Pumpkin Donuts

September 2, 2025September 2, 2025

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These pillowy soft pumpkin donuts are the perfect fall treat. These donuts are made with a rich, buttery pumpkin brioche dough, then fried until golden brown and coated in a homemade pumpkin spice sugar coating. The donuts are exceptionally fluffy and tender on the inside.

Welcome, September, and welcome pumpkin and apple season! Although some would say September is apple season and October is when pumpkin season really begins. Me? I usually get excited around mid-August and start breaking out a few pumpkin and apple recipes then! Too soon? Maybe, but I always get excited around this time of year. I just love the cozy fall baking season.

These pumpkin donuts are such a delicious fall treat. The donuts are made with a brioche dough which results in an ultra tender and fluffy donut. The dough has pumpkin in it, so it not only adds delicious pumpkin flavor to the donuts, but also makes the donuts a beautiful orange color. The donuts are then coated in a cinnamon sugar mixture with a dash of nutmeg, ginger, cloves and allspice for my own homemade pumpkin spice version. Believe it or not, I actually don’t like the store bought pumpkin spice mixture. I prefer to make my own.

These donuts only require one 45 minute rise, then they are fried until crisp and golden on the outside and super tender and fluffy on the inside. I also love that this recipe makes donut holes from the cut out center piece of dough.

Here is what you will love about these pumpkin donuts

The perfect fall treat – is there anything that says fall more than a pumpkin donut covered in a pumpkin sugar spice mixture?! I just love the pillowy soft pumpkin brioche dough in these donuts.
One rise – these pumpkin donuts only require one 45 minute rise. To be honest, the dough rises while you roll out the donuts and while the oil heats up, so it technically gets a second rise, probably about 15-20 minutes while you are doing all of that stuff, but it’s not a designated rise time where you have to sit and wait.
Ultra soft and fluffy – these pumpkin donuts are made with brioche dough which results in tender, soft, extra fluffy donuts.

Here are a few of my favorite fall bakes

Pumpkin Donuts

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Author: Jolene Kesler
Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
Yield: 10 donuts with donut holes 1x

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Description

Instructions

1. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment, add all ingredients for the pumpkin brioche donuts. Knead the dough on medium-low speed for 5 minutes. Transfer the dough to a greased bowl. Spray the top of the dough with nonstick cooking spray, then cover with plastic wrap.

2. Allow to rise in a warm place for 45 minutes.

3. While the dough rises, cut out 10 squares of parchment paper roughly 5×5 inches. Set aside.

4. While the dough rises, fill a large pot with 2 to 3 inches of vegetable oil.

5. Once the dough is done rising, roll out to ½ inch thickness. Use a 3.5 inch circle cookie cutter to cut out donuts. Re-roll scraps as necessary. Use a 1 to 1 ½ inch round cookie cutter to cut out the center hole in the donuts. These will be the donut holes.

6. Place the cut out donuts and donut holes on the parchment paper squares.

7. Heat oil to 350F.

8. Fry 3-4 donuts at a time until golden brown on each side, 1-3 minutes per side. Fry the donut holes as well. Place donuts on a wire cooling rack with paper towels lined underneath.

9. In a large shallow bowl, mix together the ingredients for the pumpkin spice sugar coating. Coat the donuts in the sugar coating, flipping to coat both sides. Toss the donut holes in the sugar coating, as well. If the sugar is not sticking, brush the donuts with melted butter, or spray with nonstick cooking spray to get the sugar to stick.

10. Serve and enjoy!

Prep Time: 15
Rise Time: 45
Cook Time: 20
Category: Breakfast/Brunch
Method: Stove Top
Cuisine: American

Pumpkin Donuts