Cupcakes in disguise… also known as Double Chocolate Baked Doughnuts.
Perfectly cakey and soft with extra drippy chocolate glaze. ย Basically, I’ll never make a cupcake again, especially since this is the very best way to eat chocolate cake for breakfast.
Sprinkles, too! ย This is a total no-brainer.
Other Baked Doughnut experiments include Brown Butter Baked Doughnuts and Apple Cinnamon Baked Doughnuts. ย I’m nowhere near done baking up these little darlings. So much more satisfying than cupcakes… but mostly kinda the exact same thing. Shoulder shrug.
You should get a baked doughnut pan. ย No pressure.
Pulling together the ingredients for baked doughnuts feels like taking it easy.
Just melted butter and buttermilk with a bit of flour and cocoa powder.
We use brown sugar as the sweetener for these doughnuts. ย I like the extra depth that the molasses adds to the chocolate.
Should you be fresh out of brown sugar, I’ve totally got you covered: ย How To Make Brown Sugar.
Melted and browned butter is whisked together with an egg, vanilla extract, and brown sugar. ย Simple!
In with the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. ย No pomp or circumstance…. just in with it!
Buttermilk, too!
Cake batter! ย Just like that!
The doughnut molds are filled two-thirds with batter and baked up until soft and tender. ย While the doughnuts cool, I made the glaze.
Powdered sugar, cocoa powder, milk, and vanilla extract. ย What could go wrong? ย Like… zero things.
The chocolate glaze is glossy and juuuust pourable.
Consider it chocolate glue for the sprinkles. ย That’s about right.
I like to dip the bottom side of the doughnut. ย It makes for a more picture-perfect situation. ย Really though… any which way works.
Double dark chocolate! The cake doughnuts aren’t overly sweet, and the glaze adds that shot of doughnut sweetness. ย As with most things, I really love these doughnuts served with milky coffee. ย Two doughnuts. ย Two cups of coffee. ย Go on with your bad self.
You might consider sharing these doughnuts! ย They’ll make you (even more) popular. ย Chocolate and sprinkles… I promise.
Chocolate Baked Doughnuts with Chocolate Glaze
makes about 10 doughnuts
recipe adapted from Shutterbean
For the Doughnuts:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 large egg
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted until just browned
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
For the Chocolate Glaze:
1 1/4 cup powdered sugar
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
big pinch salt
3 to 4 tablespoons whole milk
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
color jimmies
Place a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat oven to 325 ย degrees F. ย Spray a doughnut baking pan with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, salt, and brown sugar.
In a small bowl, whisk together buttermilk, egg, melted butter, and vanilla extract until thoroughly combined.
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and fold together until all of the ingredients are well combined. ย Scrape the bottom of the bowl to ensure that you’re not leaving any flour behind. ย Use a small spoon to portion batter into the prepared doughnut baking pan. ย Each doughnut mold should be about two-thirds full. ย Bake doughnuts for 11 to 13 minutes or until a skewer inserted into one of the doughnuts comes out clean. ย Remove from the oven. ย Allow to rest for five minutes before inverting doughnuts onto a wire rack to cool completely. ย Allow doughnuts to cool completely before glazing.
Repeat the baking process until all of the batter is turned into doughnuts.
To make the glaze, in a medium bowl whisk together powdered sugar, cocoa powder, and salt. ย Add 2 tablespoons of milk and all of the vanilla extract. ย Whisk to combine. ย Mixture may be thick. ย Add milk, a tablespoon at a time, until the glaze is thick but still pourable.
Dip each doughnut (I dipped the bottom side) into the chocolate glaze. ย Shake off some of the excess glaze. ย Return to the wire rack and sprinkle with color jimmies. ย Allow to rest a few moments for the frosting to harden slightly. ย These doughnuts are best served within two days of baking. ย
106 Responses
A tip for filling the donut pans: I take a large pastry bag and clip the end so the batter won’t drip out, and fill it up with batter. Then when I’m ready to dispense, I remove the clip and fill the trays easily, using my fingertip to stop the batter flow between donuts. So much easier than a spoon!!! So quick too!
I donโt have a doughnut pan but I do have a bundt pan and Iโm going to make a cake instead and use the icing to glaze the top of the cake
They’re a hit! I found it far easier to using a pastry/piping bag to distribute batter into the doughnut mold.
I just made these with two 7 year olds and they are so easy, and what a hit! We made minis, and it yields 18. Brake for 9-10 min. Great recipe! Thank you!!
Making this as a doughnut cake for my daughter’s first birthday. I’ve had to do a few test runs since I’ll need to make a few cakes… such a sacrifice. ;)
Wow!! I would absolutely LOVE to try one of these. That chocolate icing looks SO tempting and the doughnuts look so light. Beautiful pictures too :)
made these today they were perfect! I even added some mini chocolate chips to the batter, and then used a chocolate ganache instead of the glaze (because I didn’t have powdered sugar ) but the cakes themselves so fluffy and perfect :)
Great recipe! Can’t wait to try some of your other ones!
Excellent recipe. Thanks. I’ve tried others which went straight from the oven to the trash. This one’s a keeper.
I just made these with an electric donut maker and they turned out really well. Thanks for sharing a great recipe!
These look scrummy, will definitely be trying these out!
I have just posted a blog on homemade sweets, would love it if you could check it out and comment:
https://www.u10sils.co.uk/blogs/u10sils-blog/17819072-making-sweets-at-home
:-)
I made these with my 10-year old daughter yesterday. They are fantastic!! I thought they were sophisticated, not super sweet. The glaze set up perfectly. Made us both feel like real pastry chefs. Thank you.
Just made these for my daughters birthday. She requested doughnuts instead of a cake. Everyone loved them. Thank you! Very easy to make too!
In the post, you add the brown sugar to the liquids and in the recipe at the bottom, you add the brown sugar to the dry ingredients. We added the brown sugar to the dry ingredients and got a much dryer and stickier batter that was hard to put in the doughnut pan. Can you clarify which method will give a better consistency?
Just made my first ever donuts w/ the kids! AWESOME!! Better than a Donut shop and you know what you ingredients are going in! NO SOY! Thank you! Is there a vanilla donut? I saw you did brown butter ones, is that close enough to a vanilla donut?
They look so perfect !
I love them :)
I have everything but the donut baking pan …will make them this weekend
I love chocolate cake donuts, but never made them myself! I’ll definitely try these, they are beautiful! I love the eye catching sprinkles! Pinned!
What took me so long?! Delish!!!
I’ve made these twice, and they are great! The second time I heated the glaze, and dipped them twice to get more on and it worked perfectly! :)
These were so easy to whip together and the kids LOVED them. Thanks for making me look like the cool mama during our playdate.
I have been trying quite a few donut recipes lately and have to say this one was delicious. All my kids give it a thumbs up! Love the photos and great recipes you post!
thank you very much for this recipe, i have been looking for this kind for a very long time now, i like baked donuts, i would surely try this one time…:)
These are delicious!!!
Do you have a recipe for regular chocolate covered doughnuts?
Oh wow!! I’ve never baked doughnuts and I think I will start with these delicious chocolate-heaven goods! For sure! :)
Holy guacamole!! Darling and delicious!!
I had left over icing and stirred it into warm milk for my boys,
it made for a sweet hot chocolate treat :)
Thanks for the double dessert!
Double chocolate breakfast. Yes, please!!
Haha, people generally only like me because I can cook/bake. Thanks for giving me another way to make pretend friends. These look awesome!
Oh man my weakness is donuts. I was drooling with this post.
This sounds heavenly!!!! Definitely will try. I have a blog as well, and I like to post fun pictures and recipes, please check it out sometime!!
WHERE ARE THOSE PLACEMATS FROM?!?! I just really, really love them and want to pick them up for me asap!!
Hi Joy the Baker!
I was hoping for a clarification on this recipe. In the narrative above, it states to whisk the brown sugar in with the wet ingredients, and in the recipe it says to whisk it with the dry ingredients. Which way is better? Does it make a big difference in the end product?
Thanks!!
I am a sucker for cake doughnuts. My usual favorite is sour cream with a glaze but these might take the top spot. Thanks so much! I am definitely buying a pan this week! My kids can’t wait to make homemade doughnuts.
Dang those look good! And who knew you could make your own brown sugar! Well lots of you probably did, but for this newbie baker – my brain just exploded!
I’ve made your brown butter doughnouts and they were delicious! But my family’s weakness is chocolate so I will definitely be trying these!!
Who could say no to double chocolate when doughnuts are involved?! Love!
Oh my, these look absolutely delicious! Now to get a doughnut pan and bake a batch!
oh my goodness, these are mouthwateringโฆ
Oh I haven’t made donuts in forever! These chocolate ones look to die for :)
Made a gluten-free batch for a charity sale (with white & pink heart shaped sprinkles!). They turned out wonderful!
Awsome idea!! specially for those not really into doughnuts!
guiltyflavours.com
I don’t know why I even check your website anymore. I always end up making whatever you post….you are one of the only blogs I trust (and I am an avid baker) but you are KILLING my diet. My husband tells people he is in remarkably great shape considering how much I bake. Darn, now I HAVE to make these today. I love you Joy!
That first picture just sucked me in – they look soooooo yummy. May need to put a doughnut pan on my shopping list….
I just made this, and the smell is taunting me! I only wish it made more… :)
Well, that settles it. I’m asking for a donut pan for my birthday.
Looks so good. I’m convinced I’m getting a baked doughnut pan maybe two.
Cupcakes for breakfast? Donuts for dessert? Where do you come up with this? Brilliant!
oh my, they look amazing!
these look amazing!
GORGEOUS photos. And I may be making these for supper.
omg please send one over! These look UHmazing!! *Squeal*
Quick typo alert – the glaze should say to add 2 tablespoons of *milk* plus the vanilla! I’m making them now and they smell amazing :)
Joy these look amazing! I’m wondering – could I use a mini-bundt pan here instead of a doughnut pan? I don’t have one of those yet and I’m looking to bake these STAT!
Hi Joy, do u have any problems with the doughnuts sticking in the pan? I bought a bundt tin a while back and no matter how well i grease it my cake always sticks.
Looks delicious. You’ve inspired me.. donuts are definitely on the menu tonight!
Nice! Last Valentine’s I bought a doughnut pan and boy was I glad I did! Looks like it’s time for some more doughnut love!
Just ordered a doughnut pan! No idea why I waited so long.
Hey Joy, I couldn’t see a bunch of the photos in this post. It was a white box and said this image is currently unavailable. Just FYI.
And now I say hello to my Valentine’s Day surprise doughnut breakfast! I am pretty sure I’m going to be winning Best Girlfriend Ever awards.
that award has your name all over it!
I still dream about your browned butter doughnuts, and now you’ve made a double chocolate one?! Oh my – I must make these ASAP!!! Every time I make doughnuts, I also think that they are just cupcakes in disguise!
Amazing! These look soooo delicious!
The Macadame. xx
http://www.creamstop.com
Joy, hi! This podcast episode made me think of you and your recent experience (when I listened to it again tonite). I think you’ll like it. Here’s the link: (p.s. thank you for these donuts, ohmy)
https://www.onbeing.org/program/compassions-edge-states/4980
i listened to this just this morning! so great! thank you for sharing!
Yes! A thousand times yes! This is better than any love potion for Valentine’s Day!
Double chocolate for breakfast.. I’m in!
I want to live with you… and with my family… so we can all go live with you and you can cook all this deliciousness for us so you don’t have to eat it all by yourself. Deal?
absolutely.
Chocolate doughnuts are real life too!
Joy, can I please come live with you?
Joy your donuts are gorgeous!! Last weekend I made chocolate donuts with chocolate frosting and sprinkles and haven’t posted them yet. Of course!
I love the sprinkles and they just pop against those chocolate donuts! Pinned!
These doughnuts look delicious! Lucky I already have doughnut pan, can’t wait to make them.
nonomnomnom thank you for this. This will be my weekend project!
https://nikitaandvesper.com/
Sometimes I bake your simple vegan chocolate cake in a donut pan. And then I glaze it with espresso glaze. Because of course.
because you’re the best. that’s all.
I’m on board, baked donut pan here i come!
Where did you get your donut molds from? I’m interest in buying a set!
there is a link for the doughnut pan right after the second picture in this post.
Welcome home sweetie.
thank you!
Yum! You inspired me to buy donut pans a couple of weeks ago–and I made these exact same donuts with my nephews yesterday! Needless to say, they are not going to last long.
I have a donut pan that doesn’t get nearly enough use! You’ve inspired me to be fabulously healthy and make breakfast cupcakes :)
yum, yum, yum. that is all. :)
Any temperature and time changes for a mini donut pan?
the temperature would be the same, but the baking time would be shortened. i don’t have a mini doughnut pan so i’m not entirely sure how much the time would be shortened.
You had me at “cupcakes in disguise.” These sound delicious!
I have one of those pans…I may have to give these a go.
Hi Joy, your original donut post inspired me to get a donut pan and my son & I have been having a lot of fun with it! It’s become something of a snow day project (so there have been plenty of opportunities)! We made the first brown butter one then we recently made chocolate chip ones. We were planning to make a pure chocolate one, just like this, next! We now have the perfect recipe. Thank you!
Chocolate doughnuts are my favorite thing to make in my doughnut pan. They always taste delicious and are pretty impressive-looking!
Talk about one BRILLIANT post. I’ll take the entire tray, please. Happy Valentine’s Day to me. ;)
https://sometimesgracefully.com
Desert for breakfast! Yeah!.
I hope this doesn’t seem like a silly question but I just bought a mini doughnut pan – is that what you used here?
i used a regular baked doughnut pan. you could absolutely use a mini doughnut pan, but the baking time would be shortened.
I finally tried them this morning with my mini doughnut pan & they turned out amazing!! It’s not very fun to fill a mini pan, though, so time to buy a regular sized doughnut pan! :)
These look amazing!!!! My friends and I are pretty much drooling over them!
Dang. I will be mom of the year with these bad boys.
I seriously need to invest in a doughnut pan, because I need homemade doughnuts in my life. Desperately. Specifically these doughnuts. Just saying.
Thank you for sharing Joy! I love the fact that I have all these ingredients in my pantry all the time. Even the sprinkles. Looking forward to making these soon.
I got a doughnut pan for christmas, so i’ll definitely be trying these. Thanks for sharing!
I’ll be honest here: I’ve own a cake doughnut pan for about 2 years…in other words, far too long to have any excuse as to not make up a batch of baked doughnuts. Needless to say, I’m definitely making these soon. No more excuses!
xoxo
Taylor
http://www.welcomehometaylor.com
I absolutely love cake donuts! The glaze on these sounds fabulous!
Anything for easy classed up cupcakes. Donut pan,sprinkles and glaze? This sounds like a good night in for me!
Ohm…I neeeeed a baking donut pan NOW!! These look amazing! Do you think I could use a flax egg in place of the regular egg?
I LOVE that these go back to basics, chocolate on chocolate, yeah girl!
Your previous baked doughnut recipes inspired (forced!) me to order my own pan which just arrived last week! Would you recommend any real changes when adapting a cake/cupcake recipe to a cake doughnut recipe or are they pretty interchangeable?
I am wondering this as well… I love cake doughnuts, but until I talk myself into buying a donut pan, I will resort to making cupcakes with glaze instead of frosting!
I need these to be in my life.