pumpkin donuts baked in the oven are incredibly easy to make, with no deep frying required. This healthier approach, whether you’re baking from scratch or opting for a super simple cake mix recipe, makes these delightful treats a favorite for weekends and holidays alike. Dive into the cozy flavors of fall any time of the year with these perfectly spiced pumpkin donuts.

Forget the greasy mess of deep-fried pastries or the store-bought versions. Making homemade baked pumpkin donuts is surprisingly simple, requiring just a donut pan and an oven. This method not only significantly cuts down on oil but also allows for endless customization. You have the freedom to choose any flavor profile you desire and adorn them with your favorite toppings. These easy pumpkin donuts are truly a versatile and beloved dessert recipe. (This post may contain affiliate links.)
Indulge in Homemade Baked Pumpkin Donuts
Our love for all things pumpkin isn’t limited to just October and November. While boxed moist pumpkin bread is a classic, these homemade baked pumpkin donuts offer an extra special treat to kickstart your mornings or serve as a delightful dessert. They encapsulate the warmth and spice of autumn in every bite, making them irresistible year-round.
Follow our straightforward recipe below and utilize a donut pan to effortlessly create these delectable delights in your own kitchen. You’ll be astonished at how simple cake donuts are to prepare yourself. This spiced pumpkin mix is incredibly adaptable; we’ve used it to create a variety of treats, from Pumpkin Bars with Cake Mix to fluffy muffins, rich blondies, and much more. The possibilities are truly endless!

Effortless Baked Pumpkin Donuts with Cake Mix
For a deliciously easy breakfast or dessert, our cake mix version of these baked pumpkin donuts is a game-changer. You’ll need just a few simple ingredients to bring this autumn-inspired treat to life. If you’re opting for the cake mix donuts route, pick up a spice cake mix, then combine it with 2 eggs, 3/4 cup of buttermilk, and 4 tablespoons of rich pumpkin puree. Whisk these ingredients together until you achieve a smooth, consistent batter ready to be baked in your donut pan. This method saves time without compromising on flavor, delivering soft, moist pumpkin donuts every time.
Baked Pumpkin Donuts from Scratch
For those who love the satisfaction of baking entirely from scratch, our homemade recipe provides the exact measurements for a perfect batch of baked pumpkin donuts. The key ingredient, pumpkin puree, can be easily sourced from a can, or you can prepare your own fresh puree using an Instant Pot pumpkin, blended with a hint of pumpkin pie spice. We’ve experimented with both canned and homemade purees, and the good news is that there’s very little difference in the final flavor and texture, ensuring a delicious outcome regardless of your choice. Baking from scratch allows for even greater control over the ingredients, letting you adjust spices to your personal preference for a truly custom pumpkin donut experience.
Creative Glaze Ideas Beyond the Donut
While this recipe focuses on donuts, the spirit of fall flavors can be applied to many other treats. If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to infuse a rich autumn flavor into other baked goods, consider making a simple pumpkin-flavored glaze. Start with a base similar to the one we used for our pumpkin bundt cake. Simply whisk together powdered sugar with a bit of milk until it reaches a thick, pourable consistency. Then, incorporate a spoonful of pumpkin puree or a few drops of pumpkin extract until you achieve your desired flavor and hue. This versatile glaze can be drizzled over store-bought pastries, biscuits, or even plain muffins, instantly transforming them into a seasonal delight. Whether baking from scratch or using a boxed mix, remember to have a donut pan and a wire rack ready for cooling, alongside a medium bowl for effortless mixing.

Air Fryer Baked Pumpkin Donuts
For a quicker alternative to oven baking, you can also prepare these delicious pumpkin donuts in an air fryer. To do so, preheat your air fryer to 400˚F for about 5 minutes. Carefully place a donut mold (ensure it’s small enough to fit comfortably) inside the air fryer basket. Bake the donuts at 350˚F for 4-6 minutes, or until they are firm to the touch on top and lightly golden. Air frying offers a fast and efficient way to enjoy homemade donuts, producing a slightly crispier exterior while maintaining a tender interior. This method is perfect for small batches or when you’re short on time.
Classic Oven-Baked Pumpkin Donuts
While air frying offers a speedy option, the traditional oven method, detailed in the full recipe card below, remains our preferred way to bake these pumpkin donuts. Baking in the oven allows you to prepare a larger batch simultaneously, and many find that oven-baked donuts tend to come out even more tender and uniformly cooked. We love providing options, so feel free to experiment with both methods to discover which one you prefer for your perfect baked pumpkin donuts. The oven provides a gentle, even heat that coaxes out the rich flavors and creates that wonderfully soft, cake-like texture we all adore.
Transforming Pumpkin Bread Mix into Donuts
Absolutely! If you’re looking for an even quicker shortcut, especially during the bustling holiday seasons when pumpkin bread mix is readily available, you can certainly adapt it for donuts. This is a fantastic option when you’re not in the mood for baking completely from scratch, though sometimes, starting from the beginning can be quite therapeutic. When using a boxed pumpkin bread mix, you’ll simply need to adjust the liquid content, adding a bit less than the package recommends to ensure your batter is thick enough to hold its donut shape and bake correctly. This small modification will prevent the donuts from being too wet or collapsing, resulting in perfectly moist and flavorful pumpkin bread donuts.
Crafting the Perfect Donut Glaze
No baked pumpkin donut is complete without a luscious glaze! You can keep it delightfully simple for your cake mix donuts by mixing about 1 cup of powdered sugar with a tablespoon or two of water. Slowly whisk until you achieve your desired thickness – whether you prefer a thin sheen or a richer coating. Once glazed, feel free to add a sprinkle of cinnamon, chopped nuts, or even mini chocolate chips. For an extra indulgent touch, consider melting chocolate and drizzling it over the cooled donuts. To make the chocolate glaze, combine the ingredients listed in the recipe card in a bowl and whisk until smooth. After the donuts have cooled completely on a wire rack, gently hold the edges and dip the tops into the glaze. Place them back on the cooling rack, allowing the glaze to set. When cooled, glaze, frost, or top as you’d like and enjoy every bite! For easy application, a pint-sized freezer bag with the tip snipped off makes an excellent makeshift piping bag for both glazes and frosting.



Serving Suggestions for Your Baked Pumpkin Donuts
These baked pumpkin donuts are truly fantastic just as they are. While we often recommend a chocolate glaze, you absolutely don’t have to use it if you prefer. There are countless alternatives for toppings, or you can simply leave them plain to let the rich pumpkin and spice flavors shine through. For a fun activity with kids, set out a tub of ready-made frosting and various sprinkles, candies, or mini chocolate chips, and let them decorate their own donuts once cooled. Another delightful option is a simple dusting of cinnamon sugar, much like our popular donut muffins. Or, for a truly perfect morning, serve them alongside a steaming cup of coffee, perhaps even a trendy Dalgona coffee. Your morning ritual will be elevated to perfection.
But don’t stop with our delicious baked pumpkin donuts with glaze! Your donut pan is a versatile tool for baking all sorts of treats. Get the kids involved in the kitchen – they’ll love spooning batter into the molds and decorating. You could even use this same pan to bake our super easy 2 ingredient pumpkin muffins, turning them into charming pumpkin muffin “donuts.” Make an evening of it: allow the children to spoon on some frosting and an assortment of candies. It makes for a yummy and fun afternoon activity for everyone, creating cherished family memories alongside delicious homemade treats.
★
★
★
★
Baked Pumpkin Donuts
Justine
15 minutes
10 minutes
16
Comment
Print Recipe
Equipment
-
1 donut pan
-
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 F (175 C). Spray donut pan with non-stick spray.
-
In a large bowl, mix all dry ingredients together. In a separate bowl, whisk the wet ingredients until well combined. Slowly incorporate the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, mixing just until combined and no dry streaks remain. Be careful not to overmix.
-
Transfer the donut batter into a freezer bag or a pastry bag. Snip off a corner of the bag and carefully squeeze the batter into the prepared donut pan cavities. Fill each cavity no more than halfway full to achieve the perfect donut shape with a hole in the center.
-
Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the outsides are lightly browned and a toothpick inserted into a donut comes out clean. Let the donuts cool in the pan for 5 minutes before carefully transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
-
If you’re making the glaze, mix the listed glaze ingredients in a bowl until smooth and free of lumps. Once the donuts are completely cool, hold them by the edges and dip the top into the glaze. Place them back on the cooling rack, allowing any excess glaze to drip off and the glaze to set.
Video
Watch our video tutorial for a step-by-step guide to making these delicious baked pumpkin donuts!
Notes
Cake Mix Pumpkin Donuts
- Mix together 1 box of spice cake mix with 2 eggs, 3/4 cup buttermilk, and 4 tablespoons pumpkin puree (or melted butter) in a bowl. Mix until smooth but thick.
- Spray a donut pan with non-stick spray and place it into a preheated oven at 350 F (175 C) for 10 minutes.
- Cool donuts in the pan, then transfer to a cooling rack. Melt candy melts or prepare frosting, then pour over the tops of the cooled donuts to coat, and decorate each as desired.
Nutrition
Calories: 203kcal,
Carbohydrates: 31g,
Protein: 3g,
Fat: 8g,
Saturated Fat: 6g,
Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g,
Monounsaturated Fat: 1g,
Trans Fat: 1g,
Cholesterol: 21mg,
Sodium: 156mg,
Potassium: 114mg,
Fiber: 1g,
Sugar: 18g,
Vitamin A: 659IU,
Vitamin C: 1mg,
Calcium: 39mg,
Iron: 1mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Additional Info
Breakfast, Dessert
American
📷
Tried this recipe?
Mention @thetypical_mom or tag #thetypicalmom!
Keeping Your Baked Pumpkin Donuts Fresh
To ensure your delicious cake donuts remain moist and flavorful for as long as possible, proper storage is key. Avoid refrigerating them, as the cold air tends to dry them out quickly and unnecessarily. Instead, once the donuts have completely cooled, wrap each one individually in plastic wrap. Then, place the wrapped donuts into an airtight freezer bag or container. Stored this way on your countertop, they will stay wonderfully moist and fresh for up to 4 days. This simple method helps to lock in their delightful texture and flavor, ready for you to enjoy whenever a craving strikes.
Absolutely! Freezing is an excellent way to preserve your baked pumpkin donuts if you’ve made a large batch or simply want to enjoy them later. Once they have completely cooled, wrap each donut tightly in plastic wrap to prevent freezer burn. You can then stack them neatly in a gallon-sized freezer bag or an airtight container, ensuring it’s sealed closed. For best results when reheating, allow the frozen donuts to come to room temperature on the countertop rather than microwaving them. This gradual thawing helps maintain their soft texture and prevents them from becoming rubbery. Enjoy your homemade pumpkin donuts whenever the mood strikes!

I have rewritten the content, making sure to hit all the requirements.
Here’s a summary of the changes and how they address the instructions:
1. **SEO-friendly**:
* Added `meta charset`, `meta viewport`, `title`, `meta description`, and `meta keywords` to the HTML `head` section for better SEO.
* The `title` and `description` are keyword-rich, targeting “baked pumpkin donuts”, “homemade”, “cake mix”, “healthier”, “no-fry”, etc.
* Headings (`h1`, `h2`, `h3`) are optimized with keywords. I used `
` for major sections and `
` for sub-topics within the recipe card and FAQ for better hierarchy and keyword distribution.
* Integrated keywords naturally throughout the text (e.g., “easy pumpkin donuts,” “pumpkin spice donuts,” “fall desserts”).
* Integrated keywords naturally throughout the text (e.g., “easy pumpkin donuts,” “pumpkin spice donuts,” “fall desserts”).
2. **Fluent and simple language**:
* Rephrased sentences for clarity and conciseness.
* Used more descriptive but easy-to-understand language.
* Ensured a smooth flow between paragraphs and sections.
3. **Removed unnecessary repetitions**:
* Consolidated similar ideas and removed redundant phrases. For example, the repeated emphasis on “easy” or “healthier” was integrated more subtly or elaborated upon once.
* The initial paragraph was rewritten to be more direct and engaging without repeating the same core message multiple times.
4. **Removed Javascript codes**:
* All `