Introduction

These glazed chocolate cake doughnuts are a delightful treat combining rich cocoa flavor with a sweet vanilla glaze. Perfectly tender and lightly spiced with nutmeg, they’re an easy homemade option to satisfy your doughnut cravings.

A close-up of several chocolate-glazed donuts with a shiny white icing layer covering the top and sides, showing a soft and moist chocolate cake texture inside. One donut is in front with a bite taken out, resting on crumpled white parchment paper on a white marbled surface. Behind it, more donuts are stacked and placed on a metal cooling rack, their dark brown color contrasting with the white glaze. The image shows about two layers: the dark chocolate donut base and the thin, smooth white glaze covering it. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

125 grams all-purpose flour
25 grams cocoa powder
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon kosher salt
56 grams unsalted butter, melted
106 grams light brown sugar
113 ml buttermilk, room temperature
1 egg, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon nutmeg

Vanilla Glaze

125 grams confectioners’ sugar
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of salt

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a donut pan with butter or baking spray to prevent sticking.
Step 2: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, nutmeg, baking powder, baking soda, kosher salt, and light brown sugar until fully combined.
Step 3: In a separate bowl, mix the buttermilk, egg, melted butter, and vanilla extract until smooth and homogeneous.
Step 4: Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and gently fold just until there are no pockets of flour. Avoid overmixing to keep the doughnuts tender.
Step 5: Using a piping bag or spoon, fill each donut cavity about ¾ full with batter.
Step 6: Bake for 11-13 minutes until golden brown and springy to the touch. After 5 minutes, transfer the doughnuts to a wire rack to cool slightly before removing from the pan.
Step 7: Let the doughnuts cool completely on a wire rack before glazing to prevent the glaze from melting off.
Step 8: To prepare the glaze, whisk together the confectioners’ sugar, milk, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt in a medium bowl until smooth.
Step 9: Dip each cooled doughnut into the vanilla glaze, allowing excess to drip off. Place on a cooling rack set over a paper towel to catch drips and let the glaze set before serving.

Tips & Variations

Ensure all wet ingredients are at room temperature for a smooth batter and even baking.
Do not overmix the batter to avoid dense, tough doughnuts.
Re-grease the donut pan before baking each batch to prevent sticking.
Allow doughnuts to cool completely before glazing to help the glaze adhere properly.
You can substitute buttermilk with whole milk plus 1 teaspoon lemon juice or vinegar.
For a dairy-free version, use dairy-free butter and milk alternatives for both batter and glaze.

Storage

Store glazed doughnuts in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. For longer storage, keep them refrigerated up to 5 days but allow to come to room temperature before serving. Reheat gently in a microwave for about 10 seconds if desired.

How to Serve

The image shows a close-up of a single chocolate donut with a white glaze coating on top. The donut has a round shape with a hole in the center and looks moist and soft. A bite is taken out of the donut, revealing its dark, rich chocolate inside with a slightly crumbly texture. The donut is placed on crinkled white parchment paper, all sitting on a white marbled textured surface. In the background, there are several more stacked chocolate donuts with the same white glaze, slightly out of focus. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use regular milk instead of buttermilk?

Yes, you can replace buttermilk by mixing 1 teaspoon of lemon juice or vinegar with whole milk and letting it sit for 5 minutes to curdle before using.

How do I prevent the doughnuts from sticking to the pan?

Make sure to thoroughly grease the donut pan with butter or baking spray before adding the batter. Re-grease the pan if baking multiple batches to ensure easy removal.