Pumpkin Spice Donuts | Easy Baked Donuts

Oh my goodness.  These were the treat of all treats.  They took 5 minutes to stir together, 10 minutes to bake and 2 minutes to glaze.  They were simply everything good - a hint of pumpkin, a whisper of cinnamon and that maple glaze.  

I played around with making some tutorial videos this morning.  It was so easy - and kind of addicting!  Much like these donuts ; )   I probably made too many for one post... but hey, it was fun!  

Piping the batter into the Donut Pan is key to easy cleanup and great looking donuts.  I use :

18" Disposable Piping Bag (100 for $16)

Donut Pan, $12

18" Disposable Piping Bag (100 for $16)

Donut Pan, $12

Pumpkin Spice Baked Donuts with Maple Glaze

*Donut Pan

*Piping Bag

makes 6-8 donuts

1/3 cup canned pumpkin

1/3 cup brown sugar

1 large egg

1/4 cup of milk

2 tablespoons of butter, cooled

1 cup of flour

1 teaspoon of baking powder

1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon of ginger

1/4 teaspoon of salt

....

2 tablespoons of butter

1 cup of powdered sugar

2 tablespoons of real maple syrup

Preheat oven to 400 F.

You can use a mixer or a bowl and whisk for this recipe.  Begin by combining pumpkin, brown sugar, egg and milk.  Once whisked together, add melted butter.

Add flour, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger and salt to the mixture.  Whisk together until smooth.  Transfer to Disposable Piping Bag.

Pipe the mixture into the donut pan.  Bake donuts for 8-10 minutes.

Maple Glaze:

In a bowl or pourable measuring cup, melt butter in the microwave.  Add powdered sugar and maple syrup.  Mix until smooth.  Add more powdered sugar or maple to change consistancy.

Remove from pan.  Glaze while slightly warm.

I bought this pumpkin based solely on the beautiful graphic design.  Right?

This comes together so easily.  Next time I will just stir it together by hand instead of using the mixer.  

I love how homemade the glaze looks, just spooned on.  And it is so, melt in your mouth delicious! 

A couple of years ago we made homemade donuts and boxed them up to give to friends for Halloween.

Kraft Boxes, $8-12 for 10
Parchment Paper, 100 for $10
Ribbons & Tags
Bread Boards
Piping Bags
Donut Pan

Shop all of my Favorite Baking Essentials in my online store : The Everyday Occasions Store

Stop by my friends Pumpkin Posts for some seasonal inspiration : 

Pumpkin Custard Pie with Gingersnap Crust by Ella Claire | Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cream Cheese Bread by Nest of Posies | Pumpkin Creme Brûlée by Maison de Pax | Pumpkin Cake with Creme Cheese Frosting by Dear Lillie | Pumpkin Tomato and Bacon Soup by Craftberry Bush

Spiced Pumpkin Pancakes by Boxwood Avenue | Paleo Pumpkin Chili by Nesting with Grace | Pumpkin Ginger Molasses Cookies by anderson + grant | Pumpkin Baked Brie en Croute by French Country Cotage | Nina Hendrick Design Co.

Pumpkin Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies by A Burst of Beautiful | Maple Glazed Pumpkin Hand Pies by Love Grows Wild | Pumpkin Patch Muffins by House 214 | Pumpkin Maple Pancakes by Finding Home Farms | Miniature Pumpkin Tarts by Zevy Joy

Oatmeal Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies by Miss Mustard Seed | Pumpkin Toffee Cupcakes with Salted Caramel Frosting by My Sweet Savannah | Pumpkin Pan Pie by Inspired by Charm

Weekly Menu | Chicken Stew, Autumn Chopped Salad with Shrimp, Leftovers Pasta, & Orange Chicken

This Week's Menu

I'm starting this week off by making my lists and getting organized.  It takes about 10 minutes and really helps me set the tone for the entire week.

First, I get my phone out and write in all of our obligations on the Weekly Planner Tablet.  I decide what nights we'll be dinner at home (usually 3-4 nights), takeout or out at a restaurant. Then, I reference the Dinner Tablet for ideas for each night.  I try to plan one dinner around leftovers (usually Thursday) so I don't have to go to the store.  Finally, I make a grocery list.  I don't buy for more than 2-3 days in advance.  If I buy too far in advance, it seems like we never make it to that dinner and the groceries go to waste.  So, I usually make a grocery trip on Mondays and Wednesdays/Thursdays.

Shop all Tablets & LePens, here >

Above : Photo from Instagram this am, follow me here >

Here's my plan for this week :

Chicken Fricassee

This is my favorite chicken stew served over rice or egg noodles. It is one of Mike's #1 favorite - healthy, satisfying and comforting.  It would work great in a crockpot, too.

Autumn Chopped Salad with Grilled Shrimp Skewer

Grilled Shrimp or Chicken (or roasted butternut squash) turns this salad into dinner.  The dressing is so yummy.

Chocolate Chip Pie

This is just chocolate chip cookie dough in one of my mini tart pans.  Soooo good.

Leftovers Night :

Bolognese Leftovers with Cream & Peas

This is a surprising and delicious combo that I discovered at our local favorite Italian cafe.  The peas and cream completely transform it.  I usually have bolognese leftover in the freezer, or meatballs crumbled with some red sauce works, too.  Also, it is completely worthy of making from scratch.  Just add the cream and peas to your standard meat sauce.  15 minutes from start to finish.

Quick & Easy 
Orange Chicken

Emma LOVES this - and so do we.  I usually add a side of steamed broccoli and carrots on the side or mixed in.

Gold Frames | Ferns Botanical & French Cream Mat Boards

What is it about Gold Frames that work perfectly everywhere?  They add instant warmth to a room, set off a print or painting nicely, and can feel stately and cottagey at the same time.  

Thick Gold Leaf Frames, $34 (now restocked)

Thin Gold Leaf Frames, $6-14 (4x6" $6 shown here)

Swapping out bontanicals has become one of my favorite ways to usher in a new season.   This season I'm embracing "natures neutral" - green in the form of ferns.  Green, it seems, goes with everything.  Much like Gold frames, it brings warmth and life into a room.

Shop my entire Botanicals & Frames Collection, here >

Thin Gold Leaf Frames (11x14" frame ($14) with 8x10" prints, shown here)

French Cream Mat Board, $4-5

Thick Gold Leaf Frames, $34 

Thin Gold Leaf Frames (4x6" ($6) & 8x10" ($10) shown here)

French Cream Mat Board, $4-5

I just the 4x6" Thin Gold Frames ($6) around our home in spots that need a little life.  Here on the hutch, this little antique engraving adds color and character to this area.  I also use these on end tables and bedside tables with family photos.

Doesn't the thick add a lovely heft and regal feel to the mantle?

 

The new French Cream Mat Boards have a slight texture that makes them look very rich and luxurious. 

Thick Gold Leaf Frames, $34 

Thin Gold Leaf Frames

French Cream Mat Board, $4-5

Fern Botanicals, $4-7

Shop my entire Botanicals & Frames Collection, here >

Chocolate Chip Butter Cake with Cocoa Glaze

I have a feeling that most after school snacks these days look like fresh veggies and apples slices.  Or maybe a bar?  I don't know about you, but when I was in school I went home from school and I was starving!  And tired.  And in need of some comfort food.  

Aged Bread Boards, Set of 3
Checked Tea Towels

There is a reason that picture perfect days of the past featured fresh baked cookies coming out of the oven as the kids got off of the bus, ala June Cleaver.  I may wear leggings and sneakers most days instead of a dress and pearls, but I think June knew what she was doing.

Because I pack a healthy lunch for Emma, and we have relatively healthy homemade dinners at night (as long as pasta counts...), we don't shy away from a daily indulgence.  And a slice of warm, chocolate chip butter cake with glaze fits the bill.  You can skip the glaze, or dust on powdered sugar instead... I guess.

I love baking quick breads/pound cakes.  They are so quick to put together and there is something so simple about baking in a loaf pan that seems easier than a cake pan.  

I use a sheet of Parchment Paper ($10 for 100), cut to fit the Essential Loaf Pan, to make removing the cake simple.  Comes out perfectly every time.

Products Featured : 

Parchment Paper ($10 for 100)

Essential Loaf Pan

Aged Bread Boards, Set of 3
Checked Tea Towels

Chocolate Chip Butter Cake with Cocoa Glaze

12 tablespoons butter, softened
1 1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 cup of chocolate chips

.......

3 tablespoons of butter, melted

2 tablespoons of milk

2 tablespoons of cocoa

2 cups of powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350.

In a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.  Cream together butter and sugar for 3 minutes.  Add eggs.  In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, soda and salt.  In another separate bowl, combine milk, and vanilla.  Add half of the wet ingredients to the butter sugar mixture, mix for 5 seconds, then add half of the dry and mix for 5 seconds.  Repeat with second half, ending with dry ingredients.  Pour batter into loaf pan - I like to line mine with parchment paper.  Bake for 35-45 minutes until a cake tester comes out clean.

For glaze, melt butter with milk in a pourable measuring cup in the microwave.  Add cocoa and mix with a fork.  Microwave 30 more seconds.  Add powdered sugar and stir with a fork until smooth.  Add more powdered sugar or milk to achieve pourable constancy.  Also, reheat in the microwave if it sets up before you pour it over the cake.

 

I LOVE this glaze.  I use it on Homemade Donuts, Chocolate Cupcakes & Cakes.   Even to dip graham crackers : )   Browse all of the recipes that I use the Chocolate Glaze on, here >

Pin this Chocolate Chip Butter Cake with Cocoa Glaze

Browse all of the my Dessert Recipes, here >

Browse all of the recipes that I use the Chocolate Glaze on, here >

Products Used : 

Parchment Paper ($10 for 100)

Essential Loaf Pan

Aged Bread Boards, Set of 
Checked Tea Towels

My Organizing Plan | Tablets & LePens

Tomorrow (I would say today, but today is almost gone!) I'm going to work on re-organizing my home office desk/mudroom area.  The summer did a number on this area in our home and now with papers and artwork coming home everyday from school, the piles are getting out of control.  I'll be creating designated areas for everything and utilizing all of these tablets & lepens.  Follow along my Instagram Stories to see the behind the scenes.

Organizing our Home

At the beginning of the school year, I always try to revamp our household systems.   I start my week by sitting down with my planner to get everything on the books.   To some, this might sound like an old-fashioned idea - a paper planner?  For me, I need to have something I can hold in my hand.  I want to be able to sit down with Mike on a Sunday evening and walk through our week.  Not only does it keep us organized, but it helps me to be able to see balance in our week.  I plan for casual dinners out (instead of cooking every night...), and it helps me see the space for fun and downtime.

Now that Emma is in kindergarten, our fall schedule is starting to look a lot like, ballet on Mondays, soccer on Wednesday, meetings on Thursday, etc...  So, I am going to be working on having lots of really quick 20 minute meals to make when we get home at 5:30 and want to eat at 6.  I'm also going to focus on meals that we can pull out of the freezer - soups and pasta sauces are great for nights like these.  

Weekly Planner Tablet, $14

Dinner Tablet, $14

Natural Cardstock, 50 page tablet

 The "What's For Dinner" question is always a struggle at our house.  I ask Mike what he wants, and he says give me some choices.  Usually I come up with 3-4 of the standards (pasta, steaks, grilled chicken...), but forget about some of our favorites.  Now, at the beginning of the week, we can sit down with this tablet.  

Not only will it help us to decide what to have, but it will help me balance the week's meals - beef, fish, chicken, pasta.  All of these recipes can be found on my site, you can search here.

LePens, Sets of 4 & 12

*We're offering sets of 4 again, due to popular demand ; )

Colors : Grey, Brown, Blue, or Black

Sometimes it is just the little things that can make those daily tasks a little more fun.  Sitting down to fill out your Weekly Schedule, or make your Grocery List is much more tempting with a full supply of beautiful LePens on your desk, right?

Many of you have become fans of LePens like me.  I keep a glass full of them on my desk at all times.  For three years, I've sold four of them in a set with my Tablet, but I know many of you would love to have a big supply, too.  Now, I'm offering them in a bundle of 4 and a box of 12 - perfect for getting organized as we begin a busy new season.

LePens have been my favorite for years.  They are thin and elegant, with a tiny felt tip.  I can hardly write with anything else.

Grocery List Tablet, $8

After I make the dinner plan, I make a grocery list.

In one of the Barefoot Contessa's cookbooks, she showed her custom printed grocery shopping lists.  I always thought what a great idea that is, but never found a source... so, of course, I made one  : )

Daily Living Tablet, $8

I'm keeping this tablet on my bedside.  While the Weekly Planner is more about logistics and scheduling, I want my priorities to have a space, too.  At the end of the day, I like to think about what I really want out of the next day, what my goals are.  So, I let the weekly planner do its job and keep me organized, but I let my Daily Living tablet to keep me prioritized.

Shop the entire collection of my Tablets & LePens in my store >