These Baked Pumpkin Donuts are easy to make and full of pure pumpkin and cozy fall spices. These baked pumpkin donuts are gluten-free, dairy-free, paleo-friendly and the perfect healthy breakfast or afternoon treat!
Paleo Baked Donuts Recipe
Craving a Pumpkin Spice Donut now that fall is in the air? These Baked Pumpkin Donuts are deliciously soft, spongy and are full of warm and cozy fall flavors.
You can enjoy one for breakfast, dessert or anytime you’re have that donut craving without having to head out to Starbucks or Tim Hortons for that pumpkin spice fix.
This recipe for Paleo Pumpkin Donuts makes a batch of 12 mini donuts or 6 regular sized donuts. And if you don’t have a donut pan, divide the donut batter in a mini muffin tin for some paleo donut holes which would be just as delicious. Looking for more homemade donut recipes? We also love these Donut Muffins and Keto Donuts.
Why we love this healthy baked donut recipe
These grain free pumpkin donuts bake up deliciously moist, spongy and come together easily without having to pull out a stand mixer. Plus, they’re paleo, grain free, gluten free and refined sugar free.
Instead, I sweetened these almond flour pumpkin donuts with granulated maple sugar. Maple sugar is just the granulated version of pure maple syrup and is lower in glycemic levels than granulated sugar and works great for anyone who is following a paleo diet.
If you can’t find monk fruit sweetener, you can also try substituting with coconut sugar instead.
Ingredients you need for paleo pumpkin donuts
- eggs
- unsweetened almond milk
- pure pumpkin puree NOT pumpkin pie filling
- vanilla extract
- melted ghee OR butter if not paleo
- maple sugar OR sub with coconut sugar
- super-fine blanched almond flour
- coconut flour
- pumpkin pie spice
- ground cinnamon
- gluten-free baking powder
- baking soda
- fine sea salt
Equipment you need:
TOPPING CHOICES:
For the pumpkin spice cinnamon sugar coating
- maple sugar
- cinnamon
- pumpkin spice
- vegan / dairy-free chocolate
- coconut oil
- maple syrup
How to make Baked Pumpkin Donuts
- For this healthy pumpkin donut recipe, you’re going whisk together the eggs, pure pumpkin puree, almond milk, vanilla, melted ghee & maple sugar in a large bowl, until smooth and combined.
- In a separate medium bowl, combine the almond flour, coconut flour, cinnamon, pumpkin spice, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients & stir until just combined.
- Transfer batter evenly into a greased 12 cavity silicone mini donut pan (or drop into mini muffin tins) (filling 3/4 full). I like using this silicone donut mold whenever I make gluten free donuts since the donuts pop out easily from the pan without having to grease or coat with baking spray. (Or you can also use a 6 cavity silicone donut pan for regular-sized donuts.)
- Bake in preheated oven 350F for 12-15 minutes (for mini) or (21-24 minutes for regular-sized) until golden brown. Allow donuts to cool in pan for about 10 minutes before removing.
- While the donuts are baking, combine the pumpkin spice and maple sugar for the cinnamon sugar coating. You can also mix things up and make a Krispy Kreme style glaze or chocolate glaze depending on what you like.
- Dip in pumpkin spice/sweetener coating or top with glaze of your choice.
Are baked donuts healthy?
These gluten free donuts are made with much healthier ingredients than your typical store-bought donuts. Instead of granulated sugar, they are made with maple sugar, almond flour and coconut flour and will not cause a spike in your glucose level.
Tips for making the best pumpkin donuts
- use a silicone donut mold and allow donuts to cool in the pan for at least 10 minutes for easier removal
- fill each cavity in the donut pan 3/4 full – otherwise the donuts will overflow
- use a combination of both super-fine blanched almond flour and coconut flour to achieve a fluffy and moist sponge
- do NOT overmix the batter – stir in the dry ingredients until just combined
More pumpkin recipes you’ll love:
Keto Pumpkin Muffins | Low Carb | Paleo
These Paleo Pumpkin Donuts are easy to make and full of pure pumpkin and cozy fall spices. These baked pumpkin donuts are gluten-free, dairy-free, paleo-friendly and the perfect healthy breakfast or afternoon treat!
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- 1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 2 tablespoons pure pumpkin puree NOT pumpkin pie filling
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons melted ghee OR butter if not paleo
- 1/4 cup maple sugar OR coconut sugar
- 1 cup super-fine blanched almond flour
- 1/2 tablespoon coconut flour
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/8 fine sea salt
- mini donut pan
- 1/4 cup granulated maple sugar OR coconut sugar
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- 1 1/2 tablespoons melted ghee or buttter if not paleo
- 2 ounces dairy-free chocolate melted
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil melted
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup
In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, almond milk, pumpkin puree, melted ghee, vanilla, melted ghee & maple sugar, until smooth and combined.
- In a separate medium bowl, combine the almond flour, coconut flour, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients & stir until just combined.
Transfer batter evenly into a greased 12 cavity silicone mini donut pan (or drop into mini muffin tins) (filling 3/4 full). (Or you can also use a 6 cavity silicone donut pan for regular-sized donuts.)
- Bake in preheated oven 350F for 12-15 minutes (for mini) or (21-24 minutes for regular-sized) until golden brown.
- Remove pan from the oven and set aside until the donuts are cool enough to handle.
- While the donuts are baking, stir together the maple sugar and pumpkin pie spice in a small bowl.
- In a separate small heat-safe bowl, melt ghee (or butter).
- Take each cooled donut and lightly dunk in melted ghee then roll into the cinnamon/sweetener coating.
- Repeat with remaining donuts.
- Add the chopped chocolate and coconut oil to a small heat-safe bowl & melt in microwave. Stir in maple syrup until combined.
- Dip the cooled donuts into the chocolate (double-dip if you want a thicker glaze) and place in the fridge until the chocolate coating has set.
Glazed donuts are best enjoyed on the first day. If donuts are unglazed, store in an airtight container for up to 2 days. They will still remain moist.
Lynna -
I`ve been wanting to bake some pumpkin donuts this season, but I think I will fail this year since I cant seem to find time to bake everything I want to! LOL.
Chris @ Shared Appetite -
These look amazing Kelly! And gluten free?! Totally letting my GF friends know about these! Pinning!
Kelly -
Thanks so much Chris and for pinning 🙂
Janet -
These donuts look delicious and I really want to make them soon. I was reading the Ganache instructions and I’m a little confused. The ingredients listed are chopped chocolate, heavy cream & butter; but in the instructions it says to pour the hot heavy cream over the chocolate and then whisk, then later it says to melt chocolate again and talks about other ingredients (water & instant espresso powder). Could you please check the Ganache recipe and correct if necessary? Thanks very much!
Kelly -
Hi Janet, sorry about that and thanks so much for bringing that to my attention. I fixed the recipe and it should be okay now. Please let me know if you have any other questions or if you notice something else that needs to be fixed or clarified. Hope you love them as much as we do 🙂
annie@ciaochowbambina.com -
Okay…I think the donut gods are trying to tell me something – I’ve stumbled upon a number of donut posts this week and love every single one – this recipe included! I guess I’ll be pulling my donut pans out this week!
Nami | Just One Cookbook -
I should make a use of my donut pans and make these! It’s about time to take the pans out. I love pumpkin flavors and what a great idea to make baked donuts! My son will definitely ask for chocolate cover and chocolate filling… 😀 This will be a fun project this weekend! Thanks for the idea, Kelly!
Kelly -
I haven’t used my donut pan in awhile too before this batch. Haha my son loves chocolate too. Thanks so much Nami! Hope you have a great weekend 🙂