Dark Chocolate Baked Donuts are chocolatey, tender and fluffy. They’re great for breakfast but can also step in as dessert and baking didn’t sacrifice taste.
Do you have one of those foods that you have a heck of a time resisting? I do, I LOVE fried pastries like apple fritters and old fashioned donuts. In celebration of #Choctoberfest, I decided to splurge my love of chocolate with my love of pastries. Baking instead of frying wasn’t a sacrifice in the case of my Dark Chocolate Baked Donuts, however!
When I was a child, my grandmother would stop at a commercial bakery and buy day old donuts. We loved those donuts and always dipped them in milk or coffee. I think dipping was required so they didn’t stick in our throats because they were dense and on the dry side.
When it comes to chocolate, John and I love the good dark stuff. Milk chocolate doesn’t exist in our house. So my donuts had to taste rich with great chocolate. I also wanted these donuts to be tender, moist, and fluffy. Can donuts be fluffy?[Tweet “Dark Chocolate Baked Donuts are delicious! #Choctoberfest #recipe #food”]
The morning I made these I shared the photo with some friends of ours that we had dinner with that evening. Guess what we had for dessert? Yep, Dark Chocolate Baked Donuts. Even though they were best right after I made them, they were still chocolatey, tender, moist and fluffy that evening!
Don’t have time to make them now? Pin it for later!
Dark Chocolate Baked Donuts with Chocolate Ganache
Ingredients
Batter
- 1-1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
- 1 egg + 1 egg yolk
- 1/4 cup dark unsweetened cocoa powder sifted
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon espresso powder
- 1 teaspoon vanila
- 1/2 cup canola oil
Ganache
- 4 oz bittersweet chocolate chopped
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray donut pan with non-stick cooking spray.
- In a large mixing bowl combine flour, brown sugar, baking soda, salt, cocoa and espresso. Whisk together to combine.
- In a medium sized mixing bowl combine egg, egg yolk and buttermilk. Whisk to combine. Add oil and vanilla. Whisk again to combine.
- Stir wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Stir until just combined.
- Fill a zip lock bag with the filling and clip the corner of the bag. Squeeze batter into donut pan until 3/4 full.
- Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Don't over bake.
- Let cool 5 minutes in the pan and then turn out onto a cooling rack. Cool completely.
Ganache
- Put cream in a glass measuring cup and microwave until hot in 30 second intervals. Pour over chocolate and stir until smooth. I put my chocolate in a small food processor, poured hot cream over the chocolate, and pulsed until smooth.
- When cooled, dip into ganache. Sprinkle with desired toppings.
Nutrition
Another donut that’s baked and delicious are Spice Cake Donuts with Vanilla Bean Glaze!
It’s always fun to share so let’s head over to Fiesta Friday and Saucy Saturdays!
Let’s keep in touch! You can find me on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter! Better yet, enter your email address in the box below and never miss a recipe!
“
“
Mike says
Who doesn’t like doughnuts? The kids love to help bake them and then eat them
Jenny | Honey and Birch says
You had me at dark chocolate. And donuts.
Julie Menghini says
Thank you Jenny! I’m a dark chocolate lover too!
Jennifer A Stewart says
I am a huge doughnut fan and we would get the day old ones from Krispy Kreme. I always ate mine with chocolate milk since we only had the plain glazed ones. I love baked doughnuts now since they remind me of the old fashioned ones and they are close in texture to the sour cream cake ones that are my absolute favorite of all time!! I have a baking pan for doughnuts, regular and mini, so I am going to give these a try!
Julie Menghini says
Thank you Jen! I don’t have the mini pan….hmmmm. I’d only used that pan once in over a year but it’s getting a lot of love since I made those donuts.
Michelle says
Julie-
I have yet to attempt a homemade donut!
I think I’m on board here! We are a dark chocolate family as well and these would be a hit!
I love food memories- I wish my grandma would have bought us donuts!
Thanks
Michelle
Julie Menghini says
Thank you Michelle! My grandmother was a toughie but I learned a lot from her and wanted to be around her all the time. Food equals memories right?
Lauren @ Sew You Think You Can Cook says
Well now I know what I’m making next in my donut pan!
Julie Menghini says
Thank you, Lauren! I used to kind of neglect that pan but not anymore!
Sonal says
Absolutely love these
Julie Menghini says
Thank you Sonal! I appreciate you stopping by and hope you’ve been enjoying your festivities!
Sandra Shaffer says
Espresso powder is the perfect flavor enhancer with dark chocolate! Baked donuts are the best. Tasty and no grease splatter clean-up!
Julie Menghini says
Thank you Sandra! I really love enhancing chocolate with espresso powder too and can’t tell you the last time we fried anything. I just hate the mess!
Michaela Kenkel says
These are complete perfection! Such gorgeous photography of some really delicious looking donuts!
Julie Menghini says
Thank you so much, Michaela!
Christie Campbell says
Any reason to have chocolate for breakfast I’m all in!! These look so rich and delicious.
Julie Menghini says
I’m with you, Christie! I love chocolate for breakfast (or anytime) too.
Platter Talk says
Your photos are nearly 3-D and nothing less than stunning. I can only imagine how wonderful these donuts must taste!
Julie Menghini says
Thank you, Dan! They were really delicious and I’ll make them again.
James says
Julie, these look absolutely amazing. If I hadn’t woken up at 4:30am to bake bread this morning, I’d be picking up a donut pan on the way home. As it stands, I can’t convince my wife that we need any more baking in the house (or any more specialty baking trays)…but I think if I give it a week or so..
Julie Menghini says
Thank you, James! Us cooks and our toys, right? This is only the second time I’ve used that pan but these donuts were so good that I think your wife would let you have one. 4:30 for baking bread? I thought I was a maniac at 6:00 a.m. Have a great weekend and thanks for popping over!
Ann says
Oh…this is such a treasure! Baked chocolate donuts that don’t look like they’ve been baked. I think I’m stalking you. 😀 #FiestaFriday
Julie Menghini says
Stalk away Ann! Thank you! I have to agree with you. These donuts don’t taste baked. They are not cakey or dry. I was very happy with this treat!
Julianna says
Oh wow, Julie! These doughnuts are a heart-breaker! I have been wanting to make my own doughnuts for awhile now, but have never gotten up the nerve! Your are truly inspiring me! Your photos are great! I just want to gobble them up! Thanks so much for bringing them to us at FF! 😀
Julie Menghini says
These are really easy Julianna! I am weak when it comes to donuts but it helps that they’re baked. Thank you so much for hosting this week. I hope you have fun visiting with all of the FF party goers!
Angela says
I am drooling over here! These donuts look like absolute perfection!! Cant wait to try your recipe!
Julie Menghini says
Thank you Angela! I hope you’ll let me know what you think!
Colleen says
Yum! What a great way to celebrate #Choctoberfest!!!
Julie Menghini says
Thank you Colleen! I’ve seen some great recipes to add to my stockpile!
Justine says
These are just stunning, chocolate heaven!
Julie Menghini says
Thank you Justine!
Michelle says
Bring on the donuts! I think I need a donut pan…I’ve been thinking about it for a while! These look incredible!
Julie Menghini says
Thank you Michelle! I resisted the donut pan for quite awhile and then found one on the cheap. I’ve used it twice and will definitely be using it for this recipe in the future.
Sarah says
I keep going back and forth on whether or not I should get a donut pan. You’ve help me decide, definitely getting one to make these beauties!
Loretta says
Gorgeous yet again Julie!! You’ve really brought your baking gloves on lately eh? I marvel at the way these donut pans make them look so professional, better still they are baked so 2 or 3 wouldn’t seem so bad 🙂 Love the chocolate and the pictures make it look like you can reach out and help yourself. I can only dream 🙂
[email protected]'s Dinnertime Dish says
Oh my!! These donuts look so chocolaty and delicious! They would last for about a minute in my house!
Julie Menghini says
Thank you Lisa! They didn’t last long in my house either.
Patty Haxton Anderson says
These look amazing and your photographs are just gorgeous, really well done and all impressive shots.
Julie Menghini says
Thank you so much, Patty! I’ve tried working on those photos and some days are easier than others!
pattisj says
You’re killing me, Julie, with all these wonderful recipes!
Julie Menghini says
I had a wicked week of cooking Patti! It was a little hard on me too with all of that required taste testing!
pattisj says
What a problem you have! LOL
Julie Menghini says
LOL I know!
melody says
Those doughnuts look beautiful! I guess mine never look that perfect because I spoon the batter in instead of taking the time to pipe. {sigh}
Julie Menghini says
Thank you! I do a lot of the time too and they just look a little more rustic which I like too. Regardless they are yummy right!
Cynthia says
These donuts would be the perfect breakfast or snack. They are so full of chocolate! I love them and need to try your recipe.
Julie Menghini says
Thank you Cynthia! If you do let me know how it goes.
Marisa says
Julie, these chocolate donuts look to die for!!! I am sure they taste amazing and I love the fact that they are baked…less calories, less guilt 🙂
Julie Menghini says
Thank you Marisa! They really are good even though they are baked.
Debi at Life Currents says
These are spectacular! I love chocolate in the morning! Perfect!
Julie Menghini says
Thank you! I’m with you Debi. Love chocolate in the morning, afternoon, night…I may need an intervention.
Heather Gallagher says
Oh my gosh – you’re killing me with these – they look amazing and I need a plate full! YUM
Julie Menghini says
Thank you so much Heather!
[email protected] says
When I get a craving for a chocolate donut, it is INSATIABLE. These look exactly like the ones I crave Julie. I love that they’re baked too. Nice 🙂
Julie Menghini says
Thank you so much Jess! I loved that they didn’t make so many that we’d never get through them before they went stale.
Celebrating Sunshine says
Oh, so much goodness! Your donuts look amazing – just the way I like it: moist, fluffy and chocolatey. I could have them for breakfast, lunch and dinner. 🙂
Julie Menghini says
These were so good and fun to make Ana. We did have them for breakfast and dessert!