Pumpkin Spice Donuts

Donuts make me happy!  As a kid, my mom made donuts once in a while.  They were so amazing and now homemade donuts bring back warm memories.  Because I grew up in Papua New Guinea, donuts could not just be bought at the grocery store or bakery.  If you wanted a donut, it meant making them from scratch in hot, humid tropical weather.  Most moms wouldn't dream of frying donuts in the heat and humidity, but my mom didn't let that stop her. 

I like making cake donuts.  They are fast and don't require waiting for yeast.  Here's my donut for the fall season, Pumpkin Spice Donuts.  I made these for my kids Halloween party last week.  We used the donuts for a classic party game.  The donuts were tied to a string and the kids raced to eat the donuts without using their hands.  The holes I stuck on sticks and made Donut Pops.  

Pumpkin Spice Donuts

3 tbsp. butter (melted)

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1/4 cup milk

2 tsp. vanilla

1 cup pumpkin puree

4 cups flour

4 tsp. cinnamon

2 tsp. ground ginger

1/4 tsp. cloves

4 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

In a large bowl mix the first six wet ingredients.  In another bowl, mix together the next six dry ingredients.  Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and mix until combined.  Turn dough onto a well floured surface and roll out the dough to 1" thick.  Cut out donuts and fry in vegetable oil at 375 F.  Roll warm donuts in cinnamon sugar (1/2 cup sugar + 1 tsp. cinnamon). 

Sorry, all the donuts were eaten before I could get a picture.  Next time I make them, I'll add a picture quickly :)