These delicious chocolate cake donuts with Jimmie sprinkles are easy to make and are a family fun dessert recipe to make with the kids. Sprinkles are always a fun treat!
I love donuts. I think most of us do. They’re one of those delicious treats that have been around since our childhoods. Whether we got them from a box at the store or from a Krispy Kream or Dunkin Donuts down the street, donuts have always been around. The problem with buying donuts, however, is that you can never be sure how fresh they’ll be. I’ve brought home some incredibly fresh donuts, but then again, I’ve also brought home donuts that should never have been on the shelf, in my opinion. It’s a total crapshoot. Rather than lay my money down and roll the dice, I decided it would be much better to simply make my own, and that’s exactly what I did!
Chocolate Cake Donuts
I’m a big fan of cake donuts. I love their texture and flavor, and it’s a huge bonus that they’re the easiest kind of donut to make at home. Because they’re baked and not deep fried, there’s no intensive cleanup of spatter and not draining to try to make sure you get all the donut flavor and none of the grease. These donuts have that cakey texture that I love in cake donuts, and they also have a deep, rich chocolate flavor that will satisfy any chocolate lover.
Easy Chocolate Donuts Recipe
Another big selling point about these donuts is how easy they are to make! It’s a simple batter recipe that doesn’t require any advanced ingredients or techniques. This is a recipe so simple that even beginners can do it. It only takes a few minutes of prep and mixing, and then you’re ready to bake and enjoy. It doesn’t get easier than that! And when you taste them, you’ll swear it should have taken so much more effort than it did.
Chocolate Donuts with Jimmie Sprinkles
To gild the lily, er donut, I love to top these chocolate cake donuts with chocolate glaze and Jimmies. Those big, rainbow-colored sprinkles add a nice pop of color to the donuts as well as an extra sweet kick and crunch when you bite into these cakey little delights. Every single bite is an explosion of deep, rich, and sweet chocolate along with a pop of sweet crunch from the Jimmies. It all combines to make a recipe that both kids and adults will adore.
FAQ
Before you dive into this recipe, take a moment to check out this handy dandy FAQ. It covers the most commonly asked question regarding these chocolate cake donuts, so it’s worth a read.
What are Jimmie sprinkles?
Jimmies are just sprinkles with a different name. Sprinkles are not divided into certain names based on size or color, so while many people may claim that Jimmies are larger versions of sprinkles, the reality is that they’re just sprinkles with a different name.
What is the difference between Jimmies and Sprinkles?
Many people swear that there’s a difference between Jimmies and sprinkles, but in reality, there’s not. The word “Jimmies” is just another term for sprinkles. In most parts of the country, sprinkles is the word that people use. However, in Pittsburgh and the surrounding Northeastern states, Jimmies is the term used because it was first printed in reference to sprinkles in the Pittsburgh Press.
How long do baked donuts last?
Baked donuts will last for one to two days at room temperature and up to a week in the refrigerator.
Can you freeze baked donuts?
You can store these for up to a month in the freezer but only BEFORE adding the frosting. You’ll want to frost them after defrosting.
Ingredients to Make Chocolate Cake Donuts
It only takes simple ingredients to make these delicious chocolate cake donuts, and all of them are basic baking kitchen essentials.
- All-purpose flour
- Hershey’s® Special Dark chocolate cocoa
- Brown sugar
- Baking powder
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Large eggs
- Buttermilk
- Vanilla extract
- Butter, melted
- Dark chocolate melting wafers
- Corn syrup
- Water
- Jimmie sprinkles
How to Make Chocolate Cake Donuts
Making these chocolate cake donuts is a straightforward process. It doesn’t take any advanced baking skills whatsoever. It’s a simple batter that is simply baked.
Step 1: Prep
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and spray a donut pan with non-stick cooking spray.
Step 2: Make the Donut Batter
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, brown sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. In a medium-sized bowl, add eggs, buttermilk, vanilla, and cooled melted butter. Whisk until well combined. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until fully incorporated.
Step 3: Bake
Transfer donut batter into a piping bag or large Ziploc bag and pipe into prepared doughnut pans. Pipe batter until it fills the donut pan halfway. Bake in preheated oven for 14-16 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove from oven and let cool in pans for 3-5 minutes. Remove from pans and set on a cooling rack. When completely cook, add the icing and sprinkles.
Step 4: Make the Icing
While the donuts are baking, make the icing. In a microwave-safe bowl, add the chocolate wafers, butter, corn syrup, and water. Microwave on high for 20-second intervals, stirring after each time until the mixture is completely melted. Dip each donut into the chocolate icing and then dip into the Jimmie sprinkles. Repeat with each donut and then place on a wire rack to allow the icing to dry. Enjoy
Try These Chocolate Cake Donuts Today
With a wonderful cakey texture, deep chocolate flavor, and tasty, chocolate icing topped with sprinkles, these chocolate cake donuts are a bit of Heaven in every bite. They’re so pretty and full of flavor, everyone will think it took you forever to make them, but the truth is, you’ll be all done in no time flat. With a combination like that, you owe it to yourself to give it a try. Once you’ve made a batch you’ll find yourself looking for reasons to make more.
Looking For More Delicious Chocolate Recipes?
Peanut Butter S’mores Brownies – Everything you love about s’mores turned into a brownie with peanut butter too!
Chocolate White Chocolate Chip Cookies – These cookies are soft and chewy, thick and delicious and are a chocolate lover’s dream.
And, here is a Chocolate Brownie Pudding Cake from Great Grub, Delicious Treats you might enjoy too!
Chocolate Cake Donuts with Jimmie Sprinkles
Ingredients
For the Cake Donuts
- 1¾ cups all-purpose flour
- ⅔ cups dark cocoa powder
- 1½ cups brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ cup butter melted
For the Chocolate Icing
- 1 cup dark chocolate melting wafer
- 2 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon corn syrup
- 2 teaspoons water
- Jimmie sprinkles
Instructions
For the Chocolate Donuts
- Preheat oven to 350° and prepare donut pan by spraying with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, brown sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In a medium-sized bowl, add eggs, buttermilk, vanilla, and cooled melted butter. Whisk until well combined.
- Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and mix until fully incorporated.
- Transfer donut batter into a piping bag or large Ziploc bag and pipe into prepared donut pans. Pipe batter until it fills the donut pan halfway.
- Bake in preheated oven for 14-16 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Remove from oven and let cool in pans for 3-5 minutes. Remove from pans and set aside for icing.
For the Chocolate Icing
- While the donuts are baking, make the icing.
- In a microwave-safe bowl, add the chocolate wafers, butter, corn syrup, and water. Microwave on high for 20-second intervals, stirring after each time, until the mixture is completely melted.
- Dip each donut into the chocolate icing and then dip into the Jimmie sprinkles. Repeat with each donut and then place on a wire rack to allow the icing to dry. Enjoy.
Notes
