Baked Pumpkin Donuts with Maple Glaze: The Perfect Fall Treat to Warm Your Heart and Satisfy You

These Baked Pumpkin Donuts are the ultimate fall indulgence, combining the earthy sweetness of pumpkin with warm autumn spices like cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice. Topped with a luscious maple glaze, these donuts are baked, not fried, making them a lighter alternative without sacrificing any flavor. Each bite offers a tender crumb with just the right amount of sweetness, perfect for a cozy breakfast or an afternoon treat with your favorite warm beverage.

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The Flavors of Fall in Every Bite
The combination of pumpkin and spices like cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice makes these donuts a celebration of fall in every bite. The oat flour adds a wholesome touch, while the light brown sugar provides a subtle caramel sweetness. Finished off with a silky maple glaze, these donuts are sweet, spicy, and completely irresistible. The fact that they’re baked means you get all the donut goodness without the heaviness of frying, making them a perfect guilt-free indulgence.

The Secret to Perfectly Baked Pumpkin Donuts
To achieve the perfect texture, it’s important to whisk the dry and wet ingredients separately before combining them. This ensures the baking powder and baking soda are evenly distributed, allowing the donuts to rise beautifully in the oven. Piping the batter into the donut pan ensures that each donut has a uniform shape and size. The maple glaze is key to rounding out the flavors, providing a sweet and slightly sticky coating that perfectly complements the spiced donuts.

A Brief History of Pumpkin in Baking
Pumpkin has been a staple ingredient in baking for centuries, especially in American cuisine. Its versatility and natural sweetness make it perfect for both savory and sweet dishes. In the fall, pumpkin desserts like pies, muffins, and donuts become especially popular, symbolizing warmth, comfort, and the harvest season. These Baked Pumpkin Donuts with Maple Glaze capture all that pumpkin goodness in a soft, delicious treat.

Nutritional Information (Per Serving, Based on 8 Servings):

• Calories: 220 kcal
• Protein: 3g
• Fat: 10g
• Carbohydrates: 30g
• Sugar: 15g
• Sodium: 190mg

Cooking Tips
To make oat flour, simply blend old-fashioned oats in a food processor or blender until fine. This adds a wholesome, nutty flavor and a bit of extra fiber to the donuts.
If you don't have pumpkin pie spice on hand, you can make your own by combining cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves.
Be sure not to overfill the donut pan. Filling it halfway will give you perfectly shaped donuts that bake evenly.
If you want to add some crunch, try sprinkling some chopped pecans on top of the glaze before it sets.

Storage and Reheating Tips
Store these donuts in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, or in the fridge for up to 4 days.
To reheat, pop them in the microwave for about 10-15 seconds, or enjoy them at room temperature. The glaze may soften, but the flavor remains just as delicious.

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Baked Pumpkin Donuts Recipe

Ingredients

For the Baked Pumpkin Donuts:

• ¾ cup all-purpose flour
• ¼ cup oat flour (or grind old-fashioned oats into a fine flour)
• ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¾ teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 large egg (at room temperature)
• ⅓ cup light brown sugar
• ¼ cup oil
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ cup canned pumpkin or pumpkin puree

For the Maple Glaze:

• 1¼ cups powdered sugar
• 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
• 1 tablespoon dark corn syrup (or Karo syrup)
• ½ tablespoon water
• ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a mini donut pan with cooking spray. In a medium bowl, combine the flours, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside. In another bowl, whisk together the egg, light brown sugar, oil, vanilla extract, and canned pumpkin until smooth and well-combined.
2. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and whisk until just combined. The batter will be thick but smooth.
3. Transfer the batter into a piping bag or use a spoon to fill the donut cavities, filling them about halfway to ensure they rise properly without overflowing.
4. Bake for 6-7 minutes, or until the donuts spring back when touched lightly, or a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Remove from the oven and let the donuts cool in the pan for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
5. While the donuts are cooling, whisk together the powdered sugar, maple syrup, dark corn syrup, water, and cinnamon in a small bowl until smooth.
6. Once the donuts have cooled, dip the top of each donut into the maple glaze, allowing any excess to drip off. Place the glazed donuts on a wire rack to set.
7. Enjoy these donuts as soon as the glaze sets, or store them for later. They are perfect for enjoying with a hot cup of coffee or tea!

These Baked Pumpkin Donuts are the perfect combination of light, fluffy texture with a deliciously spiced flavor, all wrapped up in a sweet, sticky maple glaze. Perfect for any autumn day!