Baked Chocolate Donuts

These easy Fudgy Chocolate Donuts are decorated with a rich and nutty Peanut Butter Frosting. Baked and never fried, the fluffy, soft donuts are the perfect treat for breakfast or dessert.

Fluffy baked chocolate donuts

A delicious baked donut is a staple in my house. I always have a batch ready to go when we’re craving something sweet for breakfast. Along with my Peanut Butter Donuts and Vegan Chocolate Donuts, starting your day with one of these soft baked Fudgy Chocolate Donuts with Peanut Butter Frosting is the best!

The recipe is easy, too! Whipping up chocolate donut batter is no more difficult than baking cupcakes or cookies. All you need is a donut pan and a few pantry-staple ingredients. In the end, you’ll have a decadent chocolate donut that pairs so nicely with the salty and nutty peanut butter frosting.

Because chocolate and peanut together is the ultimate combination, I’m confident this baked donut recipe will be the star of the show at your next party or Sunday brunch. Whip up a fresh batch or store them in your freezer so you always have a decadent treat ready to go!

How to make baked chocolate donuts

Like I said, making these healthy baked chocolate donuts is easy! Baking the chocolatey batter in a donut pan will produce a much lighter, fluffier donut than if you were to fry them in oil. Whip up the peanut butter frosting while the donuts are baking and you’ll have chocolate peanut butter donuts in no time:

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 the donuts cool completely before removing them from the pan and adding the frosting.

To make the peanut butter frosting:

1. Add all of the ingredients to a bowl.
2. Use a hand mixer on medium speed and whip until the frosting is creamy and smooth.

Baked chocolate donuts without a donut pan

Don’t have a donut pan? Don’t sweat it! This recipe can be converted to make about 8 to  10 chocolate muffins that have that fluffy donut texture on the inside. 

Pour the finished batter ⅔ of the way into a greased muffin pan. Bake at 350ºF for 18 to 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. 

Decorating chocolate donuts

Yes, my peanut butter frosting is out of this world and the perfect partner to chocolate, but it’s not the only option! Feel free to decorate your donuts using any of these fun topping ideas:

• Chocolate or rainbow sprinkles
• Classic Donut Glaze
• Edible gold dust
• Chocolate Brownie Frosting
• Vanilla Frosting
• Strawberry Frosting
• Cocoa or fruity pebbles
• Candied bacon
• Fresh strawberries
• Chopped candy bars

Tips for the best baked donuts

• Sift the dry ingredients: Sifting the dry ingredients into a bowl is the best way to create a light and fluffy donut. A sifter pulverizes any clumps in the flour or cocoa powder, ensuring the batter is silky smooth and bakes beautifully.
• Grease the donut pan well using cooking spray or butter to ensure the donuts release from the pan easily and no delicious crumbs are left behind.
• Let the donuts cool completely before removing them from the donut pan. This will help them set properly and the frosting won’t melt when you spread it on. 
• Try not to overbake the donuts. It can be hard to tell when chocolate donuts are ready, so use a timer or check on them right before you think they’re ready. The donuts can dry out if they’re left too long.
• When storing leftovers: 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.
• Freezing leftovers: 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 decorating.

More donut recipes to try

• Baked Strawberry Donuts
• Baked Pumpkin Donuts
• Chocolate Chip Donuts
• Homemade Sugar Donuts

More chocolate desserts you’ll enjoy

• Gooey Chocolate Buttercake
• Homemade Peanut Butter Cups
• Double Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Chocolate Pretzel Cookies
• Chocolate Vegan Fudge

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