Fluffy Baked Pumpkin Spice Latte Donuts: Your Perfect Fall Treat Recipe
Embrace the cozy essence of autumn with these incredibly delicious and irresistibly fluffy Pumpkin Spice Latte Donuts! This delightful recipe brings together two beloved fall classics – the comforting warmth of a pumpkin spice latte and the sweet indulgence of a homemade donut – into one perfect baked treat. Made with real canned pumpkin puree, aromatic pumpkin spice, and a hint of instant coffee powder, these donuts capture that signature, much-loved seasonal flavor profile, but in a healthier, less messy baked format. Get ready to fill your home with the intoxicating aroma of fall baking!
Why You’ll Fall in Love with These Pumpkin Spice Latte Donuts
There’s something uniquely magical about autumn, and these pumpkin spice latte donuts perfectly embody that feeling. Imagine biting into a soft, moist donut infused with the rich, earthy notes of pumpkin, brightened by a fragrant blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves, all subtly underscored by the deep, comforting essence of coffee. These aren’t just donuts; they’re a miniature celebration of fall, a delightful twist on your favorite coffee shop drink that you can enjoy right in your own kitchen. They’re fantastic for breakfast, a lovely afternoon pick-me-up, or a cozy dessert. Plus, being baked rather than fried, they offer a lighter texture and are much simpler to prepare, making them a fantastic option for home bakers of all skill levels.
The Magic of Baked Donuts: Easier, Lighter, and Just as Delicious
If you’ve ever shied away from making homemade donuts because of the deep-frying process, get ready to change your mind! Baked donuts offer all the charm and deliciousness of their fried counterparts without the mess, the oil, or the added calories. These pumpkin spice latte donuts bake up beautifully in a donut pan, resulting in a wonderfully fluffy and cake-like texture that’s incredibly satisfying. The simple baking method means less cleanup and more time to enjoy your freshly made treats. They’re quick to prepare and bake, making them an ideal recipe for a weekend morning or a last-minute get-together. Plus, the ease of glazing baked donuts opens up creative possibilities, like the stunning marble effect we’ll explore.
Essential Ingredients for Irresistible Fall Flavors
The secret to these donuts’ incredible flavor lies in a few key ingredients. **Canned pumpkin puree** (make sure it’s 100% pure pumpkin, not pumpkin pie filling!) provides moisture, natural sweetness, and that unmistakable pumpkin flavor. The quintessential **pumpkin pie spice blend**, combined with extra cinnamon, brings all the warm, aromatic notes of fall. And of course, **instant coffee powder** is crucial for replicating the “latte” aspect, adding a depth of flavor that complements the pumpkin and spices perfectly without overpowering them. Simple pantry staples like all-purpose flour, baking powder, eggs, and sugars complete the batter, ensuring a perfectly balanced and moist donut every time. Don’t forget a touch of vanilla for added warmth and complexity.
Crafting Your Pumpkin Spice Latte Donuts: A Step-by-Step Guide
Making these delicious baked donuts is a straightforward and rewarding process. Follow these simple steps for perfectly tender, flavorful treats:
1. Combine Wet Ingredients: In a generously sized mixing bowl, combine the liquid components. Add the vegetable oil, granulated white sugar, and rich brown sugar. Follow this with the creamy pumpkin puree, a large egg, and a fragrant splash of vanilla extract. Whisk these ingredients together thoroughly until they are completely smooth and well-incorporated, forming the luscious base of your donut batter.
2. Whisk Dry Ingredients Separately: In a different, medium-sized bowl, measure out all your dry ingredients. This includes the all-purpose flour, baking powder for lift, a pinch of salt to balance the sweetness, the essential instant coffee powder for that latte flavor, and your comforting fall spices – pumpkin pie spice and a dash of extra cinnamon. Whisk these dry ingredients together until they are uniformly mixed, ensuring even distribution throughout the batter.
3. Gently Combine Wet and Dry: With care, gradually add the dry ingredient mixture into the bowl containing the wet ingredients. Mix everything together just until the batter comes together smoothly. It’s crucial not to overbeat the mixture at this stage, as overmixing can lead to tough donuts. Stop as soon as no streaks of flour remain.
4. Fill Donut Pans with Batter: The easiest and cleanest method for transferring your donut batter into the donut pans is to use a large piping bag. Snip off the tip to create an opening of about ½ to ¾ inch. Pipe the batter evenly into each cavity of your donut pans, filling each one approximately 1/2 to 2/3 full. This ensures the donuts have enough room to rise without overflowing.
5. Bake to Golden Perfection: Place your filled donut pans into a preheated oven set to 350°F (175°C). Bake for about 11 to 13 minutes. The donuts are ready when they feel springy to the touch on top, and a toothpick inserted into the center of a donut comes out clean, free of wet batter. Be careful not to overbake, as this can dry them out.
6. Cool Completely: Once baked, carefully remove the pumpkin spice latte donuts from their pans and transfer them to a wire cooling rack. Allow them to cool down completely before proceeding to the glazing step. Glazing warm donuts will cause the glaze to melt and slide off, preventing that beautiful, smooth finish.
7. Glaze with Flavor: When your donuts have fully cooled, it’s time for the crowning touch! Prepare your desired glaze (whether a simple coffee glaze or the elegant marble effect) and dip each cooled donut into it. Let any excess drip off before placing them back on the cooling rack for the glaze to set.
Achieving Perfectly Uniform Donuts with a Piping Bag
For perfectly shaped, consistently sized pumpkin spice latte donuts, a piping bag is your best friend! While you can certainly spoon the batter into the donut pans, using a piping bag (or even a large Ziploc bag with the corner snipped off) offers unparalleled control. This method ensures that each donut cavity is filled evenly, leading to uniform donuts that bake consistently and look professionally made. It also minimizes drips and mess, making the entire baking process much cleaner and more enjoyable. If you don’t have a piping bag, a large spoon or even a small scoop can work, but for the best results, we highly recommend the piping bag technique.
Mastering the Elegant Marble Glaze Effect
Want your pumpkin spice latte donuts to look as stunning as they taste? Achieving that gorgeous marble effect on your glaze, just like the ones pictured, is surprisingly simple and adds an extra touch of sophistication. The key is to create two distinct glazes: one flavored and colored, and one plain. Start by preparing the coffee glaze as detailed in the recipe below, which will be a lovely light brown hue thanks to the instant coffee and a touch of brown food coloring (if desired for deeper color). For the second glaze, simply combine confectioners’ sugar with hot water until you reach a smooth, pourable consistency – this will be your contrasting white glaze.
Once both glazes are ready, spoon them into a larger, shallow bowl, alternating dollops of the brown coffee glaze and the white plain glaze. Don’t mix them completely! Instead, take a knife, skewer, or even a toothpick and very gently swirl the two glazes together once or twice. The goal is to create distinct ribbons and swirls, not a uniform color. Now, your marble glaze is ready for dipping! Dip each cooled donut into this swirled glaze, allowing the beautiful patterns to adhere, then place them on a rack to set. This technique elevates your homemade donuts from simple treats to edible works of art.
Expert Tips for Perfect Pumpkin Spice Latte Donuts
To ensure your pumpkin spice latte donuts turn out perfectly every time, keep these expert tips in mind:
- **Measure Flour Correctly:** Spoon your flour into the measuring cup and level it off with a straight edge, rather than scooping directly from the bag. This prevents over-measuring, which can result in dry, dense donuts.
- **Don’t Overmix:** As mentioned, overmixing develops gluten, leading to a tough texture. Mix the wet and dry ingredients just until combined. A few small lumps are fine.
- **Preheat Your Oven:** A properly preheated oven ensures even baking and a good rise. Always give your oven enough time to come to temperature before putting in your donuts.
- **Grease Donut Pans Well:** Even with non-stick pans, a light spray of cooking oil or a quick brush with butter will help prevent sticking and ensure your donuts release easily.
- **Cool Completely Before Glazing:** Patience is key here! Warm donuts will melt the glaze, making it runny and messy. Allow them to cool entirely on a wire rack for the best glaze application.
- **Adjust Glaze Consistency:** The ideal glaze consistency is thick enough to coat the donut but thin enough to drip off easily. If it’s too thick, add a tiny bit more hot water; if too thin, add more confectioners’ sugar a spoonful at a time.
Variations and Customization Ideas
While these pumpkin spice latte donuts are divine as is, feel free to get creative with variations:
- **Spice it Up:** For an extra kick, add a pinch of ground cloves or allspice to your donut batter.
- **Chocolate Lovers:** Fold in mini chocolate chips or white chocolate chips into the batter for a delightful textural and flavor contrast.
- **Nutty Crunch:** Sprinkle finely chopped pecans or walnuts on top of the wet glaze for a bit of crunch.
- **Cream Cheese Frosting:** Instead of a coffee glaze, make a rich cream cheese frosting for an even more decadent treat.
- **Cinnamon Sugar Coating:** For a simpler finish, skip the glaze and toss the warm donuts in a mixture of cinnamon sugar.
Storing Your Delicious Pumpkin Spice Latte Donuts
These baked pumpkin spice latte donuts are best enjoyed fresh on the day they are made. However, if you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2-3 days. The glaze may soften slightly over time. For longer storage, you can freeze unglazed donuts in a freezer-safe bag for up to 2 months. Thaw them at room temperature and then glaze before serving. Glazed donuts can also be frozen, but the glaze might become a little sticky upon thawing.
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Pumpkin Spice Latte Donuts
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Ingredients
Pumpkin Spice Latte Donuts
- 2 cups (240g) All-Purpose Flour,, properly measured †
- 2 tsp Baking Powder
- 1 tsp Kosher Salt
- 2 tsp Instant Coffee Powder
- 1 ½ tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice
- 1/2 tsp Cinnamon
- 2/3 cup (147g) Vegetable Oil
- 3/4 cup (150g) White Sugar
- 3/4 cup (165g) Dark Brown Sugar
- 1 15oz Can (420g) Pumpkin Puree,, about 1.75 cups
- 1 ½ tsp Vanilla
- 3 Large Eggs
Coffee Glaze
- 1 ½ cups (180g)Confectioners Sugar
- 3-4 tbsp Hot Water
- 1 tsp Instant Coffee Powder
- 1 tsp Vanilla
Equipment
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donut pan
Instructions
Pumpkin Spice Latte Donuts
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Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C), and thoroughly prepare 3 donut pans by lightly coating them with cooking spray. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, salt, instant coffee powder, pumpkin pie spice, and cinnamon. Whisk these together to ensure they are well combined, then set this mixture aside.
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In a separate large mixing bowl, add the wet ingredients: vegetable oil, white sugar, brown sugar, pumpkin puree, vanilla extract, and eggs. Beat these with a hand-mixer or a whisk until the mixture is very smooth and creamy, about 1-2 minutes.
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Carefully add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Mix just until smooth, being careful not to overmix the batter. Stop as soon as all the dry ingredients are incorporated.
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Transfer the donut batter into the prepared donut pans. You can use a spoon or, for best results and uniform donuts, a piping bag. Fill each donut cavity approximately halfway or two-thirds full. Transfer the filled pans to the preheated oven and bake for 11-13 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into a donut comes out clean. Once baked, allow the donuts to cool completely on a wire rack before attempting to glaze them.
Coffee Glaze
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In a small bowl, combine the instant coffee powder and hot water, stirring until the coffee has completely dissolved. Add this hot coffee mixture to a larger bowl with the confectioners’ sugar and vanilla extract. Mix well until the glaze is smooth and free of lumps. If the glaze is too thick, add a tiny bit more hot water; if it’s too thin, add a small amount of additional confectioners’ sugar until you achieve your desired perfect glazing consistency.
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Should you desire an attractive marble effect for your glaze, please refer to the detailed instructions provided in the ‘Mastering the Marble Glaze Effect’ section above this recipe card.