2 ingredient Pumpkin Spice Cake Mix Donuts are made with spice cake mix and pumpkin puree and topped with a delicious cream cheese frosting. This easy baked donuts recipe is perfect for the fall season!
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If you're looking for spice cake mix recipes with pumpkin for an easy fall breakfast or brunch, you can't go wrong with these easy baked pumpkin donuts with spice cake mix!
All you need is a box of spice cake mix and a can of pumpkin puree. Enjoy them plain or top them with my favorite cream cheese frosting!
2 ingredient recipes are the BEST, especially when you're short on time! I've made 2 ingredient bagels, cakes, cookies and muffins, and my daughter and I made these 2 ingredient donuts over the weekend.
These pumpkin donuts are light and airy, unlike most baked donuts. They're not super sweet, either.
Actually, the basic 2 ingredient donut recipe is Weight Watchers friendly. The cream cheese frosting? Not so much. But that's up to you.
Ingredients
You only need a few simple ingredients to make baked pumpkin donuts with cream cheese frosting:
- Spice cake mix
- Pumpkin puree -- not pumpkin pie filling
- Cream cheese
- Butter
- Vanilla extract
- Powdered sugar
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
- Pumpkin pie spice
- Heavy cream
You also need a donut pan. And, I highly recommend a piping bag for piping the donut batter into the pan, they should be easy to find at any grocery store.
How to Make Pumpkin Donuts with Spice Cake Mix
This delicious recipe is super easy--all you need to start is boxed cake mix, pumpkin puree, and a large bowl!
Just mix the cake mix with the pumpkin puree in a medium bowl. Make sure you use a can of pumpkin puree and not pumpkin pie filling.
Sometimes, we add some spices for extra flavor. It's just a personal preference since spice cake mix has plenty of flavor!
It's not necessary, so if you want to keep this easy recipe to truly 2 ingredients, you can just leave them out.
Make sure to prepare the donut pan with nonstick baking spray or non stick cooking spray.
Then, fill a piping bag with the cake batter, and pipe it into the donut pan. If you don't have piping bags, you can also use a plastic zip-top bag and snip off the corner.
Or, spoon the batter into the prepared pan. The piping bag just makes it easier!
Cooking Time
Preheat the oven to 425F. Place the donut pan in the center of oven, and let the donuts cook for 10 to 12 minutes, or until they are bouncy to the touch.
After the donuts are done baking, you can get started on the frosting. Mix the cream cheese, butter and cream with some spices in a large mixing bowl.
You can use an electric mixer or a stand mixer, just start off on low speed, and then gradually increase to medium speed or high speed, to avoid having the mix fly everywhere!
Let the pumpkin donuts cool off on a wire rack, and when they are completely cool, go ahead and frost them. And add your favorite fall sprinkles to the top!
Variations
For less of a spice flavor, use yellow cake mix or chocolate cake mix. Most cake mixes will work just fine, but pumpkin spice mix is the best way to bring out the flavors of fall, of course!
If you want to skip the cream cheese icing, you can dust cinnamon and sugar or brown sugar over the donuts, for a lighter topping.
Use a mini donut pan to make mini pumpkin spice donuts, mix chocolate chips into the batter, or opt for Halloween themed sprinkles or fall sprinkles for a more festive feel.
Have as much fun as you want with this sweet treat! It's perfect for the holiday season and one of our favorite recipes to make for Thanksgiving breakfast!
How to Store
I like to store the pumpkin donuts in an airtight container in the refrigerator, to keep them nice and moist for next time.
If you want to save them longer or make ahead of time, you can freeze the unfrosted donuts in a freezer safe container.
They'll also be fine at room temperature--just keep them covered up!
Recipe
Pumpkin Spice Cake Mix Donuts
Equipment
- piping bag
Ingredients
For the Donuts
- 1 box spice cake mix
- 1 can pumpkin puree
- ¼ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice optional
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg optional
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon optional
For the Frosting
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- ½ cup butter softened
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
- dash cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin pie spice
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees
- Spray donut pans with non stick baking spray
- Mix cake mix and pumpkin puree and spices (if using) in a large mixing bowl until well combined.
- Spoon batter into a piping bag or a gallon freezer storage bag, and cut the tip off of one corner
- Pipe batter into each cavity about two-thirds full
- Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until donuts bounce back lightly when pressed
- Remove from oven and allow to cool for about 5 minutes before removing to a baking rack to cool completely
For the frosting
- Cream butter and cream cheese together until smooth
- Add in the vanilla and stir until fully combined
- Gradually mix in the powdered sugar
- Stir in the whipping cream
- Add the pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon and nutmeg, and stir well
- Spread frosting over the donuts and top with fall sprinkles
Notes
For thick frosting, omit cream or milk.
Nutrition information is estimated. Please do your own calculation to fit special diets.
Nutrition
Isn't it amazing what you can do with just cake pans, a box of cake mix and some pumpkin?!
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Recipe first posted in 2019 and updated last in 2021 for clarity.
Edna says
Making some grandma recipes super easy to make. These were a hit all the way around.
Annabelle says
These were a huge hit at a fall baking competition we had a work! Thank you!
Dee says
That's awesome! So happy you liked the recipe!
Ann says
Love pumpkin season and everything pumpkin-y. I think these donuts would be great for chilly fall days. I got hungry just looking at them. And a cream cheese frosting is such a great accompaniment! Something makes me think that even those who may not love that pumpkin taste will love these. Wanna try to make them gluten free (hope this weekend). How would you recommend to wrap leftover donuts? And thank you for sharing this recipe Dee!
Dee says
We usually keep them on a plate and cover with plastic wrap in the fridge. Hope you enjoy the recipe!
Jessica says
These are totally my jam!
James says
Made these this past weekend. Super easy and yummy! Giant hit with the kids and anything is great with frosting on it!
Dee says
Awesome, James! Thanks so much!
Michelle Goth says
These are so easy and just delicious!
Dee says
Thanks, Michelle! So glad you liked them!
Jacque Hastert says
Breakfast has never been so easy! My daughter is going through the "I love everything pumpkin" phase. While I can't blame her... I can only make so much pumpkin. These were perfect for her and her friends today and helped keep my sanity with the simplicity of the use of cake mix. Thank you!
Beth Pierce says
This will be the perfect way to start my day tomorrow; these looks delicious! Excited to give this a try!
Dee says
Thanks so much, Beth! Hope you enjoy them!
Catalina says
I love how easy and delicious these donuts are!
Dee says
They are super easy to make. Thanks so much!
Dorothy Reinhold says
Two ingredients?? This recipe is almost too good to be true! I can't wait to make a batch.
Amanda says
Everyone I've ever made this for has absolutely loved them !
Dee says
Thanks! They really are so good!