Delicious Air Fryer Pumpkin Doughnut Holes: An Easy & Gluten-Free Fall Breakfast
Welcome to your new favorite fall breakfast! These Air Fryer Pumpkin Doughnut Holes are incredibly simple to make, bursting with cozy pumpkin spice flavors, and offer a healthier alternative to traditional fried doughnuts. Whether you’re looking for a quick morning treat, a delightful dessert, or a crowd-pleasing snack, these bite-sized wonders are sure to impress. If you’ve enjoyed our Air Fryer Pumpkin French Toast, then prepare to fall in love with this equally delicious and convenient recipe. Plus, we’ll show you how easily you can adapt them to be gluten-free!
Why Choose the Air Fryer for Your Doughnut Holes?
Using an air fryer for these pumpkin doughnut holes is a game-changer. It allows you to achieve that wonderfully crisp exterior and tender, fluffy interior characteristic of a good doughnut, all without the mess and added fat of deep frying. Air frying circulates hot air around the food, creating a convection effect that cooks and “fries” ingredients quickly and efficiently. This method drastically reduces the amount of oil needed, making these pumpkin doughnut holes a guilt-free indulgence. You’ll save time, reduce calories, and still get that irresistible texture and flavor that everyone loves in a fresh doughnut hole.
Essential Tips for Perfect Air Fryer Pumpkin Doughnut Holes
Crafting perfect air fryer pumpkin doughnut holes is easier than you think, especially with a few helpful tips. The key to maintaining their delightful spherical shape and ensuring even cooking lies in the right equipment and technique.
The Magic of Silicone Molds
One of the most crucial tools for this recipe is a set of Silicone Egg Molds. These molds are absolutely essential for helping the doughnut holes keep their perfect shape during the air frying process. Without them, the batter would simply spread out, and you wouldn’t achieve those desirable, uniform spheres. Opt for molds that are oven and air fryer safe, and ideally, ones that are easy to clean.
Preventing Stickiness
Even with silicone molds, it’s always a good idea to use a little oil to prevent any sticking. A light coating of Grapeseed Oil Spray works wonderfully for this. Grapeseed oil has a high smoke point, making it suitable for air frying, and its neutral flavor won’t interfere with the delicious pumpkin spice. Simply spray or brush a tiny amount into each half-sphere cavity before adding the batter. The silicone’s flexibility also makes it incredibly easy to pop each perfectly formed doughnut hole out once cooked.
Batch Cooking and Batter Consistency
This recipe yields approximately 23 doughnut holes, but this number can vary slightly depending on how much batter you fill into each silicone mold. It’s important not to overfill the molds – aim for about two-thirds full to allow for proper expansion and even cooking. Since air fryers typically have smaller capacities, you will likely need to cook these in batches. To ensure consistency and prevent the batter from warming up too much between batches, it’s wise to keep any uncooked dough refrigerated. This helps maintain the batter’s texture and ensures each batch cooks beautifully.
How to Make These Delicious Doughnut Holes Gluten-Free
Adapting this recipe for those with gluten sensitivities or preferences is incredibly straightforward. With one simple substitution, you can enjoy these delightful pumpkin doughnut holes without compromising on flavor or texture.
The main adjustment needed is to swap regular all-purpose flour for a high-quality gluten-free all-purpose flour blend. When selecting your gluten-free flour, look for a “1:1” or “cup-for-cup” blend. These blends are specifically formulated to replace wheat flour in recipes at an equal ratio, making the transition seamless. Personally, I often use Better Batter All-Purpose Flour, but many other brands like Bob’s Red Mill 1:1 Baking Flour or King Arthur Gluten-Free Measure for Measure Flour will yield excellent results.
Aside from the flour, this will be the only significant swap you need to make. However, as always when baking gluten-free, it’s a good practice to double-check all other ingredients, such as baking powder, baking soda, and any flavorings, to ensure they are certified gluten-free if cross-contamination is a concern. It’s also worth noting that gluten-free baked goods can sometimes be slightly denser than their gluten-filled counterparts, but these air-fried doughnut holes will still be wonderfully moist and flavorful.
Storing and Reheating Your Air Fryer Doughnut Holes
While these delightful pumpkin doughnut holes are undeniably best served fresh and warm from the air fryer, you can certainly store them to enjoy later. Proper storage ensures they remain delicious for a couple of days.
Once your doughnut holes have cooled completely, transfer them to an airtight container. They can be stored at room temperature on the counter for 2-3 days, or in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days. Refrigeration helps extend their freshness, especially in warmer climates.
For the best experience when enjoying leftover doughnut holes, I highly recommend warming them up before serving. A quick zap in the microwave for 10-15 seconds per few doughnut holes will bring back some of that soft, warm tenderness. Alternatively, you can pop them back into the air fryer for 2-3 minutes at 300°F (150°C) for a slightly crisper exterior.
This versatile method can also be used to make full-sized Air Fryer Pumpkin Doughnuts! Simply swap out the small half-sphere silicone molds for larger silicone doughnut molds. If you’re craving an even quicker doughnut fix, don’t miss these incredibly easy Air Fryer Donuts that use Canned Biscuits – perfect for a last-minute treat!
Customizing Your Air Fryer Pumpkin Doughnut Holes
While the cinnamon-sugar coating is a classic and utterly delicious choice, these pumpkin doughnut holes are wonderfully versatile and open to various customizations. Feel free to experiment with different toppings and flavor enhancers to make them truly your own:
- Powdered Sugar Glaze: Whisk together powdered sugar with a splash of milk and a drop of vanilla extract for a simple, sweet glaze. Dip the warm doughnut holes in the glaze and let it set.
- Chocolate Drizzle: Melt some chocolate chips (dark, milk, or white) and drizzle over the cooled doughnut holes for a decadent touch.
- Maple Glaze: Combine powdered sugar with maple syrup and a tiny bit of milk for a distinctly fall-flavored glaze that complements the pumpkin beautifully.
- Spice Variations: Adjust the pumpkin pie spice to your liking, or add a pinch of ground ginger, cloves, or nutmeg for a more complex flavor profile.
- Add-ins: For extra texture and flavor, gently fold in a handful of mini chocolate chips, chopped pecans, or walnuts into the batter before baking.
Frequently Asked Questions About Air Fryer Pumpkin Doughnut Holes
Can I use fresh pumpkin instead of canned pumpkin puree?
Yes, you can! If using fresh pumpkin, make sure it’s cooked and pureed into a smooth consistency, similar to canned puree. Ensure it’s not too watery; if it is, gently blot out excess moisture with a paper towel to maintain the right batter consistency.
What if I don’t have silicone egg molds?
While silicone molds are highly recommended for their non-stick properties and ability to hold shape, you could try using a mini muffin tin. You’ll need to grease it very well and adjust cooking times, as the shape will be different and may cook faster. The texture might also vary slightly.
Can I bake these in a conventional oven?
Absolutely! If you don’t have an air fryer, you can bake these in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 12-15 minutes, or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Again, silicone molds or a mini muffin tin would work well.
How do I prevent the doughnut holes from becoming too dry?
The key to moist doughnut holes is to avoid overmixing the batter, which can develop the gluten and lead to a tougher texture, and to be careful not to overcook them. Follow the recommended cooking time, checking for doneness with a toothpick. Keeping the uncooked batter cool between batches also helps.
Can I freeze the air fryer pumpkin doughnut holes?
Yes, these freeze well! Once completely cooled, place the doughnut holes in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Then transfer them to an airtight freezer-safe bag or container. They can be stored for up to 2-3 months. Reheat from frozen in the air fryer at 300°F (150°C) for 5-7 minutes, or until warmed through.
Enjoy these delightful homemade Air Fryer Pumpkin Doughnut Holes – they are truly a perfect treat for any occasion, especially when the crisp autumn air calls for warm, spiced comforts!
Air Fryer Pumpkin Doughnut Holes
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Ingredients
Doughnut Holes
- 1 1/4 Cup Gluten-Free or Regular All-Purpose Flour
- 1 1/2 Tsp Baking Powder
- 1/4 Tsp Baking Soda
- 1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
- 1 1/2 Tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice
- 1 Cup Pumpkin Puree
- 1 Egg
- 1/2 Tsp Vanilla Extract
- 1/3 Cup Vegetable Oil
- 1/2 Cup Milk
Coating
- 4 Tbsp Melted Salted Butter
- 1/4 Cup Granulated Sugar
- 2 Tbsp Ground Cinnamon
Instructions
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Using the egg mold (See post for picture), add a little oil to each of the half spheres and set aside. This can be done with Grapeseed Oil Spray as well.
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In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and pumpkin pie spice. Set aside.
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In a large mixing bowl, mix together the oil, sugar, egg, and vanilla extract.
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Add in the pumpkin puree and milk, mix well.
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Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until well blended. This is done most efficiently with a dough hook on a stand mixer or a spatula to avoid overmixing.
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Scoop the batter into the half-sphere mold and fill 2/3 of the way to the top.
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Place the mold into the air fryer or the Ninja Foodi.
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Since this is done in batches, keep the remaining dough cool by placing it in the fridge in between cooking times.
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Bake at 320*F for 10-12 minutes or until they are nice and golden. If you insert a toothpick in the middle it should come out clean when ready.
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Once baked remove from the mold and place them on the cooling rack.
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Repeat these steps for the remaining dough.
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While these are cooking, prepare the coating.
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In a small bowl combine the sugar and cinnamon.
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Melt the butter in the microwave and let it cool.
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Once the doughnut holes are cool enough to handle, roll them in the butter and then into the cinnamon and sugar to coat.
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Serve and enjoy!
Notes
These are great as a quick grab-and-go breakfast with your favorite milk or coffee!
Nutrition
