These baked (not fried), cake-like Pumpkin Spice Donuts are moist, fluffy, sweet, incredibly soft, and coated with cinnamon sugar. Feel free to use maple glaze icing if you prefer!
They’re vegan, gluten-free, and super easy to make. They’re made with healthy ingredients like pumpkin puree, almond milk, and rice and almond flours for a wholesome donut!
Plus, they have that cozy pumpkin spice flavor we all know and love. Enjoy these donuts on their own or with a hot cup of coffee.
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What are pumpkin spice donuts?
Pumpkin spice donuts are donuts flavored with pumpkin pie spice and pumpkin puree in the batter. They’re usually topped with either a maple glaze or cinnamon sugar.
Are pumpkin spice donuts vegan?
No, traditional donuts are not vegan! Unless, they’re labelled as vegan, it’s safe to assume they’re not. Traditional donuts are made with eggs, milk, and butter.
Luckily, these are easily substitutable ingredients!
Are these vegan pumpkin spice donuts gluten-free?
Yes! These donuts are gluten-free. Rather than using regular, all-purpose flour, we used a combination of rice flour and almond flour for this recipe!
Are pumpkin spice donuts easy to make?
Yes, these donuts are super easy to make. This recipe basically consists of adding the dry ingredients to a bowl, mixing them, then adding the wet ingredients, mixing again, then transferring the batter to a donut pan, and baking them! That’s it.
The most complicated part of the recipe is transferring the batter into the donut moulds. You can either spoon the batter, which gets a little messy, or you can use a piping bag, which is what we recommend! It’s way easier, and less messy.
How to make vegan pumpkin spice donuts
To make these vegan pumpkin spice donuts, we replaced…
- Whole milk with almond milk, which can also be substituted with your plant-based milk of choice.
- Eggs with pumpkin puree. Pumpkin puree adds moisture to recipes, and acts as a binding agent.
- Butter with coconut oil. As a general rule of thumb, coconut oil can replace butter in baking at a 1:1 ratio, but it may slightly change the flavor if a lot is used! Because we’re only using 2 Tbsp in this recipe, you can’t taste the coconut flavor, so it works perfectly.
What are vegan pumpkin spice donuts made of?
These donuts are made of:
- Rice flour
- Almond flour
- Baking powder
- Coconut sugar (or monk fruit for sugar-free)
- Pumpkin spice
- Coconut oil
- Flax egg (flax meal + water)
- Vanilla extract
- Almond milk (or homemade with Almond Cow). If you decide to get the Almond Cow, you can get a small discount of $15 OFF with the discount code “NATALYA” at checkout!
- Pumpkin puree
Tips for the best vegan pumpkin spice donuts
You can substitute coconut sugar for monk fruit sweetener to make these donuts sugar-free.
If you don’t have any pumpkin spice on hand, you can make a quick pumpkin spice blend at home, using this recipe here. If you’re not in the mood to make a spice blend, just use cinnamon!
To transfer the batter into the donut moulds, you can either spoon the batter or use a piping bag. We recommend the piping bag option, as it’s way easier, and less messy.
Spray the donut pan before adding in the batter to ensure the donuts don’t stick to the pan.
Don’t over-bake the donuts, or they’ll be dry inside. Don’t under-bake them, or they’ll be flat and gummy. In our oven, 15 minutes is perfect, but yours might require less or more time. As a rule of thumb, to check if the donuts are done, lightly press the top of the donut. If it springs back, they are ready. If it indents, they need more time.
Let the donuts cool for about 15 minutes before coating them.
These donuts really are the best enjoyed the day you make them, but if you have leftovers, see storage suggestions below!
FAQ
How to store vegan pumpkin spice donuts
These pumpkin spice donuts are best when served right away, but if you have any leftovers, keep them fresh in an airtight container on the kitchen counter or fridge for up to 3 days.
Can you freeze vegan pumpkin spice donuts?
While we recommend eating them fresh, you can freeze them after they’ve completely cooled.
To freeze these donuts, individually wrap so they don’t stick together, and store them in an airtight container. They can freeze for up to 2 months. When you’re ready to eat them, defrost them at room temperature on the kitchen counter, and serve!
Can you make pumpkin spice donuts ahead of time?
If you don’t have to, we don’t recommend making them ahead of time, as they are best when served the day they’re made!
However, if you need to make them ahead of time, we recommend making them anywhere from 1-3 days before serving.
How long do pumpkin spice donuts last?
These pumpkin spice donuts last up to 3 days in an airtight container on the kitchen counter or fridge, or up to 2 months in an airtight container (individually wrapped) in the freezer.
If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag your photos with @healthiir on Instagram!
More fall dessert recipes to try
If you’re looking for more fall dessert recipes, check out:
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
Pumpkin Spice Donuts
Course: DessertDifficulty: Easy12
servings15
minutes15
minutesIngredients
- Donuts
1 cup rice flour
1 cup almond flour
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp pumpkin spice
1/2 cup coconut sugar (or 1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp monk fruit for sugar-free)
1 cup almond milk
1/2 cup pumpkin puree
2 Tbsp coconut oil
1 flax egg (1 Tbsp flax meal + 3 Tbsp water)
2 tsp vanilla extract
- Cinnamon Sugar Coating
1/4 cup coconut sugar (or monk fruit for sugar-free)
2 Tbsp cinnamon
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350F.
- To a mixing bowl, add the rice flour, almond flour, baking powder, pumpkin spice, and coconut sugar (or monk fruit). Mix until combined.
- Add the almond milk, pumpkin puree, coconut oil, flax egg, and vanilla extract, and mix until incorporated.
- Grease your donut mould tray with coconut oil. Transfer batter into a piping bag, and pipe it into the greased donut moulds.
- Bake on 350F for about 10-15 minutes. As a rule of thumb, to check if the donuts are done, lightly press the top of the donut. If it springs back, they are ready. If it indents, they need more time.
- When they’re ready, remove them from the oven, and allow them to cool.
- Prepare the cinnamon sugar coating by mixing the cinnamon and sugar together.
- Once the donuts are cooled, roll them in the cinnamon sugar coating, and serve!