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Pumpkin Donuts

Fried to golden perfection, coated in cinnamon sugar, and topped with a cute cinnamon stick "stem" for a festive fall treat, these pumpkin donuts are the cutest!
Print Recipe

Ingredients

For the Donut Dough:

  • ½ cup warm milk
  • 1 ½ teaspoons active yeast
  • ⅔ cup pumpkin puree
  • 1 large egg
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 3 ¼ cups flour
  • ¾ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
  • ½ teaspoon salt

For the Cinnamon Sugar Coating:

  • ½ cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • Cinnamon sticks (for garnish)

Instructions

  • Start by warming up your milk and adding it to a small bowl with the yeast and a couple of tablespoons of sugar. Give it a quick stir and let it sit for about 5 minutes.
  • In a large mixing bowl, combine the pumpkin puree, egg, softened butter, and the remaining sugar. Whisk until everything is smooth and delicious.
  • Once your yeast mixture is all puffed up, pour it into your pumpkin mix. Give it a good mix until combined.
  • Now, add the flour, pumpkin pie spice, and salt.
  • Use a rubber spatula to fold these in until you have a thick, well-mixed dough.
  • After an hour, transfer the dough to a floured surface and give it a knead for a few minutes. It should feel firm and bouncy.
  • Divide the dough into 8 equal pieces and roll each into a ball.
  • Cut a long piece of thick string and tie it around each dough ball, wrapping it like a present. This will create those adorable pumpkin indentations.
  • Preheat your oven to 350°F. While the donuts are frying, mix the sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl.
  • Once the donuts are done frying, let them cool on a wire rack. After they’ve cooled and the excess oil has dripped off, cut the string away. Pop them in the oven for another 5-8 minutes to make sure the centers are fully cooked.
  • Roll each donut in the cinnamon sugar mixture until they’re completely coated.
  • Stick a cinnamon stick in the center of each donut to create a cute little pumpkin stem.
  • Serve your pumpkin donuts warm and watch as everyone swoons over these fall-inspired treats!
Author: carlycampbell