These baked chocolate donuts are rich, soft, and finished with a smooth chocolate glaze. They are made from scratch in a donut pan, so there is no frying required, and the recipe makes a small batch of four donuts. It is a great choice when you want a homemade chocolate breakfast treat without making more than you need.
Table of Contents
- How to make Chocolate Cake Donuts
- You may also enjoy
This small-batch baked chocolate donut recipe is ideal for two to four servings. The donuts have a tender cake-like texture, a deep cocoa flavor, and a glossy chocolate topping that makes them feel bakery-worthy while still being simple enough for a relaxed weekend morning.
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How to make Chocolate Cake Donuts
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly spray 4 cavities of a donut pan with non-stick cooking spray so the donuts release cleanly after baking.
In a small bowl, whisk together the milk and vinegar. Let the mixture sit for about 5 minutes. This quick step creates a simple homemade buttermilk, which helps give the baked chocolate donuts a tender texture.
In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, special dark cocoa powder or Dutch-processed cocoa, and baking soda. Whisking the dry ingredients first helps distribute the cocoa and leavening evenly through the batter.
In a separate bowl, stir together the homemade buttermilk, sugar, egg yolk, melted butter, and vanilla until the mixture is smooth and well combined. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir just until the batter comes together. Avoid over-mixing, since that can make cake donuts dense instead of soft.
Spoon or pour the batter into the prepared donut pan, filling the 4 sprayed cavities evenly. Smooth the batter gently if needed so each donut bakes into an even shape.
Bake the donuts for 8 to 10 minutes, or until they are cooked through. The tops should look set, and the donuts should spring back lightly when touched.
Let the donuts cool in the pan briefly, then transfer them to a wire rack. Allow them to cool completely before glazing. If the donuts are still warm, the glaze can become too thin and slide off instead of setting nicely on top.
To make the chocolate glaze, place the semi-sweet chocolate chips, unsalted butter, light corn syrup, and water in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Heat in 20-second increments, stirring well after each interval, until the mixture is completely melted, glossy, and smooth.
Dip the top of each cooled donut into the chocolate glaze. Let any extra glaze drip back into the bowl, then place the donut back on the wire rack. If you want to add toppings, sprinkle them on while the glaze is still soft. Chopped nuts, sprinkles, or gummy worms can be added for extra texture and decoration.
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- Glazed Blueberry Cake Donuts
- Small Batch Chocolate Cake
- 4 Ingredient Banana Brownies
- Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread
Zona Cooks and Zona’s Lazy Recipes
Baked Chocolate Donut Recipe
Equipment
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Donut Pan
Ingredients
For the Donuts
- ¼ cup milk
- ¼ tsp vinegar
- ½ cup flour
- ⅛ cup special dark cocoa powder (or Dutch-processed cocoa)
- ¼ tsp baking soda
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 Tbsp melted butter
- ½ tsp vanilla
For the Glaze
- ¼ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 tsp light corn syrup
- 1 tsp water
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
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Spray 4 cavities of a donut pan with non-stick spray.
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Whisk the milk and vinegar together in a small bowl, then let it stand for about 5 minutes.
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In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, and baking soda.
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In another bowl, mix the homemade buttermilk, sugar, egg yolk, melted butter, and vanilla until combined.
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Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir only until combined.
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Fill the prepared donut pan with the batter. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, then cool completely on a wire rack.
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Place the chocolate chips, butter, corn syrup, and water in a medium bowl.
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Microwave in 20-second increments, stirring after each, until the glaze is melted and smooth.
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Dip the tops of the cooled donuts into the chocolate glaze and add toppings if desired.
Nutrition
Calories: 259 kcal
Carbohydrates: 35 g
Protein: 4 g
Fat: 12 g
Saturated Fat: 7 g
Sugar: 19 g
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I believe in simple, satisfying meals, so let’s make cooking enjoyable and delicious together. Eat, drink, and savor every moment.
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