Delightfully Moist Chocolate Glazed Orange Donuts: Your New Favorite Breakfast Treat
Prepare to elevate your breakfast game with these incredible Chocolate Glazed Orange Donuts! Imagine a tender, moist orange-flavored donut, baked to perfection, then generously dipped in a rich, dark chocolate glaze infused with bright orange zest. This isn’t just a donut; it’s a gourmet experience that combines two classic flavors into one irresistible treat. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or a kitchen novice, this recipe promises a delightfully unique and satisfying result that will have everyone asking for more.
The Enduring Appeal of Chocolate and Orange
Do you ever eagerly anticipate those famous chocolate oranges that appear around Christmas time? The sheer joy of unwrapping that foil and giving it a satisfying smash to break it into segments is a simple pleasure. This iconic holiday candy is a testament to how perfectly chocolate and orange complement each other. The deep, sometimes slightly bitter notes of chocolate harmonize beautifully with the sweet, tangy, and aromatic essence of fresh oranges.
This harmonious flavor pairing isn’t limited to holiday treats. It’s a beloved combination found in various desserts, from sophisticated patisserie creations to everyday delights. I love these flavors so much that these baked orange donuts are actually the second recipe I’ve developed showcasing this duo; the first being my popular chocolate orange shortbread cookies. The combination truly is a winner.
There’s something uniquely satisfying about that giant ball of chocolate you have to smash to get to the delicious pieces inside. It’s almost therapeutic, a perfect little moment of stress relief with a sweet reward. Why aren’t these delightful chocolate oranges available year-round? It seems like a missed opportunity for chocolatiers, especially considering how many of us keep a secret stash of chocolate for those moments when we truly need it. The act of smashing it, the anticipation, and then the pure enjoyment – it’s a cathartic experience. It just makes sense!
But I digress… and sadly, chocolate oranges aren’t sold year-round in most places. So, I took matters into my own hands and combined two of my favorite things – the irresistible flavor of chocolate and orange, and the sheer joy of a fresh donut – to create something truly wonderful: Chocolate Glazed Orange Donuts!
The Art of the Baked Donut
Unlike their fried counterparts, baked donuts offer a lighter, cake-like texture that’s incredibly satisfying and often much easier to make at home. You don’t need a deep fryer or vats of oil, just a donut pan and a preheated oven. This makes them a fantastic option for a quick weekend breakfast or a special brunch treat without all the fuss and mess associated with traditional donuts.
Our baked orange donuts are naturally flavored, ensuring every bite is bursting with bright citrus notes. The secret to their incredible orange flavor comes from a combination of rich orange marmalade and fresh-squeezed orange juice. The marmalade not only imparts a deep, complex orange taste but also adds to the donut’s moist texture, while the fresh juice ensures a vibrant, zesty finish.
Crafting the Perfect Chocolate Orange Donut
Making these homemade chocolate orange donuts is a straightforward process, resulting in a batch of incredibly flavorful and moist treats. The donut batter itself is simple to whip up, combining dry ingredients like all-purpose flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder with wet ingredients including eggs, melted butter, orange marmalade, and fresh orange juice. The key is to mix just until combined to ensure a tender crumb, avoiding overmixing which can lead to tough donuts.
Once your batter is ready, a handy trick is to transfer it to a large Ziploc bag. Snip off one corner, and you have an instant piping bag, making it incredibly easy and neat to fill the cavities of your donut pan. This method helps create perfectly shaped donuts every time, ensuring they bake evenly and look as good as they taste.
After a quick bake in a hot oven, these beauties emerge lightly golden brown and wonderfully aromatic. The intense orange scent from the baking donuts is simply intoxicating!
The Zesty Dark Chocolate Glaze
No chocolate orange donut would be complete without a luscious chocolate glaze, and this one is truly special. It’s a rich, dark chocolate glaze, perfectly balanced with the addition of fresh orange zest. The zest elevates the glaze, adding an extra layer of citrus aroma and flavor that ties everything together beautifully. The glaze is made from simple ingredients: chocolate chips, a touch of water, and corn syrup, which gives it a lovely sheen and helps it set nicely.
Dipping each warm donut into this glistening, orange-infused chocolate glaze is the final step to creating these masterpieces. Let them sit on a wire rack for a bit to allow the glaze to set, and you’ll be rewarded with a professional-looking and utterly delicious treat.
These homemade chocolate orange donuts are truly best eaten fresh, ideally on the day they are made, when their texture is at its peak and the flavors are most vibrant. While they can be shared with friends and family, don’t be surprised if you find yourself wanting to keep them all to yourself!
Tips for Donut Perfection
- Fresh Ingredients: Always use fresh orange juice and zest for the best, brightest flavor.
- Donut Pan Prep: Don’t skip the nonstick spray, even if your pan is nonstick, to ensure easy release.
- Don’t Overmix: Mix the batter just until the dry and wet ingredients are combined. Overmixing develops gluten, leading to tougher donuts.
- Piping Bag Method: Using a Ziploc bag with a snipped corner is a game-changer for neatly filling donut cavities.
- Monitor Baking Time: Baking times can vary slightly depending on your oven and the size of your donut pan. Keep an eye on them; they are done when lightly golden brown and spring back when gently touched.
- Cooling: Allow donuts to cool on a wire rack for at least 15 minutes before glazing. This prevents the glaze from melting off.
- Glaze Consistency: If your glaze is too thick, add a tiny bit more water (half a teaspoon at a time). If it’s too thin, add a sprinkle of powdered sugar.
These donuts are perfect for a special breakfast, a delightful brunch centerpiece, or even an afternoon treat with a cup of coffee or tea. Their vibrant flavor and satisfying texture make them an instant hit.
Chocolate Glazed Orange Donuts
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Ingredients
For the Donuts
- 1 3/4 cups all purpose unbleached flour
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 2 large eggs
- 1/4 cup butter (melted)
- 1/2 cup orange marmalade
- 1/2 cup orange juice (fresh squeezed)
For the Glaze
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips
- 2 teaspoons water
- 2 teaspoons corn syrup
- 2 teaspoons orange zest
Instructions
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Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200°C). Prepare your donut pan by lightly greasing it with nonstick cooking spray, ensuring all cavities are coated.
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In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the dry ingredients: flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder. Whisk them together until well blended and set this bowl aside.
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In a separate, larger bowl, stir together the wet ingredients: eggs, melted butter, orange marmalade, and fresh orange juice. Mix until smooth. Gradually add the reserved flour mixture to the wet ingredients, stirring gently with a spatula or wooden spoon just until the ingredients are combined and no dry streaks of flour remain. Be careful not to overmix the batter.
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Transfer the donut batter into a large Ziploc bag. Using scissors, snip off a small portion of one corner of the bag (about 1/2 inch) to create an opening. Carefully pipe the donut batter into each cavity of your prepared donut pan, filling each about two-thirds full.
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Bake in the preheated oven at 400°F (200°C). Baking times will vary depending on the size of your donut pan: approximately 7-9 minutes for mini donut pans, 9-11 minutes for medium-sized donut pans, or 13-15 minutes for large-sized donut pans. Bake until the tops are lightly golden brown and spring back when gently pressed. Remove the pan from the oven and let the donuts cool in the pan on a wire rack for 15 minutes before carefully removing them from the cavities.
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While the donuts cool, prepare the glaze. In a microwave-safe bowl, melt 1/2 cup of chocolate chips. Heat on 50% power in 30-second intervals, stirring after each, until the chocolate is completely smooth and melted. Stir in the orange zest, water, and corn syrup until the glaze is smooth and glossy. Dip the top of each cooled donut into the warm chocolate glaze, allowing any excess to drip off. Place the glazed donuts back on the wire racks to let the glaze set completely.
Nutrition
Explore More Donut Delights
If you’re a true donut fiend like I am, the craving for these delightful baked treats never truly ends! Beyond these heavenly chocolate orange donuts, there’s a whole world of homemade donut possibilities to explore. Baking donuts at home is a rewarding experience, allowing you to control the flavors and ingredients, and create fresh, warm treats that are far superior to anything store-bought.
Be sure to check out some of my other favorite baked donut recipes, each offering a unique twist on this beloved classic. You can also visit my dedicated “Go Nuts for Donuts” board on Pinterest for even more inspiration and ideas for your next baking adventure!
Banana Donuts with Salted Caramel Glaze
If you love the comforting taste of banana bread, these donuts are for you. Imagine a moist, tender banana-infused donut, perfectly spiced and baked until golden. But the real star here is the glorious salted caramel glaze. It’s rich, buttery, and has that perfect balance of sweet and savory that makes it utterly addictive. The glaze sets up beautifully, creating a stunning finish that looks as professional as it tastes. These are an absolute must-try for any banana bread and caramel lover, perfect for a cozy morning or an indulgent dessert.
Chocolate Zucchini Donuts
Looking for a clever way to sneak some vegetables into your dessert, or simply love the combination of moist chocolate cake with a hint of something extra? These Chocolate Zucchini Donuts are surprisingly delicious! The zucchini melts seamlessly into the batter, providing an incredible amount of moisture and making these chocolate donuts exceptionally tender and rich, without any noticeable “vegetable” flavor. They’re like a secretly healthier version of your favorite chocolate cake, in donut form. A perfect treat that even the pickiest eaters will adore, and a fantastic way to use up that abundant summer zucchini harvest.
Whether you’re craving citrusy brightness, a sweet and salty kick, or a rich chocolate indulgence, there’s a homemade donut recipe waiting for you. Happy baking!