Valentine's Day Series : Baked Chocolate Donuts ♥

Hello Everyone! ♥

It's Thursday already!  I meant to post this on Wednesday but somehow the week got away from me.  So here we are, one day closer to Friday and I am happy about that : ) 

Today I'm reposting a recipe for baked chocolate donuts.  I love this recipe and have made it several times since I originally posted it a few years ago.  When John was first diagnosed with his nut allergy it was devastating for him not to be able to go into a donut shop and get his favorite donuts. Because most bakeries and donut shops use nuts in their products we avoid them to be on the safe side. Over the years I have tried my best to recreate some of his favorite treats at home.  Some are epic fails, but this one was a winner.  And because they are baked and not fried we (I) don't feel as guilty eating them!  They are super chocolatey and I think would be a perfect Valentine's Day breakfast treat.  ♥

I remember the day I made these.  I came home from work early that day to make them so I could have them ready for John when he got home from school.  He was so excited! He was in the 4th grade then.  Now he's in 7th.  What a difference 3 years makes!  

Then...

Now...

He's still my baby and (thank goodness!) he still loves my donuts! ♥

Originally posted March 10, 2017

Hello Friends! Happy Friday!

This week has been a mix of emotions.  One day it's gorgeous and the crocuses are blooming....and the next...snow! Whaaat? This morning I woke up to a dusting of snow. Clearly Mother Nature is confused! And so am I.  I don't know how to dress anymore.  Just when I think I can put my winter boots and heavy sweaters away, along comes another storm. Sigh.... It's going to snow all day and they are predicting more next week.

John is on strike and completely refusing to wear his winter coat anymore. 

We are in total denial around here! ♥

March is all about being patient, right?  Spring will arrive in due time and I'll be ready when it does.  

On Saturday John has two friends coming over to play.  He loves company and is very excited!

Who knows, they could be playing inside with cars and watching a movie, or they could be playing outside in the snow.  We'll have to wait and see what the weather decides to do ♥

Other than the Saturday play date, our weekend is free.  I would like to do some housework and finish putting out some Spring decorations (again...denial) and maybe make a lasagna for dinner on Sunday.  I'm also thinking about pulling my bread machine out of the closet.  I haven't used it in a long time.  Do you have one? It's awesome!

Hmm, lasagna and a freshly baked loaf of bread. 

I'm seeing a dinner coming together and I like it : )

 It's daylight savings this weekend too! We lose an hour sleep Saturday night. It will be worth it to gain extra daylight in the evenings. As long as I can take a cat-nap on Sunday I'll be fine.  

No worries!  

Anyway....

So you know how there are some days when you NEED chocolate? Some days you enjoy chocolate, but other days you neeeeed it. Well yesterday was one of those days.  Crazy day at work and a million things to do at home.  That little voice inside of me (you know the one) was calling for chocolate!

And I answered!

I had seen this recipe on Facebook from www.bunsinmyoven.com about a week ago and could not stop thinking about.  I knew I had all the ingredients on hand so it would be easy for me to whip up. 

Yesterday was the day! I literally flew out the door at work to come home and make these. 

It was an emergency.

So simple~! 

1/2 cup flour

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup cocoa powder

1/4 cup chocolate chips (optional)

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1 egg

6  tablespoons of sour cream (just under 1/2 cup)

1/4 cup milk

1/4 cup vegetable oil

And for the glaze...

1 1/2 cup powdered sugar

1/4 cup milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven 375 degrees.

In a medium bowl, combine flour, sugar, cocoa powder, chocolate chips, baking soda, and salt.

I use Hershey's cocoa powder.  It's what my mother always uses ♥

In a small bowl beat together vanilla, egg, sour cream, milk, and oil.

Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until just combined.

The donut pan I use is this one I got at Target a few years ago. It's made by Nordic Ware.

I think I paid $8 for it. 

Worth every penny!

Spray the pan with non-stick spray and spoon the batter into the pan. 

Don't worry about the mess.  We're all friends here ♥

Bake 8-10 minutes or until the tops spring back when you touch them. 

Look at how puffy!!! 

I guess I filled them too much because I seemed to have lost the hole.

Can you tell I was hungry when making these? I should only have filled the pan 2/3 full. 

I had it overflowing!

That's okay....it's more donut to love :)

Leave in pan for a few minutes and then turn out on a rack to cool. 

Once flipped over you can see where the hole "should" be.  That's good enough for me!

For the glaze, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth. 

When donuts have cooled, dip them in the glaze to fully coat the top.  

Place on a wire rack to set, about 5 minutes.

John says these taste just like the chocolate glazed donuts at Dunkin Donuts! What a compliment!

This made me so happy to hear because since his peanut/tree nut allergy discovery last year we can't take him there for donuts anymore and he REALLY misses it.  I'm glad I can recreate something he loves at home!

Since there is no hole, there is a little well in the center for the icing. 

I'm not mad at that!

So what did I do last night?

I took my donut and a glass of milk and went to bed.  Because that's what you have to do sometimes to satisfy that little voice~

Here are two other donut recipes I've made in my pan:

cinnamon sugar donuts

lemon donuts with toasted coconut glaze

Wishing you all a happy weekend filled with sunny skies and chocolate donuts! Even if it's snowing where you are. Fear not.  Spring will not let us down!


Enjoy!  

  

PS... I don't know if you've noticed but I blogged 3 times this week! I am trying to stick to a regular blogging schedule now and hope to blog every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  I really love the consistency of it and I hope you do too.  

See you Monday! ♥♥♥

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Rereading this post I could really go for one of these donuts right now to dunk in my coffee!  Have a great day, friends!  

Thanks for visiting! XO