Dessert

Cinnamon Sugar Pumpkin Donut Holes Recipe

Byluca Carter August 28, 2026August 28, 2026

Introduction

These Cinnamon Sugar Pumpkin Donut Holes are a delightful fall treat that’s easy to make at home. Soft, spiced, and coated in a buttery cinnamon sugar, they’re perfect for sharing or enjoying with a warm drink. Ready in just 30 minutes, they bring cozy autumn flavors to your kitchen effortlessly.

A pile of round dough balls covered in a light brown sugar and cinnamon coating, stacked on a patterned white plate. The dough balls are uniform in size with a rough, grainy texture from the sugar coating. In the background, there is a soft, blurred white cloth with leaf patterns. The scene is set on a white marbled texture. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

1/4 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp ground all spice
1/4 tsp ground cloves

1 egg
1/3 cup buttermilk
1 tsp vanilla extract

1 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted (for batter)
1/4 cup pumpkin puree
5 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted (for coating)

1 cup granulated sugar (for coating)
2-3 Tbsp ground cinnamon (for coating)

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and generously grease a 24-cup mini muffin tin to prevent sticking.

Step 2: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, all spice, and cloves until evenly combined.
Step 3: Add the egg to the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
Step 4: Pour in the buttermilk, vanilla extract, and 1 tablespoon melted butter. Stir gently until the batter is just blended.

Step 5: Fold in the pumpkin puree carefully, mixing until just combined without overworking the batter.
Step 6: Drop about 1 tablespoon of batter into each mini muffin cup, filling them evenly.
Step 7: Bake for 9 to 10 minutes, or until the donut holes spring back lightly when touched.

Step 8: Let the donut holes cool slightly, then dip each one in melted butter before rolling it thoroughly in the cinnamon sugar mixture made from sugar and ground cinnamon.
Step 9: Serve warm or at room temperature and enjoy your delicious pumpkin treat!

Tips & Variations

Use canned pumpkin puree if fresh isn’t available; avoid pumpkin pie filling which contains added spices and sugar.

For extra warmth, add a pinch of ground cloves or cardamom to the cinnamon sugar coating.
If you don’t have buttermilk, mix 1/3 cup milk with 1 teaspoon lemon juice or vinegar and let it sit for 5 minutes before adding.
Try tossing the donut holes in powdered sugar instead of cinnamon sugar for a different finish.

Storage

Store the donut holes in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. To keep them fresh longer, refrigerate for up to 5 days and reheat briefly in a microwave or oven before serving. These treats are best enjoyed fresh for the softest texture.

How to Serve

A stack of around fifteen small round balls covered in a light brown sugar and cinnamon coating, giving them a slightly grainy texture and a dusty look. The balls are piled in a pyramid shape on a white plate with a geometric pattern, placed on a white marbled surface. A white cloth with brown and green leaf prints is softly blurred in the background, adding a cozy touch to the scene. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use a different type of flour?

All-purpose flour works best for these donut holes, but you can substitute with whole wheat flour for a heartier flavor, though the texture may be denser.