Vegan Chocolate Donut Recipe (2024)

This vegan chocolate donut recipe is not only easy to make, but it's also delicious! This recipe is baked, not fried, and is full of chocolate flavor. Then double dipped in a simple sugar glaze. Ready to eat in less than 30-minutes this is ALWAYS a crowd-pleaser!

These chocolate cake donuts taste just like chocolate cake in a donut form. My boys went crazy for these!

Why you'll love this vegan donut recipe

• They are baked and not fried- If you love fried donuts, I have you there with vegan pumpkin spice donuts or vegan apple cider donuts.
• It's a simple recipe made with simple ingredients
• It has the perfect sweet glaze
• You probably already have the vegan ingredients on hand

Ingredients and substitutions

• All purpose flour-I've never tried this recipe with gluten-free flour, but I think if you use an all-purpose gluten-free flour blend should work well. Otherwise, stick with regular flour here.

• Unsweetened cocoa powder- these donuts are made with dark unsweetened cocoa powder in these photos. You can use regular unsweetened cocoa powder for a less dark donut.

• Brown sugar-make sure to pack your brown sugar when you're making these. The brown sugar helps make these soft donuts and just adds a tasty flavor to the donuts.

• White sugar-I like the use of both granulated sugar and white brown sugar here.

• Baking powder-helps make these donuts rise so they look like donuts. I would keep this and not use baking soda. The ratios would be different.

• Salt-helps bring out the flavors in the donuts.

• Vegan Chocolate chips-this is a must for this recipe to make it tasty. There are a lot of delicious vegan chocolate chip brands. I typically have Trader Joes Semi-Sweet chocolate chips on hand.

• Non-dairy milk-you can use whichever you have on hand. I used soy milk, but I have also used almond milk, coconut milk, or oat milk.You're going to mix this with vinegar which makes vegan buttermilk. I have a whole article on vegan buttermilk.

• Vegan butter-I wouldn't sub this out for all oil; this adds a nice flavor and texture to these perfect vegan donuts.

• Oil-you want to use a neutral oil like vegetable oil or canola oil. I have never used melted coconut oil, but it would work. Don't use a strong oil like olive oil.

• Vanilla extract-try to use pure vanilla extract if you can because it's a decent quantity, but imitation will do if that's what you have.

Double Glaze

• Powdered sugar-if you have a sifter, then use it; otherwise, it will be okay. There is no substitute for powdered sugar.

• Vanilla extract-this gives the glaze a nice little vanilla flavor.

• Nondairy milk-the amount of non-dairy milk will vary; I used about ½ cup. Your glaze will be pretty thin, but you still want some sticking thickness to it.

Check out the recipe card at the bottom of this post for full ingredient and quantity information.

Variations and Add-ons

• Feel free to add a different glaze. You could do chocolate or vanilla frosting.
• Add sprinkles if you want
• You could make these with a peanut butter drizzle and crushed Oreos
• Add some peppermint extract to the donuts and top them with chocolate frosting and crushed peppermint.
• You could add mini chocolate chips to the batter if you want it to be extra chocolatey.

How to make

Step 1- Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees and greasing a donut pan; set it aside.

Step 2- Mix your dry ingredients in a large bowl: all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, brown sugar, white sugar, baking powder, and salt. Whisk until combined well (Photo 1).

Step 3- Take a small heat-proof bowl and add your vegan butter, oil, and chocolate chips; cook for 30 seconds in the microwave and stir until smooth.

Step 4- Add your wet ingredients; non-dairy milk, melted vegan butter, oil, melted chocolate chip combo, and vanilla (Photo 2). Mix with a spatula until well combined.

Step 5 - Take your donut pan, use your hands or spoon, and shape the donut batter in the donut pan (Photo 3).

You should get around six donuts in total.

Step 6- Bake in the preheated oven for 9-12 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean and they aren't too soft (Photo 4).

Don't overbake. Let them sit in the donut pan for 5 minutes before placing them on a cooling rack.

Make the glaze

Step 1- Take a medium bowl and add all the glaze ingredients. Stir until combined well. This is a wet glaze, but it should have some thickness (Photo 5).

Step 2- Take a large cookie sheet with a cooling rack on it. Dip a warm donut into the glaze (Photo 6); repeat with the remaining donuts. Then dip them a second time and let them rest on the rack.

Step 3- Repeat until your donuts are all cooked and glazed.

Expert Tips and Tricks

• Make sure to grease your donut pan.
• Use good quality vegan chocolate chips.
• You can use a ziplock bag or piping bag and cut the tip to squeeze the dough evenly into the donut pan.
• Make sure not to under bake or overbake the donuts. One will be mushy and the other will be dry. A toothpick should come out clean.

Recipe FAQS

Other Vegan Donuts to Consider...

• Vegan Pumpkin Spice Donuts
• Vegan Baked Cinnamon and Sugar Donuts
• Vegan Apple Cider Donuts

If you tried this Vegan Chocolate Donuts recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below. I love hearing from you!

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