Pumpkin Spice Donuts are the ultimate fall treat – soft, fluffy, and bursting with warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. They perfectly capture the cozy flavors of autumn, making them a favorite for seasonal gatherings, weekend brunches, or simply as a comforting snack with your morning coffee. These donuts offer all the goodness of pumpkin pie but in a handheld, donut form that feels both nostalgic and festive.
The rich flavor of pumpkin puree pairs beautifully with the blend of spices, creating a moist and tender texture that’s hard to resist. The donuts are typically baked rather than fried, which makes them lighter while still delivering that satisfying donut experience. Their beautiful orange color and comforting aroma fill the kitchen, instantly setting the mood for the season.
One of the best parts of pumpkin spice donuts is the variety of ways to finish them. A simple coating of cinnamon-sugar gives them a delightful crunch and extra sweetness, while a maple glaze adds a rich, silky finish that complements the pumpkin perfectly. For those who love a bit of decadence, a cream cheese drizzle or chocolate glaze turns these donuts into an irresistible dessert.
Pumpkin spice donuts are also surprisingly easy to make and adapt. You can swap in gluten-free flour or dairy-free milk to fit dietary needs without sacrificing flavor or texture. They are perfect for making ahead since they stay moist for days and are just as delicious the next morning.
Whether enjoyed fresh out of the oven, paired with a pumpkin spice latte, or packed into a fall picnic basket, pumpkin spice donuts bring all the cozy, comforting vibes of autumn. Their sweet, spiced flavor and soft, cakey texture make them a must-have treat as soon as the leaves start to change.
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin spice
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 eggs large
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup chocolate frosting for decorating
- 48 candy eyeballs for decorating
- 144 pretzel sticks for legs
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a donut pan.
- In a bowl, mix together the flour, pumpkin spice, baking powder, and salt.
- In another bowl, beat together the sugar, pumpkin puree, melted butter, eggs, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
- Spoon the batter into the prepared donut pan, filling each well about 3/4 full.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the donut comes out clean.
- Allow the donuts to cool in the pan for a few minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Once cooled, spread chocolate frosting on top of each donut.
- Decorate each donut with candy eyeballs and pretzel sticks to resemble spider legs.
These donuts are super cute! My kids loved them. Gonna make them again for Halloween!
Cute? More like a spider party gone wrong. Not sure I’d want my kids eating that. 🤔
I’m so glad your kids loved them! They really are adorable, especially for Halloween. Can’t wait to see your version!
I used store-bought pumpkin pie spice because I didn’t have “pumpkin spice” exactly, and it turned out sweet and warm. Not bad!
Yum, pumpkin spice! My favorite flavor. Also the spiders look funny! 🕷️
These are the best donuts ever! So cute and tasty! 🍩
I can’t believe how easy these were to make! Everyone was impressed at the party!
What? Pumpkin in donuts? Sounds gross. I’d rather just have regular jelly donuts.
Honestly, pumpkin in donuts? No, thank you! Just give me a classic jelly donut any day!
I get where you’re coming from, but pumpkin adds a unique flavor! You gotta try it at least once!
Just made these and they are DELISH! My kiddos loved helping decorate them. Will be making again!
Really? I’m not sure about putting pumpkin in donuts. Seems weird. But if your kids liked it, maybe it’s worth a try.
That sounds amazing! I love that your kids helped out. Makes it even more special! 🎃
Not bad. But I think too much pumpkin spice. Maybe less next time.
Not sure the baking time is right—mine took closer to 18 minutes. Toothpick still came out clean but it was definitely longer than 12-15.
lol spiders on donuts?? That’s funny. I might try it just for a laugh.
Mine stuck to the pan even though I greased it. Next time I’m definitely adding a light flour dusting—does anyone else do that?
These are the cutest donuts ever! My kids loved making them
Spider donuts? Uhhh, very creative idea! Just called them pumpkin donuts at my party, haha. Tasted great tho!
Spider donuts? LOL! I showed this to my friends and we just laughed 😂
I tried to make these and they turned out really weird. They didn’t rise much?
Um, how do you even use pumpkin puree? Does it have to be the canned one or can I use fresh? Asking for a friend.
Honestly, I think canned is way better. Fresh can be watery and nobody wants soggy donuts! Just get the can, saves time.
You can definitely use fresh pumpkin puree! Just make sure to cook and blend it well so it’s smooth. Canned is easier though, and it’s what most recipes call for. Good luck!
I made these for a school bake sale, but uhhh, I forgot the eggs. Still sold!
That’s impressive! Donuts without eggs and they still sold? Must’ve been good! 😂
Yummy 😋!!!
These look absolutely adorable! I can’t wait to make them for Halloween! 🎃
I dunno, spiders on donuts? Sounds kinda gross to me. 😕
I don’t really see the point of the pretzels for legs. Seems weird. But the donuts taste good.
I think the pretzels are cute! They add a fun touch, though I get that it might seem weird. But who doesn’t love a themed treat, right?
I was skeptical at first, but these turned out great! The pumpkin spice adds a nice flavor. Just make sure you use fresh pumpkin puree, not the canned stuff!
48 eyeballs sounds like a lot… but honestly, once you start decorating you realize you need them. The pretzel legs were my favorite part.
I don’t get why you’d want to mix candy eyeballs with donuts? Sounds weird. 🤔
Here’s a tip: skip the pumpkin puree and use icing instead! Much sweeter. 🤷♂️
These donuts were a hit at my Halloween party! Everyone loved the creepy look and they tasted amazing! Will definitely make again.
Creepy look? I don’t know… donuts should be sweet not scary. I doubt my kids would eat them.
Sounds amazing! I love that they were a hit. Gotta try making them for my next gathering!
Just made these with my kids for Halloween, they had a blast decorating! Definitely gonna make again.
Looks fun, but donuts are a lot of work, right? Just stick to regular ones and save time. Who needs fancy Halloween stuff? 😂
That sounds amazing! I love doing holiday baking with my kids too. These donuts will definitely be a hit at our Halloween party!
Spider donuts? honestly i just wanted regular donuts 😅 but the decoration was fun. Would make for Halloween parties.
Mmm, sweet and spooky! The frosting was a bit too rich for me tho.
I totally get what you mean! Maybe try a lighter frosting next time? Like whipped cream or something? 🤔
Rich frosting is like, the best part! But I guess it’s a personal taste thing. I loved it! 🍩❤️
Um, why candy eyeballs? Seems a bit much. I just skipped that part and they still looked fine. Also, donut pan? I just used a muffin tray.
Donut pan? Ain’t nobody got time for that! Muffin tray is just as good, I always do that too! Don’t need all that fancy stuff.
I actually think the candy eyeballs add a fun touch! It makes them so festive for Halloween. But hey, whatever works for you! 🕷️
The batter felt a bit thick compared to what I expected, so I had to coax it into the donut wells. End result was still solid.
Not a fan… they were too sweet for my taste. And where do the pretzel legs come from?? Pretty weird if ya ask me.
I added some walnuts to the mix because I like nuts in my treats. They were delicious!
Pretty easy to follow, and the donuts came out fluffy. I used a little extra pumpkin puree though and it was still good.
Didn’t bake right for me. Followed recipe but they were too doughy. Maybe overmixed?
I had the same problem! My donuts were a mess too. Maybe try mixing less next time? Good luck!
They look amazing! I can’t wait to try this for my Halloween party. 🙂
I messed up the batter and added too much butter. they still turned out fine! Maybe a little oily but still tasty.
I messed up the flour and used self-raising instead 😬. They turned into little muffins. Still delicious tho!
These donuts are so cute! Perfect for Halloween! 🎃
Cool idea but where do you get 48 eyeballs? Seems excessive! Just use chocolate chips.
Dis nigga be cusy. Donuts is good tho.
These donuts look spooky and tasty! I can’t wait to try making them for Halloween!
I dunno man, donuts with pumpkin? Sounds kinda weird. But I guess I’ll give it a shot.
These look ridiculously cute. The pumpkin spice + chocolate combo is exactly my vibe—my kids actually asked for “spiders” again 😂
Aww that’s adorable 😄 The “spiders” request is the best kind of kid demand. Pumpkin spice + chocolate is such a win too!
I think the frosting amount is underwhelming. I could’ve done more chocolate on top because it swallowed up the pumpkin flavor a bit. Still cute though.
I think the frosting amount is fine? Like, you want the pumpkin donut to still taste like pumpkin. If you pile on chocolate, it’s basically a chocolate donut with a costume lol. Cute though!
Totally get what you mean—12/10 for the pumpkin flavor, but if the chocolate layer is too thin it can overpower it. Next time I’d go a bit heavier on the frosting or do a thinner layer plus extra drizzle right before serving.
Didn’t have candy eyeballs, so I used jellybeans instead. They looked weird but the kids didn’t care! Fun recipe!
Super easy to make! My kids had fun decorating them. Just watch the frosting – it can get real messy!
Pumpkin and chocolate?? Ugh, sounds gross. Not my thing.
I love pumpkin and chocolate! They actually go together really well. You should give it a try!
I thought this was a bit weird, spiders on donuts? But they turned out tasty! Would make again for sure.
Spiders on donuts? That’s so cool! I’m glad they tasted good! Can’t wait to try them myself.
I didn’t have pretzels, used gummy worms instead – totally worked!
I don’t like pumpkin spice at all, so I skipped it. The donuts turned out a bit bland. Not sure why everyone’s raving about them.
These donuts are super cute! My kids loved decorating them and they tasted amazing. Definitely a hit!
I’m not usually a pumpkin dessert person, but the smell while baking was amazing. Tastes like fall in donut form.
I’m not convinced about pumpkin *and* donuts, but the spider decoration idea sounds fun. Do you think regular frosting would work if I can’t find chocolate frosting?
Omg yes—“fall in donut form” is exactly how I’d describe these too. The pumpkin spice + vanilla smell is unreal while they bake.