These Baked Pumpkin Donuts with crumb topping are the perfect homemade treat for fall. Moist, full of spiced pumpkin flavor and topped with sweet cinnamon crumbs, you won't be able to stop at just one! They're quick and easy and make a great on-the-go breakfast or afternoon snack.
Fall means cool days, changing leaves, and lots of pumpkin and apple recipes. So I'm off to the races with all things pumpkin and apple this month. I've already made apple cider doughnuts and apple cider pound cake, so now it's ... bring on the pumpkin!
When I think of pumpkin, the first thing that comes to mind is pumpkin pie but there are oh so many more ways you can flavor food with pumpkin.
I love my Pumpkin Cheesecake Brownies, which never last long enough to have seconds, my Pumpkin Pie Smoothie, which is a protein-packed way to start my day, but when I want a special treat for breakfast, I can't think of anything better than one (OK, maybe 2) of these scrumptious baked pumpkin donuts complete with loads and loads of crumbs.
And these homemade pumpkin spice donuts are so much better than Dunkin Donuts or Krispy Kreme. Plus you can have them whenever you want!
Table of contents
Why I Love These Pumpkin Spice Donuts
- #1 reason, they're baked not fried, which makes them so much healthier and gives them a lovely moist cake-like texture.
- So easy to make - one bowl and one donut pan
- They take just 25 minutes before they can be in your mouth!
- Loads of fall flavor with the perfect amount of pumpkin spice
- And they're covered with loads and loads of crumbs! Yum!
Variations
Don't have a donut pan - no problem! Look at how you can make them into muffins and donut holes!
- Pumpkin Muffins - Pour into muffin pan and bake at the same temperature for 15-20 minutes. It will make about 6.
- Pumpkin Donut Holes - Use a mini muffin pan and bake at the same temperature for 9-11 minutes. It will make about 20.
Looking for something besides that glorious crumb topping? Check out these alternatives.
- Cinnamon Sugar Topping - check out my Banana Donuts for the recipe.
- Maple Syrup Glaze from Baking Sense gives the perfect maple flavor to her pie and works great on any fall dessert.
- Vanilla Buttercream Frosting from Beyond Frosting is a rich topping that you might just want to eat all by itself!
- Brown Butter Icing from The Fresh Cooky adds a nutty flavor to this treat.
- Sprinkle any glazed donut with sprinkles, chopped pecans or toasted coconut
Ingredients for Pumpkin Cake Donuts
All-Purpose Flour - is the base of this cake donut. Make sure to spoon the flour into the measuring cup and level off to make them less dense.
Pumpkin Puree - is a must. Make sure you choose 100% pumpkin and not pumpkin pie filling.
Sugar - brings the sweetness.
Eggs - should be room temperature as they will mix better with the batter and rise more easily.
Butter - use unsalted good quality butter to provide flavor and control the amount of salt in the recipe.
Oil - along with the butter helps give the donuts their soft texture.
Pumpkin Pie Spice - brings extra fall flavor to the doughnut. You can also use a mixture of spices and make your own. Just combine 3 teaspoons cinnamon, ¾ teaspoon nutmeg, ¾ teaspoon ginger, and ⅜ teaspoon ground cloves. Save the remaining for more fall baking.
Vanilla - enhances the flavor. I suggest using pure vanilla extract for the best results in baking.
Baking Powder - helps the donuts to rise.
Salt - balances out the flavor
How to Make Baked Pumpkin Donuts
Making donut batter
- In a medium bowl, combine flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder and salt.
- In a large bowl, whisk together sugar, oil, melted butter and vanilla.
- Add eggs and pumpkin puree to butter mixture.
- Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and stir well.
Crumb donut topping
Gather the few simple ingredients for crumb topping - flour, brown sugar, granulated sugar, butter that has been melted, cinnamon and salt.
- Combine all the ingredients for crumb topping and mash with fork or pinch with fingers. You want it to resemble small crumbs.
Preparing donuts for baking
- Divide doughnut batter evenly into doughnut pan. Tip: for easier filling, place batter into ziplock bag and cut hole in one corner and squeeze into each depression.
- Sprinkle crumbs on top and bake for 15 minutes.
Don't they look delicious? Let them cool for about 10 minutes then remove from pan and let cool completely.
Sprinkle with a dusting of powdered sugar for a pretty finishing touch.
Now dig in and take a big bite! Just look at that beautiful orange color and the tiny specks of pumpkin pie spice. You won't believe how super moist, super flavorful, and super delicious these pumpkin donuts are until you've tried them!
These crumb donuts are best eaten the same day they are made. No problem there! And they're such a sweet way to start any fall day! Enjoy!
More Pumpkin Recipes
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars is a spicy, moist, easy-to-make pumpkin-flavored bar, loaded with chocolate chips and tons of fall flavor.
Pumpkin Spice Cookies are like gingerbread in cookie form. Soft & chewy cookies with plenty of molasses, pumpkin & spice flavor. The perfect snack for fall.
No-Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake is a light and fluffy pumpkin cheesecake set on a chocolate cookie crust and no baking required!
Find lots more fall recipes here on 2CM!
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Baked Pumpkin Donuts with Crumbs
Ingredients
Doughnuts
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup sugar
- 2 Tablespoons + 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
- 2 Tablespoons butter melted
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- 7 oz pumpkin puree about ½ can
- 2 eggs
Crumb Topping
- 1 ⅛ cup all-purpose flour
- ⅓ cup light brown sugar
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup butter melted
- Garnish: confectioner's sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a donut pan liberally with a nonstick spray.
Donuts
- In a medium bowl, combine flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder and salt.
- In a large bowl, mix together sugar, oil, butter and vanilla.
- Add pumpkin puree and eggs to butter mixture.
- Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and stir well.
- Divide batter between doughnut cavities. There will be enough for 8 doughnuts.
Crumb Topping
- Make crumbs by mixing all ingredients and mashing with fork or pinching with fingers until it resembles crumbs.
- Sprinkle topping liberally over doughnuts.
- Bake for 15 minutes. To test for doneness, insert a toothpick in thickest part of donut and it should come out with just a few moist crumbs or touch lightly on top and if it bounces back a little it's done.
- Remove pan to wire rack to cool for 10 minutes.
- Before removing from pan, make sure that the doughnuts are loose around the edges. Place a wire rack over the doughnuts and invert carefully. Place another wire rack over the top of the doughnuts and invert again so that the crumbs are on top.
- Let cool the remainder of the way.
- When cool, sprinkle with confectioner's sugar. Store in an airtight container or in ziplock bags for up to 2 days.
Notes
- Pumpkin Muffins - Pour into muffin pan and bake at the same temperature for 15-20 minutes. It will make about 6.
- Pumpkin Donut Holes - Use a mini muffin pan and bake at the same temperature for 9-11 minutes. It will make about 20.
Nutrition
This post has been updated with more information to help you make the best baked pumpkin donuts each and every time. It was first published on September 30, 2018.
