These baked black chocolate Halloween Donuts are rich, spooky, and easy to make—no food coloring needed! Perfect for a fun treat, with a deep cocoa flavor, simple black glaze, and candy eyes.
When Halloween rolls around, I’m always on the lookout for spooky yet tasty treats to share with family and friends.
These Baked Black Chocolate Donuts are my go-to for festive baking. They’re rich, moist, and have a deep rich chocolate flavor thanks to the black cocoa powder.
The black cocoa gives them their signature dark, almost gothic appearance, making them the perfect centerpiece for a Halloween gathering. And it adds an Oreo-like flavor!
The glaze is a simple mix of powdered sugar, black cocoa, and milk, but when you add candy eyes to the top, these donuts really come to life (in the spooky Halloween sense).
Whether you’re serving these at a party or just baking for fun, they’re sure to be a hit.
The donuts themselves have a moist, tender crumb that’s rich with cocoa flavor, slightly sweet, and not too heavy.
The glaze adds a glossy finish and extra sweetness, making these an indulgent treat without being overly rich.
I love making them because not only do they taste fantastic, but they’re also so fun to decorate, especially if you’re baking with kids or getting creative for Halloween.
Try them with some easy Halloween Oreo Truffle Bats and Ghost Halloween Rice Krispie Treats for spooky cute fun!
Jump to:
What is Black Cocoa Powder?
Black cocoa powder is a type of cocoa that's been heavily Dutched or alkalized, meaning it's treated to reduce acidity and deepen its color.
This process gives it a strikingly dark, almost black appearance and a smoother, less bitter taste compared to regular cocoa powder.
Its flavor is similar to that of chocolate sandwich cookies (like Oreos) and it’s often used in baking for its intense color and rich, mild chocolate flavor.
Unlike traditional cocoa, black cocoa doesn’t have much of a bitter edge, making it perfect for recipes where color and subtle chocolate notes are key.
I buy mine from Amazon, but you can also find it in cake decorating stores. If you don't have any, just use a regular cocoa powder - they just won't be as black.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Spooky Appeal: The deep black color and candy eyes make these donuts perfect for Halloween.
- Rich Cocoa Flavor: The black cocoa powder gives these donuts an intense chocolate taste.
- Easy to Make: No frying necessary—these donuts are baked, making them healthier and less messy.
- Fun for Decorating: You can get creative with the decorations, adding candy eyes or even edible glitter.
- Crowd Pleaser: These donuts are a hit with both kids and adults, making them great for parties.
Ingredients
- All-purpose flour – This forms the base of the donuts, giving them structure.
- Black cocoa powder – The star ingredient. Black cocoa gives the donuts their deep color and rich, almost Oreo-like chocolate flavor. You can substitute regular cocoa powder, but they won’t have the same intense look or taste. I buy mine on Amazon.
- Baking powder & Baking soda – These help the donuts rise and stay light and fluffy.
- Salt – Just a pinch to balance the sweetness and enhance the cocoa flavor.
- Granulated sugar – Adds sweetness and helps the donuts achieve a light, tender crumb.
- Eggs – Eggs bind everything together and add richness. Make sure they’re at room temperature to ensure a smooth batter.
- Whole milk – Adds moisture and tenderness. You can substitute with a dairy-free milk if needed.
- Unsalted butter– Butter adds flavor and helps keep the donuts moist.
- Vanilla extract – Enhances the chocolate flavor with its warm, sweet notes.
- Sour cream or yogurt – Adds moisture and a slight tang, which pairs well with the richness of the cocoa.
- Powdered icing sugar - for the glaze
- Candy eyes - to decorate
See the recipe card for quantities and method.
How to make Halloween donuts
Follow these step-by-step instructions, then scroll down for the full ingredients list and method.
Scroll down for the full ingredients list and method.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, black cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together the sugar and eggs until smooth.
Add the milk, melted butter, vanilla extract, and yogurt or sour cream, mixing until well combined.
Slowly fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, stirring just until everything is well combined. Avoid overmixing.
Spoon or pipe the batter into the prepared donut cavities, filling each about ¾ full.
Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the donuts spring back when gently pressed and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Remove from the oven and allow them to cool in the pan for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
For the glaze: In a small bowl, sift together the powdered sugar and black cocoa powder.
Add vanilla extract and 2 tablespoons of milk, then stir until smooth and glossy. If the glaze is too thick, add a bit more milk (a teaspoon at a time) until it reaches your desired consistency.
Once the donuts are completely cooled, dip the top of each donut into the black cocoa glaze, allowing any excess to drip off.
Add candy eyes decoratively.
Place the glazed donuts on a wire rack to allow the glaze to set, about 10-15 minutes.
Serving Suggestions
- Serve these donuts at a Halloween party with a spooky drink like black lemonade or a witch’s brew punch.
- Enjoy them with a hot cup of coffee or cocoa for a festive fall breakfast.
- Serve them for a kid-friendly dessert at Halloween.
Variations
- If you can’t find black cocoa powder, use regular unsweetened cocoa powder for a lighter chocolate donut.
- Use orange or purple sprinkles for a more festive touch.
- Add cinnamon or nutmeg to the batter for a warm, spicy twist.
- Mix in chocolate chips for extra decadence.
- Add orange zest to the batter or glaze for a citrusy contrast to the rich chocolate.
More Halloween Recipes
Recipe Tips
- Be sure not to overmix the batter—overmixing can lead to tough donuts.
- For a cleaner finish, pipe the batter into the donut molds using a pastry bag or zip-top bag with the corner snipped off.
- Allow the donuts to cool completely before glazing, or the glaze will slide right off.
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📖 Recipe
Baked Black Chocolate Halloween Donuts
Equipment
- Mixing Bowl
- Baked Donut Pan
Ingredients
For the Donuts:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup black cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅔ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- ½ cup whole milk room temperature
- ¼ cup unsalted butter melted and cooled
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup sour cream or yogurt room temperature
For the Black Cocoa Glaze:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoon black cocoa powder
- 2 tbsp milk adjust for consistency
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
To Decorate:
- Candy Eyes
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 12-cavity donut pan with non-stick spray or butter.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, black cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the sugar and eggs until smooth. Add the milk, melted butter, vanilla extract, and yogurt or sour cream, mixing until well combined.
- Slowly fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, stirring just until everything is well combined. Avoid overmixing.
- Spoon or pipe the batter into the prepared donut cavities, filling each about ¾ full.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the donuts spring back when gently pressed and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Remove from the oven and allow them to cool in the pan for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- For the glaze: In a small bowl, sift together the powdered sugar and black cocoa powder.
- Add vanilla extract and 2 tablespoons of milk, then stir until smooth and glossy. If the glaze is too thick, add a bit more milk (a teaspoon at a time) until it reaches your desired consistency.
- Once the donuts are completely cooled, dip the top of each donut into the black cocoa glaze, allowing any excess to drip off.
- Add candy eyes decoratively.
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors, so is not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietician for special diet advice.
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