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!
Helen @ Scrummy Lane says
My goodness, these look truly divine! I’ve never attempted to make donuts before but they seem like they’d be pretty easy. I’ve always thought of donuts as being quite unhealthy but these aren’t at all!
Andi @ The Weary Chef says
Holy Doughnuts! These definitely look like a baking moment to be proud of, Pamela! I wish I had one right now. Who am I kidding? I wish I had five right now.
Jessica @ Jessiker Bakes says
Whoa, dairy free and they look like that? You’re working some magic here! I’m going to give my doughnut pan another whirl with this; these look amazing!
Lea Ann (Cooking On The Ranch) says
If I were able to make these, it would be my proudest moment also. I’m just not much of a baker. Love that photo with the cat. And that white background board. Is that a photography supply or did you buy it at an art store? I need one.
Kristi @ lifesprinkles says
Yummmm these look awesome!
Julia | JuliasAlbum.com says
Pamela, these donuts look gorgeous! Love that chocolate frosting on top! And they are dairy free on top of it all? YUM!
Deb@CookingOnTheFrontBurner says
Delicious looking donuts! I love chocolate…who doesn’t 🙂
kimmythevegan says
omg… I’m drooling over these right now. They look SO GOOD. And I can guarantee you that extra frosting would not last more than 5 minutes in my house haha ;p
Love that these are vegan =D
Looks like you are getting the hang of the dairy-free thing!
Karen @ The Tasty Bite says
These look mouth-watering – I’d love to lick that bowl of frosting clean! Need to get a donut pan ASAP
Samina | The Cupcake Confession says
I need a donut pan in my life!!!!!! These look incredibleeeeeeee Pamela!!!! And every word that you’ve used to describe these have managed to make me drool, add in these drool worthy photos and its just indescribable! Yum!!!!!!!!!! Tryingggggg these! 🙂
GiGi Eats Celebrities says
I am determined to make these GIGI approved because they look SOOOO GOOD! 🙂
Tina @ Tina's Chic Corner says
Oh my! These look ridiculously delicious! I can’t believe these are dairy free. Kudos, my friend. 🙂
PS love FiFi Bofinkles. 🙂
ela@GrayApron says
Nice, very nice…I mean…major yum! I like your photo studio there, and the cat…they are always curious…:) ela
Joanne says
Wow. Just wow. My donut pan is definitely getting a workout this weekend!
Chris @ Shared Appetite says
Okay, I think it’s about time I get a set of these donut pans so I can get in on this chocolately action. These looks so moist and delicious!
Kat says
My daughter LOVES donuts. These look so yummy! I have to give them a try 🙂 Pinned 🙂
Lori @ Foxes Love Lemons says
Holy crap, I can totally tell why these were your proudest baking moment. These look amazeballs.
John@Kitchen Riffs says
Baked donuts can be so good. These look outrageously so! Super recipe – thanks.
The Café Sucre Farine says
Wow Pamela, these are gorgeous and extremely drool provoking. I tried baked donuts for the first time a few months ago and I was shocked at how wonderful they were.
Juliana says
Looks delicious the donuts, especially with the creamy frosting…yum!
Hope you are having a wonderful week Pamela 😀
tinywhitecottage says
I read your blog regularly but don’t comment very often, however, these drove me to say something! Over the top goodness! Where have I been? I have never seen a donut pan. It looks like a muffin pan. All the better to be able to bake the donuts rather than fry them. Gorgeously photographed too!
vanillasugarblog says
oh really?
almond milk?
OK, I’m willing to try it. I mean almond milk is pretty darn good.
I have the same ego lights!
(and the same curious kitty)
Stacy | Wicked Good Kitchen says
Wicked! Pamela, you ROCK. Love that these donuts are dairy free. Cannot wait to try. Thanks for sharing, m’lady! xo
Consuelo @ Honey & Figs says
Oh well.
Oh well.
Oh well.
These lovely little donuts look way to delicious to be true. That frosting?? I want to cover my whole life in it. Darn, it looks delicious!
Beth @ bethcakes says
I have a mini donut maker and for some reason, I never use it. These donuts are a wonderful reason to dig it out of my pantry. They look so fudgy and ohmygoodness that creamy chocolate glaze! 🙂
Sarah & Arkadi says
We have never made donuts. These are really good! Thanks for the recipe!
Faith @ Pixie Dust Kitchen says
I can’t believe these are dairy free- they look so rich and incredible! Using oil must make them unbelievably moist!
ashley - baker by nature says
Shhuuuud up!!! These look so amazing I maybe am crying just a little because they’re not here with me now. Yep… definitely tears happening.
Ruby @ The Ruby Red Apron says
Mmmm, chocolatey moist donuts! That frosting looks perfect!
Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes) says
These look so delish! Gosh I love chocolate!!