Pumpkin Cake Doughnuts

Jul 20, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Baking Pastries doughnuts Vanilla: Extract Medium

Fresh pumpkin cake doughnuts on a wire cooling rack, one broken open to show the tender inside

Moist, tender pumpkin cake doughnuts spiced with nutmeg and vanilla, fried to golden perfection and finished with a smooth vanilla glaze for a cozy fall treat.

Prep 25 min

Cook 20 min

Cooling 10 min

Total 55 min

Yield 16 doughnuts

Diet —

Ingredients

Adjust yield

doughnuts

2 ¼ cups (280.0 g)all-purpose flour
½ cup (100.0 g)granulated sugar
2.0 tsp (8.0 g)baking powder
½ tsp (2.0 g)baking soda
½ tsp (2.5 g)fine sea salt
½ tsp (1.0 g)ground nutmeg
½ tsp (1.3 g)ground cinnamon
2.0 large (100.0 g)eggs
¾ cup (180.0 g)pure pumpkin puree
¼ cup (60.0 ml)buttermilk
3.0 tbsp (42.0 g)unsalted butter, melted and cooled
1.0 tsp (5.0 ml)pure vanilla extract
neutral oil, for frying (e.g., vegetable or canola)
1 ½ cups (180.0 g)powdered sugar, for the glaze
2.0 tbsp (30.0 ml)milk, for the glaze
1.0 tsp (5.0 ml)pure vanilla extract, for the glaze

Make it at home

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Instructions

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, and cinnamon until evenly combined.
In another bowl, whisk the eggs, pumpkin puree, buttermilk, melted butter, and vanilla extract until smooth and fully incorporated.
Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and gently fold with a spatula until just combined; do not overmix. The batter will be thick.
Cover the bowl and let the batter rest at room temperature for 10 minutes to hydrate the flour.
Heat at least 2 inches of neutral oil in a heavy-bottomed pot or deep fryer to 360°F (182°C). Use a thermometer to maintain temperature.
Use a doughnut scoop or two spoons to drop rounded spoonfuls of batter into the hot oil. Fry 2 to 3 doughnuts at a time to avoid crowding.
Fry until golden brown on the bottom, about 2 to 3 minutes, then flip carefully and fry another 2 to 3 minutes until golden and cooked through.
Use a slotted spoon to transfer doughnuts to paper towels to drain excess oil.
While the doughnuts cool slightly, whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract in a bowl until smooth to make the vanilla glaze.
Dip the warm doughnuts halfway into the vanilla glaze, then place on a wire rack set over a baking sheet to let glaze set for about 15 minutes.
Serve doughnuts warm or at room temperature.

Tips

Maintain oil temperature at 360°F to ensure doughnuts cook evenly without absorbing excess oil.
Use real pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling, for best flavor and texture.

Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make pumpkin cake doughnuts?

Plan on 25 minutes of prep and 20 minutes of cooking, plus 10 minutes to rest. The recipe makes 16 doughnuts.

How should I store pumpkin cake doughnuts?

Store leftover doughnuts in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. Rewarm gently in a low oven if desired.

Can I make pumpkin cake doughnuts ahead?

Batter can be made shortly ahead and held at room temperature for 30 minutes before frying.

Can I use a different form of vanilla?

Yes. This recipe uses 1 tsp pure vanilla extract (5 ml). Each teaspoon of pure vanilla extract can be swapped for 1 teaspoon of vanilla bean paste, the seeds of half a vanilla bean, or 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla powder. Paste and seeds add the classic dark specks.

Moist, tender pumpkin cake doughnuts spiced with nutmeg and vanilla, fried to golden perfection and finished with a smooth vanilla glaze for a cozy fall treat.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 16 servings this recipe makes.

239 Calories / serving

11.0g Fat

32.2g Carbs

2.9g Protein

18.1g Sugar

Whole recipe (16 servings): ~3824 cal · 176g fat · 515g carbs · 46g protein · 290g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.

Per serving · 239 calories

What it takes to burn one serving

Brisk walking 45 min·2.6 mi·~5250 steps
Walking uphill or incline treadmill 32 min·1.6 mi·~3200 steps
Moderate cycling 24 min·4.8 mi
Swimming laps 33 min
Jogging 23 min·1.9 mi·~3700 steps
Stair climbing 22 min·~2000 steps
Dancing 39 min
Bodyweight circuit training 24 min
Cleaning, errands, or playing with the dog 56 min

Rough estimates for one serving, based on standard MET values at about 155 lb. Your own burn depends on body size, effort, and fitness. Shown for context only — food is not something you have to earn.

Made with VanillaGoods

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