Baked paleo pumpkin spice donuts with a cashew cream maple frosting – in case you need a little motivation to get up in the morning!Â
I have a bit of a confession to make.
Let me just preface this quickly by saying that there are a lot of specialty food items that are really hard to find in England. Things that I used to easily get here in the US can be so hard to find – pumpkin puree being one of those things.
I somehow missed the fact that you can actually make your own pumpkin puree, and in my time of need I did what I often do and went to Amazon. A few clicks later I bought myself a single can of pumpkin puree.
I just got it in my head that I needed pumpkin.
That in itself isn’t the crazy part. The crazy part is that I actually paid £4.39 – that’s $6.71 USD.  I paid almost $7 dollars for a solitary can of pumpkin puree. Oops. I’m normally a very cheap frugal person.
Thankfully, Tracy from The Thing’s We’ll Make reminded me that you can in fact make your own pumpkin puree – quite easily! As an American Expat living Spain, Tracy knows all too well how difficult things can be to find. #TheStruggleIsReal. The next week I went out and bought an actual pumpkin and made my own puree using this guide by the Food Network. How about that!
Before I flew back to Arizona to spend Thanksgiving with my family, I noticed that I still had a bit of pumpkin puree left over that needed using. In my mind, left over puree = time to bake some donuts. Obviously. I think in my mind, baking is the solution to many of life’s problems.
Anyways, I’m going to go ahead and cut this this post short from now. I’m still slightly on English time, my dad just poured me a glass of wine. I have a feeling that wine and blogging don’t mix and I’m not particuarly interested in finding out. I’m on vacation, ok? Plus I have a very excited dog who has been dropping his toys at my feet since I sat down to write this. It would just be rude to ignore him much longer.
Long story short: paleo pumpkin spice donuts! And don’t forget about that maple glaze – Â I live for maple glazed things.
Paleo Pumpkin Spice Donuts with Maple Frosting
Baked paleo pumpkin spice donuts with a cashew cream maple frosting - in case you need a little motivation to get up in the morning!
Ingredients
Donuts
- 2 eggs
- 3/4 cup pumpkin puree
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup coconut sugar
- 1 1/2 cups almond flour
- 1/4 cup tapioca flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil, , melted
- 2 tablespoons coconut milk, (if needed)
Maple Frosting
- 3/4 cup cashews soaked in boiling water for at least 2 hours, (I like to start soaking the cashews the night before so it's ready for the next day)
- 3 tablespoons maple syrup, (or honey)
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 3 tablespoons coconut oil, , melted
Instructions
For the Donuts
- Heat your oven to 375°F/190°C. Grease your donut pans with a little bit of coconut oil and set aside for later.
- In a mixing bowl, whisk your eggs and pumpkin puree together until smooth. Add the vanilla extract, and coconut sugar and mix until fully blended.
- Add the almond flour, tapioca flour, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice and salt to the batter and mix until there are no remaining lumps. You may need to use an electric mixer for this part.
- Pour the melted coconut oil into the batter and beat until smooth. If your batter is too thick add the coconut milk to thin it out a bit.
- Spoon the batter into the greased donut molds fully filling the mold to the top. You can also scoop out the batter into a piping bag or large zip lock bag and pipe the batter into the molds. Bake for 12-15 minutes. Check the donuts about halfway through and flip around if your oven has hot spots.
- Allow the donuts to cool completely before frosting.
For the frosting
- Drain the water from the cashews that have been soaking for at least 2 hours and place the cashews in a blender with all of the other frosting ingredients and blend until smooth.
Notes
Recipe only slightly adapted fromPrimal Palate
Nutrition Information
Serving Size:
g Calories: 480Saturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 59mgSodium: 153mgCarbohydrates: 38gFiber: 4gSugar: 18gProtein: 11gThis post contains affiliate links.  I only post links for products I personally use and believe in. If you make a purchase on Amazon after clicking one of my links, I receive a small commission and the price you pay is not affected.  Thank you!
Michelle says
Wine and blogging don’t mix…at least not for me. LOL
Your donuts look so wonderful…such a nice treat this time of year! I probably would have bought the pumpkin on Amazon too…because if you can’t find something, Amazon to the rescue! (Even when maybe I should just figure out another way)
Sarah says
When there is a will…. 😉
Kristen Chidsey says
Well, it looks like that $7 was well spent–these are stunning!
Sarah says
Haha thanks Kristen! Thankfully this year I’ve been able to find them easily enough. There is a new ‘American Food’ section at our grocery store equipped with pop tarts, candy bars, and pumpkin puree lol
Shalla says
This may be a leap, but can you suggest another flour sub instead of blanched almond? Can be another nut…
Thank you 🙂
Sarah says
Usually you can replace cashews in place of almond pretty easily, you just have to make sure to ground the cashews to be really fine. I haven’t tried this out yet so I’m not sure how well it would work, but you could also try subbing the almond flour for an all purpose gluten free white flour. If you try that I’d recommend adding less liquid (one less egg or less pumpkin puree) in at first and gradually at it in if the mixture is too dry. If you do try it with another flour let me know!
Barbara says
I know what you mean about finding ingredients in England. Ugh! Your donuts look wonderful and I love all the healthy ingredients. 🙂
Sarah says
Thanks Barbara!
I was just in the US these past couple of weeks and I was SO jealous walking through whole foods and seeing all the variety. They had at least 7 gluten free aisles + GF products all throughout the store. We could so use some of that over here!
Emily @ Recipes to Nourish says
Hi Sarah, just wanted to stop by and let you know that your donuts were the most popular at Savoring Saturdays and all of the hosts will be featuring your recipe this week on Friday. Hope to see you there. Have a wonderful rest of the week!
Sarah says
Thanks, Emily! Can’t wait 🙂
Raia says
Oh my goodness. I need a whole batch of these just for myself. 🙂
Sarah says
It’s such a good thing that I always have help finishing sweets because I could have had these all to myself!
Valerie says
I am drooling right now! Those donuts look so very delicious!
Sarah says
Thanks, Valerie!
Emily @ Recipes to Nourish says
These look amazing! Pinned and sharing.
Sarah says
Thanks, Emily!
Sammi says
These look amazing! I love pumpkin and I love donuts so this is a match made in heaven 🙂 Yum!
Sarah says
Thanks, Sammi!
Julie is Hostess At Heart says
These donuts look drool worthy! I love the darned things, and that glaze put this one at the top of my list.
Sarah says
Oh my gosh I am in love with the glaze – thanks, Julie!