This chocolate cake donut recipe gives you a soft and moist treat! Dipped in a chocolate ganache and topped with chocolate sprinkles – this is the perfect baked chocolate donut.
Recipe Features:
- Double Chocolate Donut: With a chocolate cake base AND chocolate ganache, this donut is approved by all chocolate lovers.
- Fun for Dessert OR Breakfast: I mean, we eat it for both.
- Baked Not Fried: Which means you have less mess and easier cleanup!
It is well known around my family that I am not much of a chocolate fan. I would much rather reach for something packed with citrus or maybe even a slice of cheesecake. There are, however, two exceptions to this no-chocolate rule:
1. Brownies
2. Chocolate Dunford Donuts
Since I already have several versions of brownies that I am in love with, I figured it was time I tried my hand at a copycat donut. This recipe produces a rich chocolate cake donut that is light and unbelievably delicious. When dipped in a homemade chocolate ganache they are irresistible.
What You’ll Need:
My seven year old declared these the greatest donuts in all of the land! Disclaimer? He loves anything chocolate and has a hard time staying objective, but I have to agree. This is the perfect baked donut recipe.
For a full list of ingredients and measurements see the recipe card below.
- All-purpose flour
- Dark cocoa powder- Also known as Dutch cocoa.
- Brown sugar
- Baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Be sure to use fresh leavening agents to ensure a light and fluffy donut.
- Eggs
- Buttermilk
- Vanilla
- Butter
- Chocolate Chips- Semi sweet!
Chocolate Cake Donuts Step by Step Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly mist two donut pans (affiliate) with cooking spray and set aside for later use.
- Stir together the flour. cocoa, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Whisk (affiliate) the eggs, buttermilk, vanilla, and melted butter in a large measuring cup. Pour into your dry ingredients and mix until combined. Fold in the chocolate chips.
- Spoon your batter into a large Ziploc or reusable piping bag (affiliate). Cut the corner with scissors and pipe into your prepared pans until 1/2 full. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- For the glaze: combine the chocolate chips, butter, corn syrup, and water in a microwave safe bowl. Heat for 20 seconds at a time, stirring in between sessions, until melted. Dip your donuts and sprinkle with chocolate jimmies.
I decided to go with the baked chocolate donut vs fried. This variety is more cake like and perfect for our morning treat. We dipped them in a sweet chocolate ganache that was the absolute perfect finishing touch.
How to make chocolate donut glaze:
- Add chocolate chips, butter, corn syrup, and water in a microwave safe bowl.
- Heat until the chips are melted and the glaze is smooth.
- Dip your donuts and let them set until firm.
Helpful tools for this Chocolate Cake Donuts recipe:
Baking donuts is a quick and easy if you have the right tools. Here are a few items we suggest using while making this recipe:
- Donut pan (affiliate)- If you want that classic donut shape you will want to use a donut pan (affiliate). We like this one (affiliate). It is non stick and comes in a set of two which is ideal for this recipe that makes half a dozen donuts!
- Zip top bags- You can always spoon the batter into the prepared pans, but a zip top bag makes it much easier. We use a gallon size, fill with batter, and snip the corner. From there you can easily pipe the batter into the round circles of the donut pan.
More Donut Recipes
Like this recipe? You will love my:
- Copycat Krispy Kreme Donuts
- Apple Cider Donuts
- Baked Pumpkin Donuts
- Cookie Butter Donut Bites
- Maple Bacon Donuts
- Grilled Cheese Donut Sandwich
Chocolate Cake Donuts
Ingredients
For the Donut:
- 1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2/3 cup dark cocoa powder
- 1-1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs
- 3/4 cup buttermilk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup melted butter
- 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
For the Glaze:
- 1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 teaspoons corn syrup
- 2 teaspoons water
Instructions
- 1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Lightly mist two donut pans with cooking spray and set aside for later use.
- 2. Stir together the flour. cocoa, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- 3. Whisk the eggs, buttermilk, vanilla, and melted butter in a large measuring cup. Pour into your dry ingredients and mix until combined. Fold in the chocolate chips.
- 4. Spoon your batter into a large Ziploc. Cut the corner with scissors and pipe into your prepared pans until 1/2 full. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- 5. For the glaze combine the chocolate chips, butter, corn syrup, and water in a microwave safe bowl. Heat for 20 seconds at a time, stirring in between sessions, until melted. Dip your donuts and sprinkle with chocolate jimmies.
Nutrition
Equipment
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Comments & Reviews
Lucia says
Can these be made ahead?
Jesseca says
Yes. These will last up to five days, if stored in an airtight container. We find them best eaten within 3 days. After that they will start to dry slightly, but still taste delicious.
Chip w. says
turned out consistent and not dry but the unglazed ones taste very plain, any way to add more sweet/zest/kick?
Jesseca says
Hi Chip, you can add a tablespoon of espresso powder to the dry ingredients to help boost the chocolate flavor. Or mix in some mini chocolate chips.
Anna says
Can this recipe be used for chocolate muffins
Jesseca says
I’ve never tried it for muffins, so I couldn’t answer for sure. I’d assume so.
Kara says
I’d love to have the reeces donut reciepe
Erin says
Hi! How many does this recipe yield?
Jesseca says
12 donuts
Lauren says
Can i make these without a donut pan?
Jesseca says
Since this is a baked donut I would not recommend making them without a pan. However, you could attempt to fill a large zip top bag with the batter, snip the corner, and pipe out your donuts onto a parchment lined baking tray.
I do not guarantee that this method will work since I have not tried it myself.
Thomas Coleman says
Ohm…I neeeeed a baking donut pan NOW!! These look amazing!
Sandra says
Hi- these look delicious! One question – by dark cocoa,do you mean Dutch cocoa? Thanks!
Victoria says
look so good, like this taste
Kelly says
These look absolutely perfect! I’m with you, citrus desserts are my favorite but these gorgeous donuts would totally be right there at the top! Love the sprinkles!