Pumpkin Donuts with Maple-Cinnamon Glaze

Warm, sweet, moist, and cinnamony, these amazing baked donuts are on the table in less than 20 minutes. If you need a reason to get out of bed, this is a great one.

And "quick" isn't the only accolade for these stellar donuts; they're healthy too! First, they're baked not fried, which eliminates a quantum amount of fat. Then, thanks to the use of pureed pumpkin, you need just 1/4 cup of oil for the entire batch (which is a whopping 18 donuts). That works out to be 2 grams of fat per donut.

And that glaze... it's a shimmery blend of powdered sugar, milk, maple syrup, and cinnamon. The silky concoction adds the perfect sweet/warmth to these scrumptious breakfast treats.

Pumpkin Donuts with Maple-Cinnamon Glaze 

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
15-ounce can pumpkin puree (not pie filling)
2 large eggs
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Maple-Cinnamon Glaze:
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
2 tablespoons milk
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Coat 2-3 donut pans with cooking spray (this batch makes 18 donuts).
To make the donuts, in a large bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. Mix well to combine.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the pumpkin, eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla. Add the pumpkin mixture to the flour mixture and mix well. Spoon the batter into the prepared pans, filling each donut mold about 3/4 full.
Bake for 10 minutes, until a wooden pick comes out clean or with little moist bits clinging to it.
Cool the donuts on a wire rack for 1 minute. Release the sides of the donuts from the pan (with your fingers or a knife) and flip over onto the rack.
Meanwhile, to make the glaze, whisk together all the ingredients until smooth.
While still warm, dunk one side of the donuts in the glaze and return them to the rack.
Makes about 18 donuts