1-First Step: Prepare Your Ingredients and Tools Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C) and greasing a donut pan with a light oil spray or butter. Measure out all the dry ingredients like flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and pumpkin pie spice into one bowl; this mise en place keeps things organized. In another bowl, combine the wet ingredients including pumpkin puree, eggs, oil, brown sugar, milk, and vanilla extract for easy mixing later.

2-Second Step: Mix the Dry and Wet Ingredients Whisk the dry ingredients together until they’re well blended, ensuring the spices are evenly distributed. In a separate bowl, beat the wet ingredients until smooth, which helps incorporate air and makes the batter lighter. Gently fold the wet mixture into the dry one, stirring just until combined to avoid overmixing, which can make your pumpkin baked donuts tough.

3-Third Step: Fill the Donut Pan Spoon the batter into the prepared donut pan, filling each cavity about halfway full for even baking if you overfill, the donuts might lose their shape. A helpful tip is to use a piping bag or a resealable plastic bag with the corner snipped off to keep things neat and reduce mess. Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 12-15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

4-Fourth Step: Cool and Prepare the Icing Once baked, let the donuts cool in the pan for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely; this prevents them from breaking. For the brown sugar icing, heat the brown sugar, milk, and butter in a saucepan over medium heat until dissolved, then remove from heat and stir in vanilla, confectioners’ sugar, and a pinch of salt. Adapt for dietary needs by using non-dairy milk if needed.

5-Fifth Step: Ice and Add Toppings Dip the cooled donuts into the icing or drizzle it over them for a glossy finish. If you want to add extras like crushed walnuts, do so while the icing is still wet so they stick well. This step allows for personalization, such as making some vegan by skipping animal products. Let the iced donuts set for a few minutes before serving to enjoy the best texture and flavor.

6-Sixth Step: Serve and Enjoy These pumpkin baked donuts are ready to eat once iced and cooled; serve them warm with a cup of coffee for the ultimate treat. You can store any leftovers as mentioned later, but they’re so tasty, they might not last long. For variations, try adding fruit purees or different spices to suit your preferences while keeping the core recipe intact.