Pumpkin Spice Donuts are baked in the oven, then dipped in a maple pecan glaze that tastes like a big bite of autumn! These cake mix donuts are super easy to make, and the perfect fall treat for breakfast or dessert.

Pumpkin spice donuts on a stack of white plates.

The Best Fall Donut!

Quick and Easy: spiced pumpkin donuts are ready to eat in less than 30 minutes!
Flavors of Fall: warm and cozy flavors remind you of fall
Small Batch Baking: make a few at a time whenever you need a tasty treat

If you've never made cake mix donuts, you're in for a surprise. Not only are they easy to make, they're amazingly delicious!

Enjoy these maple glazed donuts when they're warm from the oven with a hot cup of coffee or apple cider. The intense fall flavors make it hard to eat just one.

Love pumpkin spice? Try my Pumpkin Brioche Bread Pudding for brunch, or a slice of Pumpkin Pie Dump Cake with cream cheese frosting for dessert.

Ingredient Notes

Pumpkin Spice Donuts

Pumpkin Cake Mix - can substitute spice cake mix or vanilla if desired
Egg - one egg binds the mixture together
Vegetable Oil - the best option for a tender crumb
Greek Yogurt - adds moisture and flavor
Whole Milk - thins the batter
Maple Extract - adds a hint of maple flavor to the batter; can use vanilla instead

Maple Glaze

Powdered Sugar - adds the sweetness
Whole Milk - thins out the glaze so it can adhere to the donut
Maple Extract - gives the glaze a sweet maple flavor
Chopped Pecans - adds a bit of crunch; can substitute walnuts if desired

Ingredients needed for pumpkin spice donuts.

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350° and thoroughly grease a donut baking pan (ad) that is oven-safe. Set aside.
In a large bowl, mix together the cake mix, egg, vegetable oil, Greek yogurt, milk, and maple extract. Try not to over mix the batter.

Transfer the batter to a piping bag and snip off the tip. Or, use a small spoon.
Pipe the batter into the doughnut pan, filling each space about ⅔ full. Lightly tap the pan on the counter to release the air bubbles.

Bake batter on the center rack in a preheated oven for 12 minutes, or until they spring back when touched. Cool completely.

Mix powdered sugar, milk, and maple extract in a small bowl. Stir until powdered sugar is dissolved and the mixture is smooth.

Dip each top of the donut in maple glaze and allow the excess to drop off. Place the donuts on a wire rack with the glazed side up.

Sprinkle each glazed donut with chopped pecans.
Let the frosting set for 5 minutes before serving.

Customize It!

Switch the Cake Mix: Use a spice cake mix if you can't find pumpkin. Don't like pumpkin spice? Try a yellow cake mix and add another spice, or leave out the spice altogether.
Fill It Up: Inject a burst of pumpkin cream cheese dip for a surprise inside.
Streusel Topping: Top with a sweet and crunchy streusel made from brown sugar, butter, pecans and spices.
Make a Vanilla Glaze: Don't have maple extract? Feel free to use vanilla extract to make a simple vanilla glaze.
Make More! This recipe only uses 1 ¼ cups of cake mix to make 8 donuts. Feel free to use the rest of the box of cake mix to make more!

Pumpkin spice donut being held up with a hand.

What to Serve with Pumpkin Spice Donuts

Looking for other fall recipes to serve with pumpkin donuts? Try these favorites...

Ice Cream - a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or even pumpkin spice ice cream goes great with donuts!
French Toast - serve pumpkin brioche french toast as a combo for breakfast or brunch.
Muffins - any type of muffins, like banana chocolate chunk muffins or zucchini chocolate chip muffins make a great side kick.

Tips for Success

Be Gentle with the Batter: Over mixing can cause tough donuts. Stir the ingredients until just combined to keep the batter light.

Get Creative with Toppings: While this maple glaze is great, try different toppings like cinnamon sugar, vanilla glaze, or even a crunchy streusel topping.

No piping bag? If you don't have a piping bag, you can spoon the batter into the donut pan. Just make sure to be precise and wipe any batter spills off the pan before baking.

Storing Leftovers

Cool Completely: Make sure the donuts are fully cooled before storing.
Airtight Container: Place the donuts in an airtight container. If you’ve glazed them, it’s best to place a layer of parchment paper between the donuts to prevent sticking.
Room Temperature: You can store the donuts at room temperature for up to 2 days. Keep them in a cool, dry place.
Refrigeration: If you need to store them for longer than 2 days, you can refrigerate them in an airtight container for up to a week. Reheat them in the microwave for a few seconds.
Freezing: To freeze, wrap each donut individually in plastic wrap or aluminum foil, then place in a freezer-safe bag for up to 2-3 months. To thaw, let them sit in the fridge overnight, or at room temperature.

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These donuts are so easy and so good that I want to make more in every flavor of cake mix there is. Love the glaze and the pecan topping. Really great recipe.