Vegan Chocolate Donuts are baked instead of fried, super moist, fluffy and covered in a rich chocolate glaze. Just 1 Bowl & 30 minutes to make!
I have been experimenting with different varieties of baked vegan donuts the last couple of weeks, and these ones came out a WINNER! The best part is how simple they are to make at home. My kids devoured these so fast I had to make a second batch!
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Ingredients for Donuts
- Flour: I used all purpose, but you could swap it for white whole wheat, whole wheat pastry, spelt, maybe even oat flour or a gluten free flour mix.
- Cocoa powder: I used Hershey’s Special Dark Cocoa for a darker colored donut, but you can use natural cocoa as well. They will be lighter in color, but that’s just fine.
- Sugar: To make sure it’s vegan, use organic granulated sugar.
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Soy milk: Or use almond, oat, coconut, hemp, they all work here.
- Melted vegan butter: You only need 3 tablespoons, I used earth balance but another brand will work, OR you can use coconut oil.
- Vanilla
How to make chocolate glaze
The glaze is super easy to make while your donuts cool. Simply add to a bowl: 1 cup powdered sugar, 3 tablespoons cocoa powder, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla and 3-4 tablespoons soy milk.
Stir with a spoon until smooth, it will be very thick. If it’s too thick, add a touch more milk until it thins out. Thick is good though, it will make a nice glaze for the donuts that will harden.
Dip the cooled donuts into the glaze and place on a cooling rack to harden, if you can handle the wait!
If you liked this recipe, make sure to check out Vegan Cinnamon Sugar Donuts as well!
Vegan Chocolate Donuts
Ingredients
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup soy milk
- 3 tablespoons melted vegan butter
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Chocolate Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 3-4 tablespoons soy milk
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and spray a donut pan with non-stick spray.
- Whisk the flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking powder, salt in a large bowl. Pour the soy milk, melted vegan butter and vanilla into the bowl with the dry ingredients. Mix well with a large wooden spoon to combine.
- Spoon the batter into the donut pan, filling about 3/4 of the way full. Be careful not to overfill, as the donuts will rise and you might lose the "hole" of your donut.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the donuts look set on top. Let cool for two or three minutes in the pan, then carefully transfer to a wire rack with a large piece of parchment paper beneath it (to help with the mess).
- Make the Glaze: In a medium sized bowl, add powdered sugar, cocoa, vanilla and soy milk. Stir with a spoon until a smooth glaze is formed. I like it to be quite thick, but if you need to thin it out you can add a teaspoon of soy milk at a time until a desired consistency is reached.
- Once the donuts have cooled completely, dip the tops into the glaze carefully, then place back on the rack over parchment paper to set. You could also spoon the glaze on if you prefer.
Notes
- Flour substitutions: You may sub white whole wheat flour, spelt flour or gluten free flour if needed.
- I used dark cocoa powder, but you can use natural, regular cocoa powder as well.
- It is fine to use another non-dairy milk instead of soy, such as oat, hemp, cashew, or almond.
- Oil Free: Substitute applesauce for the melted vegan butter. This will change the texture somewhat, but they will still be good.
These are the best! A family member cannot have dairy and this was perfect! She said it was more like a brownie than a donut, because it’s so chocolatey and delicious. This is one of the best donuts I’ve ever eaten. Thank you so much for sharing the recipe.
You are welcome, Mary! I’m glad your family member was able to enjoy a donut! Thanks for your fantastic feedback!
Excellent. I used olive oil instead of melted butter and had to add a few extra splashes of soy milk because I used 100% white whole wheat flour which is more absorbent. I also made only half the chocolate glaze and still had a bit left over.
How great you loved the donuts! Thanks for your great feedback and review!
Tastes great and easy to make!
Made these today! We didn’t have to worry about freezing because we ate them all!! We are having donut with dad coming up soon at school and there are no safe donut for my little one. Tried these out and they were a huge hit!! He was beyond excited, he never gets to eat donuts so this was a big deal! Thank you so much for your recipes!!
Hi Jamie. I love hearing that little ones get to finally eat something they never get to eat! I’m thrilled he loved the donuts! Thank you for your wonderful feedback and review! Have fun on donut with dad day!
Could I freeze these? I’m assuming I would want to freeze and then defrost and glaze. Thanks!
Yes, I would recommend freezing them without the glaze, though you can freeze them with the glaze if needed.
A family member that does not eat donuts asked me not to make these too often because these VEGAN CHOCOLATE DONUTS are irresistible! (smile). We appreciate you.
Hi Howard. I am glad your family is loving the donuts! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review and comments! I appreciate you using my recipes! Happy cooking!
Thank you so much for sharing all of your delicious recipes with us! I enjoy baking and have made these donuts fir breakfast this morning—big hit with my kiddos—in addition to the chocolate cake on New Year’s Day, which might be my favorite cake ever!
Probably need to focus on some exercise now to balance all of this baking!
Thanks again!
Thank you for sharing your great feedback! I’m glad you enjoyed the chocolate donuts and cake! Wishing you lots more happy cooking!
These were excellent!! I made these sugar-free. I used monk fruit sweetener in replace of the granulated sugar and I used stevia powdered sweetener in replace of the regular powered sugar. Thank you for the inspiration!
I dont have donut trays. can I use a muffin tin (I know the shape will be different)?
Hi Ana. Well, You can make them in a muffin pan, however, they won’t really be donuts!
Are you able to substitute xylitol, maple sugar, or honey for the sugar?
I’m not sure, but probably! I just haven’t tried any of those myself.
I made this and kids loved it !
Thank you for sharing your review! I’m glad the donuts were a hit!
I made these with my 3 and 5 year old for a special treat. We used the recipe as-written (with the addition of sprinkles!) and they were perfect! Thanks for another wonderful recipe!
How fun! I’m glad the donuts turned out perfect! Thank you for sharing your fun review!
Hello,
I have tried out this recipe, and they taste fantastic, but I can’t get them out of my baking tray in one piece. Any tips?? I’ve tried greasing with oil as well as butter and flour.
Thanks ☺️
You might need a new donut pan? Mine just pop right out if I invert it. Other than that, I’d try greasing well with spray oil if possible. Glad you like them!
Hiya
If I want these to be just eggless canI use normal butter and milk?
I don’t think it will make much of a difference. Thanks!
Gonna try substitute all purpose flour with 3/4 cup soy flour to amp up protein
Good luck! Hope it works out.
I made these yesterday. It was so easy to prepare and so delicious! Thank you!
For those MAKING GF what GF flour did you use? We have to have gluten free so I substituted almond flour and it did not work out. I guess I could try Arrowroot?
Perfect way to end the weekend. I did gf, almond milk and added mini chocolate chips because why not ?. As usual an amazing recipe! Thank you Nora!
I’m really glad to hear they turned out good with gluten free flour, thank you!
You’re welcome!
Hey
Can i use light cream instead of vegan butter like 8% cream? Or vegan yogurt?
Do you need a pipe to fill the donut pan with the batter?
Do they dry out in thé fridge in airtight container? Better Kept at room temperature in airtight container?
Do you think chocolate protein powder could fit somehow in thé recipe? Better to fill tray 1/2 or 2/3 or 3/4 of thé way up?
Thx
I don’t know about cream, but vegan yogurt or applesauce would work in place of the vegan butter. You don’t need to pipe the batter in, I just use a spoon usually. They disappear so quick in my house, but I store them at room temperature for about 2-3 days. Kept in the fridge they will last a bit longer. You could try adding protein powder in place of some of the flour, I would guess. 3/4 full.
Hey can I replace each whole egg by 2 egg whites?
Is butter or coconut oil or applesauce necessary for this recipe? Thx
This recipe is vegan, so there are no eggs called for at all. Vegan butter is an ingredient, but you could use coconut oil instead if needed. There is no applesauce.
Just baked these, lol eating them hot right now! I used my air fryer, had to bake around 4 minutes longer. Nora’s recipes always turn out good. I also used coconut oil. Perfect, simple easy recipe. Thank you!
You’re welcome!
Hello
Can i go for blanched almond flour or almond meal or oat flour instead? In what quantities? Will the recipe need to be adjusted? Thx
Almond flour probably won’t work well here, but oat flour might! I haven’t tried it though, so I can’t be sure.
Omg these are so delicious! I love that they’re so quick and easy to make too!
Thanks for the great recipe. So few ingredients and donuts were awesome. So easy to make !!
This is the first time I tried actual vegan baking in a long time after quite a few recipes didn’t love up to my standards.
This.. this is absolutely it!
Those are the absolute BEST vegan cake donuts so have EVER eaten and I feel blessed to have found this recipe!
THANK YOU!!!
I will bake them for every birthday and every party because I am HOOKED!
I’m so glad you like them!