Description
Seasonal pumpkin donut holes dance with warm spices, delivering autumn’s sweetness in bite-sized perfection. Crisp exterior and tender center make these treats irresistible for weekend gatherings or quick dessert cravings you’ll savor.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1/3 cup milk
Dry Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Spices:
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Blend dry ingredients in a medium bowl, combining flour, leavening agents, salt, and warming spices until evenly distributed.
- Whisk wet ingredients in a large mixing bowl, incorporating sugars, pumpkin puree, milk, melted butter, egg, and vanilla extract until smooth and uniform.
- Gently fold dry ingredients into wet mixture, stirring minimally to prevent gluten development and maintain tender texture.
- For air fryer preparation, heat appliance to 350F and shape dough into compact, tablespoon-sized spheres.
- Arrange donut holes in air fryer basket without overcrowding, leaving space between each piece for consistent heat circulation.
- Cook for 10-15 minutes, rotating basket midway to ensure golden-brown coloration and even cooking throughout.
- Alternatively, for oven method, preheat to 350F and arrange dough balls on parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Bake 15-20 minutes until golden and center tests clean with inserted toothpick.
- Create coating by combining granulated sugar and ground cinnamon in one bowl, melting butter separately.
- Once slightly cooled, dunk each donut hole in melted butter, then roll thoroughly in cinnamon-sugar mixture for complete coverage.
Notes
- Prevent Over-mixing by gently folding dry ingredients into wet ingredients until just combined, which keeps donut holes tender and light.
- Use Room Temperature Ingredients like eggs and milk to ensure smoother batter and more even baking, helping donut holes maintain consistent texture.
- Control Portion Size with a small cookie scoop or tablespoon to create uniform donut holes that cook evenly and look professionally made.
- Experiment with Spice Variations by adding cardamom, replacing some cinnamon with pumpkin pie spice, or incorporating orange zest for unique flavor profiles.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10-20 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 110 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 140 mg
- Fat: 4 g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg