Salted Caramel Glazed Pumpkin Donuts

These Salted Caramel Glazed Pumpkin Donuts are the ultimate combination of cozy autumn flavors! Soft, spiced pumpkin donuts are topped with an easy homemade salted caramel glaze, creating a delicious balance of sweet and salty in every bite. Whether you’re enjoying them while snuggled up for a cozy morning at home or sharing them at a gathering with friends, these donuts are sure to be a seasonal favorite.

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These soft and spiced pumpkin donuts with a salted caramel glaze are the ultimate fall dessert. Easy to make and even easier to enjoy!

Salted Caramel Pumpkin Donuts – Perfect Fall Treat! | These soft and spiced pumpkin donuts with a salted caramel glaze are the ultimate fall dessert. 

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Perfect Fall Flavor Combo: The warm, spiced pumpkin and rich salted caramel glaze offer an irresistible autumn flavor blend.
  • Crispy & Soft Texture: These donuts are fried to golden perfection, giving them a crispy outside while staying soft and moist inside.
  • Sweet & Salty Delight: The caramel glaze paired with a sprinkle of sea salt brings the perfect balance of sweetness and saltiness.
  • Great for Sharing: Perfect for fall brunches, cozy family breakfasts, or just treating yourself and loved ones to a homemade, pumpkin-spiced treat.
  • Customizable Glaze: Not into salted caramel? Easily swap the glaze for a more traditional vanilla glaze or a cinnamon sugar coating!
  • Cozy Comfort Food: Fried donuts bring that classic comfort food vibe, making these a must-try for chilly autumn days!
Bring cozy fall vibes to your kitchen with these easy-to-make pumpkin donuts topped with a rich salted caramel glaze. A must-try for pumpkin lovers!

Easy Salted Caramel Pumpkin Donuts Recipe | Bring cozy fall vibes to your kitchen with these homemade pumpkin donuts topped with a rich salted caramel glaze. A must-try for pumpkin lovers!

Main Ingredients Needed for Salted Caramel Glazed Pumpkin Donuts

  • Flour: The backbone of the donut dough. Flour provides structure, helping the donuts hold their shape while remaining soft. The gluten formed during mixing gives the donuts their chewy yet tender texture.
  • Pumpkin Pie Spice: This blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves adds the quintessential fall flavor to the donuts. It gives the donuts warmth and depth, making them taste like fall in every bite. And don’t forget– it’s so easy to make Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice!
  • Instant Dry Yeast: Yeast is essential for fermentation and rising. It creates air pockets in the dough, making the donuts light, fluffy, and airy. Yeast also contributes a subtle depth of flavor that pairs perfectly with the pumpkin.
  • Pumpkin Purée: Adds moisture, flavor, and a vibrant orange color to the donuts. The pumpkin purée also contributes to the soft, tender texture of the donuts while infusing them with a rich, earthy sweetness.
  • Vegetable Oil for Frying: A neutral oil that’s perfect for deep frying. It ensures the donuts cook evenly, achieving a crispy exterior while staying light and fluffy inside. Vegetable oil has a high smoke point, making it ideal for frying without burning.

For the Salted Caramel Glaze:

  • Brown Sugar: Contains molasses, which gives the caramel glaze its rich, deep flavor and characteristic caramel color. Brown sugar provides a subtle complexity that white sugar can’t offer, making the glaze more indulgent.
  • Butter: Adds richness and creaminess to the caramel glaze. It also helps create the smooth, silky texture of the glaze that perfectly coats the donuts.
  • Heavy Cream: Gives the caramel glaze a luscious, creamy consistency. The cream helps balance the sweetness of the brown sugar and creates the perfect pouring consistency for the glaze.
Make bakery-worthy pumpkin donuts at home! These soft, spiced donuts with a decadent salted caramel glaze are perfect for fall mornings.

Homemade Salted Caramel Glazed Pumpkin Donuts | Make bakery-worthy pumpkin donuts at home! These soft, spiced donuts with a decadent salted caramel glaze are perfect for fall mornings.

Tips for Success: Frying Donuts

  • Use the Right Oil: Choose a neutral oil with a high smoke point, like vegetable, canola, or peanut oil. These oils can withstand the high heat needed for frying without imparting any unwanted flavors to your donuts.
  • Maintain the Proper Temperature: Keep your oil between 350°F and 375°F. If the oil is too hot, the donuts will brown too quickly on the outside while remaining raw inside. If it’s too cool, the donuts will absorb too much oil and become greasy. Use a thermometer to monitor the temperature closely.
  • Fry in Batches: Avoid overcrowding the pan. Frying too many donuts at once lowers the oil temperature, which can result in unevenly cooked donuts. Leave enough room for the donuts to float and expand.
  • Drain Properly: Once the donuts are golden brown on both sides (about 1-2 minutes per side), remove them from the oil and place them on a wire rack over a baking sheet lined with paper towels. This allows excess oil to drain off, keeping the donuts crisp and light instead of soggy.
  • Monitor Donut Thickness: Make sure your donuts are evenly rolled out to the same thickness (around ½ inch) before frying. Thicker donuts may not cook evenly, while thinner donuts could cook too fast and become dry.
  • Test with a Small Piece First: Before frying all your donuts, test a small piece of dough or one donut to ensure the oil is at the right temperature and that the dough is cooking evenly.
  • Flip Carefully: Use a slotted spoon or tongs to flip the donuts halfway through frying. Handle them gently to avoid deflating or denting the dough.
  • Fry Donut Holes Too!: Don’t forget about the donut holes. They fry faster than the larger donuts, usually only needing 1-2 minutes to cook through.
  • Don’t Glaze While Hot: Let the donuts cool slightly after frying before applying the glaze. This prevents the glaze from melting off and allows for a better coating.
Take your fall baking to the next level with these pumpkin donuts topped with a salted caramel glaze. A delicious blend of sweet and salty!

Best Pumpkin Donuts with Salted Caramel Glaze | Take your fall baking to the next level with these pumpkin donuts topped with a salted caramel glaze. A delicious blend of sweet and salty!

How to Make Salted Caramel Glazed Pumpkin Donuts

  • Make the Dough: Start by activating the yeast in warm milk. In a separate bowl, mix your dry ingredients—flour, baking powder, salt, pumpkin pie spice, and sugar. Combine the wet ingredients—melted butter, eggs, vanilla extract, and pumpkin purée. Add the yeast and wet ingredients to the dry mix to form a soft dough. Knead until smooth and let the dough rise for 1-2 hours.
  • Shape the Donuts: Roll out the risen dough to about ½ inch thickness, then use a donut cutter to cut out the donuts and donut holes. Let them rest for 15-20 minutes.
  • Fry the Donuts: Heat vegetable oil to 350°F–375°F. Fry the donuts for 1-2 minutes per side until golden brown. Fry the donut holes for about 1 minute. Drain on a wire rack.
  • Make the Salted Caramel Glaze: In a saucepan, melt butter and stir in brown sugar and cream. Simmer for a couple of minutes until thickened, then add vanilla and salt.
  • Glaze the Donuts: Dip the fried donuts in the caramel glaze and sprinkle with sea salt if desired. Let the glaze set before serving.
Get cozy with these pumpkin spice donuts, topped with a salted caramel glaze that adds the perfect sweet and salty touch. Ideal for fall brunches!

Pumpkin Spice Donuts with Salted Caramel Glaze | Get cozy with these pumpkin spice donuts, topped with a salted caramel glaze that adds the perfect sweet and salty touch. Ideal for fall brunches!

Take your fall baking to the next level with these pumpkin donuts topped with a salted caramel glaze. A delicious blend of sweet and salty!

Salted Caramel Glazed Pumpkin Donuts

Yield: 12 donuts
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Rise Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours 35 minutes

Warm up your fall mornings with homemade pumpkin donuts drizzled with a salted caramel glaze. A perfect balance of flavors in every bite!

Ingredients

  • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 ¼ tsp instant dry yeast
  • ¾ cup warm milk (110°F)
  • ¼ cup melted butter
  • 2 large eggs (room temperature)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup pumpkin purée
  • Vegetable oil for frying

For the Salted Caramel Glaze:

  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • ¼ cup butter
  • ¼ cup heavy cream
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

Prepare the Dough:

  • In a small bowl, mix instant dry yeast with warm milk. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes until frothy.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, pumpkin pie spice, and granulated sugar.
  • In a separate bowl, combine melted butter, eggs, vanilla extract, and pumpkin purée.
  • Add the activated yeast mixture and the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients. Mix until a soft dough forms. If too sticky, add a bit more flour.
  • Knead the dough on a floured surface for about 5-7 minutes until smooth. Place in a greased bowl, cover with a towel, and let rise in a warm place for 1-2 hours or until doubled in size.
  • Shape and Fry the Donuts:

  • Punch down the dough and transfer to a floured surface. Roll out to ½ inch thickness.
  • Use a donut cutter to cut out donuts and holes. Place them on a floured surface and let rest for 15-20 minutes.
  • Heat vegetable oil in a deep pot to 350°F–375°F.
  • Fry the donuts in batches, about 1-2 minutes per side, until golden brown. Fry donut holes for about 1 minute. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on a wire rack.
  • Make the Salted Caramel Glaze:

  • In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in brown sugar and heavy cream.
  • Bring to a simmer, stirring constantly, until the glaze thickens slightly (2-3 minutes). Remove from heat and stir in salt and vanilla extract. Allow to cool slightly.
  • Glaze the Donuts:

  • Dip the slightly cooled donuts into the caramel glaze, letting excess drip off. Place back on the wire rack.
  • Optionally, sprinkle with a pinch of sea salt while the glaze is still wet.
    1. Notes

      Frequently Asked Questions

      1. Can I use a different type of oil for frying?

      Yes, you can use other neutral oils with a high smoke point, such as canola oil or peanut oil. Avoid oils with strong flavors or low smoke points, like olive oil.

      2. How do I store leftover donuts?

      Store leftover donuts in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. For longer storage, you can freeze them. Place the cooled donuts in a single layer on a baking sheet, freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezer bag. Reheat by thawing at room temperature or warming in the oven.

      3. Can I make the dough ahead of time?

      Yes, you can prepare the dough a day in advance. After kneading, place it in a greased bowl, cover it tightly, and refrigerate. When ready to use, let the dough come to room temperature and rise for 1-2 hours before shaping and frying.

      4. What if my dough is too sticky?

      If the dough is too sticky, gradually add more flour, a little at a time, until it reaches a soft but manageable consistency. Be careful not to add too much flour, as it can make the donuts dense.

      5. Can I use canned pumpkin instead of pumpkin purée?

      Yes, you can use canned pumpkin purée. Just ensure it’s pure pumpkin and not a pumpkin pie filling, which contains added spices and sugar.

      6. How can I tell when the oil is at the right temperature?

      Use a kitchen thermometer to check the oil temperature. If you don’t have one, drop a small piece of dough into the oil. If it floats and bubbles vigorously, the oil is ready. If it sinks and bubbles slowly, the oil is too cool.

      7. Can I make the glaze in advance?

      Yes, you can make the glaze ahead of time. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. Reheat gently before using, as it may thicken when chilled.

      8. How can I avoid greasy donuts?

      Ensure the oil is at the correct temperature. Overheated oil can cause the donuts to brown too quickly on the outside while remaining raw inside, and underheated oil can make them absorb too much oil. Fry in batches to avoid overcrowding.

      9. What can I do if the glaze is too thick or too thin?

      If the glaze is too thick, add a little bit of warm cream or milk to reach the desired consistency. If it’s too thin, simmer it for a few more minutes to thicken or add a bit more powdered sugar.

      10. Can I use a different type of spice blend?

      Yes, you can use a different spice blend if you prefer. Try cinnamon, nutmeg, or allspice to customize the flavor to your liking.

      Nutrition Information:
      Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1
      Amount Per Serving: Calories: 283Total Fat: 12gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 58mgSodium: 312mgCarbohydrates: 39gFiber: 2gSugar: 17gProtein: 5g

      Keaton Epps

      Administrator at Keat's Eats
      Keaton Epps has contributed 8 articles on https://keatseats.com since September 21, 2020.