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    Home » Desserts

    Chocolate Glazed Donuts

    Published: Dec 16, 2022 · by Nico

    Jump to Recipe

    Our chocolate-glazed donuts are so easy, fun, adorable, and delicious that you'll want to make them every day!

    This is an oven-baked, no-yeast cake donut recipe, one you can make with little effort, simple ingredients, and less than 30 minutes.

    Chocolate donuts with glaze and bite
    On this page:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Variations
    • Tips
    • Make Ahead & Storage
    • More Chocolate Desserts
    • More Donut Recipes
    • Recipe

    Check out our Best Easy Desserts

    Note: If you are looking for yeast donuts, check out our vegan donuts recipe.

    Here we'll show you how to make some of the best and easiest oven-baked, chocolate-glazed cake donuts.

    You'll love this baked donuts recipe because you can whip them together in 5 minutes, bake them in 20, and glaze them in 3.

    Also, the recipe is dairy-free, egg-free, and oven-baked, making this delicious treat healthier than most.

    Chocolate glazed doughnuts are terrific for any occasion; they are crowd-pleasers, fun, and adorable treat.

    Chocolate donuts with powdered sugar and bite

    Ingredients

    chocolate glazed donuts

    Flour

    We use all-purpose flour. You can also use whole wheat flour; in this case, add two more tablespoons of milk.

    For gluten-free, use a 1-to-1 gluten-free flour mix.

    Sugar

    You can use white sugar, brown sugar, palm sugar, or coconut sugar. We use white sugar.

    We haven't tested this recipe with liquid sweeteners like maple syrup, corn syrup, or agave syrup, so we are unsure how it would turn out.

    Cocoa powder

    We use unsweetened dutch processed cocoa powder; it has a more intense flavor and a darker color than natural cocoa powder which we think is best for this recipe.

    Natural cocoa powder works well too.

    Milk

    We use almond milk. You can use any milk, including soy, oat, rice, and more.

    You can substitute water for milk.

    Oil

    Make this with neutral-flavored vegetable oil. We use canola oil. Sunflower oil works well too.

    For oil-free, substitute apple sauce for oil.

    Salt

    A pinch of sea salt brings out the flavor of the chocolate and helps tie the other flavors together.

    Cinnamon

    Cinnamon adds a pleasant wintery aroma to this recipe.

    You can substitute grated orange zest for cinnamon.

    Vanilla extract

    Vanilla is excellent with chocolate and adds warmth to the chocolate-glazed donuts. You can use vanilla extract, aroma, or beans in a vanilla pod.

    Baking powder

    Baking powder makes the donuts rise and helps them get light and soft. There's no need for baking soda for this recipe.

    Chocolate Glaze

    You can't make chocolate-glazed donuts without a chocolate glaze. So we make one with unsweetened dutch processed cocoa powder, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and milk (any).

    If you don't feel like making the glaze, you can dust the chocolate donuts with powdered sugar.

    Chocolate donuts with bite

    Instructions

    Make the batter

    Preheat the oven to 340°F or 170°C. Brush your non-stick donut baking pan with oil or softened butter. We use a 12-donut baking pan.

    Sift all-purpose flour and cocoa powder in a medium to large mixing bowl. Sifting removes cocoa powder clumps, and it helps make your donuts airier and fluffier.

    Add sugar, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon and whisk well.

    cacao mix in a glass bowl

    To the same bowl, add milk, oil, and vanilla extract.

    Stir with a whisk until just combined, without over-mixing.

    Note: you can easily do this with a hand whisk, or you can use a hand mixer or stand mixer with a whisk attachment, but make sure not to over-mix the donut batter if you use electric appliances.

    Whisk and chocolate mix in a glass bowl

    Bake the donuts

    With the help of a spoon, transfer the batter into the donut pan. Fill the molds up to ¾ max.

    donut batter in donut cake pan

    Bake immediately for 20 minutes, then let cool down for 15 minutes in the pan, then take them out and let cool down on a wire rack or cooling rack.

    Tip: we find that the best way to take the donuts out of the pan is to turn the pan upside down and hit its short edge on a folded kitchen towel on your worktop until the donuts fall off.

    donuts and a cooling rack

    Chocolate Glaze

    In the meantime, make the chocolate glaze by whisking together cocoa powder, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and milk.

    Start with little milk; the glaze should be thick, smooth, and glossy.

    Apply glaze on the donuts with a spatula or the back of a spoon, or you can also dip them if you prefer.

    You can dust the donuts with powdered sugar as an alternative to the chocolate glaze. You can also apply sprinkles on top.

    Chocolate glaze in a bowl and donuts

    Let the glaze firm up for a few minutes before serving these adorable chocolate-glazed donuts.

    Chocolate glazed donuts

    Variations

    Cinnamon Cake Donuts

    Cinnamon sugar donuts with bite

    Cinnamon cake donuts are a cute and delicious alternative or complement to these chocolate-glazed donuts.

    You can make them with the same simple ingredients. Check out our cinnamon cake donut recipe.

    Vegan donuts

    vegan donuts with sugar

    Want to have real krispy-kreme-style, soft, fluffy, deep-fried (or oven-baked) yeast donuts?

    Then our vegan donut recipe is perfect for you. But don't be fooled by the "vegan" in the title. This is the best yeast donut recipe, and it makes delicious tall, fluffy, soft, doughy donuts.

    Check out our vegan donuts recipe.

    Tips

    Don't over-mix the batter: whisk it until most lumps are gone, but don't over-mix it. Over-mixing will toughen up your chocolate glaze donuts, making them less fluffy and soft.

    Don't over-fill the donut pan. Only fill the molds up to ¾ or slightly below that. The donuts will rise thanks to the baking powder. If you add too much batter, they'll increase so much that they'll turn out without a hole.

    Make sure your baking powder is active. If you are unsure if your baking powder is active, this is how to test it.

    Add ½ teaspoon baking powder into a bowl and pour over ¼ cup of boiling water. If it foams, it's still active; if not, it's not good.

    Chocolate donuts with glaze and a bite

    Make Ahead & Storage

    Make Ahead: chocolate glazed donuts keep for up to 4 days, but for best results, we recommend making them up to 48 hours ahead of time. If you are making them ahead, brush them with milk as soon as they are out of the oven. This will make them stay softer for longer.

    Room temperature: let the doughnuts cool down completely, then store them in a plastic bag at room temperature for 4 - 5 days.

    Refrigerator: if you've glazed them, it's best to keep them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

    Freezer: this recipe freezes well, but without the glaze. Let them cool down completely, transfer them into a freezer-friendly bag, and freeze them for up to 3 months.

    Thaw: thaw in the fridge over several hours, or in the microwave with the thawing function. You can eat the donuts at room temperature, or warm the up slightly in the microwave for 30 seconds to 1 minute.

    More Chocolate Desserts

    If you love chocolate, try these decadent and rich chocolate desserts that are guaranteed crowd-pleasers:

    • Vegan brownies with rich and fudgy interior and glossy skin on top.
    • Easy single-layer chocolate cake with chocolate ganache.
    • Plant-based chocolate pound cake: no-fuss cake bread with double chocolate.
    • Homemade hazelnut spread.
    • 10-minute chocolate custard.
    • 5-ingredient chocolate brownie cake.
    • Easy Chocolate Cake
    • Vegan Chocolate Custard
    • Vegan Brownies
    • Chocolate Brownie Cake

    More Donut Recipes

    These donuts recipes are great for sweet cravings, Sunday breakfast, and pampering your guests and family:

    • Cinnamon sugar cake donuts.
    • Homemade donuts (with yeast).
    • Sweet donut holes (Italian castagnole).
    • Italian bomboloni donuts with jam filling.
    • Vegan Donuts - Homemade Recipe
    • Vegan bomboloni - Italian donuts
    • Castagnole - Italian Sweet Dough Balls
    • Vegan Cinnamon Rolls

    For many more easy dessert ideas, check out our desserts category page.

    Recipe

    Chocolate glazed donuts

    Chocolate Glazed Donuts

    Author: Nico
    Our chocolate-glazed donuts are so easy, fun, adorable, and delicious that you'll want to make them every day!
    This is an oven-baked, no-yeast cake donut recipe, one you can make with little effort, simple ingredients, and less than 30 minutes.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Share Recipe
    5 from 3 votes
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 20 mins
    Total Time 30 mins
    Course Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
    Cuisine American
    Servings 12 donuts
    Calories 116 kcal

    Equipment

    • 12-donut baking pan

    Ingredients
     
     

    DRY INGREDIENTS

    • 1 cup all-purpose flour
    • ½ cup sugar
    • ½ cup unsweetened dutch processed cocoa powder or natural cocoa powder
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder
    • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
    • ¼ teaspoon salt

    WET INGREDIENTS

    • ⅔ cup milk any, we use almond milk
    • 2 tablespoons canola oil or sunflower oil
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

    CHOCOLATE GLAZE

    • ½ cup powdered sugar
    • 2 tablespoons unsweetened dutch processed cocoa powder or natural cocoa powder
    • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 1 - 2 tablespoon milk any, we use almond milk

    Instructions
     

    Make the chocolate donuts

    • Preheat oven to 340°F or 170°C. Brush your donut pan with oil or softened butter.
      Sift flour and cocoa powder into a mixing bowl. Add sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and whisk to combine.
      cacao mix in a glass bowl
    • Add milk, oil, and vanilla extract. Whisk until just combined, without over-mixing. Some lumps are ok.
      Whisk and chocolate mix in a glass bowl
    • Transfer donut batter into the donut pan with a spoon. Fill moulds up to ¾ max.
      donut batter in donut cake pan
    • Bake immediately at 340°F or 170°C for 20 minutes.
      Let cool down for 15 minutes in the pan then take them out and arrange them on a wire rack to cool down completely.
      donuts and a cooling rack

    Make the chocolate glaze

    • To a small bowl, add cocoa powder, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and milk.
      Whisk until thick, smooth, and glossy. Start with little milk, add more if necessary.
      Chocolate glaze in a bowl and donuts
    • Apply glaze on donuts with the back of a spoon or a spatula.
      Chocolate glazed donuts
    • If you don't want to use the chocolate glaze, you can dust donuts with powdered sugar, or do some with glaze and some with powdered sugar.
      powdered sugar and chocolate glazed donuts

    Video Recipe

    Easy Chocolate glazed Donuts in 30 minutes (no yeast)

    Notes

    Nutritional information is an estimate for 1 chocolate glazed donut out of 12.
    TIPS
    1. We use a manual whisk. You can also use a hand mixer or stand mixer with whisk attachment to make the batter. If you do so, make sure not to over-mix.
    2. Over-mixing make the donuts less fluffy, more compact, and doughy.
    3. Only fill the moulds up to ¾ or slightly below that. The donuts will rise thanks to the baking powder. If you add too much batter, they'll increase so much that they'll turn out without a hole.
    4. Make sure your baking powder is active. If you are unsure add ½ teaspoon baking powder into a bowl and pour over ¼ cup of boiling water. If it foams, it's still active; if not, it's not good.
     
    STORAGE
    Room temperature: let the doughnuts cool down completely, then store them in a plastic bag at room temperature for 4 - 5 days.
    Refrigerator: if you've glazed them, it's best to keep them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
    Freezer: this recipe freezes well, but without the glaze. Let them cool down completely, transfer them into a freezer-friendly bag, and freeze them for up to 3 months.
    Thaw: thaw in the fridge over several hours, or in the microwave with the thawing function. You can eat the donuts at room temperature, or warm the up slightly in the microwave for 30 seconds to 1 minute.

    Nutritional Values

    Nutrition Facts
    Chocolate Glazed Donuts
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 116 Calories from Fat 27
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 3g5%
    Saturated Fat 1g6%
    Trans Fat 0g
    Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
    Monounsaturated Fat 2g
    Cholesterol 0mg0%
    Potassium 134mg4%
    Carbohydrates 21g7%
    Dietary Fiber 2g8%
    Sugar 9g10%
    Protein 3g6%
    Vitamin A 52IU1%
    Vitamin B6 0.04mg2%
    Vitamin C 1mg1%
    Vitamin E 1mg7%
    Vitamin K 2µg2%
    Calcium 41mg4%
    Folate 29µg7%
    Iron 1mg6%
    Manganese 0.3mg15%
    Magnesium 25mg6%
    Zinc 0.4mg3%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Did you like this recipe?We are not much on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. Leave us a comment below instead, it would mean the world to us 🙂
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Emily

      January 25, 2023 at 9:21 pm

      5 stars
      My daughter and I made these together and they’re delicious! So easy to make with a 4 year old and fun to decorate ☺️

      Reply
      • Louise

        January 26, 2023 at 5:44 am

        Hi Emily,
        Wonderful! I'm so happy you could share the donut-making with your daughter - wish I could see your decorations 🙂
        Thanks for leaving a comment here - and have a fantastic rest of your week.
        Kindest, Louise

        Reply

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    Nico and Louise founders of the Plant-Based School.

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