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    Home » Recipes » Cakes & Muffins

    Published: Oct 24, 2016 · Modified: Oct 14, 2022 by Melanie McDonald · This post contains affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. · 4 Comments

    Vegan Pumpkin Donuts

    JUMP TO RECIPE PIN
    5 from 5 votes
    Vegan Pumpkin Donuts

    Soft & fluffy Vegan Pumpkin Donuts, baked to perfection and then rolled in copious amounts of sugar. So easy to make & no mixer required!

    a stack of vegan pumpkin donuts

    Dust off your donut pan and give these delicious Vegan Pumpkin Donuts a spin!

    Soft, super fluffy, and full of pumpkin flavor with a very subtle hint of orange, they are incredibly delicious and just like my other vegan pumpkin recipes, make an amazing fall treat!

    In this Vegan Pumpkin Spice Donuts post:

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • How To Make Pumpkin Donuts
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Hungry For More?
    • Recipe
    • Comments & Reviews
    a single vegan pumpkin donut leaning on a stack of donuts

    Ingredients

    Here are the ingredients you need to make Vegan Pumpkin Donuts:

    And a few ingredient notes:

    • Flour - You can use all purpose flour, spelt flour or whole wheat flour in this recipe. I haven't tried it but I'm pretty sure a good gluten-free all purpose that contains xanthan gum would work well too.
    • Nut butter or oil - Either works really well. I tend to use nut butter for the extra flavour it gives the donuts. You could use seed butter too.
    • Orange zest - This is optional but recommended. Orange and pumpkin work so well together and the hint of citrus cuts through the sweetness really nicely.
    • Pumpkin puree - Canned pumpkin or homemade pumpkin puree. Don't use pumpkin pie filling. Got some elftover after making these donuts? Give my vegan pumpkin pasta a try!
    • Plant milk - Any plant milk such as oat milk, soy milk, almond milk or cashew milk.
    • Pumpkin pie spice - See the FAQs for how to make your own pumpkin spice blend if you can't find it locally.
    • Melted vegan butter - This is what makes the sugar coat the donuts really well after they are baked and it gives the donuts a delicious buttery, "fried" flavour.

    Success Tip - I highly recommend USA Pan Donut Pans. I've had issues with donuts sticking in other pans I've used more than a few times. This is the only one I've had that's lasted well and always gives great results.

    How To Make Pumpkin Donuts

    These donuts come together really quickly and easily. Here's how it's done:

    1. Add all of the dry ingredients to a bowl and whisk together.
    2. Mix the wet ingredients together in another bowl then pour them into the dry mixture.
    3. Stir to combine then fill a greased donut pan with the donut batter.
    4. Bake, brush with melted vegan butter then dip in sugar.
    stacked vegan pumpkin donuts with one cut in half so you can see the fluffy insides

    Recipe FAQs

    What can I use instead of pumpkin spice?

    Make your own pumpkin spice blend to keep in the pantry. Simply combine 4 teaspoons ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon ground cloves, ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg, and 2 teaspoon ground ginger. Seal in a jar or container and use as called for in your recipes.

    Can I glaze them instead of using a sugar coating?

    Yes. Use 1 cup of powdered sugar mixed with approximately 4 tablespoons of plant milk. Just enough milk to make a thick, drippy glaze. Then either drizzle each donut or dip them in top down. You could add 1 tablespoon of cocoa to the glaze to make it chocolatey.

    I don't have a donut pan. Can I make them as muffins?

    Yes! Divide the batter between 6 wells of a lined muffin pan. Bake at 350°F (176°C) for about 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. For donut holes dived the batter evenly between the wells of a mini muffin pan and bake at 350°F for 8 to 10 minutes.

    Hungry For More?

    • Vegan Pumpkin Bread
    • Vegan Pumpkin Muffins
    • Vegan Pumpkin Pancakes
    • Pumpkin Oatmeal Bars

    If you try this recipe, let me know how you like it by leaving a comment and rating below! And be sure to join my mailing list for more deliciousness!

    Recipe

    a vegan pumpkin donut leaning on another donut

    Vegan Pumpkin Donuts

    Author: Melanie McDonald
    5 from 5 votes
    Soft & fluffy Vegan Pumpkin Donuts, baked to perfection and then rolled in copious amounts of sugar. So easy to make & no mixer required!
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe SaveSaved!
    PREP TIME: 15 minutes
    COOK TIME: 13 minutes
    TOTAL TIME: 28 minutes
    Servings: 6 donuts

    Ingredients
      

    Dry ingredients

    • 1 ⅔ cup (200 grams) flour , all purpose, spelt or wholewheat (spooned into the cup NOT scooped)
    • ½ cup (100 grams) sugar , any granulated sugar. I love to use brown or coconut sugar as they complement the pumpkin nicely.
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder
    • ¾ teaspoon pumpkin spice (see recipe note)

    Wet ingredients

    • 4 tablespoons oil or melted vegan butter , or nut/seed butter
    • ¾ cup (180 ml) plant milk
    • ⅓ cup (75 grams) pumpkin puree
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • zest of 1 orange , optional

    For coating

    • 4 tablespoons vegan butter , melted (optional)
    • ½ cup sugar , same as the one you used in the batter

    RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT

    • USA Pan Donut Pan
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    INSTRUCTIONS
     

    • Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a donut pan really well with oil.
    • Add the flour, sugar, salt, baking powder and pumpkin spice to a bowl and whisk them together to combine.
    • To another small bowl or jug add the oil/nut butter and the milk and whisk them really well to combine. Add the pumpkin, vanilla and orange zest and whisk again.
    • Pour the liquid mixture into the dry ingredients and stir to combine. Don't over stir. Just enough that everything is combined and you can't see any dry flour.
    • Carefully spoon into the prepared donut pan. Fill almost to the top. I use a spoon to fill, then a clean finger to tidy up around the middle. If you want to be neat you could use a piping bag to pipe the batter in.
    • Bake for 13 - 15 minutes or until a tooth pick comes out clean.
    • Leave to cool just long enough that you can handle the pan and donuts without burning yourself, then turn them out onto a cooling rack.
    • Brush each donut with melted butter then dip into a bowl of sugar to coat. If you want to dip in sugar without using the melted butter be sure to do it while the donuts are still pretty hot as it will stick better.

    NOTES

    See the FAQs for a pumpkin spice alternative and for how to make the recipe if you don't have a donut pan. 
    TO STORE - Once completely cool store donuts in an airtight container. They are best eaten the same day but will keep ok for a couple of days.  

    NUTRITION

    Serving: 1donutCalories: 415kcalCarbohydrates: 63gProtein: 5gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0.1gSodium: 268mgPotassium: 211mgFiber: 2gSugar: 36gVitamin A: 2415IUVitamin C: 12mgCalcium: 86mgIron: 2mg

    Nutritional information is provided for convenience. The data is a computer generated estimate and should be used as a guide only.

    Tried this recipe?Rate it & leave your feedback in the comments section below, or tag @avirtualvegan on Instagram and hashtag it #avirtualvegan

    Hungry For More?

    • No Bake Chocolate Cake
    • Vegan Blueberry Muffins
    • Vegan Blueberry Cake
    • Vegan Brown Butter
    3.4K shares

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Sina says

      October 28, 2016 at 10:27 am

      5 stars
      So delicious! What an amazing combo! I've never thought of pairing pumpkin and oranges until now. Fantastic recipe. We loved them.

      Reply
    2. Amy says

      October 25, 2016 at 9:43 pm

      5 stars
      Best pumpkin donuts I've made!

      Reply
    3. Alisa says

      October 25, 2016 at 9:28 pm

      5 stars
      I love these and the kids loved them.

      Reply
    4. Becky says

      October 25, 2016 at 9:19 am

      5 stars
      These are so awesome! The orange is a genius addition!

      Reply

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