These melt-in-your-mouth Baked Pumpkin Donuts with Brown Butter Glaze make the fall season one of the most spectacular time of the year. These donuts are a real crowd pleaser, though I just about finished the entire batch myself.
It’s pumpkin time! Pumpkin is such a good ingredient to use for a breakfast recipes. Pumpkin breakfast recipes are delicious, and you get the extra nutrients from the pumpkin.
You can find several pumpkin breakfast recipes on The Worktop, and my previous post for Farinata with Red Kuri Squash and Kale was little tease. The red kuri squash looked almost exactly like a pumpkin!
These baked pumpkin donuts are super soft and tender, and packed full of favorite fall flavors
But today, I want to talk about these Mini Baked Pumpkin Donuts.
These baked pumpkin donuts are super soft and tender and packed full of flavor. The pumpkin puree makes these donuts incredibly moist. Unlike yeast donuts, these baked pumpkin donuts aren’t chewy or stretchy inside. Instead, once you bite into it, it will melt in your mouth.
The brown butter glaze is a perfect finishing touch to this baked pumpkin donut recipe
And oh, the glaze. The brown butter glaze adds a layer of sweet nuttiness that will make you lick your fingers and lips after each bite. You might actually even lick everything that the brown butter glaze touched – the spatula, the bowl used for dipping the donuts, the cooling rack or parchment paper it dripped on…
Might as well just make a second batch of the brown butter glaze and drizzle it on everything you eat.
This recipe calls for pumpkin spice mix. Don’t fret if you don’t have it! It’s one of those spice mixes that I find hard to buy outside of the US. I used to bring jars of pumpkin spice mix from the US to London, but now I just always use a homemade pumpkin spice mix recipe.
Are you looking for a pumpkin breakfast idea? These baked pumpkin donuts will hit the spot!
Pumpkin spice mix is so easy to make on your own (and you don’t even need pumpkin for it). If you have a stocked spice cupboard, then you’ll likely have all of these spices at home already. You’ll need: ground cinnamon, ground ginger, ground nutmeg, ground allspice, and ground cloves.
The full recipe for the homemade pumpkin spice mix is below, but essentially you just mix all the spices together. I tend to make a big jar and save it, but I’ve given you the recipe for the smallest portion that is easy to make (ie. the smallest quantity that you’ll need to measure is 1/4 teaspoon).
The recipe for the pumpkin spice mix will still make double the amount of pumpkin spice mix that this Pumpkin Donut recipe requires, but you can easily use any leftover pumpkin spice mix up – in your yogurt, oatmeal, or even smoothie.
Pumpkin is a great ingredient to use for breakfast recipes. Pumpkin is naturally mildly sweet, so this Baked Pumpkin Donut recipe has a bit less sugar that it otherwise would have needed. Pumpkin is also full of vitamins and nutrients, such as vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium and carotenoids. And, it is also a good source of fiber.
Pumpkin is full of vitamins and minerals, so it is a healthy ingredient to use in a breakfast recipe
So all this goodness of the pumpkin is hidden in this Baked Pumpkin Donut recipe. Makes you feel a bit good about eating donuts.
It’s things like these melt-in-your-mouth Baked Pumpkin Donuts with Brown Butter Glaze that makes the fall season one of the most spectacular time of the year. Though come winter, spring and summer, I think I’ll still be making these Mini Baked Pumpkin Donuts.
Baked Mini Pumpkin Donuts with Brown Butter Glaze
Print RecipeIngredients
Pumpkin Donuts
- 1/3 cup sunflower oil
- 2 large eggs
- 2/3 cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup canned pumpkin puree
- 1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin spice mix
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
Pumpkin Spice Mix (see note 1)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon all spice
- 1/4 teaspoon cloves
For the browned butter glaze
- 1 stick unsalted butter
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup whole milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F/175°C. Lightly grease mini donut pans with a bit of oil.
- In a large bowl using a hand mixer on low speed, beat everything together except for the flour until well combined, about 30 seconds. Add in the flour and beat until just combined, about 30 seconds.
- Carefully spoon the batter into the donut pans, filling each donut cavity about half full. If you prefer, you can use a piping bag, or a plastic ziplock bag with one corner cut off to pipe the batter into the donut pan. (see note 2).
- Bake for 15-18 minutes, until the donuts are lightly golden. Let the donuts cool in the donut pan for about 5 minutes before transferring to cooling racks to cool.
Make the glaze
- In a small saucepan over medium to medium-hight heat, melt the butter and cook, stirring often, until the butter becomes a light brown color, 5-8 minutes. Stir the butter often so it does not stick to the bottom of the pan and burn. Pour into a medium bowl and allow to slightly cool.
- Mix in powdered sugar to make a paste. Slowly whisk in milk. Let sit for 5 minutes, occasionally whisking, to allow the glaze to slightly set.
To serve
- Place a cooling rack on top of paper towels or parchment paper for easy clean up.
- Dip one side of the donut into the glaze. Flip the donut over using a fork. Carefully transfer the glazed donut to the prepared cooking rack. The glaze will slowly drip off the donuts as it sets. Repeat with remaining donuts. Lightly sprinkle on additional pumpkin pie spice.
- If glaze thickens too much while you are dipping donuts, simply pop the glaze the microwave for about 5-10 seconds to melt it a bit. The thicker the glaze is when dipping, the thicker the glaze will be on the donut (you'll get a sweeter donut).
Notes
Looking for more pumpkin breakfast recipes?
Diana says
These donuts are absolutely beautiful! I’m so excited about the pumpkin season but have never baked any donuts because I don’t own the donut baking pan. I need to just order one for myself! It’s on my to do list!
Tina Jui says
Pumpkin season is just about here.. I cannot wait! A donut pan is one of my favorite pans. It’s very versatile, and actually works with most muffin batter too.
Janette@CulinaryGinger.com says
These donuts look so good and I’m drawn by the brown butter glaze. I need to make these asap.
Tina Jui says
Thank you, Janette! The brown butter glaze is great on these donuts, and also anything else you can find in a snack cupboard ;)
Beth @ Binky's Culinary Carnival says
Oh. I love this idea!! I’m putting a donut pan on my wishlist so I can make these! Thanks for the inspiration!
Tina Jui says
Hi Beth – Ah, a donut pan is a must have for a kitchen ;) I’m always looking for an excuse to pull mine out to use!
Catherine says
Dear Tina, what a wonderful way to welcome the Fall season! These look marvelous and I can only imagine how delicious they must smell baking. xo, Catherine
Tina Jui says
Thank you, Catherine. Yes the smell of pumpkin, brown butter, cinnamon… mmm! I can never get enough of it!
Platter Talk says
Perfect for this time of year. Weekend project for the kids!
Tina Jui says
Lucky kids! I hope they love them.
nazima, Franglais Kitchen says
these look so pretty and I love pumpkin spice. Less easy to get in UK as you know so good to have a recipe to mix my own blend!
Now here is the thing. I love donuts, never made them at home. If I made them I’d go for baked but how do baked compare with the fluffy, sweet, yeasty pillows of fried donuts. Has anyone tried baking yeasty donut dough – would it work???!
Tina Jui says
I love baking cake donuts – also known as old fashioned donuts. They always turn out fluffy and light. I’ve never tried baking yeast donuts, but apparently they turn out a bit like sweet dinner rolls. You can read more about it here. Cake donuts are really easy to make at home though, so give them a try! You’ll love them!
Sara @ Life's Little Sweets says
Wow, these donuts look amazing, pinning to my pumpkin everything board!
Tina Jui says
Thanks for the pin, Sara! I’ll be sure to check out your board for more pumpkin ideas!
GiGi Eats says
I have HEART EYES right now! SWOONING so hard right now!
Tina Jui says
<3 <3 <3
Jonathan says
Treat or treat! You should find a way to package these and give these out instead of snickers bars. Do they even do Halloween in London?! Oh man, imagine snickers bars with some pumpkin cinnamon filling special!
Tina Jui says
You just gave me my new project :) I don’t know about halloween in London, but I’ve been thinking about how to dress up the puppy!
Angela - Patisserie Makes Perfect says
These look amazing. Also, the pumpkin spice mix recipe looks so useful and as though it would work with lots of things!
Looking forward to the next recipe you have up your sleeve!
Tina Jui says
Thanks, Angela! Yes, the pumpkin spice mix is so handy to have. I made myself a jar of it and have been sprinkling it on everything :)