This recipe for Easy Baked Glazed Chocolate Donuts makes a healthier treat. Baked not fried, these cake doughnuts are generously glazed.
A Chocolate Glazed Donuts Recipe Baked at Home
These Easy Baked Glazed Chocolate Doughnuts are a sweet, family-friendly homemade treat that will be gobbled up in seconds by children and adults alike.
They are soft, flavorful and so much better than other baked doughnuts I’ve tried. Most have been doughnut-shaped cakes, but these really do taste like doughnuts – delicious, you can’t eat just one doughnut!
Why This Recipe Works
- Using good quality cocoa powder gives a deeper chocolate richness.
- Replacing the oil you find in most donut recipes with melted butter gives a much more flavorful result.
- Double Glazing gives an extra thick coating of glaze.
Baked Donuts Anyone Can Make
Making baked doughnuts is so simple! All you need is one bowl, one wooden spoon, and a donut pan! The hardest part is melting the butter that I used instead of all oil, but it’s well worth it because it adds a lot of flavors.
How to Make Easy Baked Glazed Chocolate Donuts
To make these Baked Glazed Chocolate Doughnuts, generously grease the pan and fill the doughnut sections 3/4 of the way to allow them to rise, but not so much they are difficult to get out of the pan.
Once baked, they should be dipped in the glaze while still warm. I did mine one at a time and then went back to the first and did a second coat.
Cool completely on a wire rack to allow the glaze to set.
once the glaze is set, serve and enjoy!
This the pan I have. You can get a pan like mine, here on Amazon . (#paidlink). I highly recommend the two-pack.
This recipe makes 18 doughnuts so if you don’t have two, it will take quite a while to get through the batter.
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Let’s Make Easy Baked Glazed Chocolate Donuts
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup cocoa powder
- ¾ cups granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 large egg lightly beaten
- 1 cup whole milk
- 2 tablespoons butter melted
- 2 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
For the double glaze: (Note: if you plan to do just one layer, half the recipe)
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 10 to 12 tablespoons milk
- ¼ teaspoon salt optional
Instructions
For the Donuts
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease 3 (6 section) doughnut pans well.
- Into a large bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the egg, milk, melted butter, vegetable oil, and vanilla.
- Stir the wet mixture into the dry ingredients until just combined. If the mixture looks dry or gummy, add more milk until it loosens into a batter.
- Spoon the batter into the baking pans, filling each one a little more than three-quarters full.
- Bake for 17 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool for 5 minutes, then tap the doughnuts out onto a sheet pan.
For the Glaze
- Combine all the ingredients in a medium bowl and mix until smooth.
- Place baking paper under wire racks to catch the excess glaze.
- As each batch is finished baking, coat the hot donuts in glaze on both sides by dunking each side quickly. Set them on a wire rack to let the excess drip off onto the baking paper underneath.
- Once you reach the end, re-dip for a second time.
Nutrition Information:
This recipe was updated on Jan 2, 2021 with an improved glaze recipe.
Lil says
These were amazing! moist and light and they baked perfectly! would 100% recommend and will absolutely make again! thanks so much
Erren's Kitchen says
Wow, thank you so much for such wonderful feedback!! We are so glad you enjoyed them enough to make again! 🥰
Bet crick says
trash, absolutely trash.
Erren's Kitchen says
We are sorry you think the recipe is trash. There are 100+ positive experiences using this recipes. We would love to help troubleshoot what may have went wrong. Can you please provide feedback as to why you didn’t like it?
Batman says
Followed this recipe exactly as written , way too much cocoa powder , would not make again.
Erren's Kitchen says
We appreciate your feedback and are sorry to hear that the amount of cocoa powder didn’t work well for you. Taste preferences can vary, and we understand how crucial it is to get the balance just right. If you decide to give it another try, you might consider reducing the cocoa powder to better suit your taste. Thank you for trying the recipe!
Terry Felder says
Hello. I am going to make these this weekend. Can you please tell me what brand of cocoa powder you like to use for these donuts? Thank you!
Erren Hart says
Hi Terry,
I’m sorry for the late reply. I have been away this week. Of course! While I don’t have personal preferences, I can suggest some popular and commonly used brands of cocoa powder that you might consider using for your donut recipe. Keep in mind that different brands might have slightly different flavors and intensities of cocoa. Here are a few reputable options:
Hershey’s: Hershey’s cocoa powder is a well-known choice and is readily available in many grocery stores. It’s known for its rich chocolate flavor and versatility in baking.
Ghirardelli: Ghirardelli is known for its high-quality chocolate products. Their cocoa powder is often praised for its intense chocolate flavor and smooth texture.
Valrhona: Valrhona is a premium chocolate brand favored by many professional bakers. Their cocoa powder offers a deep and complex chocolate taste.
Cacao Barry: Another brand favored by professionals, Cacao Barry offers a range of cocoa powders with varying intensities. Their products are known for their consistent quality.
Dutch-Processed Cocoa: Dutch-processed cocoa has been treated to reduce acidity, resulting in a milder flavor. Brands like Droste and Rodelle offer Dutch-processed cocoa options.
When choosing a brand of cocoa powder for your donut recipe, consider the type of cocoa powder (natural or Dutch-processed) and the flavor intensity you’re looking for. Additionally, check the ingredient list to ensure it’s pure cocoa powder without added sugars or artificial flavors.
Kelly Harting says
I have a question, the cake recipe calls for vanilla but the glaze calls for vanilla extract- I’ve never used anything but vanilla extract so what type of vanilla are you calling for in the cake recipe? I need to know what to ask for at the grocery store – I’m a bit of a novice but have started to try things like this to build interest with my kids
Erren Hart says
Hi Kelly, Vanilla extract is fine although you can use vanilla bean paste or vanilla flavoring too. I’ve updated the recipe for clarity. Thanks for pointing it out. I hope you and the kids enjoy the recipe! Let me know how it goes!
Jenny Leigh says
So easy and delicious! I made these gluten free. Perfect!
Erren Hart says
We’re pleased to know our recipe was a success! Thank you for your delightful feedback.
Kristin Norman says
Family of 6 here! My 7yo made these with myself overseeing and we all loved them. Moist donut and easy recipe to follow. Thanks!
Erren Hart says
That’s fantastic to hear! I’m so happy that your 7-year-old had a great time making them! It’s always wonderful when the whole family can come together and enjoy a delicious homemade treat. I’m glad the donuts turned out moist and that the recipe was easy to follow. Keep up the great work, and happy baking to you and your family!
Lindsay Paul says
This is a really good base recipe. Everyone likes them except my autistic son. He would have preferred a sweeter dough. Any recommendations are appreciated!
Erren Hart says
Hi Lindsay, I appreciate your feedback! Having a son with high functioning autism myself, I understand that taste preferences can vary, especially for individuals with different sensory sensitivities. If your son prefers a sweeter dough, you could try adding a bit more sugar to the recipe or even experimenting with different types of sweeteners to achieve the desired level of sweetness. Feel free to adjust the recipe to suit your son’s preferences and let me know if you have any further questions or need more recommendations. Happy baking!
Noelle Brinkman says
I’ve made these twice and they’re delicious! How would you chance to plain or vanilla—not cocoa powder?
Erren Hart says
Hi Noelle. I have a vanilla version. You can view it here: https://www.errenskitchen.com/old-fashioned-glazed-cake-donuts/
Margaret Weber says
I made these but they really didn’t have any flavor. they were slightly sweet but my grandkids didn’t even finish one.
Erren Hart says
Hi Margaret, I’m sorry to hear that you and your grandkids didn’t enjoy the donuts as much as you had hoped. However, I’m surprised to hear this feedback as this recipe has received over 100 reviews with a 5-star rating. One suggestion I have is to try using a different brand or type of cocoa powder to give the donuts a richer and more pronounced chocolate flavor. Different brands and types of cocoa powder can vary in flavor and intensity, so it’s worth experimenting with. Again, I’m sorry to hear you weren’t happy with your experience.