All the good taste of a classic chocolate donut made in the oven. With this baked Chocolate Donut recipe, you can have fresh homemade donuts on your breakfast table within the hour!
Love easy baked donuts? Be sure to try these fun holiday flavors. Pumpkin Streusel Donuts and Apple Cider Donuts. Or give these easy Cherry Frosted Donuts a try for an easy weekday breakfast.
Why this Recipe Works
Traditionally, donuts are fried in oil (or even lard if you’re old school). I love a yeast donut or cake donut made in the fryer but frying is messy, not to mention time consuming.
Unless we’re talking about these apple fritters or Boston Cream Donuts!
Biting into a good chocolate doughnut is a thing of beauty. These donuts were moist and sweet with a fluffy crumb; then the rich chocolate glaze took them over the top into the territory of “sublime.”
Since they were such a success, I figured I needed to share the love with my fellow impatient donut lovers!
- One bowl donut recipe
- Rich chocolate glaze
- Soft, tender crumb
- Fun colorful sprinkles
Change things up and make some chocolate donut holes instead! We also love these chocolate powdered sugar donuts!
Ingredient Notes
- Basics. From all-purpose flour, to baking powder, baking soda, eggs, kosher salt, and vanilla extract.
- Butter. Use our guide on how to soften butter quickly.
- Sugar and milk (any kind is fine)!
- And for the glaze, you’ll need heavy whipping cream, milk, butter, vanilla, and corn syrup. And don’t even ask me if you can swap out the corn syrup. It’s what gives this glaze it’s unique shine!
- Chocolate- you’ll want cocoa powder for the donut, and chocolate chips for the glaze. I use Ghiradelli brand because I find it to have the best flavor for the price.
Chocolate Donut Recipe
- Make the chocolate donuts. Mix dry ingredients in bowl. Add wet ingredients. Fill donut pan.
PRO TIP: Spoon the batter into a ziploc bag, snip off the tip and pipe it into donut pan. Makes it easy to keep it from spilling over the edges.
- Bake donuts.
- Make the chocolate donut glaze.
- In small saucepan on medium low heat, mix together the cream, milk, butter, vanilla and corn syrup.
- When butter is completely melted, turn heat to low and add in the chocolate.Remove from heat and whisk in the powdered sugar, adding it slowly until desired consistency.
- Dip each doughnut into the glaze and allow to cool.
- Allow chocolate to set (this takes about 15 minutes). Enjoy!
This recipe makes about 8 – 10 donuts.
Tips and Tricks
- To fill the doughnut cups, I use a ziploc bag with the corner cut out. This keeps the process a little more neat and ensures stray batter doesn’t coat the outsides of the cups.
- If you don’t yet have a donut pan, this is the one I love: Norpro Donut Pan– you can find it on Amazon in 6ct or 12ct!
- We added sprinkles on top of the donut just after glazing. These donuts would also taste delicious topped with chopped nuts or anything you usually enjoy on your donuts.
- Be sure to use real heavy cream and corn syrup in the glaze. Substitutes just won’t thicken or set as well.
- Christmas- use today’s chocolate donuts to make our easy grinch donut recipe for the holidays!
Recipe FAQs
Be sure to let the chocolate donuts cool completely, first. Then place in the freezer on a cookie sheet for 30 minutes. Transfer the donuts to an airtight container or freezer safe bags, separating each layer of donuts with parchment paper.
Store these baked chocolate donuts at room temperature for up to 4 days. Keep in airtight container or cake saver.
Absolutely! This recipe doubles easily to make about 16-20 donuts.
More Easy Breakfast Recipes:
- Nutella Donut Holes
- Jelly Filled Donut Holes
- Churros
- Cinnamon Coffee Cake Donuts
- Crumb Cake
- Cinnamon Coffee Cake
Breakfast Recipes
See all Breakfast and Brunch recipesPin this now to find it later
Pin ItBaked Chocolate Donuts
Ingredients
FOR THE DONUTS:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ¾ cup plus 2 Tablespoons milk
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter melted
FOR THE FROSTING:
- 1 Tablespoon heavy whipping cream
- 1 Tablespoon whole milk
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoon corn syrup
- 2 oz semi sweet chocolate morsels
- ¾ cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- For the donuts, mix dry ingredients in bowl. Beat in the eggs, milk, vanilla and butter. Beat until well blended.
- Spray donut pan with cooking spray. Fill each donut cup about 3/4 full (I use a ziploc with the corner snipped to do this neatly). Fills about 8-10 donuts.
- Bake donuts in 325 degree oven for about 11-14 minutes. Allow to cool slightly, remove from pan.
- While cooling, make chocolate glaze. In small saucepan on medium low heat, mix together the cream, milk, butter, vanilla and corn syrup. When butter is completely melted, turn heat to low and add in the chocolate.
- Remove from heat and whisk in the powdered sugar, adding it slowly until desired consistency.
- Dip each donut into the glaze, allow to cool. (optional- sprinkle with toppings). Allow chocolate to set (about 15 minutes). Enjoy!
Notes
- To fill the doughnut cups, I use a ziploc bag with the corner cut out. This keeps the process a little more neat and ensures stray batter doesn’t coat the outsides of the cups.
- If you don’t yet have a donut pan, this is the one I love: Norpro Donut Pan– you can find it on Amazon in 6ct or 12ct!
- We added sprinkles on top of the donut just after glazing. These donuts would also taste delicious topped with chopped nuts or anything you usually enjoy on your donuts.
- Be sure to use real heavy cream and corn syrup in the glaze. Substitutes just won’t thicken or set as well.
Nutrition
This donut recipe is easy, fast and guaranteed to satisfy your sweet tooth!
Served with a cup of coffee in the morning or with a glass of milk for an after school snack, a chocolate donut makes everyone happy. Next time you have a breakfast meeting to go to, surprise everyone by walking in the door with a batch of delicious homemade donuts.
I just got some donut pans and can’t wait to try your recipe! My oldest has a severe peanut allergy so finding safe donuts is almost impossible. I’ll have some of these ready for him when he gets back from Scout camp today! You’ve made a 12 year old’s day!
So happy that I came across your blog. Can’t wait to check it out more. 🙂
I’m featuring these this weekend because they’re just begging me to make them.
Amy @ A Little Nosh
I really need a donut pan…
Thanks for linking up at A Little Nosh this week!
Those donuts are so cute and yummy-looking!:)
AWESOME! My favorite donut is the chocolate cake donuts fr DD’s and these look just like them! And they’re baked! yay!
Wow, these look good! I love the fact that they’re baked. Bookmarked to try!
Oh how yummy these look! I don’t have a donut pan yet, but maybe I should get one!
Hey Doll, Just wanted to let you know that I am featuring this recipe
today at Frugalicious Me! Thanks for sharing!!! I can’t make them!
XOXO,
Tasha
Totally delicious looking! Thanks for the recipe!
Yum…. fabulous looking donuts.
These look just like those yummy chocolate cake donuts you can get at the gas station!! I am saving this recipe and as soon as I get a donut pan I will be trying it!
They look amazing I must admit donuts with sprinkles are my favorite I can not wait to try this recipe!
Beautiful! I am excited to use my doughnut pan for the first time. Thanks for the recipe. 🙂
This confirms it…I NEED a donut pan soon! This look amazing!
OMG!! your recipes are one better than the other!! Your blog is fantastic congrats! I am deff following you! Come visit me! 🙂
Oh man you are killing me over here. These look sooo good! Wish I had one for breakfast!
I just found you on Something Swanky and pinned these donuts! I have always wanted to try making cake donuts. Thank you so much for sharing! I would love for you to link up to my party: http://www.momontimeout.com/2011/10/taking-timeout-thursday-link-party-no-1.html
Those look so GOOD! Love the colored sprinkles.
Yes, please. I will be looking for my package of donuts in the mail:-) Heavy on the glaze please! These look delish!!!
Can I order a dozen or two? I prefer baked donuts and these look heavenly!