3-INGREDIENT BAKED PUMPKIN DONUTS

3-Ingredient Baked Pumpkin Donuts are made with cake mix, pumpkin puree, and frosting for an easy and delicious fall treat. No frying needed—just simple ingredients and tons of pumpkin flavor!

We really love donuts, and homemade donuts are the best, but sometimes you just don’t want the hassle of heating oil and dealing with all the splatter that comes with frying. These baked pumpkin donuts are the perfect solution—soft, cake-like, full of pumpkin flavor, and so much easier to make! My kids love helping mix the ingredients and decorating them with their favorite toppings, making this a fun family treat we all look forward to.

Recipe Highlights

• Only 3 Simple Ingredients– With just cake mix, pumpkin puree, and frosting, these donuts come together quickly without a long ingredient list or complicated steps.
• No Frying, No Mess– Skip the hot oil and splatter! These baked donuts are easy to make in the oven while still giving you that delicious homemade donut experience.
• Fun for the Whole Family– Kids love helping make and decorate these donuts with frosting and sprinkles. It’s an easy recipe that turns into a fun kitchen activity everyone can enjoy.

Ingredients in our Pumpkin Donuts Recipe

Cake Mix (15.25 oz) – I usually use yellow cake mix, but white, spice, or even chocolate cake mix works too! Each option gives the donuts a slightly different flavor, and chocolate makes a fun chocolate-pumpkin combination.

Pumpkin (15 oz can) – Be sure to use plain pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling. It adds the perfect pumpkin flavor and keeps the donuts soft and moist. If you only find a larger can, use half for this recipe or make a double batch!

Frosting – Any frosting flavor works here! Vanilla is my favorite, but cream cheese frosting pairs beautifully with pumpkin, and chocolate is another fun option. You can even mix in a little pumpkin pie spice for extra flavor.

Sprinkles (optional) – Technically the 4th ingredient, but really just a fun decoration! Sprinkles make these donuts extra festive—and we all know sprinkled donuts are the best kind.

Tips for making Baked Pumpkin Donuts

Full instructions in the recipe card below, but here are a few tips to make the baking process easier!

• Use thick batter, not pourable batter– This mixture will be very thick—that’s exactly what you want. Don’t try to thin it out; a thick batter is what gives these donuts their soft, cake-like texture and helps them hold their shape in the pan.
• Pipe the batter for cleaner, even donuts– Spoon-filling works, but piping the batter into a Ziplock bag makes the process much easier and keeps the donut holes neat and evenly filled with less mess.
• Don’t overbake—even by a minute or two– These bake fast and continue to set as they cool. Pulling them at the 8-minute mark keeps them soft and prevents a dry, crumbly texture.
• Warm the frosting just enough for dipping– Microwave the frosting in short bursts until it’s pourable but not hot—this gives you a smooth, glossy glaze that coats the donuts without running off completely.

How long do these donuts stay fresh?

These donuts are best enjoyed within 1–2 days when stored in an airtight container at room temperature. They stay soft and moist without needing to be refrigerated unless your kitchen is especially warm.

Can I freeze these glazed donuts?

Yes! These freeze really well. For best results, freeze them unglazed, then thaw at room temperature and add the frosting fresh. If they’re already glazed, freeze with parchment between layers to prevent sticking.

Can I use pumpkin pie filling instead of pumpkin puree?

No—pumpkin pie filling is already sweetened and spiced, which will change the texture and flavor. Plain pumpkin puree is best for this recipe.

What if I don’t have a donut pan?

You can still make these in a muffin pan! They’ll turn out more like donut muffins, but the flavor and texture will be just as delicious.

Can I use a different cake mix flavor?

Yes! Yellow, white, or spice cake mix all work well. Spice cake gives an extra cozy fall flavor, while chocolate creates a fun chocolate-pumpkin twist.

Why is my batter so thick?

That’s normal—this recipe is meant to be thick so the donuts hold their shape and bake up soft and cake-like instead of flat or dense.

How do you puree a pumpkin?

If you have your own pumpkin handy, why not use it and skip the trip to the store? Preheat your oven to 325° and cut your pumpkin in half. Remove all of the seeds and pulp (we don’t need those).

Rub cooking oil on the rind of the pumpkin and cover each half with foil. Bake foil side up for an hour until fork tender.

Scrape the pumpkin meat from the rind and puree in small batches using your blender, strain it through a cheesecloth to remove any stringy pieces or chunks. You can then use as directed in recipes or finish cooling or portion into baggies and freeze for up to a few months.

HERE ARE SEVERAL MORE BREAKFAST RECIPES:

• Skip the bakery—these easy maple bars come together in minutes with biscuit dough and a rich homemade maple glaze. They taste like fresh donut shop favorites right from your own kitchen!
• Copycat Cracker Barrel pancakes are soft, fluffy, and taste just like the real restaurant favorite. Made with buttermilk and cooked in a hot buttered skillet, they’re the ultimate weekend breakfast treat.
• These crispy Belgian waffles are everything a waffle should be—golden, light on the inside, and perfectly crisp on the outside. This is the waffle recipe everyone keeps coming back to.
• Made with simple ingredients and prepped the night before, this crème brûlée French toast is an effortless way to serve something truly impressive in the morning.
• Our sausage patty pancakes are the ultimate breakfast mashup—savory sausage cooked right into fluffy, golden pancakes for a sweet-and-salty bite in every forkful.
• This apple banana bread is soft, moist, and packed with ripe bananas and sweet chunks of apple in every bite. Finished with a cinnamon streusel topping and a drizzle of icing, it’s the kind of bread that disappears fast.

These 3-ingredient baked pumpkin donuts come together with cake mix, pumpkin puree, and frosting for an easy fall treat that tastes like it came from a bakery. Soft, cozy, and packed with pumpkin flavor, they’re a no-fry shortcut you’ll want to make on repeat.