Dessert

Easy Baked Pumpkin Fritter Bites Recipe

ByGabriel Langdon November 19, 2025November 19, 2025

Introduction

These easy baked pumpkin fritter bites are a delightful snack bursting with warm spices and tender pumpkin flavor. Perfectly fluffy and lightly sweet, they make a wonderful treat for any time of day. Plus, they come together quickly and are baked instead of fried for a lighter twist.

A stack of round, golden-brown fritters on a white textured plate, each fritter coated in sugar crystals with some white glaze drizzled unevenly on top. The top fritter is broken open, showing a soft, moist inside with an orange hue. The background has warm orange tones blurred out, and the plate sits on a white marbled surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

1 cup canned pumpkin puree
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup milk
Cooking spray or a little oil, for greasing

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it with cooking spray or oil.
Step 2: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and salt until well combined.
Step 3: In a separate bowl, beat the egg. Add the canned pumpkin puree, vanilla extract, and milk, mixing until smooth and creamy without lumps.
Step 4: Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients. Gently stir with a spatula or spoon just until combined; a few lumps are okay—do not overmix.
Step 5: Use a spoon to drop small dollops of batter onto the prepared baking sheet, leaving about 1 inch of space between them to allow for expansion.
Step 6: Bake for 12–15 minutes, or until the fritters are lightly golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Step 7: Let the fritters cool on the baking sheet for a couple of minutes, then transfer them carefully to a wire rack to keep them fluffy.
Step 8: Optional: sprinkle with powdered sugar or drizzle with a simple glaze before serving for extra sweetness.

Tips & Variations

Use fresh pumpkin by roasting and pureeing about 1 cup if you want to skip canned pumpkin.
For gluten-free fritters, substitute the flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend and adjust liquids as needed.
Swap granulated sugar for brown sugar to add a richer flavor.
To make vegan fritters, replace the egg with a flax egg (1 tablespoon flaxseed meal mixed with 2.5 tablespoons water).
Mix the batter just until combined to keep fritters light and fluffy; overmixing can make them dense.
Ensure your baking powder is fresh to help the batter rise properly.

Storage

Store the fritter bites in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. For longer storage, refrigerate for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 1 month. Reheat gently in a microwave or oven to retain their fluffiness.

How to Serve

A small stack of eight golden brown fritters sits on a white textured plate, each fritter coated in granulated sugar and cinnamon for a sparkling effect. The fritters are round and rough-textured, with some white glaze lightly drizzled unevenly on the surface. The top fritter is broken in half, revealing a soft, airy, and moist orange-yellow inside with a spongy crumb texture. The background is softly blurred with warm autumn tones, all set on a white marbled surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I Use Fresh Pumpkin Instead of Canned?

Yes, you can! Roast the fresh pumpkin until soft, then puree it. Use about 1 cup of fresh pumpkin puree to replace the canned quantity in the recipe.

How Do I Make My Fritter Bites Fluffy?

Mix the batter just until combined without overworking it, use fresh baking powder, and space the dollops evenly on the baking sheet to allow for even expansion while baking.