Easy Air Fryer Pumpkin Donuts

When fall arrives and pumpkin spice season is officially in full swing, these easy air fryer pumpkin donuts need to be the first thing you bake. Made from scratch with real canned pumpkin puree and a blend of warm autumn spices, these soft, pillowy cake donuts are everything you want in a fall treat — without the mess or guilt of deep frying.

Unlike shortcuts that use biscuit dough, this recipe is genuinely pumpkin-flavored all the way through. The pumpkin puree goes directly into the batter, giving every single bite that rich, earthy, warmly spiced flavor you crave when the leaves start to turn. And because these are cake-style donuts, there’s no yeast involved — no proofing, no rising time, no complicated steps. Just mix, pipe, and air fry.

The result is a batch of beautifully golden pumpkin donuts that are crispy on the edges, soft and moist in the center, and finished with a simple pumpkin spice glaze that sets into a gorgeous shine. Your kitchen will smell like the best autumn candle you’ve ever lit — except it’s real, and you can eat it.

Looking for more fall air fryer recipes? Try our Air Fryer Pumpkin Fritters, Air Fryer Apple Fritters, and Air Fryer Gingerbread Donuts.

Why You’ll Love These Easy Air Fryer Pumpkin Donuts

• Real pumpkin flavor — pumpkin puree goes right into the batter, not just the glaze
• No yeast, no rising time — cake-style donuts that come together in minutes
• No deep frying — the air fryer does all the work with barely any oil
• Ready in about 30 minutes — start to finish, including glaze
• Perfectly spiced — pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and a hint of vanilla
• Freezer-friendly — make a double batch and freeze for the whole fall season
• Works in any air fryer — basket, oven-style, Ninja Foodi, Cosori, and more
• Kid-approved — sweet, warmly spiced, and festive for Halloween and Thanksgiving

Ingredients You’ll Need

• All-Purpose Flour: Soft base for tender fluffy donut texture
• Granulated Sugar: Sweetens dough with light caramel-like flavor depth
• Baking Powder: Creates lift for airy soft donut structure
• Baking Soda: Helps donuts rise with balanced tender crumb
• Pumpkin Pie Spice: Warm seasonal blend for classic pumpkin flavor
• Ground Cinnamon: Adds cozy warmth and sweet spice notes
• Ground Nutmeg: Deep aromatic spice for rich fall flavor
• Salt: Enhances sweetness and balances overall flavor profile
• Canned Pumpkin Puree: Moist rich base for pumpkin flavor
• Large Egg: Binds ingredients for structure and soft texture
• Milk: Adds moisture for smooth pourable donut batter
• Melted Butter: Adds richness and soft bakery-style flavor
• Vanilla Extract: Sweet aromatic finish enhancing overall flavor
• Powdered Sugar: Creates smooth sweet base for glaze topping
• Cinnamon Sugar: Sweet spiced coating for crunchy donut finish
• Chocolate Sprinkles: Fun sweet topping for extra dessert crunch
• Crushed Pecans or Walnuts: Nutty crunch for added texture contrast
• White Chocolate Drizzle: Sweet creamy finish for indulgent topping
• Maple Glaze: Rich sweet topping with warm maple flavor

Flavor Variations to Try This Fall

• Brown Butter Maple Glazed Pumpkin Donuts. Brown 2 tablespoons of butter in a small saucepan until it smells nutty and golden. Let it cool slightly, then whisk with 1 cup powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons maple syrup, and 1 tablespoon milk for a rich, autumnal glaze that is genuinely unforgettable.
• Pumpkin Spice Latte Donuts. Add 1 teaspoon of instant espresso powder to your glaze along with the powdered sugar and pumpkin pie spice. The coffee deepens the pumpkin flavor and creates a donut that tastes exactly like your favorite fall drink.
• Cream Cheese Glazed Pumpkin Donuts. Beat 2 oz of softened cream cheese with ½ cup powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon milk, and a pinch of cinnamon. Spread over cooled donuts for a tangy, creamy finish that rivals any bakery.
• Cinnamon Sugar Pumpkin Donuts. Skip the glaze entirely. While donuts are still warm, brush with melted butter and roll in a mix of ½ cup granulated sugar and 1½ teaspoons cinnamon. These taste like a pumpkin churro in donut form.
• Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Donuts. Fold ¼ cup mini chocolate chips into the batter before piping. The chocolate and pumpkin combination is wildly good and kid-approved.
• Vegan Pumpkin Donuts. Use a flax egg (1 tablespoon ground flaxseed + 2.5 tablespoons water, rested 5 minutes), plant-based milk, and melted coconut oil in place of the egg, dairy milk, and butter.
• Gluten-Free Pumpkin Donuts. Substitute a 1:1 gluten-free all-purpose flour blend (like Bob’s Red Mill or King Arthur Measure for Measure) in equal amounts. The texture may be slightly denser, but the flavor is just as good.

Equipment Needed

• Air fryer (any model)
• Silicone donut mold or silicone donut pan (that fits inside your air fryer basket)
• Large mixing bowls (two)
• Whisk
• Piping bag or zip-top bag (for clean, easy filling of donut cavities)
• Cooling rack
• Pastry brush (optional, for butter finish)

Don’t have a donut mold? See the FAQ section below for a no-mold workaround.

How to Make Easy Air Fryer Pumpkin Donuts — Step by Step

Step 1: Preheat your air fryer. Set your air fryer to 350°F and preheat for 2–3 minutes. Lightly grease your silicone donut mold with cooking spray.

Step 2: Mix the dry ingredients. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until fully combined. Set aside.

Step 3: Mix the wet ingredients. In a separate bowl, whisk together the canned pumpkin puree, egg, milk, melted butter, and vanilla extract until smooth and well combined.

Step 4: Combine wet and dry. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir gently until just combined. Do not overmix — a few small lumps are fine. Overmixing develops the gluten and results in dense, tough donuts.

Step 5: Fill the donut mold. Spoon the batter into a piping bag or zip-top bag with a corner snipped off. Pipe the batter into each greased donut cavity, filling each about ¾ full. This method gives you clean, evenly-filled donuts without the mess of spooning.

Step 6: Air fry the donuts. Place the filled donut mold into the air fryer basket. Air fry at 350°F for 8–10 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a donut comes out clean and the tops are set and lightly golden. Times may vary by air fryer model — check at 8 minutes.

Step 7: Cool slightly. Remove the mold from the air fryer and let the donuts cool in the mold for 2–3 minutes before carefully turning them out onto a wire cooling rack. They need to be slightly warm — but not piping hot — before glazing.

Step 8: Make the glaze. While the donuts cool, whisk together the powdered sugar, pumpkin pie spice, vanilla extract, and milk in a bowl. Start with 3 tablespoons of milk and add more a teaspoon at a time until the glaze is smooth and pourable but thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.

Step 9: Glaze and finish. Dip the top of each donut into the glaze, letting excess drip off. Place back on the cooling rack and allow the glaze to set for 5–10 minutes. For a double glaze (highly recommended!), dip a second time once the first layer is set.

Step 10: Serve warm. These easy air fryer pumpkin donuts are best enjoyed slightly warm, with a mug of hot coffee, apple cider, or a pumpkin spice latte.

Tips for the Best Easy Air Fryer Pumpkin Donuts

• Use canned pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling. They look similar on the shelf but are completely different. Pumpkin pie filling already contains added sugar and spices, which will throw off the balance of your batter. Look for “100% pure pumpkin” on the label — Libby’s is the most widely available.
• Don’t overmix the batter. Stir just until the dry and wet ingredients are combined. Overmixing creates dense, rubbery donuts. A few streaks and lumps are perfectly fine.
• Use a piping bag for clean results. Spooning batter into the donut cavities is messy and uneven. A piping bag (or a zip-top bag with a corner cut off) gives you clean, consistent donuts with a nice rounded top.
• Fill the molds only ¾ full. The donuts puff as they cook. Overfilling causes them to overflow and lose the classic donut ring shape.
• Cool before glazing. If the donuts are too hot, the glaze will slide off. Give them 5–7 minutes on a cooling rack first. If they’re completely cool, the glaze won’t stick as well either — aim for slightly warm.
• Sift your powdered sugar. Lumpy glaze comes from unsifted powdered sugar. A quick sift takes 30 seconds and gives you a perfectly smooth glaze every time.
• Every air fryer is different. Check doneness at 8 minutes with a toothpick. If it comes out clean, they’re done. If it has wet batter, add 1–2 more minutes and check again.
• Make a double batch and freeze. These freeze beautifully unglazed. Thaw at room temperature and glaze fresh for a quick fall breakfast any morning.

How to Store and Reheat

• Room temperature: Store glazed donuts in a single layer in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. After that, they can dry out.
• Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Bring to room temperature or reheat before serving.
• Reheating: Warm in the air fryer at 300°F for 2–3 minutes. You can also microwave for 10–15 seconds. Note that the glaze will soften when reheated — this is normal.
• Freezing: Freeze donuts unglazed in a single layer on a baking sheet, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature, then glaze fresh before serving. Do not freeze glazed donuts — the glaze becomes sticky and weeps as it thaws.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use fresh pumpkin instead of canned? Yes! Roast or steam fresh pumpkin, then blend and drain it very well. Fresh pumpkin puree tends to hold more water than canned, so drain it through a cheesecloth or fine mesh strainer for 30 minutes first. The flavor will be slightly fresher and more delicate, but just as good.

Do I need a donut mold for this recipe? A silicone donut mold is strongly recommended for the classic ring shape. However, if you don’t have one, you can bake the batter in silicone muffin cups for pumpkin donut muffins, or roll the dough (if it’s thicker) into rope shapes and press the ends together to form rings — similar to how some air fryer pumpkin donut recipes work.

Can I use pumpkin pie filling instead of pumpkin puree? No. Pumpkin pie filling already contains sugar, spices, and sometimes other additives. Using it will make the donuts too sweet and the flavor unbalanced. Always look for 100% pure pumpkin puree.

What silicone donut mold works best in an air fryer? Any silicone donut mold that fits flat inside your air fryer basket will work. Most standard 6-cavity donut molds fit inside a 5.8-quart basket air fryer. If yours is too large, silicone molds can be cut down to size without any issue.

Why are my pumpkin donuts dense or gummy? This is almost always caused by overmixing the batter or overfilling the molds. Stir just until combined, fill only ¾ of each cavity, and check doneness with a toothpick. Also make sure your baking powder is fresh — expired baking powder won’t provide enough lift.

Can I make pumpkin donut holes instead? Absolutely! Roll tablespoon-sized portions of dough into balls, place in the air fryer basket (don’t overcrowd), and air fry at 350°F for 5–7 minutes until golden and cooked through. Roll in cinnamon sugar while warm.

Can I make the batter ahead of time? You can mix the dry and wet ingredients separately ahead of time and refrigerate each. Combine them just before air frying for the best rise and texture. Fully mixed batter can be refrigerated for up to 1 hour, but don’t make it too far in advance.

Are these donuts healthier than deep-fried donuts? Significantly so. Air frying uses a tiny amount of cooking spray compared to cups of hot oil in traditional frying. Plus, pumpkin puree adds moisture, fiber, and vitamin A, making these a genuinely more nutritious fall treat.

More Fall Air Fryer Recipes to Try

• Air Fryer Biscuit Donuts
• Air Fryer Homemade Donuts
• Easy Air Fryer Homemade Donut Holes
• Air Fryer Powdered Sugar Donuts
• Air Fryer Apple Cider Donuts

Don’t Forget To Pin!

Made these easy air fryer pumpkin donuts? Leave a star rating and drop a comment below! Tag @forktospoon on Instagram — we love seeing your fall creations!