Baked Pumpkin Donuts

These Baked Pumpkin Donuts are super tender and cake-like, and they’re filled with all the flavors of fall.  They are also super easy to make.  They are complemented with a brown butter icing that’s dotted with pecan pieces and they are irresistible!  These are a perfect fall morning breakfast treat and you’ll be making them often!

I’ve already been baking fall goodies for a few weeks now and I CANNOT wait until fall is officially here.  I’m so done with this long humid summer and I cannot wait to see leaves changing and to feel the crisp cool fall air.  Maybe I’m just hoping that with the changing season, we’ll also be able to put some of the negative things in 2020 behind us.  It’s been a stressful year for all of us so far, and when I need a pick me up, whether it’s to destress or just to take me to a happier place, I turn to my favorite comfort foods.

4 EASY STEPS TO MAKING THESE DONUTS…

1. Whisk together the dry ingredients and set aside.
2. Combine the wet ingredients.
3. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and combine.
4. Pour the batter into donut pans and bake.

TIPS for making this recipe

• To easily transfer the donut batter to the donut pans, use a pastry bag fitted with a round tip, OR cut the corner off a large Ziploc bag and fill it with the batter.  This is easier than trying to spoon it into the molds.
• Don’t overfill the molds.  Baking powder is added to the batter to allow for the donuts to rise some.    We want light, cakelike donuts.  If we didn’t add any baking powder, the donuts would be heavy and dense.  I don’t suggest filling the molds over 3/4 full, allowing for the rise.
• Just like if you were mixing cake batter, don’t overmix.  Mix just until all ingredients are incorporated.
• Spray the donut molds with cooking spray.  I’m not a big fan of baking spray, but sometimes it’s needed.  If you spray the molds lightly with cooking spray, the baked donuts will pop right out.

Donuts are done when you can lightly press one with your finger and it bounces back.  If the indent from your finger remains in the donut, they probably need another minute or two in the oven.  It actually doesn’t take much baking time for these donuts so check them again in 1 minute.

BROWN BUTTER ICING

I knew that my Brown Butter Icing recipe would be the perfect complement to these yummy donuts.  I use this icing on my Sour Cream Brown Butter Cookies, one of my 2 most requested cookie recipes.  The secret to this icing is to brown the butter.

HOW TO BROWN BUTTER

Melt the butter over medium heat.  Once it’s melted, leave the pan on the burner and frequently swish the butter around in the pan by slightly picking up the pan and moving it in a circular motion.  Keep doing this until you see the butter turn a golden brown.  You’ll also see little brown bits on the bottom of the pan.  Now it’s ready to remove from the heat.  You can strain the butter through a strainer if you prefer to remove the brown bits of butter, but I don’t.  I want all of that brown butter goodness!

Once the butter is browned, we add powdered sugar, vanilla, and a little bit of water to thin the icing.  No milk this time!  If the icing starts to thicken too much, just add a tiny bit of water to thin it back down.  We need the icing to be thin enough for dipping the donut tops in.  I garnished the tops with pecan pieces, but you can omit them if you’re not a nut lover, or choose your favorite garnish.

The icing on these donuts sets up quickly, making them easy for stacking and transporting.

You might also like my Baked Vanilla Cake Doughnuts or Baked Jelly Filled Donuts.

If you make this recipe please rate it, and leave a comment below on how you liked it. I love getting your feedback! 🙂

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Baked Pumpkin Donuts

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 3 reviews

• Author: Cindy Gibbs
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 12-13 minutes
• Total Time: 4 minute
• Yield: 15–16 donuts 1x
• Category: Breakfast
• Method: Bake
• Cuisine: American

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Description

These Baked Pumpkin Donuts are super tender and cakelike and they’re filled with all the flavors of fall.  They are also super easy to make.  They are complemented with a brown butter icing that’s dotted with pecan pieces and they are irresistible!  These are a perfect fall morning breakfast treat and you’ll be making them often!

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Ingredients

Units USM Scale 1x2x3x

DONUTS

• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour (sifted or spoon & leveled)
• 1 1/8 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/8 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar packed
• 1/2 cup dark brown sugar packed
• 1 cup canned pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
• 2 large eggs, room temperature
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 3 tablespoons milk

BROWN BUTTER ICING

• 1/2 stick real butter
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 3 tablespoons of water, (thin enough for easy dipping)
• 1/3 cup chopped pecans, optional

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Instructions

DONUTS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray donut pans with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, pumpkin pie spice, and cinnamon.  Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, whisk together the sugars, pumpkin puree, eggs, vanilla, and milk, until all ingredients are well combined.  Whisk the dry ingredients into the wet, just until the flour is incorporated.  Do not overmix.
4. Fill a piping bag about 2/3 full will the batter, or use a Ziploc bag with the corner snipped off.  You can use a spoon if you don’t have a bag.  Fill the donut molds about 3/4 full.  Gently shake the pan to level out the batter.
5. Bake the donuts for about 12 to 13 minutes, until they are browned on top and they spring back when you touch them with your finger.  If the indent from your finger remains, they still need more time in the oven.  Check them again after 1 minute.  You can also check them with a toothpick.
6. Gently tap the donut pan against the counter and flip the pan over onto a wire cooling rack.  The donuts should pop right out.  Allow the donuts to cool completely before dipping them in the icing.

BROWN BUTTER ICING

1. Add the butter to a medium-size saucepan and melt it over medium heat.  Once it’s melted, slightly pick the pan up from the burner and swirl the butter around every 15 to 20 seconds.  Continue to do so until the butter has turned a golden brown and you see bits of brown butter in the bottom of the pan.  This could take up to 4 minutes.  Remove the pan from the heat.  Add the vanilla, powdered sugar, and water.  Whisk until the ingredients are combined and the icing is thin and smooth.  The icing will slightly thicken as it cools.  If it isn’t thin enough for dipping, just add a tiny bit more water.
2. Dip the top of each donut in the icing, then sprinkle the top with chopped pecans, or your favorite nut.  Place the donuts on a piece of wax paper until the icing sets.  This icing doesn’t take long to set up.  Place the donuts in an airtight container.  You should be able to stack them in layers without using wax or parchment paper between the layers.
3. The donuts will stay soft & fresh for up to 3 days but don’t worry they won’t last that long.

 

 

 

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Notes

• These donuts freeze nicely without the icing.  You can wrap them tightly and freeze for up to 3 months.
• This recipe makes about 15 donuts.  Most donut pans only have 6 molds in them.  If you only have one donut pan, you can make 6 at a time.  It doesn’t hurt for the batter to rest between batches.  However, once you see how easy it is to make baked donuts, you’ll probably want to invest in at least 2 donut pans.