Name: Mardi Gras Cake Donuts
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 1 box Devil's Food Cake mix; 15 oz pumpkin ((canned)); 1 can of white frosting; green, purple, and gold sprinkles ((for decorating)); non-stick spray

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Mardi Gras called. It wants its donuts! 🎭 These easy baked Mardi Gras Cake Donuts start with just two ingredients—Devil’s Food cake mix and canned pumpkin. Dip them in creamy white frosting, pile on the purple, green, and gold sprinkles, and let the good times roll! No frying, no fuss, just a little Bourbon Street fun in your kitchen. Beads optional, donuts mandatory!

Mardi Gras donuts on brown parchment paper on the counter surrounded by mardi gras decorations.

Serves: 10-12
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 10-15 minutes

Ingredients

15.25 oz box of Devil’s Food Cake mix
15 oz can of pumpkin
16 oz container white frosting
green, purple, and gold sprinkles (optional)
non-stick spray
Silicone Donut Mold (Amazon)

Devil's food cake in a large and white mixing bowl on the counter, canned pumpkin and a small white bowl, white frosting, green, purple, and gold sprinkles in individual glass cups with Mardi Gras decorations on the counter.

Get the full printable instructions with measurements at the bottom of the post in the recipe card.

Step-by-Step Directions

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350°F and lightly spray a donut pan with nonstick cooking spray. In a large mixing bowl, combine the Devil’s Food cake mix and pumpkin puree until well mixed.

Cake batter and pumpkin puree are mixed in a large bowl on the counter.

Step 2: Spoon the batter into the prepared donut molds, filling each cavity about ¾ full. Bake for 10–15 minutes, or until the tops spring back when lightly pressed. Let the donuts cool in the pan for about 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Batter and donut molds on a dark blue baking sheet on the counter, ready to go in the oven. Surrounded by Mardi Gras, colored sprinkles and decorations.

Cool donuts on a white plate and a purple plate on brown parchment paper surrounded by white icing, gold, purple, green sprinkles, and Mardi Gras decorations, all on the counter.

Step 3: Place the white frosting in a microwave-safe bowl and warm it in short intervals, stirring until smooth and thin enough for dipping. Dip the tops of the cooled donuts into the frosting, then immediately decorate with purple, green, and gold sprinkles. Repeat with the remaining donuts.

I dipped the donut into warm white icing in a white bowl on brown parchment paper on the counter.

Garnishing the donut with green sprinkles onto the frosted donut immediately after dipping it into white icing. It sits on brown parchment paper on the counter.

Garnished donut with green, gold, and purple sprinkles on the frosted donut immediately after dipping it into white icing. It sits on brown parchment paper on the counter.

Caution: Donuts will be hot when removed from the oven.

🍋 Simply Made Suggestions

Use pumpkin puree: Make sure you’re using plain canned pumpkin, not pumpkin pie filling.
Skip the mess: Transfer the thick batter to a zip-top bag, snip off a corner, and pipe it into the donut molds.
Cool before frosting: Warm donuts and melted frosting aren’t exactly a match made in heaven. Let them cool completely!
Easy on the microwave: Heat the frosting in short intervals, stirring between each, until it’s smooth enough for dipping.
Get festive: Use purple, green, and gold sprinkles for that classic Mardi Gras look. The more colorful, the better!

🍩 Before You Go…

The donut party doesn’t have to end here! Try our Apple Spice Donuts for a cozy fall treat or our Heart-Shaped Cake Donuts for something a little sweeter. Because apparently, we have a thing for donuts.

Mardi Gras Cake Donuts

These easy baked Mardi Gras Cake Donuts start with Devil's Food cake mix and canned pumpkin, then get dipped in white frosting and decorated with festive purple, green, and gold sprinkles. A fun, no-fry treat for Mardi Gras!

Tara

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 15

Total Time 35

Servings

Equipment

silicone donut mold

Ingredients

1 box Devil’s Food Cake mix
15 oz pumpkin (canned)
1 can of white frosting
green, purple, and gold sprinkles (for decorating)
non-stick spray

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350°F and lightly spray a donut pan with nonstick cooking spray. In a large mixing bowl, combine the Devil's Food cake mix and pumpkin puree until well mixed.
Spoon the batter into the prepared donut molds, filling each cavity about ¾ full. Bake for 10–15 minutes, or until the tops spring back when lightly pressed. Let the donuts cool in the pan for about 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Place the white frosting in a microwave-safe bowl and warm in short intervals, stirring until smooth and thin enough for dipping. Dip the tops of the cooled donuts into the frosting, then immediately decorate with purple, green, and gold sprinkles. Repeat with the remaining donuts.