In a large bowl, stir together flour, sugar, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice, and salt.
In a separate bowl, stir together the remaining ingredients (buttermilk, pumpkin puree, vanilla, egg, and butter).
Stir the wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Stir just until well mixed. Batter will be thick.
Scoop 1 tablespoon size amounts and shape them into balls using your hands. You’ll want to grease your hands for this step.
Place balls two inches apart on baking sheets. Bake one sheet at a time.
Bake for 14 to 15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle of the donut hole comes out clean.
Let cool for 5 minutes before adding the topping.
Topping
Place half of the donut holes in a large, resealable food storage bag. Pour half the melted butter into the bag and shake well to coat all donut holes. Remove the donut holes from the bag and set them aside. Repeat the steps with the rest of the donut holes and melted butter.
In a small bowl, stir together cinnamon and sugar. Pour cinnamon sugar mixture into a clean food storage bag, add half the buttered donut holes and shake well to coat. Remove from the bag and set on the baking tray to cool. Repeat with the other half of the donut holes.
Remove the donut holes from the bag and serve warm.
Notes
Watch out when you are at the grocery store that you buy pure pumpkin puree and not canned pumpkin pie filling.
A medium cookie scoop is a great tool to measure out just about the right amount of donut batter.
You can also make these donut holes in a mini muffin Adapted from https://astepinthejourney.com/2013/09/pumpkin-spice-baked-donut-hole-recipe.html