Amazing 1 Dark Chocolate Donuts Recipe

If you are searching for the perfect marriage of deep, rich cocoa and bright, zesty citrus, look no further than these Dark Chocolate Donuts with Blood Orange Glaze. I’m Daniel, and when I started Reciqa, I wanted to prove that everyday treats could be both incredibly comforting and surprisingly easy. Cooking, for me, has always been about creating moments of joy, and these baked donuts absolutely deliver that feeling.

Forget the messy frying; these are baked, which makes them a dream to whip up on a busy morning or for a weekend brunch surprise. The secret is the balance—that intense dark chocolate flavor gets cut perfectly by the sweet-tart tang of the blood orange glaze. Trust me, once you try this combination, it will become your new go-to indulgence!

Why You Will Love These Dark Chocolate Donuts with Blood Orange Glaze

These aren’t just any donuts; they are quick, satisfying, and genuinely special. Here’s why they’ll earn a permanent spot in your baking rotation:

• They are baked, not fried, which keeps things low-fuss and lighter.
• The intense dark chocolate batter is perfectly offset by the bright, slightly mysterious flavor of the blood orange glaze.
• They come together so fast—you’ll be amazed at the minimal time commitment for maximum flavor payoff.
• The texture is wonderfully soft and melts right in your mouth!

Gathering Ingredients for Dark Chocolate Donuts with Blood Orange Glaze

Okay, now that you’re excited about these beauties, let’s talk about what you need! Getting the right ingredients ready beforehand—what we chefs call *mise en place*—is half the battle won, especially when you’re moving fast. Don’t stress about tracking down obscure items; most of this is standard pantry stuff, except maybe the star of the show, the blood orange!

We are going to separate our list into three clear groups: the dry bits, the wet components, and the glaze magic makers. Having everything measured out keeps the mixing process smooth and prevents that awful moment when you realize you forgot the baking soda!

Dry Ingredients for Dark Chocolate Donuts with Blood Orange Glaze

• 2/3 cup all purpose flour
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (make sure it’s the unsweetened kind!)
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt

Wet Ingredients for Dark Chocolate Donuts with Blood Orange Glaze

• 1 large egg (just one, but make sure it’s room temperature if you can!)
• 1/3 cup whole milk (no skimming allowed here, we need that fat!)
• 1/4 cup (that’s 4 tablespoons) melted butter (let it cool slightly so it doesn’t scramble the egg!)
• 1/4 cup greek yogurt (I use plain, full-fat yogurt for the best richness)
• 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips (these get melted down separately to give us that deep chocolate punch)

Crafting the Tangy Blood Orange Glaze

This is where the citrus zing comes in! You only need a few things, but the quality of that juice really makes the glaze sing.

• 1 cup powdered sugar (sift this if you have time, it helps avoid lumps!)
• The juice of 1 whole blood orange (aim for about 3 tablespoons of fresh juice, give or take)

Step-by-Step Instructions for Dark Chocolate Donuts with Blood Orange Glaze

Alright, let’s get these beauties into the oven! Since these are baked, the prep is super fast, but we need to be careful not to overmix the batter. That’s the quickest way to turn a tender donut into something tough!

Preparing the Dough Batter

First things first: get your oven cranked up to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Don’t forget to grease your donut pan really well. I usually use a little cooking spray, but a tiny bit of soft butter brushed into every nook works wonders too. Set that aside.

In a big bowl, we start with the dry team. Whisk together your flour, cocoa powder, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisking them together really well ensures everything is evenly distributed, so you don’t end up with a pocket of baking soda in one donut, you know?

Now for the wet side. In a separate, smaller bowl, mix up the egg, whole milk, Greek yogurt, and the melted butter. Remember, that butter needs to be slightly cooled down before it meets the egg, or we’ll have scrambled eggs in our batter—nobody wants that!

Slowly introduce the wet mixture into the dry mixture. Use a wooden spoon here, not an electric mixer! Mix only until you see just a few streaks of flour still visible. This is crucial for tenderness. Then, gently fold in your 1/4 cup of melted dark chocolate chips. Mix until it’s *just* combined. Stop stirring the second it looks uniform!

Baking Your Dark Chocolate Donuts

This is where the piping bag comes in handy—it makes filling the little donut wells so much cleaner. If you’re using a Ziploc bag, just snip a corner off. Carefully pipe the batter into your prepared donut cavities, filling each one about three-quarters full. Don’t overfill them, or they’ll puff up and merge into one giant chocolate blob!

Pop them into the preheated oven for about 10 to 11 minutes. Keep an eye on them! These bake fast. You’ll know they are ready when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, or maybe with just a few moist crumbs clinging to it. Let them cool in the pan for five minutes before you try to wrestle them out onto a wire rack to finish cooling completely. They are delicate when warm!

Creating and Applying the Blood Orange Glaze

While those chocolate bases are cooling down, we make the star of the show: the blood orange glaze. Combine your powdered sugar with the fresh juice of that beautiful blood orange in a bowl. Whisk it vigorously until it’s smooth. If it looks too stiff, just add a tiny splash of water—maybe a teaspoon at a time—until it drizzles nicely off the whisk. It should be thick enough to coat but thin enough to run.

Once the donuts are totally cool (this is important, or the glaze melts right off!), it’s decorating time. I like to dip just the top half of the donut right into the glaze for a really satisfying look. Or, if you’re feeling artistic, just drizzle it back and forth across the tops. Let that glaze set for about 15 minutes before you dive in. The smell alone is worth the wait!

Expert Tips for Perfect Dark Chocolate Donuts with Blood Orange Glaze

Baking these dark chocolate donuts is easy, but a couple of small tricks will take them from good to absolutely unforgettable. I’ve learned these little secrets over many test batches, so pay attention!

• Don’t Skip the Yogurt: That Greek yogurt isn’t just for tang; it keeps the crumb incredibly soft and moist. If you try to substitute it with only milk, you’ll notice a difference in texture immediately.
• Cool Completely Before Glazing: This is my biggest rule for any glazed baked good. If there is even a hint of warmth left in the donut, your gorgeous blood orange glaze will melt into a sticky, thin mess instead of setting up beautifully. Patience pays off here!
• The Chocolate Melt Trick: When melting those chocolate chips, use short bursts in the microwave—about 20 seconds at a time—stirring in between. This prevents scorching, which can make the chocolate taste bitter.
• Adjusting the Citrus Glaze: If your blood orange juice is super tart, you might need an extra tablespoon of powdered sugar. Taste as you go! You want that perfect sweet-tart snap.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dark Chocolate Donuts

It’s totally normal to have a few questions when trying a new recipe, especially when you’re mixing chocolate and citrus! I’ve gathered the most common things people ask about these baked donuts so you can bake with confidence.

Can I make these Dark Chocolate Donuts ahead of time?

You absolutely can! These dark chocolate donuts are best eaten the day they are made, but they hold up really well for a day or two. Store them in an airtight container at room temperature. If you glaze them ahead of time, make sure the glaze is fully set before you seal the container. If you wait to glaze them until the day you serve them, they stay even fresher!

What can I substitute for blood orange juice in the Blood Orange Glaze?

If blood oranges aren’t in season or you just can’t find them, don’t worry! You can easily swap that juice out. For a similar flavor profile, use regular fresh orange juice mixed with just a tiny splash of cranberry or grapefruit juice to mimic that deeper color and complexity. If you want a straightforward citrus glaze, pure fresh lemon juice works beautifully too, though it will be much tangier. Just adjust the powdered sugar slightly if you change the acidity!

Storing Your Leftover Dark Chocolate Donuts with Blood Orange Glaze

These dark chocolate donuts are so melt-in-your-mouth good that you might actually have leftovers—though I doubt it! Since they are baked and have that lovely yogurt in them, they stay soft for a couple of days. The key is keeping the air out so the glaze doesn’t get sticky or weep.

Store them in an airtight container. I generally keep mine right on the counter if I plan to eat them within 24 hours. If you need them to last longer, the fridge is safer, but bring them back to room temperature for about 15 minutes before eating so the chocolate flavor really wakes up again!

Storage and Reheating Table

Storage Location	Duration	Reheating Tip
Airtight Container (Counter)	Up to 2 days	Room temp is best
Airtight Container (Fridge)	Up to 4 days	Microwave 5-10 seconds

Sharing Your Dark Chocolate Donuts with Blood Orange Glaze Experience

I truly hope you loved baking these dark chocolate donuts as much as I love sharing them with you! Cooking is always better when we share the results. Did the blood orange glaze set up perfectly for you? Head down to the comments below and let me know how your first batch turned out. Don’t forget to drop a star rating—it helps others find this delicious recipe!

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