This scrumptious baked chocolate donuts recipe is so incredibly easy that you’ll think twice about having fried donuts again. Each one a rich chocolate yumminess that you’ll feel good about eating.
I don’t know about you but I do like a good fried chocolate donut every once in a while. But I don’t like the calories or the way I feel after I eat one. In fact, they repeat on me and that is not fun.
So, once I started making my own baked donuts, I’ve never looked back and these chocolate donuts satisfy my chocolate loving need and cravings for its fried cousins.
With these donuts, you don’t sacrifice flavor and you’ll find them both satisfying and comforting.
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Helpful tips
- I use sprouted spelt flour but if you don’t have it, you can substitute it with either whole wheat or all purpose white flour.
- Ditch your popular brand of cooking spray and use the healthier version – olive oil cooking spray.
- Here is the donut pan I use.
- I’ve made these donuts many times and sometimes the batter is dryer than other times. That’s normal, it tastes the same.
- Ideas on toppings to dip the donuts: shredded coconut, small chocolate chips, small M & M’s, powdered sugar, cinnamon/sugar and chopped nuts.
How to make baked chocolate donuts
Pre-step
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and spray the donut pan with olive oil cooking spray.
Step one
Gather flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt. (A)
Step two
Add the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl and mix them together until the are combined. I use a pastry blender.
Step three
Gather the other ingredients – chocolate chips, butter, brown sugar and buttermilk. (B)
Step four
Add butter and chocolate in a sauce pan and turn the heat on medium/low to melt them. Add sugar and stir.
Step five
In a small mixing bowl, add an egg, buttermilk and vanilla and whisk until combined. (C)
Step six
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients (D) and use a spatula to mix the ingredients together.
Step seven
Spoon batter into the donut pan (E) and bake for 11 – 13 minutes. (F)
This recipe makes 8 donuts, and since I don’t need to own two donut pans, I bake the last two donuts in a separate batch.
Step eight
Let them cool in the pan for 5 minutes before removing them to a wire rack.
Step nine
I choose to make a simple glaze. Add 1 cup of confectioner’s sugar, 3 tablespoons of milk and 1 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla. Whisk together until combined.
Step ten
Dip one side of a cooling donut into the glaze. I do this with only half the donuts because we also like them plain.
I sprinkle chopped walnuts on a few and mini M & M’s on one. Guess who that one is for?
🙂
YUM!
Let’s get serious and plate a few.
And take a bite.
Perfect.
I hope you enjoyed this baked chocolate donut recipe!
Other breakfast ideas
And as always, may all your dishes be delish.
If you’ve tried this recipe, I’d love the know what you thought about it in the comments below. I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST to see more of my delicious food and delightful cocktails!
Baked Chocolate Donuts
Ingredients
Donuts
- 1 cup spelt flour
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup chocolate chips (heaping)
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Glaze
- 1 cup confectioner’s sugar
- 3 tablespoons milk
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
- 1/8 cup walnuts (for topping – or what you like)
Instructions
Making the Donuts
- Preheat oven to 350 F
- Spray donut pan with olive oil spray or other non stick spray
- In a large mixing bowl, add flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Mix until combined
- In a small sauce pan, melt butter and chocolate bits on medium/low heat
- Add sugar to chocolate/butter mix and stir
- In a small mixing bowl add egg, buttermilk and vanilla and whisk together
- Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients, mix with a spatula until just combined
- Scoop some batter into the donut pan, filling each mold 3/4 full
- Place in oven and bake for 11 – 13 minutes. Test with a cake tester.
- Let cool in pan for 5 minutes before removing and placing donuts on wire rack
Make glaze
- In a small mixing bowl, add confectioner’s sugar, milk and vanilla and whisk until combined
Dip the Donuts
- Dip some cooling donuts into the glaze and sprinkle nuts or other toppings on top
- Leave a few plain, just because
- Eat
- Smile
- Enjoy
Notes
- I use sprouted spelt flour but if you don’t have it, you can substitute it with either whole wheat or all purpose white flour.
- Ditch your popular brand of cooking spray and use the healthier version – olive oil cooking spray.
- Here is the donut pan I use.
- I’ve made these donuts many times and sometimes the batter is dryer than other times. That’s normal, it tastes the same.
- Ideas on toppings to dip the donuts: shredded coconut, small chocolate chips, small M & M’s, powdered sugar, cinnamon/sugar and chopped nuts.
Nutrition
Originally published June of 2016.
Joyce
Mmmm. Chocolate donuts! Looks delicious!
Elaine
Thanks so much Joyce!
Gloria
Baked donuts are the best. So much better than fried. Love all the chocolate….I know a few people that will devour these (for breakfast) LOL!!
Elaine
Hehe. Thanks Gloria! I’m all about the chocolate.
Heidy
This baked chocolate donuts recipe is a keeper. Those were some of the best doughnuts I have had in ages. I will be sharing this recipe link with my friends!
Elaine
Yay! That’s so nice of you Heidy! I’m glad you enjoyed them.
Marisa F. Stewart
I bought spelt flour some time ago thinking I’d make some bread or do something with it. Your recipe inspired me to try it with these chocolate donuts. WOW! Were they ever delish. So satisfying, sweet, and the best part they weren’t fried. I’m making some more tomorrow and taking them over to my daughter’s house for her and her family.
Elaine
I’m so happy to hear that Marisa! I’m glad you tried this recipe and enjoyed it. It’s one of my favs!
Erin
I’m with you! Fried are okay every now and then but I feel so blah afterwards. These look much better! And hey… spelt! I thought I was the only one posting recipes with spelt. 😉
Elaine
Don’t you just love spelt flour! It’s our favorite! Thanks for your comment Erin, I appreciate it.
Marwin Brown
These are so easy to make and look incredibly tasty as well! Can’t wait to try
Elaine
Thanks so much Marwin!
Paige
I love a good donut, and these look easy to make! Pretty!
Elaine
Thank you Paige. I appreciate it.
LaKita
Love a good donut, especially when it is chocolate. I have never worked with spelt flour before but I definitely prefer baked donuts over fried.
Elaine
Working with spelt flour is like a cross between all purpose and whole wheat. I love it and use it in a lot of my baked goods. Thank you LaKita.
Tatiana
A keeper donut recipe! I was searching for a good donut recipe that I could bake instead of fry – just found it! I hope mine turns out as good and pretty as yours!
Elaine
Thank you Tatiana! I appreciate it. I love how easy these donuts are.
Sam
Omg these donuts look amazing! Chocolate is my favourite flavour so I am pretty excited to try this! Also love how that can bake them. So much healthier than deep frying.
Elaine
Definitely. Thank you Sam! I hope you get to try them!
Jagruti's Cooking Odyssey
Your baked doughnuts look perfect! I love that you have used spelt flour. And I couldn’t agree more, doughnuts are so delicious – wish that I too could get away with eating them everyday!!
Elaine
Me too Jagruti, but my thighs would not thank me. 😉 Thank you for your comment.
Jo
You had me at baked. Looks perfect. Healthy way to indulge for my sweet tooth cravings.
Elaine
Hehe. Indeed. Thank you Jo!