Baked Pumpkin Donuts

I know I'm still throwing more pumpkin recipes your way but I recently got a donut pan and wanted to try it out so what better way than to bake some pumpkin donuts. I'm not a big fan of the fried donuts anymore. They kind of land with a thud in the middle of my chest and just stay there awhile. Don't get me wrong I have had my share of warm Krispy Kreme's in my day. These are moist and a little dense with a delightful pumpkin flavor. They can be coated in cinnamon sugar or topped with a cream cheese glaze.

Ingredients for donuts:
1/2 cup vegetable oil
3 large eggs
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 1/2 cups pumpkin puree (canned pumpin, not pumpkin pie mix)
1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice, OR 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon plus 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg and ginger.
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 3/4 cups + 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

Ingredients for cinnamon sugar coating after baking:
4 Tablespoons sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon, mixed together.

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly spray donut pans.

Beat together oil, eggs, sugar, pumpkin, spices, salt and baking powder until smooth.

Add the flour, beating just until smooth.

Fill the wells of the donut pans about 3/4 full; about 1/4 cup. Recipe makes around 15.

Bake the doughnuts for 15 to 18 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted comes out clean. You can also tell by tapping your finger on top of donut and it will spring back and feel firm.

Remove donuts from oven and let sit about a minute or so and remove from pan.

While the donuts are still warm put 3 at a time in a gallon zip lock bag with all the mixed cinnamon-sugar and gently toss around to coat donuts. When coated take the next 3 donuts and do the same thing. I found the warmer the donuts were the better they coated. Remember to be gentle. Cool on a cooling rack.

If you choose they would also be good with a cream cheese glaze.
Cream Cheese Glaze:
4 oz. cream cheese
1 cup powdered sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
milk

Place cream cheese in a medium glass bowl and microwave 20 seconds or until very soft. Stir until smooth. Add powdered sugar, vanilla and 1 tablespoon milk. Stir until creamy. Add a little more milk, if needed, to reach desired consistency. Drizzle or spoon on donuts.


Yields about 15.

You can also use this recipe for muffins. You can add 1/2 to 1 cup mini chocolate chips and bake for 23-25 minutes.

This is what a donut pan looks like in case you have never seen one. They come in six or twelve donut wells. I just picked up mine at on of my favorite places, T. J. Maxx. The prices on kitchen utensils and pots and pans are great and with all the names brands as well.

Recipe from King Arthur Flour.