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    Home » Breakfast & Brunch Recipes

    Pumpkin Spice Donut Muffins

    Published: Sep 30, 2020 by Allison Ferraro · Modified: Jun 20, 2022 · 4 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe Print Recipe

    There's a lot to love about these pumpkin spice donut muffins! Baked with real pumpkin and pumpkin pie spices and coated with cinnamon sugar, they're packed with delicious fall flavor. Plus they're quick and easy to make and bake in a muffin pan (recipe includes instructions for both regular-sized or mini muffins)!

    side view of a bitten pumpkin spice donut muffin on a cooling rack with a navy blue linen napkin this Recipe

    Is anyone else a big fan of breakfast treats that can pull double duty dessert, or is that just me? Because believe me when I tell you that no one would be disappointed if you served these pumpkin spice donut muffins for dessert!

    • overhead view of pumpkin puree in a white ramekin on a white surface
    • overhead view of pumpkin pie spices (cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice) scattered on a white surface

    These donut muffins combine some of fall's best flavors - real pumpkin, pumpkin pie spices, and a generous coating of cinnamon sugar - into one deliciously simple fall treat. They're soft and moist, like your favorite cake donut, but, unlike donuts, they're quick and easy to make. AND they're baked in a muffin pan (regular-sized or mini, you choose!), so there's no special equipment necessary. You don't even need to pull out your stand mixer; just a couple of bowls, and whisk, and a wooden spoon will do!

    angled view of a bitten pumpkin spice donut muffin in a muffin tin

    How to Make Pumpkin Spice Donut Muffins from Scratch (Quick & Easy!)

    • In a small bowl, combine flour, baking powder, pumpkin pie spices (cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice), and salt.
    • In a medium bowl, combine pumpkin purée, brown sugar, milk, egg white, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract.
    • Add the flour mixture to the pumpkin mixture and stir just until combined, being careful not to over mix the batter.
    • Divide the batter evenly among the muffin wells in a greased muffin pan. You can use either a regular-sized or mini muffin pan for this recipe, and I've included bake times for each within the recipe.
    • Bake the donut muffins until they become domed on top and a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean.
    • Prepare the cinnamon sugar coating by melting butter in a small, heat-safe bowl. In another small bowl, combine sugar and cinnamon.
    • Working one at a time, dip each donut muffin in the butter, coating all sides and allowing excess butter to drip off, then roll each donut muffin in the cinnamon sugar mixture, once again coating all sides.
    • Enjoy!
    angled view of a bitten mini pumpkin spice donut muffin stacked on top of other mini donut muffins with a navy blue linen napkin

    Love these pumpkin spice donut muffins? Leave a review and be sure to check out these other easy fall recipes!

    • Chewy Chai Snickerdoodles
    • Apple Pie Bars with Salted Caramel Sauce
    • Easy Homemade Salted Caramel Sauce
    side view of a bitten pumpkin spice donut muffin on a cooling rack with a navy blue linen napkin

    Pumpkin Spice Donut Muffins

    Baked with real pumpkin and pumpkin pie spices and coated with cinnamon sugar, these pumpkin spice donut muffins are packed with delicious fall flavor. Plus they're quick and easy to make and bake in a muffin pan (recipe includes instructions for both regular-sized or mini muffins)!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Breakfast
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 35 minutes
    Cook Time: 22 minutes
    Total Time: 57 minutes
    Servings: 6
    Yield: 6 regular or 16 mini donut muffins
    Calories: 226kcal
    Author: Allison Ferraro

    Ingredients

    for the donut muffins:

    • ⅞ cup all-purpose flour
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder
    • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
    • pinch of ground cloves
    • pinch of ground allspice
    • ⅜ cup pumpkin purée*
    • ¼ cup dark brown sugar
    • ¼ cup milk room temperature
    • 1 large egg white room temperature
    • 3 Tablespoons vegetable oil
    • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

    for the cinnamon sugar topping:

    • 3 Tablespoons butter
    • ⅓ cup granulated sugar
    • 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a muffin pan (regular or mini-sized) with cooking spray and set aside.

    Make the muffin batter.

    • In a small bowl, add the flour, baking powder, spices, and salt. Whisk to combine and set aside.
    • In a medium bowl, add the pumpkin purée, brown sugar, milk, egg white, oil, and vanilla. Whisk until well blended and smooth.
    • Add the flour mixture to the pumpkin mixture and stir just until combined, being careful not to over mix the batter.
    • Divide the batter evenly among the muffin wells in the prepared muffin pan. For regular-sized donut muffins, divide the batter among 6 muffin wells. For mini donut muffins, divide the batter among 16 mini muffin wells.

    Bake the donut muffins.

    • Bake the donut muffins until they become domed on top and a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean, about 22 minutes for regular-sized donut muffins and 12-14 minutes for mini donut muffins. Let the muffins cool in the pan for 2 minutes before carefully transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. (NOTE: It is not necessary for the donut muffins to cool completely before coating them with cinnamon sugar and serving. If you plan to serve the donut muffins immediately while still warm, simply let them cool until they're cool enough to handle before proceeding with the next steps.)

    Prepare the cinnamon sugar coating.

    • (NOTE: See note regarding storing the donut muffins prior to coating them in cinnamon sugar.) In a small, heat-safe bowl, melt the butter. Set aside.
    • In another small bowl, add the sugar and cinnamon and whisk to combine.
    • Working one at a time, dip each donut muffin in the butter, coating all sides and allowing excess butter to drip off, then roll each donut muffin in the cinnamon sugar mixture, once again coating all sides. Serve immediately or store (see storage tips below).

    Notes

    Storage: Pumpkin spice donut muffins are best enjoyed fresh on the same day they are made. Donut muffins that are coated in the cinnamon sugar topping can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 day. If you wish to store the donut muffins for longer, do not coat the muffins in the cinnamon sugar mixture and store the uncoated donut muffins in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. Coat the muffins with the cinnamon sugar mixture on the say you plan to eat them.
    *Be sure to use pumpkin purée/canned pumpkin that contains only 100% real pumpkin. Do not use pumpkin pie filling, which also contains spices, sweeteners, and other additives.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 226kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.05g | Cholesterol: 2mg | Sodium: 192mg | Potassium: 102mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 21g | Vitamin A: 2414IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 82mg | Iron: 1mg
    « Chewy Fudgy Homemade Brownies
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Callan

      October 29, 2020 at 12:59 pm

      5 stars
      These were absolutely delish! I doubled the recipe so I could have both regular and mini sized 🙂 Texture is a perfect mix of muffin and donut, and the cinnamon sugar tied it all together! Simple and delicious.

      Reply
      • Allison

        October 29, 2020 at 2:08 pm

        Thank you so much for your review, Callan! I'm glad you love this recipe as much as I do!
        - Allison

        Reply
    2. Rita

      October 20, 2020 at 8:14 pm

      What is the amount of flour needed? It says 7/8 Cup.

      Reply
      • Allison

        October 21, 2020 at 6:53 pm

        Hi Rita! The flour was for this recipe was measured by volume, and the recipe calls for 7/8 cup (which equals 3/4 cup plus 2 Tablespoons). If you're looking for the measurement by weight, it would be 105 grams of all-purpose flour.
        - Allison

        Reply

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    I'm Allison, the cookie-obsessed baker, recipe creator, and food photographer behind Always Eat Dessert.

    Here you’ll find made-from-scratch recipes designed for busy people who love to bake. From cookies to cakes, you'll discover detailed, easy-to-follow dessert recipes for everyday life along with practical baking tips to help you whip up indulgent treats from scratch with confidence. Baking from scratch doesn't have to be an all day affair, and I'm here to prove it!

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