Frosted Chocolate Cherry Baked Doughnuts Recipe

Whip up a batch of chocolate cherry doughnuts for an easy baked breakfast this weekend. These are baked, not fried, and dipped in chocolate.

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This recipe is simple, like a muffin batter. The trick to gorgeous, smooth doughnuts is piping the batter into the muffin pan.

Doughnut tips

Do you need a piping bag?

You can use a fancy piping bag and tip if you have one, but it’s not essential. Take any zip-top bag and fill it with your prepared dough. Snip off a small piece on the corner – about half an inch max – and squeeze the dough out.

The batter will be so much neater than if you spoon it in, even if you are very careful.

What if I don’t have a doughnut pan?

I really like my doughnut pans and use them as often as my muffin pans. If you don’t have a doughnut pan, this recipe can also be baked in a muffin pan. You can scoop the batter into the muffin cups instead of piping. You may need to adjust the cooking time.

How to make chocolate cherry baked doughnuts

I used canned tart cherries, which came in juice. You might be able to use fresh or frozen ones, but I haven’t tried it. I used some of the juice from the can, but you could also purchase a separate bottle of juice if you’re using cherries other than canned.

Ingredients

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 cup butter, very soft or melted
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons cherry juice
• 1/4 cup tart cherries
• 2 tablespoons mini chocolate chips
• extra chocolate chips for frosting

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrehheit.

Start by mixing your batter using the simple and popular “muffin method.” First, combine the dry ingredients (flour, sugar, baking powder) in a small bowl. Next, combine the wet ingredients (butter, milk, egg, juice) in a large bowl or stand mixer and mix well.

Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir just until combined.

Fold the tart cherries into the batter. I used my stand mixer, so they broke up easily. Fold in the chocolate chips too.

Scoop the batter into a zip bag (or a pastry bag, if you have one). To avoid juggling spoons and batter and bags, I just opened my zip bag and set it into a plastic cup with the edge folded over. Then I was able to scoop the batter into the bag without spilling.

Just snip a corner off of the bag and pipe it into each space in the doughnut pan. The first time I made these, I tried to just spoon it in. Not only did it make lumpy doughnuts, but it also took twice as long.

Fill each cup about 2/3 full, barely below the lip of each cup.

Bake the doughnuts at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 15 minutes. The doughnuts should be soft and springy and just starting to turn golden.

Let the doughnuts cool for 10-15 minutes. You could stop here, but the addition of frosting makes these a real sweet treat.

To make the frosting, just put a few spoonfuls of chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl. Zap it in the microwave for about 20 to 30 seconds on 50 percent power and give it a stir.

Dip your doughnuts face-down into the chocolate.

Let the frosting cool for a few minutes to set, then enjoy. These will keep overnight on the counter in an air-tight container.

Printable chocolate cherry doughnut recipe

Yield: 12 doughnuts

Chocolate cherry baked doughnuts

Print

Prep Time 30 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 45 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 cup butter, very soft or melted
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons cherry juice
• 1/4 cup tart cherries
• 2 tablespoons mini chocolate chips
• (optional) extra chocolate chips for frosting

Instructions

1. Combine the dry ingredients (flour, sugar, baking powder) in a small bowl. Combine the wet ingredients (butter, milk, egg, juice) in a large bowl or stand mixer and mix well. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir just until combined.
2. Fold in the tart cherries.Fold in the chocolate chips.
3. Scoop the batter into a zip bag. Snip a corner off of the bag and pipe it into each space in the doughnut pan.
4. Bake the doughnuts in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 15 minutes. The doughnuts should be soft and springy and just starting to turn golden.
5. Let the doughnuts cool.
6. To make the frosting, just put a few spoonfuls of chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl. Zap it in the microwave for about 20 to 30 seconds and give it a stir.
7. Dip your doughnuts face-down into the chocolate and allow to cool.

Notes

Prep time includes frosting the doughnuts afterward.

Check out some other fun and creative ideas on One Mama’s Daily Drama:

• 29 Homemade Doughnut Recipes for Cozy Mornings
• Blueberry Yogurt Baked Doughnuts
• Apple Cinnamon Baked Doughnuts