Glazed Chocolate Cake Donuts Recipe
Discover the perfect recipe for homemade Glazed Chocolate Cake Donuts that are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Honestly, is there anything better than freshly made, warm baked cake donuts with chocolate glaze? We think not, especially when you add sprinkles.
Forget the greasy, store-bought kind. These Glazed Chocolate Donuts are baked, not fried, cutting down on both calories and fat and resulting in a light and cakey texture that melts in your mouth.
I, Alex love these best served when slightly warm from the oven, with extra chocolate frosting!
Whether enjoyed as a morning indulgence with a cup of coffee or as an afternoon pick-me-up, these Glazed Chocolate Cake Donuts are sure to satisfy your cravings for something sweet and satisfying.
With this easy-to-follow step by step recipe, you can whip up a batch of these homemade Glazed Chocolate Cake Donuts in no time. So ditch the bakery line and get ready to impress your family and friends with your baking skills. They won’t believe how delicious (and easy!) homemade donuts can be!
Ingredients Needed
For the cake donuts:
- All purpose flour
- Melted unsalted butter
- Plain yogurt
- Milk of choice — Dairy or non-dairy
- Light brown sugar
- Large egg
- Salt
- Baking soda
- Baking powder
- Ground nutmeg
- Ground cinnamon
- Vanilla extract
For the chocolate glaze:
- Semisweet chocolate chips
- Unsalted butter
- Maple syrup or honey
- Water — Amount depending on desired glaze consistency
- Chocolate sprinkles — Optional
Using a Donut Pan for Easy Baked Cake Doughnuts
A donut pan is your secret weapon for making perfect donuts at home, simplifying the entire process.
Resist the urge to overfill your donut pan! Fill each cavity only 2/3 to 3/4 full of batter. This ensures the donuts rise beautifully without overflowing and losing their classic ring shape.
Don’t have a donut pan? No worries! You can still whip up these delicious donuts. Simply freeform a donut ring shape using your batter on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper a silpat. Or a muffin tin lined with parchment paper works just fine. Adjust the baking time slightly, keeping an eye on the donuts for doneness.
How to Make Baked Cake Donuts
1 — Preheat it oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a donut pan, and set aside.
2 — In a large bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients: flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking powder and baking soda. This dry mix will be the base for your delicious donuts.
3 — In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg, brown sugar, milk and yogurt until smooth and sugar is no longer grainy. Stir in the melted butter and vanilla, then whisk until fully combined. This creates the wet mixture that will bring your donuts to life!
4 — Now comes the fun part! Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and gradually add in the wet ingredients. Be gentle. A few lumps are okay, and overmixing can lead to tough donuts.
5 — Using a spoon or piping bag (for a cleaner fill), carefully fill your donut cavities 3/4 full with batter. This ensures even baking and prevents overflowing.
6 — Pop your donut pan or muffin tin into the preheated oven and bake for 9-10 minutes until lightly brown. Keep an eye on them. They’re done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Once baked, transwer to wire rack or cooling rack to completely cool.
How to Make the Chocolate Glazed Frosting
While the donuts cool, whip up the chocolate glaze.
1 — In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the chocolate chips, butter, maple syrup and water. Microwave on high power for 20 seconds. Stir the mixture well.
2 — Repeat this 20 second process until the chocolate is completely melted, about 3 more times, until frosting is creamy and smooth.
Be careful not to overheat, as chocolate can scorch easily. The glaze should be thick enough to coat the donuts but still pourable. If it seems too thick, add water a teaspoon at a time, stirring constantly, until you reach the desired consistency. Aim for a glaze that drips slowly off a spoon.
Glazing the Cake Donuts
1 — Once the donuts are completely cool (avoid glazing warm donuts!), dip each donut halfway into the glaze, letting any excess drip back into the pan. Give the donut a slight twist as you lift it out of the glaze to encourage even distribution
2 — While the glaze is still wet, decorate with chocolate sprinkles, if desired.
3 — Place the glazed donuts back on a wire rack to allow the glaze to set completely. Once set, prepare to be amazed by your homemade masterpieces!
If you have any leftover glaze, you can drizzle extra on the donuts or save to enjoy for later. Vanilla ice cream with this chocolate glaze is amazing! Or if you prefer a white chocolate glazed donuts, check out our white glaze recipe.
Recipe Notes and Tips
- Don’t overmix: As mentioned earlier, resist the urge to overmix the batter. A few lumps are perfectly fine and won’t affect the final product.
- Filling consistency: Use a spoon or piping bag to fill the donut cavities for even distribution and a cleaner look.
- Cooling is crucial: Patience is a virtue! Let the donuts cool completely before glazing to avoid a melty mess.
- Glaze consistency: Aim for a glaze that’s thick enough to coat the donuts but still pourable. Adjust the consistency with water as needed.
- Flavor variations: Feeling adventurous? Substitute the chocolate glaze with a vanilla glaze by omitting the chocolate chips and using milk and vanilla extract instead of maple syrup or honey.
- Don’t over-dip your donuts: A thin layer of glaze is best for both taste and texture.
- If the glaze starts to thicken as you dip the donuts: Simply reheat it gently over low heat until it reaches the desired consistency again
- Storage: Keep leftover chocolate glazed donuts in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. Enjoy them fresh for the best texture and flavor.
- Reheating tip: If you need to reheat leftover donuts, place them on a baking sheet in a preheated oven at 200°F (93°C) for 5-7 minutes, or until slightly warmed through.
More Easy Donut Recipes to Try
- Champagne Donuts & White Chocolate Glaze
- Cinnamon Sugar Donuts
- Pink Lemonade Donuts
- Heart Shaped Donuts Recipe
Baked Cake Donuts with Chocolate Glaze Recipe
Equipment
- Donut pan
- Whisk
- Large mixing bowl
- Mixing bowl
- Pastry bag or Ziploc bag
Ingredients
For the donut:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tbsp melted butter
- 1/4 cup plain yogurt
- 1/4 cup milk of choice
- 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
For the chocolate glaze frosting:
- 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 tsp maple syrup or honey for the shine
- 2 tsp water
- Chocolate sprinkles optional
Nutrition
Instructions
To make the donuts:
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Lightly spray a donut pan with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking powder and baking soda.
- In a separate bowl for the wet ingredients, combine the egg, brown sugar, milk and yogurt. Then, whisk until smooth and sugar is no longer grainy. Stir in the melted butter and vanilla. Then, whisk until fully combined.
- In the large mixing bowl, make a well in the center of the flour mixture and add in the wet ingredients. Mix until just combined, taking care not to overmix.
- Place the batter into the donut pan, either spooning the batter in directly or transferring the batter into a pastry bag or Ziploc bag with the corner sliced off to pipe into the donut cups. Fill the pan 3/4 the way full.
- Bake for 9-10 minutes until lightly browned. Remove from the oven and cool for 5 minutes on a wire rack before gently removing the donuts from each cavity. Bake any remaining donut batter, repeating the same process.
To make the frosting:
- While the donuts are cooling, place the chocolate chips, butter, maple syrup, and water in a medium bowl. Heat in the microwave for 20 seconds. Then, remove and stir.
- Repeat this 20-second process until the chocolate is completely melted, about 3 more times, and the frosting is creamy and smooth.
- Dip the tops of the donuts into the chocolate glaze. Cover with sprinkles.
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