These Baked Hot Chocolate Doughnuts Will Warm Up Your Week

Warming up with these Healthier Baked Hot Chocolate Doughnuts (originally published on The Half Baked Harvest blog), made with coconut oil, sweet maple, whole wheat flour, and one top-secret ingredient that no one would guess. Then baked, dipped, dunked, and glazed generously in a rich and creamy coconut hot chocolate glaze. There's really nothing not to love about these cute (and just perfectly sweet) doughnuts. The true secret? Plenty of vanilla extract and a splash of almond extract to highlight the flavors within the chocolate. These easy baked doughnuts are best enjoyed with a sweet mug of hot chocolate… the perfect way to warm up this winter!

Photo by Half Baked Harvest

Here are the details – these are easy.

Start with the doughnuts. Since I wanted these to be made on the healthier sides, I had three goals. No added processed sugar, less white flour, and one sneaky ingredient that gives everyone an extra boost of vegetables.

The batter is simple. Mix coconut oil with maple or honey to sweeten, then add in some eggs. And then…the secret ingredient…a little pumpkin puree, which I promise is not detectable in any way. The pumpkin only adds moisture to these doughnuts, and of course, some added health benefits as well.

And the next key…vanilla with a splash of almond extract. If you don't have almond extract, that's OK, but it does add something special to these doughnuts. It helps to highlight the rich chocolate flavors in the glaze.

For the flours, I like to use mostly whole wheat flour with just a touch of all-purpose. You could also use a gluten-free flour blend, if needed. The whole wheat flour is not only healthier, it actually helps to create a really nice texture and crumb that's similar to a real-deal fried doughnut.

Once the batter is ready to go, just bake it up in a doughnut pan. Or if you don't have a doughnut pan, make doughnut holes using either a regular muffin pan or a mini muffin pan. Either option works just the same, but be sure to really grease the pan before adding the batter. This is a stickier batter, so greasing the pans is essential.

Now that hot chocolate glaze….

Oh, this glaze. It MAKES these doughnuts and is nothing like your average doughnut glaze.

For starters, it's made with real chocolate as opposed to just cocoa powder for an intense chocolate flavor. And to keep the glaze rich and creamy, a splash of coconut milk, vanilla, and just a touch of espresso. The espresso is optional, but I always add a shot to my hot chocolate recipe. It's delicious.

Once the doughnuts have baked, I like to let them cool completely, then dip them in the warm glaze. So make the glaze just after you pull the doughnuts out of the oven. Then enjoy a few doughnuts with the glaze still warm…and ideally with a side of creamy hot chocolate. Trust me, tis' very very good.

Photo by Half Baked Harvest

INGREDIENTS

• 1/4 cup melted coconut oil
• 1/2 cup real maple syrup, or honey
• 1/2 cup canned coconut milk (or milk of choice)
• 1/3 cup pumpkin puree (plain Greek yogurt or applesauce also work great)
• 2 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 1 cup + 2 tablespoons whole wheat pastry flour (or all-purpose flour)
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt

HOT CHOCOLATE GLAZE

• 1/2 cup semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips
• 1/3 cup canned full fat coconut milk (heavy cream/whole milk)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon espresso powder (optional)