I love coffee-shop donuts as much as the next person, and maybe more. I don’t eat them very often because while they taste good going down, donuts usually bother my stomach afterwards. When I crave a hunk of sugary fried dough, I turn to baked Maple Walnut Pumpkin Donuts instead because they offer way more – and far less – than typical coffee shop choices.
Maple Walnut Pumpkin Donuts are a better choice for donut-lovers.
Maple pumpkin donuts with nuts are healthier
Donuts, including all the variations on pumpkin and maple offered at supermarkets, convenience stores, and coffee shops, supply little in the way of nutrition. Most store-bought donuts are fried, which jacks up the calorie and fat content.
Here’s how one of my maple walnut pumpkin donuts stacks up to a vanilla frosted donut (the closest I could find to my donut for the sake of comparison) from a national coffee shop chain.
My better-for-you version has:
• 212 calories versus 270 calories in the commercial donut.
• 1/3 the saturated fat.
• 3 times the dietary fiber, thanks to whole wheat flour and canned pumpkin puree
• 64% of the Daily Value (DV) for vitamin A, primarily from pumpkin.
• Nearly 900 milligrams of potassium, about 20% to 30% of what most adults need for the entire day, largely from the pumpkin.
•1 serving of whole grains (Experts recommend at least 3 servings of whole grains daily.)
Donuts are not generally known for their health benefits, but this recipe is different. It’s good to know that you’re getting so much in the way of nutrition along with great taste.
Maple Walnut Pumpkin Donuts
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup plain canned pumpkin puree
- 1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup plain fat-free Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350˚F. Coat two standard donut pans with cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger.
- In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs, and add the pumpkin, 1/2 cup of the maple syrup, vanilla, yogurt, and oil. Mix until well combined.
- Add the pumpkin mixture to the dry ingredients and stir until combined. Don’t overmix.
- Spoon the batter into the donut pans, filling to about 1/4″ shy of the rim, and making sure the center post is clear.
- Bake for 12 to 14 minutes. Remove donuts from oven and allow to cool in the pan for 5 minutes on a wire rack. Remove donuts from pan and cool further.
- To make the glaze, sift the powdered sugar into a small bowl. Add the 2 tablespoons of maple syrup and the milk and stir until smooth. Frost each donut and top with chopped walnuts.NOTE: For less added sugar, omit the glaze, and add the walnuts to the batter. If desired, coat warm donuts in maple sugar or a sugar-cinnamon mixture.
Notes
For less added sugar, skip the glaze and add the nuts to the donut batter.
Can’t get enough pumpkin? Try this Pumpkin Spice Smoothie and these Pumpkin Muffins with Almond Flour.
Hi, I'm a registered dietitian, writer, recipe developer, and mother of three who specializes in food and nutrition communications and believes in progress, not perfection. If you're interested in easier ways to live a healthier life, you're in the right place. Welcome! 
I would like one of these right now. Do you deliver? Or, could you loan me your donut pan? We could make these together some day!
So many questions! Yes, I deliver. Yes, I can loan you my donut pan. Do you really not have a donut pan?
Is that a thing? No, I do not own a donut pan. Might be the only pan I do not own! Perhaps I’ll just get one. 🙂
Do you think these could be made in a muffin pan instead, and without the egg?
Hi Laura, You can make these in a muffin pan. I haven’t made them without eggs, but I’m sure they would be fine with a suitable substitute. Enjoy!
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This looks so good! I also do not have a donut pan, but will try them with a mini muffin pan for now. Thanks!
They will work in a regular or mini muffin pan. Thanks for your kind words!
I made these this morning – since I received a pair of donut pans for Christmas. Delicious.
Thank you for letting me know. So glad you like them! Happy New Year!
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