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Baked Chocolate Doughnuts – rich and luscious and completely delicious!
We adore these soft little, tender cakey doughnuts with the velvety chocolate icing or simple sweet buttermilk glaze. If by chance you really need a chocolate doughnut, these will absolutely, without a doubt, completely and totally satisfy your craving! Â They’re like mini-cakes with all the trimmings. Â A little sweet for breakfast, I’ll stick with oatmeal or a protein packed smoothie and save these for dessert!

I’ve had doughnuts on my bucket list for a long, long time and finally broke down and bought a pan.

These remind me of the chocolate cake donuts from Dunkin Donuts.

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Here’s another doughnut recipe you might enjoy:

Baked Chocolate Doughnuts
Ingredients
For the doughnuts:
- Nonstick cooking spray
- 1 ¼ cup unbleached all-purpose flour
- ½ cup light brown sugar packed
- â…“ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon instant espresso coffee granules
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 egg lightly beaten
- ½ cup milk
- ½ cup butter melted and slightly cooled
- 1 cup semi-sweet mini-chocolate chips
For the buttermilk glaze (OPTIONAL):
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 ½ tablespoons buttermilk milk or cream will work fine too
- drop of vanilla extract
For the chocolate icing (OPTIONAL):
- 2 ounces unsweetened chocolate chopped
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 cups confectioners’ sugar
- 2 teaspoons light-colored syrup like Karo
- ¾ teaspoon vanilla
- 3-4 tablespoons hot water
Instructions
To make the doughnuts:
- Preheat oven to 350°F.  Coat the doughnut pan with nonstick cooking spray.  Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl combine the flour, brown sugar, cocoa powder, granulated sugar, espresso granules, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Â Whisk the dry ingredients until blended and make a well in the middle. Â Set aside.
- In a small mixing bowl lightly beat the egg. Â Whisk in the milk and then add the melted butter. Â Quickly add the egg mixture to the flour and cocoa mixture all at once. Â Stir just until the batter is smooth. Â Do not over beat. Â Stir in the mini-chocolate chips. Â Spoon the batter into the doughnut pan filling about two-thirds full. Â Bake for 12 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Allow the doughnuts to cool in the pan for 2-4 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and cool completely before icing. To make powdered sugar donuts, roll the warm donuts in a bowl of powdered sugar until coated. Â Cool on a wire rack.
- This recipes made about 16 full size doughnuts depending on how you fill the pan.
To make the buttermilk glaze:
- Whisk all ingredients together until smooth. Â Dip a cooled doughnut into the glaze and turn it over to coat the other side. Â Allow the excess glaze to drop back into the bowl. Place the glazed doughnut on a wire rack to dry.
To make the chocolate icing:
- Combine the chopped chocolate and butter in a small saucepan.  Cook over medium-low heat until melted, stirring frequently.  Stir in the syrup, confectioners’ sugar, vanilla and hot water.  Blend until smooth.  Iced cooled doughnuts as desired.  Additional water can be added to thin the icing if needed.
Recipe Notes
- Adapted from a recipe published in the January 2012 Better Homes and Gardens – Chocolate Special Interest Publication
Nutrition
sue
perhaps the 2 cups of confectioner’s sugar is what put the chocolate glaze over the top. Maybe just a simple ganache dip would feature the chocolate without it being overbearing. Also, the mind boggles at the customizable range you could experiment with using spices like caradmon, nutmeg, deep smokey chile powder, lavender, mint, etc etc. I need a donut pan as well!
Tricia Buice
Thanks for the suggestions Sue. Sounds great to me!
Shaherose Lalji
Hi Tricia: I love the recipes you share with us. While I know that donuts should be baked in a donut pan, would it be ok if I made these in a muffin pan instead as I do not have a donut pan at this time and would really like to make the donuts?
Daniela Grimburg
OMG, this is pure temptation.<br />The donuts look superb, such a dark and rich color.
Tanna at The Brick Street Bungalow
Oh. My. Goodness!! The Little Men would be beside themselves with these!! I think their Noni needs to be on the hunt for a donut pan! =D<br /><br />Tricia, the clematis in your last post is just amazing! Wow! Such a beautiful color. <br /><br />Hope you'll share photos of your dress. =) And, I wish I knew something really wonderful to share… but, I steal all my recipes from you and
Juliana
Wow, these donuts look great…I love the intense color.<br />Have a wonderful weekend Tricia 🙂
Fran@ G'day Souffle'
Tricia, this is nice "right in your face" photography with a macro lens- makes me want to dive right in!
Blond Duck
I don't know if I could wait until dessert!
Anna and Liz Recipes
Tricia you are killing me with these! I love donuts but this is the season to watch my waist line… Lol…. Love the recipe!!
scrambledhenfruit
My doughnut pan is sorely neglected. These look like just the thing to make it and everyone else happy. 🙂
Cathy Beaman
My husband bought me a donut pan at BB&B for Christmas last year so now I have the perfect use for it. Thank you so much for the donut recipe! ♥
Tricia Buice
No thank you for stopping by! I hope they turn out great for you too.
Kari Lindsay
I'll take about 3 dozen with chocolate glaze please!!!
Tricia Buice
I'll get your order ready Kari!
N Ferneau
Yum! Perfect comfort food!
Tricia Buice
Except that it makes my pants uncomfortable – glad my son whisked them away!
Sue/the view from great island
I see a new doughnut session in the near future for me…that glaze looks unbelievable!
Tricia Buice
Gotta love chocolate glaze yum!
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef
I don't have a donut pan so I always fry my donuts. I'm dying for those chocolate donuts now!
Tricia Buice
They are so cheap and easy to find now and so much easier than frying – you'll love them!
Melissa Bo
I love Chocolate donuts! These look delicious!! =)
OneCraftyFox
Heaven. lol.
Shiloh Barkley
They look really pretty. I tried making donuts a few weeks ago and it didn't work for me–not a good recipe I was using because I wanted to fry them. Anyways…the failures are on my instagram if you wanna have a laugh!
TLady
OH MY!!!!!!!!! My son is sitting here & I had him look at your pictures…He's a donut kind of kid! AND chocolate donut kid to boot! Then he said, "Daddy can you get me some donuts???" LOL TOO FUNNY!!!!!!!! (They DO LOOK GOOD!) 🙂
Abbe@This is How I Cook
I need to break down and buy the donut pan. On secend thought, I better not. These look too good!
Monica
oh my goodness, this is a great way to wake up to a Monday morning! That chocolate glaze looks amazing. I would be willing to taste test and see if it is too much chocolate for me (I doubt it… : )! Great pictures – I feel I can stick my hand in and grab one in the last shot.
Chatty Crone
Those look sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo good! sandie
Tricia Buice
You need to make these Sandie – so good!
Viviane
Miam…..those look amazing. bravo
Angie Schneider
These are so chocolatey and GOOD!
Tricia Buice
Thanks so much Angie!
Mary Younkin
oh my GOSH! Those look amazing, Tricia. I am going to have to cave to the doughnut pan purchase eventually too!<br /><br />P.S. Send me a pic or link to the dress. I betcha I could find you some awesome shoes. My best friend and I do that all the time. It's fun to shop together from a distance. 😉
Tricia Buice
Oh cool Mary – you want to pick out my shoes! Awesome shoes for me if you please!
Chris Scheuer
Oh Tricia, I am drinking a smoothie for breakfast but I think I'll trade it in for one of your doughnuts. Would they be legal for breakfast if I've already had half of the protein shake? Maybe you could check with your police officer friend. 🙂
Tricia Buice
Michael would say no – way -I can't have them back! Stick with your smoothie like I should – enjoy your day Chris!