We love making baked donuts at home and I knew I needed to share a chocolate version—because sometimes that’s just the flavor we want! This recipe is a similar batter to my chocolate muffins, but they bake up quickly in a donut pan for the fun shape kids love. There is also the option to add an easy chocolate glaze and sprinkles, of course! We love these as a fun toddler breakfast or as a snack to make at home—and they are a fun Halloween treat, too. You can of course serve them as a dessert for kids. (You may also like Brownie Bites, Healthy Chocolate Cake, Pumpkin Baked Donuts, and Baked Apple Donuts as more yummy options.)
Ingredients You Need
To make this baked chocolate donut recipe you’ll need to have the following ingredients on hand and ready to go. Sign up for our email updates to get tips and ideas sent to your inbox.
Greek yogurt: I start this recipe with a base of Greek yogurt so the donuts are super tender, but also nutritious (packed with protein and calcium). Milk: I typically bake with whole milk, so that’s what I’m using here, though a different percentage is also fine. Butter: I use unsalted butter in my baking so I can control the salt. If you have only salted butter, that is fine to use. Just omit the salt from the recipe. Egg: A large egg helps ensure that the batter holds together nicely as it bakes. All-purpose flour: I prefer to use all-purpose flour in this recipe so the donuts bake up very light and tender. You can use whole wheat pastry flour or gluten-free all purpose flour if you prefer though. Cocoa powder: I add unsweetened cocoa powder to the donut batter to give the chocolate flavor. It works best to sift the powder through a fine mesh strainer to ensure you remove all of the lumps. Sugar: I prefer the texture of these baked chocolate donuts when they are made with granulated sugar. I kept the amount as low as possible to deliver a just-sweet-enough flavor. Vanilla: This adds classic chocolate donut flavor so our homemade ones taste just as good as purchased ones. Baking powder and baking soda: We use a combination of these ingredients to ensure that the baked donuts rise nicely and the batter bakes through properly.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here’s a look at the steps involved in the baked chocolate donuts recipe. Scroll to the bottom of this post for the full information, including the amounts and timing.
How to Store
Store cooled baked chocolate donuts in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or about a week in the fridge. You can also freeze them in a freezer bag with as much air removed as possible for about 6 months. Thaw donuts overnight in the fridge or at room temperature.
Best Tips for Success
If you want to make these extra special, you can melt chocolate chips and drizzle over the top of the donuts or dunk the tops in the glaze. We love adding this! (The donuts aren’t super sweet on their own, so this is a nice flavor touch. You can make this dairy-free by using nondairy milk and neutral oil in place of the milk and butter. You can make it gluten-free by using cup-for-cup gluten-free flour blend. Gluten-free: Use cup-for-cup gluten-free all-purpose flour. Add sprinkles to the glaze if desired. I like these plant-based ones from India Tree.
I’d love to hear your feedback on this recipe if you try it, so please comment and rate the recipe below! This nonstick donut pan is the reliable one I love to use to make donuts at home. This recipe was first published March 2020.
