Joy Bauer’s Pumpkin Doughnut Holes Recipe

With fall in full swing, it’s time to embrace one of the season’s coziest flavors: cue the pumpkins! Whether you’re carving them, using them to decorate your front porch or sneaking them into your favorite recipes, pumpkin-inspired treats are everywhere. And if you’re on the lookout for a quick and easy fall dessert, Joy Bauer’s two-ingredient pumpkin doughnut holes need to be on your to-make list. These baked treats aren’t just perfect for your seasonal sweet tooth—they’re also incredibly simple to whip up. 

This recipe really couldn’t be easier. These pumpkin doughnut holes only require two main ingredients. With minimal effort and lots of fun flavor, they’re the perfect option for fall snacking. All you’ll need to get started is a box of vanilla cake mix, a can of pumpkin purée and a cup of water. 

Bauer starts by preheating the oven to 325°F. After combining the cake mix, pumpkin puree and water, she scoops the batter into a well-oiled doughnut hole tin or mini muffin pan, filling each cavity about three-quarters full. She bakes them for 15 to 20 minutes until they turn golden and fluffy. When they’re ready to come out of the oven, just turn the mini doughnut tin over to release them from the pan.

You could go ahead and serve these little sweets out of the oven, or follow Bauer’s optional extra step—brushing each one with a touch of butter and sprinkling them with cinnamon sugar for a bakery-quality finish. Of course, if you’d rather skip using a pastry brush, you could always just toss the doughnut holes in a little cinnamon sugar to finish. Less of it may stick to your doughnuts, but you’ll still get some of that sugar-and-spice flavor.

Unlike traditional doughnut recipes, which often involve deep frying, these doughnut holes are baked, making them a healthier option—and one that’s much easier to tidy up after. Plus, with the addition of real pumpkin puree, you’re getting more than just flavor. Pumpkin is a great source of fiber, potassium and beta-carotene, giving these treats a tasty *and* nutritious edge.

There’s no denying that Joy Bauer’s two-ingredient pumpkin doughnut holes are just about the cutest fall dessert around, especially for folks who don’t want to take on a difficult baking recipe. Perfect for Halloween parties, a cozy night in or just satisfying your pumpkin cravings, this recipe is as easy as it is delicious.

And if you’re feeling extra creative, you can customize the recipe with some fun variations. Try adding a pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg or cloves—or even some pumpkin pie spice—to the batter for an extra fall kick, or consider dipping the doughnut holes in a maple glaze for an ultra-fun addition. 

So grab your cake mix and pumpkin puree, and get ready to bake up something that’s as cute as it is tasty. After all, nothing says fall like a sweet pumpkin treat.