Ultimate Homemade Pumpkin Donuts
Soft, fluffy, and coated in cinnamon sugar, these adorable pumpkin-shaped holiday treats are perfect for autumn gatherings. Enjoy the flavors of fall with our easy homemade pumpkin donuts! Discover the simple recipe and tips for making the best pumpkin spice donuts today!
Ingredients
Donut Dough
- ½ cup milk warm
- 1 ½ teaspoons active dry yeast
- ⅔ cup pumpkin puree
- 1 large egg
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup white granulated sugar
- 3 ½ cups flour
- 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
- ½ teaspoon salt
Cinnamon Sugar Mixture
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Cinnamon Sticks
Instructions
Donut Dough
- In a small bowl, add the active dry yeast and a couple of tablespoons of white sugar (taken from the 3/4 cup sugar) to the warm milk. Mix and set aside for 5-10 minutes until it bubbles and becomes foamy. This indicates that the yeast is alive and ready to use.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the pumpkin puree, egg, softened butter, and sugar. Mix well until smooth.
- Add the frothy yeast mixture to the pumpkin mixture and stir until combined.In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, pumpkin pie spice, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ones, mixing until a dough forms. Use a rubber spatula to fold these dry ingredients into the wet mixture until a thick dough forms. The dough should be slightly sticky but manageable.
- Turn the dough onto a floured surface and knead for about 5 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover it with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until doubled in size.Once risen, punch down the dough to release air. Knead until it resembles its original size. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface. Cut the dough into 12 equal pieces; roll each piece of dough into a tight ball.
- Take some thick string and cut a long piece. Tie around each dough ball like a present, wrapping around 4 times to create 8 equal pumpkin indentations. Please do not wrap the strings too tight, as they will still expand during the second proofing. Place the pumpkin-shaped donut dough balls on a prepared parchment-lined baking sheet. Cover them with a thin towel. Let them rise again in a warm area for about 30 minutes to 1 hour or until they have nearly doubled in size.
- In a deep pot or fryer, heat the oil to about 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Carefully drop in a few donuts at a time, being careful not to overcrowd the pot. Fry for about 2-3 minutes on each side or until golden brown and fully cooked through. Use a slotted spoon to remove them from the oil and drain on paper towels to remove excess grease.Cut the twine wrapped around the donuts. While the donuts are still hot, roll them in the cinnamon sugar mixture until well coated.
Cinnamon Sugar Mixture
- Prepare the cinnamon sugar mixture by adding the cinnamon into the sugar in a small bowl. Whisk together until combined.
- Once all the donuts have been coated in cinnamon sugar, take cinnamon sticks and press them into the center of each pumpkin to act as the stem to finish these festive desserts. Serve these delicious pumpkin-shaped fried donuts warm with a side of maple syrup or your favorite sweet dipping sauce! They make an excellent treat for fall gatherings, Halloween parties, or just because you want something sweet.
Nutrition
Calories: 232kcalCarbohydrates: 45gProtein: 5gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.3gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 22mgSodium: 111mgPotassium: 91mgFiber: 1gSugar: 18gVitamin A: 2242IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 25mgIron: 2mg
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