Here’s our favorite Homemade Baked Chocolate Cake Doughnuts recipe!
Skip the trip to the doughnut shop and make amazing baked doughnuts right at home!
You won’t find any spoilers in this post… just wanted to let you know that ahead of time!
Let me start by telling you, I was late to the Downton Abbey wagon. Because of that, I have had to avoid social media like the plague as it is quite the hot topic in my Twitter feed and on Facebook. With the recent Season 3 season finale, it has been even harder! Everywhere I look there are spoiler posts (and posts kindly marked as spoilers, thank you!)… I have had to avert my eyes so many times to not see something that would give it all away. Luckily, I’ve managed to not read anything… until today.
Yes, today. As I was checking my email, I received what appeared to be an innocent pitch from a brand. As I was reading the pitch, I came upon the big season 3 spoiler. I wanted to scream (and cry as holy cow…so sad).
Seriously, people…. how hard is it to understand that not everyone is up to speed with things? And “well, I’m sorry but it’s been all over the news” is not good enough. I have avoided any talk about Downton Abbey simply because I didn’t want to have it spoiled for me. I did not expect to find the details of what I was trying to avoid so diligently, laid out so boldly in an email pitch (which by the way, is not even close to anything I write about on Dine & Dish). Grrrrr.
Anyway, what does this all have to do with Baked Chocolate Cake Doughnuts? Besides the fact that I was so mad and sad after that spoiler email that I could have eaten 2 whole pans of these? Not a lot.
Actually, my friend Jenny and I were trying so hard to get caught up (we just started watching in January) that we decided to have a full-on Downton Abbey marathon day this past Wednesday. Our three times a week, while we exercise just, wasn’t cutting it. So, I made doughnuts, (I do know the irony that I made doughnuts to eat with my exercise buddy) and we had a season 2 marathon. And it was one of the best days ever… because I love Downton Abbey, I love my friend, and I loved these baked chocolate cake doughnuts.
I’ll be honest… they may be considered doughnut shaped chocolate cake. We couldn’t exactly figure out why they would be doughnuts versus cake, but hey…since you can eat these for breakfast because of their shape without people thinking you have a problem, I say go for it.
The only spoiler you will get from me is if you aren’t watching Downton Abbey, do. And make these doughnuts. The end.
Baked Chocolate Cake Doughnuts
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 4 oz bar Ghiradelli Semi-Sweet Chocolate chopped, melted and slightly cooled
- 3 tablespoons butter melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/4 cup flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Powdered sugar for dusting
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F
- In the bowl of your stand mixer, add milk, brown sugar and 1 egg. Mix until well incorporated.
- Slowly add melted chocolate, butter, and vanilla. Mix on low for 1 minute.
- Continuing on low speed, add flour, baking soda and salt. Continue mixing until batter is smooth.
- Lightly spray your doughnut pan with non-stick cooking spray.
- Fill each portion of the doughnut pan 3/4 of the way full. Bake for 12 minutes or until doughnuts spring back when touched.
- Remove from the oven and allow doughnuts to sit for one minute. Then, remove doughnuts from pan and place on a wire cooling rack.
- Sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve.
Disclosure: This blog post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
HA! THIS is my intro for a blog post I just wrote!: “I was late to the Downton Abbey party, too. But 15 minutes into the very first episode found me on Amazon the next day purchasing Season 1 and 2, which were consumed in a matter of days. I have shed so many tears over this damn show! I’m still reeling from the Season 3 finale. Spoilers are the worst. THE. WORST.”
I would absolutely eat 10 of these doughnuts to self-sooth.
Oh that is funny, Amy! I can’t wait to watch Season 3… even with the spoiler, I still can’t wait (but know to have a box of tissues near by for sure!).
Spoilers are THE WORST. I totally and completely agree with you!
Looks heavenly, Kristen!! I have to make these soon! I have a doughnut pan I have yet to break in!!
Get it out and break it in, friend!! 🙂
omagerd! don’t you know I’m on a diet! Aint nothing better than a chocolate cake doughnut. I have not had time to jump on the Downton Abbey wagon ; ( maybe someday I will watch them all. But for now I’m wondering would you recommend the donut pan…they obviously turn out perfectly.
Not if you are trying to lose weight, I wouldn’t 😉 But yes… I obviously am quite smitten with my doughnut pan. This is the one I have http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004CYELOQ/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=culinsnaps-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=B004CYELOQ&adid=0BDWJR4X500200YRSMCG
Ohhhh I would be SOOO ANGRY to anyone who spoiled it for me! I’ve had to hold me tongue in so many conversations to friends who are just jumping on the Downton Train – it’s so hard, but geez, who spoils it like that? Just for spoiling the finale of Downton, I wouldn’t work with them like, EVER! I would totally need a couple of pans of these to drown out the sorrows of the finale! Cherry up – and make sure you still watch the rest of the season, the last episode has a couple of truly heart warming moments. 🙂
Funny that I was just thinking about making choc donuts…maybe with mint for St Paddy’s Day and here I come and bam!! you have beautiful choc donuts. Nice work!
I think I’m the only person on the planet who doesn’t watch but I would be so mad if someone ruined the spoiler. I almost never watch anything live anymore so I know the whole “Avoid social media” game all too well to avoid spoilers!! So bummed it came to you via email. Good thing you have donuts. 🙂
I’ve heard from so many people that I should start watching Downton Abbey, but after hearing some of the spoilers from facebook and twitter and how sad everyone is, I’m kind of glad that I haven’t watched it yet. Any who, these donuts look perfect. So moist and chocolaty! 🙂
I haven’t started season 3 yet, but I’ve already seen a bunch of spoilers! But I feel like social media is FOR talking about pop culture and things happening now, so I try to understand that people will be chatting. But still, it definitely ruins parts of watching!! (not that it will stop me!) But these doughnuts make everything better 🙂
These look delicious. glad to see you getting good use out of your doughnut pan!
I started watching Downton Abbey last month too, I downloaded it on my iPad and within 3 weeks watched all three seasons. I do a lot of sitting in swim meets, tennis practices and other sports that I would sneak time in every day. LOVE the show.
How frustrating!!! I love, love, love Downton Abbey and was very sad for the season to end. I feel like they are a part of my family. I have even begun to speak with an accent 🙂
Love these doughnuts! Perfect way to ease the sadness.
I’m WAY behind…just started on season one of DA. I’ve recently finally purchased a doughnut pan seeing all the delicious food blogger creations. This may be my first one to try! They look amazing!
Doughnut shaped chocolate cake sounds perfectly good to me!!! I haven’t gotten into Downton Abbey yet…have only watched 10 minutes of the first episode! But I am planning to watch more soon =)
I’ll take “doughnut shaped chocolate cake” any day! And I totally hear you about Downton Abbey…I’m late to the game, but hope to catch up! Have a great weekend, Kristen! 🙂
I haven’t jumped on that bandwagon yet! I see the posts everywhere about the show but I can’t seem to find time to watch it from the beginning.
I still can’t believe that happened!
That finale was so upsetting. Good thing I didn’t have any of these around!
I’ve never watched that show. I need to give it a go! LOVE the doughnuts!
I love the idea of doughnuts that don’t need to be fried. And with chocolate?! Fabulous 🙂
AH KNOW. I’ve not seen a second of this season, yet everyone feels the need to tell what happennnnzzzzzz.
I’m on my way over for some doughnuts. Ugh.
No no no! I’m only on Season one! MUST AVOID social media.
Um, yeah. I have still never seen a Downton Abbey in my life. But have a righteous anger in my heart for the injustice that was the SPOILER!!!! Sorry. I may be considered slightly over dramatic. Oh yeah, and these chocolate donuts are AWESOME.
I am three weeks behind on DA and have been avoiding all the spoilers. I love the idea of DA marathon and chocolate donuts! Will have to happen!
A donut shaped chocolate cake sounds wonderful! I have a donut pan I bought months ago that I’ve never used and you’ve inspired me to bring it out. I still haven’t watched the last episode of Downton Abbey, although I know what happened thanks to social media. I simply can’t understand what those writers were thinking!!!
I don’t have a donut pan, I wonder if I could use any other kind of pan.
I started watching in January also and The.Boy and I got so addicted that we sped through them!! Each of us had certain aspects of it spoiled at one point or another but not the big ending. I could have used a batch of these when I watched it, that’s for sure!
oh man that totally sucks about the spoiler!……and I’ve not gotten on the DA train yet, but I would love one of these donuts!!
Well doesn’t that stink!! So sorry to hear that. I hate when that happens.
You are killing me with the donuts though– I;m telling you it’s so hard to see these. I’m printing it off though & it will sit here & taunt me until I make them. 🙂
Hey, Kristin – I still love your blog but wanted to let you know I haven’t been clicking through because the font color makes it hard to read on my computer and impossible to read on my phone. The contrast just isn’t significant enough. Or maybe me eyes are just getting bad. I don’t know if it’s possible to darken it a little, but I miss reading your blog. I do still read the snippets available over my Reader.
I’m so glad you said something! I haven’t a clue as to how to change that, but am going to reach out to my tech person to have her help! When it’s done, I’d love to send you a link and let me know if it is any better. Thanks!
Jimi – can you look now and let me know if that’s any better please? Thanks 🙂
Ha! Oh, those doughnuts looked a little familiar! Thank you so much for adapting my recipe for your blog! You made my day! xoxo
That makes me so sad! I innocently saw a semi-spoiler on FB by someone who should know better and I was pretty miffed I have to admit. People!
Your doughnuts look pretty perfect Kristen. I have a donut pan, and never use it. My kids are not happy with me about that. 🙂
Sooo pretty!! I think the best thing about cake doughnuts is that it is a cake, but you can eat 3 doughnuts and it still won’t sound as bad as saying, “I just ate 3 slices of chocolate cake” … It doesn’t sound as bad, right?? 🙂
I am not joking when I say I have been craving donuts, all week! (pms) I am also not joking when I tell you on Wednesday after my class I drove by a donuts shop on my way home, but they were closed. Still no donuts. But it’s looking like I should make these after my homework and posts are finished today. I feel this is quite serendipitous.
I have heard so many people saying how good the show is and Im not watching it! I really need to start! Thank goodness for Netflix 😀 And what a stupid pitch. Way to ruin a potentially good thing! But these doughnuts look like they would cure that 😉 They look amazing Kristen!
OH. MY. STARS!! Kristen, LOVE your food photography with these yummy Baked Chocolate Cake Doughnuts! NOM! It must be a baked donut week…as Kate of Diethood posted her Baked Carrot Cake Doughnuts. I’m in trouble with the diet this weekend! Due to your post, I am reasoning that the shape makes them safe for breakfast. And, if I make them gluten free all the better for me. Right? Right??? LOL! About Downton Abbey…The Big Lug and I will be doing our marathon this weekend. I’ve been savoring it! Doing a special subscription to “catch up”. You’re not the only one to have to catch up…just wish it wasn’t totes spoiled for you! 🙁
I haven’t seen any of Downton Abbey yet. I am years behind on any TV watching but now because of you I have Friday Night Lights in my netflix queue and Donwton Abbey on order via netflix dvd. I seriously thought it was Downtown and everyone on social media was shortening it to Downton – yeah not that smart of me to think that not much of an abbreviation. Oh yeah – these doughnuts? So making them, my 4 year old self proclaimed chocoholic has been begging me to make her chocolate donuts! I will take pics!
I too started watching late – just before Christmas, getting Seasons 1 and 2 from my library. I just can’t believe than an email from a product would do something so low!!! I purposely have not discussed DA on FB for that reason. You should send a reply to that email about their unthoughfulness!!!
Can’t wait to make these doughnuts!
I hate that. I live in Germany so I don’t get to watch anything when it originally airs. That means I always have to be really careful but in a pitch email?! That’s just so… wrong.
And I’m all for cake for breakfast! Yay. The doughnuts look great and I love that you didn’t drown them in icing. 🙂
Oh my gosh!! The nerve of some people. And now I can’t wait to watch it myself 😉
Bake another batch when you watch the spoiled parts. You’ll need it. I needed something and knew what was coming (I got spoiled too by accident).
I’m totally making these lovely doughnuts! They look so good!!! And as for Downton Abbey, I also just started watching and was late to the DA bandwagon. . however, I watched Seasons 1, 2 and 3 (and the finale live on TV) within the span of like 2-3 weeks! I was staying up until like 2am every night (and I have 2 kids) . . it was crazy. . my husband thought I was crazy . . but I LOVE LOVE LOVE the show. great post!
Chocolate donuts are the best!
These look amazing! It doesn’t help that DA premiers in the UK first because then there are spoilers all over the internet before the season airs here. I knew it was coming too.
We also were a season behind on Downton Abbey so I understand the difficulty of avoiding spoilers. We almost made it when my husband went out to lunch with his mother. When my mother-in-law found out we watch Downton Abbey (but before my husband could tell her that we were a season behind) she blurted out, “Can you believe………..” No, he couldn’t believe it because we hadn’t gotten there yet! Ugh. 🙂 On to your donuts. Do you think this recipe might work as mini-bundt cakes? A dense cake-like dough would be perfect. Thanks.
Darn mother-in-law! You aren’t safe from spoilers anywhere.
I do know the recipe would work in mini-bundt cake pans because a friend of mine without a doughnut pan made them this week in mini bundt pans and loved them!
I just recently started watching Downton Abbey and both my husband and I love it. the problem is that Netflix only had 7 measly episodes. Payday, seasons one through three WILL be mine hehe.
As will a doughnut pan because I really really think I NEED to have doughnuts while watching the show also. Honest… it may be the law now or something 😀
I was so mad on your behalf when you tweeted about that email! I don’t watch Downton Abbey, so I guess I dont have to worry about spoilers! Between you and Shanna (Pineapple and Coconut), I want donuts now!
I have not watched that show yet, but I need too! These donuts…swoon!
I made these this morning as a surprise for my kids and they loved them! You inspired me to go buy a doughnut pan earlier in the week. SO easy and delicious! Thanks for sharing!
These donuts look so good! I love seeing chocolate with powdered sugar! I’d love for you to submit the recipe to my latest Food Holiday Link Party – the theme this week is chocolate! In case you want to link up: http://www.ratetheplateutah.com/2013/02/food-holiday-link-party-chocolate-month.html Thanks!
I got drawn into Downton Abbey, too, after trying to stay away from it (and TV in general, but that doesn’t often go well as I like stories and characters and good writing, darn it!). I feel for you … after innocently looking at a UK newspaper’s website, I saw an article that ruined this season for me. GRRR. And just the other night, on the national news no less, another dang spoiler was hurled at me without my permission (at least I think it to be a spoiler)! GAH!
I wonder, when does it air and for how long in the UK (over several weeks?)? I’m thinking we need to get a house rental for a while and watch the season as it progresses there. : )
Have you finished watching season 3? Do you have a favorite character? I love Maggie Smith’s Dowager Countess.
DARN! DO NOT go to imdb.com as I just did to see make sure I was getting Smith’s character’s title right (darn my brain-freeze, too) …. they have a feed that’s showing casting news and so I deem that site verboten. 🙁
P.S. I thought I should explain the sad face: sad that the site is now off-limits for me, not sad due to spoiler, which I’ve done forgot about now. (I didn’t want you or anyone to think that the sad face itself is reflective of the spoiler, which would have given me some qualms if I saw it and interpreted it as such..)
Oy, I should really try getting some sleep now. ; )
I too was behind on DA. I watched one episode over the summer while on maternity leave, found it boring, and never watched any more. UNTIL January when everyone was talking about it. So I gave it another shot, and was hooked. By the time Season 3 was airing, I was on Season 2. I was spoiled by one thing mid-season, but managed to avoid the spoiler in the finale. UNTIL, when reading a Mad Men newsletter from AMC it linked to an article described as “Matthew Weiner discusses {actor’s name I am not mentioning to not spoil Mad Men for someone else]’s death with NY Times” (Matthew Weiner is the creator of Mad Men.) Anyways, the FIRST FREAKING LINE OF THE FREAKING ARTICLE spoiled who died in the season finale of Downton Abbey! When I read that, the finale was the last episode I needed to watch! Ugh, I was so pissed. It was an article about killing off major characters, leading with Downton Abbey. I immediately closed the article on my browser. So, later on that night, I watched the finale. After that, I was like “Ok, now it’s safe to read that article.” Well, whaddya know, midway through it spoils Boardwalk Empire for me! We have only seen season 1, but they have just aired season 3. I guess the moral of the story is…. I should get cable?! And I should watch shows on time. LOL
These are great – thanks for the recipe!
I also lacked a doughnut pan (no unitaskers in this kitchen!) so I used a mini muffin pan. Ended up leaving them in for about 15 minutes and they came out great! The doughnuts are so light and delicious. Also, because I’m crazy, I made a ganache glaze to go on them instead of just using powdered sugar. So good!
Yep, I need a batch of these in my life!
I have made these doughnuts before and they are amazing. I put a glaze on them instead of the powdered sugar and my family raved about them. This weekend I am making them again for a baby shower. How far in advance can I bake them? I won’t glaze them until the morning of but I didn’t want to make all of them in one day. Thanks!
Hi Maxine – I haven’t tried it, but since they are cake doughnuts I feel pretty confident in saying you could make them the day before and be fine. Just put them in a sealed container so they stay moist and fresh!