Air Fryer Pumpkin Donuts Recipe

When fall comes around, it doesn't just mean football and cooler weather. (However, we do love both of those things.) This beautiful time of year also means a whole lot of pumpkin spice, which we are totally on board with. From pumpkin bread to Starbucks' Pumpkin Spice Latte and everything else in between, there's just something so wonderful and comforting about this popular fall flavor. And when you add a touch of pumpkin spice to a donut, well, the result is nothing short of amazing — and it makes our little fall hearts so content.

Recipe developer Jessica Morone of Jess Loves Baking came up with this simple donut recipe that combines two of our favorite things — pumpkin flavor and an air fryer. These donuts are super easy to make, and they're great for a weekend brunch with the family. "My favorite thing about these is that they are so easy to cook, because you are using an air fryer," Morone says. "I also love the taste — they are perfect for the fall season."

Skip the trip out for donuts this time, because you can make these yummy treats in the comfort of your own home. Keep reading to find out how to make these delicious sweets.

Before you begin making this sweet fall treat, you will need to gather all of the necessary items to throw it together. For starters, you will need to round up flour, sugar, baking soda, and baking powder. If you cook or bake frequently, you probably have these things at home already. You will also need a dash of salt.

Moving on to the spices, grab some pumpkin pie spice — aka one of the best-selling fall spices. You will also need unsalted butter and a can of pumpkin puree. Last but not least, grab some milk and vegetable oil. Then, it's time to get started!

Let's get down to business. Take out the bowl of your food processor, and get ready to add all of the ingredients to it. If you don't have a food processor at your disposal, that's totally okay. "If you don't have a food processor, you can mix the first step by hand," Morone notes.

First, dump in the flour and sugar, followed by the baking soda and baking powder. At this time, you can also toss in the salt and pumpkin pie spice. Pulse together until everything is well mixed. It shouldn't take more than a few minutes.

Now, take your butter, and cut 8 tablespoons into small cubes. Then, add it to the mixture of the food processor, and pulse until it becomes coarse crumbs. It's easier to combine the butter and the flour mixture when it's in small cubes. Again, if you don't have a food processor available, that's no problem. "Use either a pastry cutter or two forks to cut in the butter and make the mixture crumbly," Morone instructs. "That just takes a bit longer than using a food processor."

Then, transfer the mixture into a large bowl. Add the pumpkin puree and milk, and mix until a soft dough forms.

Now that you've finished mixing the dough, transfer it to a lightly floured surface. Put a little flour on your hands to prevent the dough from sticking, and then knead the dough until it's nice and smooth. 

Next, flour a rolling pin, and roll the dough until it's about ½-inch thick. Use a lightly floured donut or cookie cutter to cut the dough into circles. Adding flour to everything is key, as it prevents sticking.

Continue to re-roll the dough until there is none left. This batch should make 10 donuts and 10 donut holes.

Now, brush the top of the donuts and donut holes with oil. Place as many as you can in the air fryer, but be sure you leave space in between. "I think an important tip is to make sure the air fryer basket isn't overcrowded, because if there are too many donuts in the basket, and they are touching, then they won't be able to grow and brown properly," Morone shares. "So working in smaller batches is better for these."

Turn the air fryer to 350, and cook for 10 minutes until the donuts are golden brown. Repeat the process with the remaining batches until they are all cooked, and then let them cool.

Once your donuts have cooled, it's time to add the topping, which is the best part in our opinion! Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter in a small bowl. In a separate bowl, add the sugar and pumpkin pie spice together. Then, brush the donuts with the butter, and dip them into the sugar mixture. Now, you have some really killer homemade donuts that are ready to enjoy. 

"I would serve these with coffee, or maybe apple cider to keep the fall theme," Morone shares. "These are best when they are served fresh, but you can store leftovers in an airtight container for two days."