Looking for an easy chocolate glazed donut recipe? These super fun pumpkin chocolate Halloween donuts have a homemade chocolate ganache and are decorated with plenty of colourful sprinkles! They’ll surely be a hit!
Heading your way today with a Halloween recipe.
Yep.
I went there.
Halloween.
No, it’s not too early.
It’s just around the corner.
And what way to channel festive Halloween vibes then with pumpkin spiced donuts (actually, pumpkin chocolate Halloween donuts to be exact). This easy baked donut recipe has it goin’ on, my friends!
To me, Halloween means chocolate, pumpkins and all sorts of sweets. These baked donuts deliver just that!
And, guess what? No mixer required! Woot woot!
Ingredients Needed for Halloween Donuts
- Flour
- Cocoa powder
- Sugar
- Pumpkin Spice
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Chocolate Milk
- Melted butter
- Egg
- Vanilla extract
- Fun Sprinkles
How to Make Them
Full details are in the recipe card below, but here are the basics:
Make your donut batter by mixing up the dry ingredients and then wet ingredients, combine and distribute into your donut pan (basically, much like you would do when making other baked goods).
Tip: Pipe or spoon the batter into the prepared pan. Do whatever works for you. For me, I just spoon the batter in and then tap the pan on a hard surface to level it out.
Then into the oven they go!
Allow the donuts to cool fully on a cooling rack before glazing.
Glaze after they’ve cooled.
Add some fun, festive sprinkles if you like!
How to Make Chocolate Ganache for Donuts
What is chocolate ganache anyway?
Chocolate ganache is essentially made of two ingredients: cream and chocolate. That’s it!
Basically, the ratio is equal parts cream to milk. For these glazed chocolate donuts, use 2 ounces of heavy cream (¼ cup) and 2 ounces of chocolate (56 grams).
- Heat the cream in a heavy-bottomed saucepan. Don’t boil, just heat through until it starts to bubble a little around the edges and it’s hot. Place chopped chocolate into a bowl and pour hot cream over top. Let sit a couple of minutes.
- Slowly start to stir the chocolate into the cream.
- Stir until cream and chocolate are combined and everything is nice and smooth. Allow to cool for about 5 minutes before you dunk those donuts in there (full details are in the recipe card below).
Tip: Chop the chocolate well so it melts easily when the hot cream is poured over top. It doesn’t have to be chopped finely or anything, you just don’t want big chunks.
What Type of Chocolate Do I Use for Ganache?
Use a good quality chocolate and choose bar form over chips. There’s only two ingredients (chocolate and cream) so, of course, the chocolate really stands out. Use something you enjoy.
The type of chocolate you use for the ganache will impact the overall sweetness of your ganache. I love to use a semi sweet chocolate.
Aside from semi sweet, bittersweet or dark works great in ganache.
What to Do With Leftover Ganache
Like I mentioned above, I love to double the recipe for ganache. And if you want to use this recipe for something larger (like a big cake or something), you may want to make even more ganache. Just stick with the same 1:1 ratio.
Leftovers can be used on more treats, like cookies, to glaze cupcakes, over cake, ice-cream, fruit and more!
Tips for Making This Recipe
- Allow these baked donuts to fully cool before glazing.
- Add those fun sprinkles while the glaze is wet so they stick.
- To get the glaze to set faster, pop the donuts in the refrigerator for a little bit. Though, you could dig in right away, if you like (which is what I always do).
- Prefer less pumpkin spice flavour? Use just 1 teaspoon of pumpkin spice.
- For extra chocolate oomph, try some shaved chocolate on top of the chocolate ganache.
More Homemade Halloween Treats
If you make this chocolate glazed donut recipe, be sure to leave a comment below!
Halloween Donuts (Pumpkin Chocolate)
Ingredients
Halloween Donuts (pumpkin chocolate)
- Cooking spray, to grease pan
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons cocoa powder
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1.5 teaspoons pumpkin spice
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 6 tablespoons chocolate milk, equates to â…“ cup plus 1 tablespoon
- 1 large egg
- 3 tablespoons melted unsalted butter
- 1.5 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Chocolate Ganache
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 2 ounces semi sweet chocolate, chopped (about 56 grams)
Garnish (optional)
- Fun sprinkles
Instructions
Halloween Donuts (pumpkin chocolate)
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Generously spray a 6-count donut pan with cooking spray and set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, sugar, pumpkin spice, baking powder, and salt.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the chocolate milk, egg, melted butter and vanilla extract. Add to dry ingredients (flour mixture). Whisk to combine.
- Distribute batter into prepared donut pan. You can pipe mixture in or spoon. Tap pan down on hard surface to settle batter. Bake for 7 to 8 minutes or until a wooden toothpick or cake tester inserted in the donuts comes out clean (check on at the 7-minute mark). Let donuts cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before gently removing and cooling completely on a cooling rack before glazing.
Chocolate Ganache
- Heat cream in a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. Don't boil.
- Place chopped chocolate into a heat-safe bowl and pour hot cream over top. Let sit for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Whisk or stir to incorporate the ingredients, until smooth. Allow to cool for 5 to 10 minutes before using.
Glaze the Donuts
- Dip cooled donuts in ganache and place on a cooling rack. Decorate with candy sprinkles, if desired. You can let the ganache set for a few minutes (if you like) before digging it. Enjoy!
Notes
- Allow these baked donuts to fully cool before glazing.
- Add those fun sprinkles while the glaze is wet so they stick.
- To get the glaze to set faster, pop the donuts in the refrigerator for a little bit. Though, you could dig in right away, if you like (which is what I always do!)
- Prefer less pumpkin spice flavour? Use just 1 teaspoon of pumpkin spice.
- For extra chocolate oomph, try some shaved chocolate on top of the chocolate ganache.
A note on times provided: appliances vary, any prep and/or cook times provided are estimates only.
Tried this recipe?
If you do make this recipe, thank you!! It would mean so much if you could leave a comment below. Love to know how you enjoyed it, and it helps other readers too!
Alexandra @ It's Not Complicated Recipes
I have been dreaming of these ever since I saw them on instagram! I cannot wait to make them 🙂 What a fun and festive sweet treat!
Ben|Havocinthekitchen
Nope, you’re not too early with Halloween recipes. Some stores in Nova Scotia were prepared and decorated a month ago. Besides, the next three months will pass by so quickly, so technically food bloggers should start thinking about Christmas recipes already haha! These donuts look fantastic. I’m not a fan of sprinkles, but I must admit they look good on Halloween treats; I do love the very last picture (with coloured sugar(?) and round sprinkles) – it looks spectacular!
Laura
These are so so cute and festive! I love the Halloween sprinkles on top! I need to get some of those donut molds to make these, but they look irresistible! And, pumpkin+chocolate? Yes, Please!
Kevin
Whoa! This are super festive and delicious looking too! Chocolate glazed donuts are for sure a favorite over here!
Marissa
You make the best baked donuts, Dawn! Loving these super cute and oh so tasty Halloween treats!
Haylie / Our Balanced Bowl
Twinning this week with the chocolate donut recipe!! I LOVE Halloween so I am obsessed with these!! That chocolate ganache just sounds perfect!! And i love the festive sprinkles! This year, my husband and I are hoping to go as Mulder and Scully from the X Files for Halloween! I hope one of these are in my future!!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Lol! That sounds super fun!! Love to see a pic of that! Thanks Haylie 🙂
[email protected]
Always on the lookout for an easy chocolate glazed donut recipe! How festive are these?! I’ll take a dozen, please!! Happy Monday, my friend! xoxo
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Thank you Annie! You got it 😉 Happy weekend to ya! XOXO
Leanne
I love baked donuts and pumpkin spice donuts are probably my favourite! The chocolate ganache on top looks seriously amazing and those festive sprinkles are so cute. I need to pick some up! Happy Monday Dawn! Pinning these to my donut board 😉
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Me too! Thank you Leanne! Sprinkles always increase the fun level 😉
David @ Spiced
It’s definitely not too early for Halloween, Dawn! In fact, our neighbors decorated about a month ago. 😛 Seriously, though, I’m planning on pulling out all of our decorations tomorrow…so these doughnuts would be the perfect snack while decorating for what is one of my favorite holidays of the year!
Also, leftover chocolate ganache? What is that? 🙂
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Haha! So so true 😉 Thanks David!
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen
Glad you went there Dawn because these are so fun and look totally delicious! Reminds me that I haven’t made baked donuts in a while! Gotta get my bake on. Pinned!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Haha! Thanks Mary Ann 🙂
Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen
You know what I’m gonna say: how is it that we’re posting Halloween recipes already? I need a dozen of these beauties so I can eat my feelings regarding the speed at which this year has passed :). Seriously though–they look amazing. Pumpkin and chocolate are such a winning combination!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Lol! I know, right??! Thank you Kelsie!
Katherine | Love In My Oven
Love, love these!! My kids would go nuts for them…and so would I! Such a fun Halloween treat! I also happen to love the combo of pumpkin and chocolate!! Have a great week, Dawn! XO
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
So happy to hear that! Thank you Katherine! Happy Saturday 🙂 XO
Valentina
Just pinned this baby to my Halloween Recipes. I love them! My favorite type of Halloween treat — delicious, and not made to look like a monster, goblin, etc. Ha ha! I only wish I had a plate of them here right this minute!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Yay! Thank you Valentina 🙂 Wish I could hand ya one!
Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop
What a fun treat! I love baked donuts because I feel indulgent without going overboard. These sprinkles are so cute and perfect for Halloween – and no, it’s not too early for Halloween!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Totally! Thank you so much, Kathy 🙂