These baked pumpkin donut holes are soft, light, fluffy, and packed with cinnamon pumpkin spice flavor!
Homemade pumpkin donut holes
With just two main ingredients, this is without a doubt the easiest pumpkin donut hole recipe you will find.
If you like Entenmann’s Pop’ems or those adorable Dunkin Donuts munchkins, you are sure to love these pumpkin treats as well.
The recipe is naturally egg free, dairy free, oil free, and vegan, with low calorie and gluten free options. And there is no yeast required.
It’s the perfect seasonal pumpkin packed breakfast, snack, or dessert.
Leftover pumpkin? Make Vegan Pumpkin Pie
Mini pumpkin donuts
Nothing says cozy Fall breakfast like a batch of soft cinnamon sugar pumpkin donut holes hot from the oven to enjoy alongside your morning coffee.
They are kid friendly, lunch box friendly, and great for autumn harvest parties with spiced apple cider or a homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte.
Each pumpkiny bite reveals a chewy outside texture and delicious soft center.
Recipe video – step by step
Watch the pumpkin donut hole recipe video above
Pumpkin spice donut hole ingredients
The base of the recipe calls for just two ingredients plus optional sugar.
Pumpkin pie mix – Look for canned pumpkin pie mix, sometimes called pumpkin pie filling, at most regular grocery stores.
Brands offering the ingredient include Libby’s and organic Farmer’s Market.
Pumpkin pie mix is not the same as canned pumpkin puree. It already contains sugar and spices like cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice.
If you can only find pure pumpkin puree at the grocery store, you can add sugar, salt, and spices to make your own homemade pumpkin pie mix.
Self rising flour – The recipe works with store bought self rising flour. Or make your own by combining 1 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon of salt with 1 cup of all purpose flour, spelt flour, or all purpose gluten free flour.
Some other flour options may work here, including almond flour and whole wheat flour. However, I have not tried them so cannot recommend these substitutions.
Sugar – This ingredient is optional. If you omit the sugar and do not add any glaze or coating, the donut holes possess a slightly sweet taste and texture similar to that of mini muffins.
If you are hoping for more of a traditional bakery donut taste, do include the optional added sugar.
Feel free to use any granulated sweetener, including classic white sugar, sugar free xylitol, or unrefined coconut sugar.
Pumpkin donut topping ideas
My favorite way to eat these mini donut bites is dipped in cinnamon sugar.
To make an easy cinnamon sugar coating, combine 2 tablespoons of ground cinnamon with 1/2 cup of granulated sweetener of choice.
You can also top the individual donut holes with vanilla frosting, peanut butter or almond butter, or cream cheese frosting.
Or dip in melted chocolate, coconut butter, or Homemade Nutella.
For glazed pumpkin donut holes, whip up a simple homemade glaze icing. Stir 1 cup powdered sugar with 1 tablespoon of milk or water. Add a little cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, or pure vanilla extract if you wish.
Are you looking for a fun party dessert that people will talk about for months? Vary the toppings to make different flavors and arrange the donuts on a large serving tray.
How to make pumpkin donut holes
Start by preheating the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Grease a cookie baking sheet or line it with parchment paper, then set this pan aside.
Stir the self rising flour and pumpkin mix in a large bowl. You can also add a handful of raisins or mini chocolate chips at this time.
I’ve found that the measurements below work well for my specific working environment. Depending on humidity, elevation, climate, and type of flour you choose, your dough may be a little too sticky or too dry. Simply add a little more flour or pumpkin if needed to form a kneadable dough.
Form the pumpkin dough into one large ball. Then break off smaller donut hole sized pieces and roll them into balls or shaped donuts.
Place the unbaked donut holes on the prepared baking tray, leaving space between each ball.
Bake on the center rack of your oven for twelve minutes or until cooked through.
Glaze or top as desired.
Tip: If coating in cinnamon sugar, I recommend dipping each warm pumpkin donut hole in melted butter, coconut oil, or spraying with fat free oil spray. This step helps the sugar coating to better stick to the surface of the pastries.
Air fryer pumpkin donuts
To make air fried donuts instead conventional oven ones, preheat the machine to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Grease the grill plate very well, or use an air fryer liner to line the bottom.
Place the dough balls in a single layer on the grill pan. Do not crowd them, to ensure they will not stick together when air frying. For smaller machines, you may need to do this in two batches.
Cook for eight minutes, turning the balls over halfway through. For crispier results, cook for ten minutes or until the donuts reach your desired texture.
The recipe was adapted from these 2 Ingredient Bagels
- 1 cup self rising flour (for keto, try these Protein Donut Holes)
- 2/3 cup pumpkin pie mix
- optional 3 tbsp sugar
- cinnamon sugar or frosting or glaze of choice
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*You can either buy self rising flour or make your own by combining 1 cup all purpose flour or gluten free all purpose flour with 1 1/2 tsp baking powder and 1/2 tsp salt.350 for 12 minView Nutrition Facts
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