3 Ingredient Pumpkin Spice Donuts
These 3 Ingredient Pumpkin Spice Donuts are soft, fluffy, and full of cozy pumpkin flavor—and you only need a box of spice cake mix, pumpkin puree, and pumpkin pie spice to make them! They’re baked instead of fried and topped with premade cream cheese frosting for an easy fall breakfast or dessert that comes together in minutes.
If you’re looking for an easy pumpkin recipe that doesn’t require a long list of ingredients, these baked pumpkin donuts are it. Using spice cake mix gives you all those warm cinnamon and spice flavors without measuring a bunch of individual ingredients, while pumpkin puree makes the donuts incredibly soft and moist.
I love a good shortcut recipe, especially when it looks and tastes like you spent way more time on it than you actually did. These pumpkin spice donuts are exactly that. Just stir together three ingredients, pipe the batter into a donut pan, bake, and frost!
If you love a good shortcut recipe, especially when it looks and tastes like you spent way more time on it than you actually did, these pumpkin spice donuts are exactly that. Just like my Hawaiian Roll Pumpkin French Toast, Caramel Apple Chocolate Bark, and Pumpkin Spice Cookies, these donuts are simple enough to make on a busy morning but still feel like a special seasonal treat.
Why You’ll Love These 3 Ingredient Pumpkin Donuts
These easy baked pumpkin donuts are one of those recipes you’ll come back to every fall.
- Only 3 ingredients: All you need is spice cake mix, pumpkin puree, and pumpkin pie spice for the donuts.
- No frying: These donuts bake right in a donut pan.
- No eggs or oil: The pumpkin replaces the additional wet ingredients normally added to boxed cake mix.
- Super soft and moist: Pumpkin puree gives the donuts the best cake-like texture.
- Quick and easy: Mix, pipe, and bake. That’s it!
- Perfect for fall: They’re packed with pumpkin spice flavor and make an easy breakfast, brunch, or dessert.
- Kid-friendly: This is such a fun and simple recipe to make with kids.
Ingredients
One of the best parts about this pumpkin donut recipe is how short the ingredient list is.
- Spice cake mix: Use one 15.25-ounce box of dry spice cake mix. Don’t prepare it according to the package directions.
- Pumpkin puree: You’ll need one 15-ounce can of 100% pure pumpkin puree. Be sure you aren’t using pumpkin pie filling.
- Pumpkin pie spice: Adds an extra boost of warm cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and clove flavor.
- Cream cheese frosting: I used premade cream cheese frosting to keep this recipe as easy as possible. This is optional and isn’t included in the three ingredients for the donuts.
How to Make 3 Ingredient Pumpkin Spice Donuts
These cake mix pumpkin donuts couldn’t be easier to make.
Step 1: Prepare the Pan
Preheat your oven to 350°F.
Lightly coat a donut pan with nonstick cooking spray so the donuts release easily after baking.
Step 2: Make the Pumpkin Donut Batter
Add the spice cake mix, pumpkin puree, and pumpkin pie spice to a large mixing bowl.
Stir until everything is completely combined and no pockets of dry cake mix remain.
The batter will be thick—this is exactly what you want!
Step 3: Fill the Donut Pan
Transfer the batter to a piping bag or large zip-top bag.
Snip off the corner and pipe the batter evenly into the prepared donut cavities, filling each about ¾ full.
Using a piping bag is one of my favorite tricks for baked donuts because it’s so much easier and less messy than trying to spoon thick batter into the pan.
Step 4: Bake
Bake the pumpkin donuts for 12–15 minutes, or until the tops spring back when lightly touched and a toothpick inserted into the thickest part comes out clean.
Allow the donuts to cool in the pan for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack.
Step 5: Frost
Let the donuts cool completely before frosting.
Spread a layer of premade cream cheese frosting over each donut.
For an easy finishing touch, sprinkle a little pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon over the frosting.
Expert Tips for the Best Pumpkin Donuts
- Use pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling. Pumpkin pie filling already contains added sugar and spices and can change the texture of your donuts.
- Don’t follow the cake mix box directions. You don’t need the eggs, oil, or water listed on the box.
- Expect thick batter. Don’t be tempted to add water or milk to thin it out.
- Pipe the batter into the pan. It’s much faster and gives the donuts a cleaner shape.
- Don’t overfill the donut cavities. About ¾ full gives the donuts room to rise without overflowing.
- Watch the baking time. Different donut pans can produce slightly different baking times, so start checking around 12 minutes.
- Let them cool before frosting. Even slightly warm donuts can cause the cream cheese frosting to melt.
Recipe Variations
Want to switch things up? There are plenty of easy ways to customize these pumpkin cake mix donuts.
- Cinnamon Sugar Pumpkin Donuts: Skip the frosting, brush the warm donuts lightly with melted butter, and coat them in cinnamon sugar.
- Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Donuts: Fold mini chocolate chips into the batter before piping it into the pan.
- Maple Pumpkin Donuts: Top the cooled donuts with maple frosting or a maple glaze.
- Pumpkin Pecan Donuts: Sprinkle chopped toasted pecans over the cream cheese frosting.
- Chocolate Pumpkin Donuts: Add mini chocolate chips and drizzle melted chocolate over the finished donuts.
- Powdered Sugar Pumpkin Donuts: Skip the frosting and dust the cooled donuts with powdered sugar.
Make Ahead and Storage
Make Ahead
You can make the pumpkin donuts a day ahead of time. For the best results, bake the donuts, allow them to cool completely, and store them unfrosted in an airtight container.
Add the cream cheese frosting shortly before serving.
How to Store
Store unfrosted pumpkin donuts in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2–3 days.
If you add premade cream cheese frosting, check the package directions for storage. If the frosting requires refrigeration after opening, keep the frosted donuts in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Allow refrigerated donuts to sit at room temperature for a few minutes before eating for the softest texture.
How to Freeze
These pumpkin donuts also freeze well!
Allow the donuts to cool completely and freeze them without the frosting in a freezer-safe container or bag for up to 2–3 months.
Let them thaw at room temperature and add the cream cheese frosting before serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use pumpkin pie filling instead of pumpkin puree?
I recommend using 100% pure pumpkin puree for this recipe. Pumpkin pie filling already contains sugar, spices, and other ingredients that can change the texture and sweetness of the donuts.
Can I make pumpkin donuts without a donut pan?
A donut pan works best because this recipe uses a thick cake-style batter rather than a dough that can be shaped by hand. If you don’t have a donut pan, you could bake the batter in a muffin pan instead. Just keep in mind that the baking time will need to be adjusted.
Why is my pumpkin donut batter so thick?
That’s normal! The only wet ingredient in this recipe is pumpkin puree, so the batter will be much thicker than traditional cake batter. Don’t add extra liquid. The thick batter helps create soft, cake-like baked donuts.
You’ll Also Love
If you love easy pumpkin recipes, here are a few more fall favorites to try next:
3 Ingredient Pumpkin Spice Donuts
Ingredients
- 1 15.25-ounce box spice cake mix
- 1 15-ounce can pumpkin puree
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- Premade cream cheese frosting for topping, optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a donut pan with nonstick cooking spray.
- Add the spice cake mix, pumpkin puree, and pumpkin pie spice to a large mixing bowl.
- Stir until completely combined. The batter will be thick.
- Transfer the batter to a piping bag or large zip-top bag and snip off one corner.
- Pipe the batter into the prepared donut cavities, filling each about ¾ full.
- Bake for 12–15 minutes, or until the tops spring back when lightly touched and a toothpick inserted into a donut comes out clean.
- Allow the donuts to cool in the pan for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire cooling rack.
- Cool completely before spreading premade cream cheese frosting over the tops.
- Sprinkle with additional pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon, if desired, and serve.
Notes
Do not prepare the cake mix according to the box directions. You only need the dry mix.
The batter will be thick. A piping bag makes filling the donut pan much easier.
Baking time can vary depending on the size and material of your donut pan.
The donuts themselves contain only three ingredients. Cream cheese frosting is an optional topping.
