Rich Chocolate Donuts with chocolate frosting; what could be better for a chocolate lover? Skip the local donut shop and make these moist cake donuts. Super easy to top with lots of different toppings. This donut recipe is for a baked donut; no yeast donuts, no hot oil or frying required. Easy recipe.
Homemade donuts don’t have to be hard. This chocolate cake donut recipe proves that! You only need a doughnut pan!
These cakey donuts have a rich chocolate glaze that rival anything from Dunkin’ Donuts! Make chocolate glazed donuts once and they’ll become a favorite recipe for a surprise treat or weekend breakfast.
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Recipe Ingredient Notes
All purpose flour. Regular or gluten-free measure-for-measure flour blend can be used. For gluten-free baking we use and recommend Bob’s Red Mill gluten-free 1-to-1 flour blend.
Unsweetened cocoa powder. Don’t use sweetened cocoa powder (the type used for making hot chocolate for instance).
Kosher salt. This type of salt has better flavor and a less salty flavor.
Unsalted butter. You’ll need 1 tablespoon of unsalted butter, melted.
Powdered sugar. This will be used for the glaze. Sift out or remove any large or hard clumps before making the glaze.
Milk. This will be used in the glaze. We used whole dairy milk but any type of milk will work. If using plant milk choose one with a neutral flavor.
How to make Chocolate Baked Donuts
STEP 1. Preparation
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Spray a donut pan with non-stick cooking spray (photo 1).
STEP 2. Make the donut batter
In a medium bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients: the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt (photo 2).
Using an electric hand mixer or in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, mix in the wet ingredients until combined: milk, egg, melted butter, and vanilla extract (photo 3).
STEP 3. Pipe the batter
Pour the batter into a Ziploc bag (photos 4-5), close the top and snip off the corner of the bag (photo 6). Squeeze/pipe the batter into each of the donut cavities, filling ¾ of the way full (photos 7-8).
STEP 4. Bake & Cool
Bake for 10 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean (photo 9). Cool for a few minutes while in the pan and then move to a cooling rack (photo 10).
STEP 5. Glaze
Prepare the glaze while the donuts are cooling.
In a large bowl, sift the powdered sugar and cocoa powder together (photo 11). Add the milk and vanilla extract, whisk until full combined (photo 12). The glaze needs to be thin enough to dip and coat the donuts, if it’s too thick then add a little bit more milk to thin it out (photo 13 shows the desired consistency).
Dip one of the donuts face down into the chocolate glaze (photo 14), shake off the excess and place onto a cooling rack while the chocolate sets. Continue doing this with the remaining donuts. (This is the step to decorate the donuts with a sprinkle, candy, or whatever they would like photo 15). Allow the donuts to sit for 15-20 minutes until the chocolate sets (photo 16).
Variations
Add a topping to the glaze. Dress up your chocolate frosted donuts with a topping on the glaze! Add one of the following to the tops of the donuts after glazing the donuts before the glaze sets:
- shredded coconut
- M&Ms
- sprinkles
- chopped nuts
- peanut butter baking chips
- mini chocolate chips
- crushed cookies
- crushed candies (candy canes, peppermints or other candies)
- chopped candy bars (Snickers, Health bars)
- cereal (smores cereal is a favorite on a chocolate glaze!)
- mini marshmallows
Expert Tips
Easy trick to fill the plastic bag or piping bag. Place the plastic bag into a cup with the bottom of the bag facing down, fold the bag over the lip and it will hold it in place while pouring the batter
Glazing easy clean up tip. Place a sheet of wax paper, parchment paper or foil under the wire rack to catch the drips.
How to store
The homemade donuts are best eaten the day they are made. They can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 2 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Allow the donuts to cool fully and do not glaze. Store in an airtight freezer safe container for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator, bring to room temperature and glaze as instructed.
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Recipe
Chocolate Frosted Donuts (baked donuts)
Equipment
Ingredients
Chocolate baked donuts
- 1 cup all-purpose flour regular or gluten-free measure-for-measure flour blend
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/3 cup + 1 tablespoon milk
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter melted
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Chocolate Glaze
- 2 cups powdered sugar any lumps sifted out
- 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¼ cup milk plus a little more if needed
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Spray a donut pan with non-stick cooking spray.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.1 cup all-purpose flour, 1/3 cup granulated sugar, ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder, ½ teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon baking soda, ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- Using an electric hand mixer or in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix together in the milk, egg, melted butter, and vanilla extract until well combined.1/3 cup + 1 tablespoon milk, 1 large egg, 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pour the batter into a Ziploc bag, close the top and snip off the corner of the bag. Squeeze the batter into each of the donut pan cavities, filling each ¾ of the way full.
- Bake for 10 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean. Cool for a few minutes while in the pan and then move to a cooling rack.
Prepare the glaze while the donuts cool
- Using a large mixing bowl, sift the powdered sugar and cocoa powder. Add the milk and vanilla extract, whisk until full combined.2 cups powdered sugar, 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, ¼ cup milk, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- The glaze needs to be thin enough to dip and coat the donuts, if it’s too thick then add a little bit more milk to thin it out.
- Dip one of the donuts face down into the chocolate glaze, shake off the excess back into the bowl and place onto a cooling rack (glazed side up) while the chocolate sets.
- Repeat for the remaining donuts. If adding a topping, add it now (see notes below). Allow the donuts to sit for 15-20 minutes until the chocolate sets.
Notes
- shredded coconut
- M&Ms
- sprinkles
- chopped nuts
- peanut butter baking chips
- mini chocolate chips
- crushed cookies
- crushed candies (candy canes, peppermints or other candies)
- chopped candy bars (Snickers, Health bars)
- cereal (smores cereal is a favorite on a chocolate glaze!)
- mini marshmallows
Macie says
OMG, Chocolate donuts are my love language! This is my new favorite recipe!!! I made a batch this morning and my family devoured them. I guess I need another batch for tomorrow!
Kim says
The whole family loved these donuts. Nothing beats a frosted chocolate donut in my book and this recipe is a real winner.
Teresa s says
The best donuts ever! I’m planning on making these again this weekend!
Jenine says
I’ve had a donut pan forever and have never used it. After making these it’s going to get alot of exercise lol. These were really good and I love the ideas of how to change them.
Steven says
I had no idea donuts were so easy to make at home or so good! Thanks for the great recipe.
Jen says
My kids devoured a whole batch of these donuts in one sitting!! So good! and I love how easy it is to make!
dana says
Love that these aren’t fried and they are JUST as good! My 3 year old loves donuts and loves helping out in the kitchen, so this was a huge treat for him, from the experience down to the result 🙂