The Ultimate Fall Indulgence: Spiced Pumpkin Donut Bundt Cake Recipe

As the leaves begin to turn and the air grows crisp, there’s a comforting whisper of autumn that calls for warm, spiced treats. If you’re looking to infuse your home with the inviting aromas and delightful tastes of the fall season, look no further than this exquisite **Pumpkin Donut Bundt Cake**. This isn’t just any bundt cake; it’s a beautifully spiced, incredibly moist, and utterly delicious creation that captures the essence of a cozy fall hug in every single bite. Imagine a perfectly baked pumpkin cake, tender and rich, coated in a sweet, subtly spiced sugar crust – reminiscent of your favorite old-fashioned pumpkin donut, but in an elegant bundt form. It’s a true celebration of autumn flavors, designed to bring warmth and joy to your table.

This **Pumpkin Donut Bundt Cake** is more than just a dessert; it’s an experience. Each slice reveals a vibrant, pumpkin-infused crumb, studded with a harmonious blend of classic fall spices. The magical “donut” quality comes from its irresistible exterior: a golden, buttery crust generously dusted with a blend of granulated sugar and fragrant nutmeg. This creates a delightful contrast between the soft interior and the slightly crisp, sweet outer layer that truly sets this bundt cake apart. Whether you’re hosting a festive fall gathering, looking for the perfect Thanksgiving dessert, or simply craving a comforting treat with your morning coffee, this recipe promises to deliver pure autumnal bliss. It’s simple enough for bakers of all skill levels, yet impressive enough to wow any crowd.

📖 Recipe

Pumpkin Donut Bundt Cake

Prep Time:
20 minutes

Cook Time:
1 hour

Total Time:
1 hour 20 minutes

When you want the delightful flavors of fall to fill your home, make this sensational Pumpkin Donut Bundt Cake! It is packed with deep, aromatic spice, incredible moisture, and just like a warm fall hug in every mouthwatering bite. This recipe is designed to be straightforward, yielding a truly impressive dessert that will become a staple in your autumn baking repertoire.

Ingredients

For the Bundt Cake:

• 16 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter, room temperature (2 sticks)
• 3 tablespoons Coconut Oil, melted
• 1 ½ cups Granulated Sugar
• 1 tablespoon Vanilla Extract
• 4 large Eggs, room temp
• 3 cups All-Purpose Flour
• 6 tablespoons Cornstarch
• 1 ½ teaspoons Baking Powder
• 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt, Diamond Crystal
• ¾ cup Whole Milk
• 1 cup Pumpkin Puree, not pie mix (ensure it’s 100% pumpkin)
• 2 tablespoons Pumpkin Spice Blend (or your homemade blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves)

For the Donut-Style Coating:

• 4 tablespoons Unsalted Butter, melted
• ¼ cup Granulated Sugar
• ¼ teaspoon Kosher Salt, Diamond Crystal
• ¾ teaspoons Ground Nutmeg

Instructions

Prepare Your Pan and Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350˚ F (175°C). Carefully prepare a 12-cup bundt pan by buttering it generously with a pastry brush, ensuring every crevice is coated. For extra non-stick insurance, you can also lightly flour the buttered pan. Reserve until needed.

Cream Wet Ingredients: In the large bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the room temperature butter, melted coconut oil, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract. Beat on medium-high speed until the mixture is light, fluffy, and significantly increased in volume – this usually takes about 3-5 minutes.

Add Eggs: Beat in the large eggs one at a time, ensuring each egg is fully incorporated into the batter before adding the next. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to ensure everything is well combined.

Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, baking powder, kosher salt, pumpkin puree, and pumpkin spice blend. Measure out your whole milk separately.

Incorporate Dry and Wet: With the mixer running on low speed, gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, alternating with slow pours of the whole milk. Begin and end with the dry ingredients. Mix just until fully incorporated and no streaks of flour remain, being careful not to overmix.

Final Mix: Once all ingredients are in the bowl, beat the batter for an additional 2 minutes on medium speed. This helps to create a perfectly smooth, airy batter, resulting in a tender crumb.

Bake the Cake: Carefully spoon the prepared batter into your buttered and floured bundt pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 50-60 minutes, or until a cake tester (like a toothpick or thin skewer) inserted into the thickest part of the cake comes out completely clean.

Cooling Process: Allow the bundt cake to cool in its pan for precisely 10 minutes. This crucial step helps the cake firm up slightly before you attempt to remove it. After 10 minutes, carefully invert the cake onto a wire rack and lift the pan away. Let the cake cool completely on the wire rack before applying the coating.

Prepare the Donut Coating: While the cake cools, prepare the irresistible donut coating. Melt the 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter in a small microwave-safe bowl or saucepan. In another small bowl, whisk together the granulated sugar, ¼ teaspoon kosher salt, and ¾ teaspoons ground nutmeg until well combined.

Coat the Cake: Once the bundt cake has cooled completely (or is still just slightly warm to the touch, but not hot), use a pastry brush to evenly coat the entire surface of the cake with the melted butter. Immediately, and generously, dust the buttered cake with the sugar/nutmeg mixture until it is completely coated. Gently pat any excess sugar onto the cake to ensure full coverage.

Storage: Store your Pumpkin Donut Bundt Cake covered tightly at room temperature for 3-5 days. It remains wonderfully moist and flavorful.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

16

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 401Total Fat: 19gSaturated Fat: 10gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 86mgSodium: 354mgCarbohydrates: 48gFiber: 2gSugar: 7gProtein: 8g

This is an estimated caloric value, actual numbers may differ based on the ingredients used.

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Why This Pumpkin Donut Bundt Cake Will Be Your New Fall Favorite

There are countless pumpkin recipes out there, but this **Pumpkin Donut Bundt Cake** truly stands out. It combines the best elements of a classic fluffy cake with the delightful sugar-dusted finish of a freshly baked donut. Here’s why this recipe deserves a prime spot in your autumn baking rotation:

• Unbeatable Flavor Profile: It’s loaded with real pumpkin puree, delivering an authentic pumpkin taste, perfectly complemented by a robust pumpkin spice blend and a hint of extra nutmeg in the coating. Every bite is a symphony of warm, inviting flavors.
• Perfectly Moist & Tender Crumb: The combination of unsalted butter, coconut oil, and whole milk ensures an incredibly moist cake that remains tender for days. No dry bundt cakes here! The coconut oil adds a subtle richness and helps keep the cake wonderfully soft.
• Irresistible Donut-Style Coating: This is where the magic happens! The melted butter and spiced sugar coating create a sweet, slightly crunchy exterior that mimics the experience of biting into a fresh pumpkin donut. It’s simple yet utterly transformative.
• Beautiful Presentation: A bundt cake always looks impressive with minimal effort. The distinctive shape, combined with the golden sugar crust, makes it a stunning centerpiece for any fall table, from casual family dinners to elegant holiday feasts.
• Easy to Make: Despite its gourmet appearance and taste, this recipe is surprisingly straightforward. With clear, step-by-step instructions, even novice bakers can achieve a perfect result.

Essential Tips for Baking the Best Pumpkin Donut Bundt Cake

Achieving a perfectly moist, flavorful, and beautifully coated **Pumpkin Bundt Cake** is all about a few key techniques and ingredient considerations. Follow these tips for success every time:

Ingredient Quality Matters

• Pumpkin Puree, Not Pie Mix: This is crucial. Canned pumpkin pie mix contains added sugars and spices, which will throw off the flavor balance of this recipe. Always opt for 100% pure pumpkin puree.
• Room Temperature Ingredients: Ensure your butter and eggs are at room temperature. This allows them to cream together properly, incorporating more air into the batter, which contributes to a lighter, fluffier cake texture.
• Fresh Spices: Ground spices lose their potency over time. For the most vibrant flavor, use fresh, high-quality pumpkin spice blend and ground nutmeg. A sprinkle of fresh nutmeg in the coating truly elevates the “donut” experience.
• Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt: While any kosher salt works, Diamond Crystal is preferred by many bakers for its finer texture and consistent salinity.

Perfecting Your Bundt Pan Preparation

A well-prepared bundt pan is the secret to a beautifully released cake. Nothing is more frustrating than a cake sticking! Use a pastry brush to really get into all the nooks and crannies of your 12-cup bundt pan. Don’t be shy with the butter; coat it generously. For an extra layer of protection, especially with intricate bundt designs, lightly flour the buttered pan, tapping out any excess. This ensures your **Pumpkin Donut Bundt Cake** will slide out effortlessly, revealing its gorgeous shape.

Mixing the Batter Correctly

While a stand mixer makes quick work of this batter, the key is to mix just enough. Cream the butter, oil, sugar, and vanilla until truly light and fluffy, incorporating plenty of air. When adding the dry ingredients and milk, mix on low speed and stop as soon as everything is combined. Overmixing flour develops gluten, which can lead to a tough, dense cake. The final 2-minute beat on medium speed helps create a smooth batter without overworking the gluten, ensuring a tender crumb.

Baking and Cooling for Optimal Texture

• Don’t Open the Oven Door: Resist the urge to peek during the initial baking phase, as this can cause the cake to sink.
• Test for Doneness: Use a cake tester or long toothpick inserted into the thickest part of the cake (usually the center near the tube) to check for doneness. It should come out clean or with a few moist crumbs attached, but no wet batter.
• Crucial Cooling Steps: Cooling in the pan for 10 minutes allows the cake to set and firm up, making it less prone to breaking when inverted. Cooling completely on a wire rack is essential before applying the butter and sugar coating. If the cake is too warm, the butter will melt too quickly, and the sugar won’t adhere properly.

Serving Suggestions for Your Spiced Pumpkin Donut Bundt Cake

This **Pumpkin Donut Bundt Cake** is a showstopper on its own, but you can elevate the serving experience with a few simple additions:

• Coffee or Tea Companion: It’s absolutely perfect alongside a hot cup of coffee, a pumpkin spice latte, or a warm mug of chai tea.
• Whipped Cream or Ice Cream: A dollop of freshly whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream adds a creamy counterpoint to the spiced cake.
• Caramel Drizzle: A light drizzle of warm caramel sauce just before serving can add an extra layer of indulgence.
• Powdered Sugar Dusting: If you desire an even sweeter presentation, a light dusting of powdered sugar over the spiced coating can be beautiful.

Variations to Try

While the classic **Pumpkin Donut Bundt Cake** is perfect as is, feel free to experiment with these delicious variations:

• Nutty Addition: Fold in ½ cup of chopped pecans or walnuts into the batter for added crunch and flavor.
• Chocolate Chips: Pumpkin and chocolate are a match made in heaven! Stir in ½ to 1 cup of mini chocolate chips or dark chocolate chunks into the batter.
• Maple Glaze: Instead of the donut coating, you could create a simple maple glaze (powdered sugar, maple syrup, and a splash of milk) to drizzle over the cooled cake.
• Cream Cheese Frosting: For a richer, tangier finish, a classic cream cheese frosting can be a delightful alternative to the sugar coating.

Final Thoughts on This Fall Baking Masterpiece

This **Pumpkin Donut Bundt Cake** is truly a baking masterpiece that captures the heart of autumn. From its inviting aroma that fills your kitchen as it bakes to its incredibly moist texture and spiced sugar coating, it’s a dessert that promises comfort and delight. It’s a fantastic recipe for anyone looking to embrace the flavors of the season, perfect for sharing with loved ones or enjoying quietly with a hot beverage. The blend of rich pumpkin, warm spices, and that unique donut-like crust creates an unforgettable experience that will have everyone asking for another slice. So, gather your ingredients, preheat your oven, and get ready to bake a truly special fall treat that embodies the warmth and sweetness of the season.