These tasty Chocolate Vegan Donuts are made with simple ingredients and contain no dairy or hard-to-find vegan ingredients. Baked and not fried, each bite of the chocolate frosting-covered treat is rich, decadent, and luscious.
Easy vegan chocolate donuts
One of my proudest baking moments was the day I came up with these rich and decadent Chocolate Vegan Donuts with Chocolate Frosting. They are so soft and moist, it’s like eating my favorite chocolate cake! Made with simple vegan ingredients, it’s a dessert you need to try ASAP.
Yes, this recipe is vegan-friendly but no, it doesn’t require any complicated or hard-to-find ingredients. Simply whip the batter up in 1 bowl and bake in a donut pan. Finished them off with the soft and luscious chocolate frosting for a heavenly tasting dessert or snack.
I promise that investing in a donut pan is well worth the small expense. Some of my best donut creations have come out of these pans, like my Peanut Butter Donuts, Carrot Cake Donuts, Baked Chocolate Donuts with Peanut Butter Frosting and Chocolate Chip Donuts.
Vegan donuts vs. regular donuts
These chocolate donuts are made solely with vegan-friendly ingredients. I’m talking vegan butter, plant-based milk, and cocoa powder. Luckily, all of these can be found at most large grocery stores, meaning they aren’t any more difficult to make than “regular” baked donuts.
How to make baked vegan chocolate donuts
I love baked donuts because they’re soft, rich, and aren’t messy. Frying means you need to use lots of oil and more pots and pans. To make this recipe, all you need to do is mix up the batter in one bowl and then bake!
Mix the dry ingredients together in a large bowl.
Stir in the wet ingredients until a smooth batter is formed.
Evenly pour the batter into the greased donut pan and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Let donuts cool completely before removing them from the pan and adding the frosting.
How to make vegan chocolate frosting for donuts
The best part of a donut is the frosting! This simple chocolate frosting takes these dairy-free donuts to the next level:
- Cream the powdered sugar and butter together in a bowl until well combined. Btw, my favorite vegan butter is Earth Balance, we use it for everything.
- Add the almond milk, cocoa powder, and vanilla. Continue to mix until a creamy chocolate frosting forms.
- To glaze, dip the cooled chocolate donuts in the frosting on one side and leave them to set before enjoying.
Can I make these without a donut pan?
Baking donuts in a donut pan helps them form the signature shape. If you don’t have one, use a muffin pan instead. This recipe should make 6-8 vegan chocolate muffins.
Make sure you only fill the muffin tin 2/3rds of the way to prevent the muffins from spilling over the top. Bake at 350°F for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool completely before removing them from the pan and frosting the tops with chocolate frosting.
Can these be made gluten free?
If you’re looking to make these vegan donuts also gluten free, that’s no problem! All you’ll need to do is swap out the all purpose flour for a gluten free 1:1 flour blend. Make sure your blend already contains xanthan gum so you don’t have to add it yourself.
Storing and freezing chocolate donuts
If eating immediately: Simply leave the donuts out on the cooling rack or on a serving dish at room temperature. To leave them out for more than a few hours, cover the donuts with plastic wrap or place them on a cake serving dish with a lid. Make sure they are stored in a single layer to keep the frosting from sticking to the donuts.
To store: Place the chocolate donuts in a single layer in an airtight container. They should stay fresh for 2 to 3 days in the fridge. When it’s time to eat, let the donuts sit at room temperature for about 10 or 15 minutes so they aren’t too firm or cold.
To freeze: You can freeze the chocolate donuts without frosting by first placing them on a sheet pan in a single layer. Once they are fully frozen, add them to a freezer-safe bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Let them thaw on the counter before serving and adding frosting.
More chocolate desserts to try
- Chocolate Zucchini Cake
- Chocolate Vegan Fudge
- Vegan Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Pudding
- 100 Calorie Chocolate Brownie
- Fudgy Black Bean Brownies
- Chocolate Milkshake
Pin for later:
Chocolate Vegan Donuts with Chocolate Frosting (Dairy Free)
PrintIngredients
For the donuts
- 3/4 cups all purpose flour
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
For the frosting
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons dairy free butter (I use Earth Balance) melted
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened almond milk
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
For the donuts
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a donut pan with nonstick spray.
- Stir together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt. Add oil, vanilla and milk and continue to stir until smooth.
- Pour batter into donut pan (this recipe makes 6 donuts) and bake for 12 minutes. Insert toothpick and if it comes out clean, donuts are done. If toothpick is not clean, bake for 2-3 more minutes or until clean.
- Let donuts cool for 15 minutes before removing from pan.
For the frosting
- In a bowl using a hand mixer, mix together powdered sugar and butter until creamed well.
- Add milk, cocoa powder and vanilla and continue to mix until creamy and well combined.
- Once donuts are cool, dip them into the frosting to cover the tops. Enjoy!
Debra says
I am becoming a lover of almond milk so I can imagine this frosting!
Kristi @ Inspiration Kitchen says
Oooooo. I love love love swoon-worthy recipes. Pinned!
Ellen says
Double the chocolate double te goodness. That’s my kind of donut:)
Kayle (The Cooking Actress) says
Girrrrrl. These are EPIC!
Suzanne says
Wow, I have to get one of those doughnut pans. Those chocolate donuts look incredible.
Melanie @ Carmel Moments says
Oh Girl! You had me and donuts and chocolate. AmAzing!
Would could be better than chocolate on chocolate? Absolutely nothing!
Ashley @ Wishes and Dishes says
Oh dear God do I need a donut pan now more than ever!
Mimi @ Culinary Couture says
Okay these are officially the first donuts I want to bake in my spankin new donut pan!
Kelly says
Wow, these look incredible Pamela! Love baked donuts especially soft, moist, cake like chocolate ones like these:) Hehe, I don’t blame FiFi Bofinkles for hanging around these donuts, that glaze definitely looks so magical and totally captivating! Wish I could have all 6 of these beauties:)
Koko says
Stunning!! They look like the absolute perfect texture…and dairy free to boot. Can’t beat that!!
Amanda @ Once Upon a Recipe says
The sight of these donuts is making me salivate! I love baked donuts!
Aimee / WallflowerGirl.co.uk says
I’m impressed and the dairy-free-ness of these doughnuts! Also, you got some great lighting from that ego light… I haven;t used mine in a while because the photos often come out very dull looking. Maybe I need brighter bulbs!
Pamela says
Thanks Aimee, I really appreciate that! I use the bulbs it came with, plus the fill card.
Monica says
Oh man! You have worked it out, Pamela! I want to cry looking at that moist cake, too! Wait til I show my little guy. : ) Glad to see you are managing the need to be dairy free. Good luck with it!
Laura @ The Rookie Cook says
These donuts look amazing! I’m always up for some chocolate!
Ps. Love your lighting – where did you get it/what brand is it??
Pamela says
Thanks Laura! I use Lowel EGO lights, I really like them! You can buy them from Amazon, B&H and many other photo stores.
Ashley says
Ha! That is exactly what my dog does whenever I am shooting … I actually have a few shots where she sneaks into the frame (and then I have to quickly get her away from the food lol). These donuts look delicious – and that glaze…
Pamela says
Hahaha, I know what you mean. I’m like ok FiFi Bofinkles you can look at them… ok you can get closer.. FiFi Bofinkles give me back that donut! There’s been a few times she’s stolen a noodle or two. She’s quick! 😉
Nora says
I think I am going to try to use this as a basis for a GF/Dairy-Free version. These look outrageously good!
Daniela @ FoodrecipesHQ says
I would have never guessed you use artificial lights! Your picture are always amazing, I though they were shot under a fantastic natural light. These are really the most beautiful donuts I’ve ever seen. If there was a beauty contest for donuts (!) you would win! I saved the recipe.
Pamela says
Thanks Daniela! I stopped using natural light for the most part a few months ago as I got sick of making dinner in the afternoon for a 9PM dinner time. These lights help me make dinner whenever I want, and let me bake donuts at 3AM if I want to (not saying I would do that.. hehehehe). 😉
Pam says
These would disappear quickly in my house! They look amazing.
Nicole @ Young, Broke and Hungry says
As somebody who recently went dairy free, I am loving these donuts!
Pamela says
High 5 to you girl!
The Squishy Monster says
omg, that IS magical!!
Mary Frances says
My donut pan is on its way! I have been craving donuts like none other and these are killing me! 🙂 Chocolate donuts sound so good right now. And dairy free no less! Thumbs up Pamela!
Pamela says
I cannot wait to see what you create with that donut pan girl, your life is going to change!
Abbe@This is How I Cook says
These donuts look perfect. And full of chocolate. And there are only six. Which is good, even if I wanted 7!
Laura @ Lauras Baking Talent says
Like frosting isn’t addicting enough…. you need to tell me its better when frozen… and to make extra. 🙂
Pamela says
Hahaha, I know I know.. fantastic influence. 😉
Davida @ The Healthy Maven says
Glorious DONUTS! I had a massive craving for donuts yesterday and I wish I’d had this recipe! Once I polish off my funfetti version (give it a few hours) these are up next!
Shashi @ http://runninsrilankan.com says
Oh wow – Love these baked donuts and that icing… I could just drown in it!
Natalie @ Tastes Lovely says
My mother-in-law got me a donut baking pan for Christmas, and I still haven’t broken it in. Can’t wait to try these chocolate donuts!
Pamela says
You have got to try it Natalie, so much fun!
Prudy @butter, basil, and breadcrumbs says
Oh my…. would you look at those decadent donuts…… proudest baking moment… yeah, for sure!! I’m proud of your proudest baking moment!! Yum, yum, yum!!! <3
Laura @ Laura's Culinary Adventures says
The drippy, creamy chocolate frosting looks fab! I could eat it by the spoonful!
Stephanie @ Girl Versus Dough says
These doughnuts look GLORIOUS. Pretty sure I need to make and eat all 6, pronto. 🙂
marcie says
Oh, Pamela, that icing looks so thick and dreamy! I wish I had one for breakfast!