Soft pumpkin donut holes are full of pumpkin spice and cinnamon sugar flavor. Bake them in the air fryer or oven for the perfect fall treat, then dip them in the optional cream cheese frosting. These delicious little pumpkin donuts were made for sharing.
Equipment
1 Egg bite panyou can also use any mini muffin pan that fits in your air fryer or oven
1 Large Mixing Bowl
1 Medium mixing bowl
1 Whisk
1 Small bowl
1 Air fryer can also bake in the oven
Ingredients
For The Pumpkin Donuts
1/4cupbuttermelted, plus more for the cinnamon sugar coating
In a large bowl add 4 tablespoons melted butter, brown sugar, egg, and vanilla extract. Mix well until fully blended. Blot the pumpkin well with paper towels to remove moisture. Add the pumpkin puree and buttermilk, mixing until smooth.
Place flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and pumpkin spice into a medium bowl. Mix until blended.
Pour the dry ingredients into the bowl with the wet ingredients and mix well until a batter forms.
Fill a silicone donut hole pan, small mini muffin pan or egg bite pan with batter (this is the pan I used), about a tablespoon of batter per donut. Using a small cookie scoop can make things easier. Wipe any dribbles on the pan.
Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees on the air fry setting. Bake donuts in the air fryer for 6-8minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from the air fryer and allow to cool, then place donut holes onto a wire rack. Continue baking in batches until all of the donuts have finished cooking. See notes for baking in an oven.
Adding The Cinnamon Sugar Coating
Pour 1/2 cup melted butter into a small bowl. In a second bowl add the sugar and cinnamon, then mix well.
When the donut holes have cooled to the touch, roll each donut first in the melted butter, then in the cinnamon sugar mixture
For The Cream Cheese Frosting Dip (optional)
In a medium bowl, beat the cream cheese and powdered sugar until smooth. Add the vanilla extract and 4 tablespoons of milk and continue beating until smooth. If the dip is too thick, add an additional tablespoon or two of milk. Dip donuts and enjoy!
Notes
Substitute For Buttermilk
Add two teaspoons of lemon juice or vinegar to a large glass measuring cup. Add regular dairy milk up to the half cup mark, then stir. Let the milk sit for at least five minutes before adding it to the recipe.The milk may have a few curdles in it when it is finished, but it is ok to add to the recipe and makes a great buttermilk substitute.
Substitute For Pumpkin Pie Spice
Start with this mixture in place of pumpkin pie spice- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg, ¼ teaspoon ground ginger, 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves.Cloves or ginger can also be substituted for additional cinnamon, though the finished donuts will have less of a spice taste if you substitute.
Baking Pumpkin Donut Holes In The Oven
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Donut holes will take 8-10 minutes to bake in the oven, or when a toothpick comes out clean with no batter clinging when inserted in the center.Make sure to spray the mini muffin pan generously with cooking oil if using a metal pan Place the dough in a mini muffin pan, about 1 tablespoon at a time.Carefully use a spoon to help release donut holes if they get stuck without scratching the pan.Nutrition information is an estimate and does include the optional dip in the calculations.