Description
Spiced pumpkin donut holes bring autumn’s warmth to your kitchen, combining sweet nostalgia with comforting fall flavors. Rolled in cinnamon sugar and perfectly bite-sized, these little treats invite you to savor seasonal delights with each delectable morsel.
Ingredients
Scale
Pumpkin Donut Holes Ingredients:
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups flour
- 3/4 cup pumpkin puree
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 large egg
Spices and Leavening Agents:
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
- 1 teaspoon salt
Liquid and Fat Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) butter, melted, plus more for the cinnamon sugar coating
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Cinnamon Sugar Coating:
- 1/2 cup (100 grams) sugar
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) butter, melted
Optional Cream Cheese Frosting Dip:
- 4 ounces (113 grams) cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 tablespoons milk
Instructions
- Prepare wet ingredients by whisking melted butter, brown sugar, egg, and vanilla until fully blended. Gently pat pumpkin puree with paper towels to remove excess moisture, preventing dense texture.
- Incorporate buttermilk into wet mixture, whisking until smooth and uniform.
- In a separate bowl, combine dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and pumpkin pie spice. Gradually fold dry ingredients into wet mixture, stirring minimally to maintain light texture.
- Using a small cookie scoop, fill silicone donut hole pan or mini muffin tin three-quarters full. Clean edges for neat appearance.
- For air fryer method, set temperature to 350°F. Cook for 6-8 minutes until golden brown and slightly springy to touch.
- Alternative oven method: Preheat to 350°F and bake for 10-12 minutes until fully cooked.
- Allow donut holes to cool slightly on wire rack.
- Create coating by dipping cooled donut holes in melted butter, then rolling thoroughly in cinnamon-sugar mixture to ensure complete coverage.
- Optional cream cheese dip: Blend softened cream cheese and powdered sugar until smooth. Add vanilla and milk to achieve desired consistency. Serve as accompanying dipping sauce for enhanced flavor profile.
Notes
- Carefully blot pumpkin puree with paper towels to remove excess moisture, ensuring light and fluffy donut holes without dense texture.
- Avoid overmixing the batter by stirring dry ingredients gently, which prevents tough and heavy donut holes.
- Fill donut hole molds or mini muffin tins about three-quarters full to maintain perfect shape and prevent overflow during cooking.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 175
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg