The hardest part of this recipe is not eating them all at once.

Published on August 25, 2025

Credit:

Rachel Marek | Food Styling: Skyler Meyers

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Pumpkin is the undisputed star ingredient of fall. It shines in our easy pumpkin dump cake, classic pumpkin pie, and, of course, the beloved pumpkin spice latte. Let us introduce you to a new contender for coziest pumpkin recipe: homemade pumpkin drop donuts. Here, a spiced pumpkin dough is fried until golden and finished with a sweet vanilla glaze and chopped pistachios. Prep a batch of these one-bite treats ahead, and you'll have a sweet taste of fall any time you want.

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Ingredients

  • Vegetable oil for deep-fat frying

  • 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

  • 4 tsp. baking powder

  • 1 tsp. salt

  • 3/4 tsp. ground cardamom

  • 2 eggs

  • 1 cup granulated sugar

  • 1/2 cup canned pumpkin

  • 1/4 cup salted butter, melted

  • 1/4 tsp. almond extract

  • 1 cup milk

  • 1 cup finely chopped pistachios

Powdered Sugar Icing

  • 3 cups powdered sugar

  • 3 Tbsp. milk

  • 1/2 tsp. vanilla

Directions

  1. Heat Oil

    In a deep-fat fryer or large saucepan heat 2 to 3 inches of oil over medium to 365°F. Set a cooling rack over a shallow baking pan lined with paper towels.

  2. Mix Ingredients

    In a medium bowl combine flour, baking powder, salt, and cardamom. In another medium bowl beat eggs and granulated sugar with a mixer on medium 1 minute. Beat in pumpkin, butter, and almond extract.

  3. Finish Dough

    Alternately beat flour mixture and milk into egg mixture on low just until combined.

  4. Make Icing

    Make the powdered sugar icing. In a medium bowl stir together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla. Stir in additional milk, 1 tsp. at a time, to reach desired consistency

  5. Fry Donuts

    For each donut, gently drop a slightly rounded tablespoon of dough into hot oil, frying four to five at a time. Fry, turning once, until golden brown, 3 minutes. Transfer donuts to prepared rack over pan.

  6. Finish and Serve

    Dip donuts in Powdered Sugar Icing or drizzle icing over donuts. Sprinkle pistachios over coated donuts. Let stand until icing is set. Makes 45 drop donuts.

How to Store Donut Holes

Place the plain donuts in an airtight container. Chill for up to 3 days. (Donuts store best without icing.)