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You are here: Home / Doughnuts / Chocolate Zucchini Doughnuts

Chocolate Zucchini Doughnuts

April 16, 2016 by Marisa 25 Comments

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Baked Chocolate Zucchini Doughnuts with finely chopped walnuts, topped with a chocolate glaze and some pretty sprinkles.

Chocolate Zucchini Doughtnuts

I have shared a couple of doughnut recipes here on the blog before and both of the deep fried variety. Such as these Zeppole, Ricotta Doughnuts and more recently my Castagnole Fritte.

However, my chocolate zucchini doughnuts featured today are of a completely different variety. They’re baked not fried and with the addition of grated zucchini and finely chopped walnuts.

These chocolate zucchini doughnuts have a soft cake like texture. They’re super moist and made more so after being dunked in a decadent chocolate glaze.

This is a simple snacking cake recipe given to me by a friend. I’ve tweaked the recipe and converted it into doughnuts. I think it’s a fun way of giving an old recipe new life. 

If you love easy to make desserts and have an extra zucchini hanging out in your fridge then these doughnuts are for you.

Freshly baked chocolate doughnuts

One will barely notice the zucchini in the doughnut because it just melts into the batter as it bakes. This is a great thing if there are finicky eaters in your family.

It’s a thoroughly wonderful way to sneak in some veggies in baked goods.

Chocolate Doughnuts topped with a chocolate glazed

I used 2 (3 inch round doughnut hole pans) for this recipe which yields 24 doughnuts. Each pan has 6 doughnut ring shapes which I let cool and resprayed with non-stick baking spray between batches.

Alternately, you may use a 9 inch square baking pan and bake the cake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees F and bake for about 40 minutes. Or until a wooden skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean.

You will only need half the quantity of chocolate glaze if opting to bake it in a cake form.

Zucchini Doughnuts topped with sprinkles.

Helpful Tips for Making Baked Doughnuts

Use the 6 to 8 minutes bake time as a general guideline and always check to see if they are done at the minimum amount of time as not all ovens are the same. Mine is a gas oven and my baked goods are usually ready at the minimum amount of time requested in most recipes.

Do use a piping bag or resealable plastic bag, snipped at one end, to fill the doughnut pans for perfectly round shaped doughnuts.

Fill only half way through (the doughnut rings) as the batter doubles in size once baked.

Let the doughnuts cool in the pan for a few minutes before loosening them around the edges and inverting them onto a cooling rack.

Last but not least top the doughnuts with lots and lots of sprinkles πŸ™‚

Happy Baking!

Zucchini Doughnuts topped with sprinkles.
Print Pin
2.67 from 3 votes

Chocolate Zucchini Doughnuts

These chocolate zucchini doughnuts with walnuts, have a cake like texture. They are baked, dunked in a decadent chocolate glaze and topped with sprinkles.
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword Baked Chocolate Zucchini Doughnuts
Servings 24 doughnuts
Calories 154kcal
Author Marisa

Ingredients

  • DOUGHNUTS
  • 1 1/2 cups flour
  • 1/3 cup cocoa powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/3 cup softened butter
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 large eggs lightly beaten
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/3 whole cup milk
  • 1 cup grated zucchini from 1 small zucchini
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts
  • Chocolate Glaze
  • 2 cups icing sugar
  • 4 tablespoons cocoa powder
  • 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
  • 4 tablespoons whole milk
  • chocolate sprinkles or any other of your choice

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Grease a 2 inch doughnut pan with a nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
  • In a large size bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
  • In a separate bowl, beat together the butter and sugar until creamy.
  • Add in the eggs, vanilla and beat until well combined.
  • Stir in the flour mixture alternately with the milk. Stating and ending with the flour mixture.
  • Add in the zucchini and the nuts. Stir till combined.
  • Spoon the doughnut batter into a large resealable plastic bag. Snip off one corner of the bag and pipe the batter into the prepared pans, filling the doughnut rings only half way through.
  • Bake 6 to 8 minutes or until the tops spring back when lightly touched.
  • When ready, let the doughnuts rest in the pan for a few minutes then gently loosen around the edges and carefully invert onto a cooling rack.
  • Cool and spray the doughnut pans with nonstick spray between batches.
  • CHOCOLATE GLAZE
  • In a large bowl, whisk together the icing sugar, cocoa powder, corn syrup and whole milk.
  • To coat the doughnuts with the chocolate glaze you can either dunk them in the glaze, letting any excess drip off or simply spoon the chocolate glaze over the doughnuts.
  • Place the doughnuts on a wire rack with a cookie sheet underneath to catch any drippings.
  • Top with the sprinkles of your choice.

Nutrition

Calories: 154kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 14mg | Sodium: 109mg | Potassium: 97mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 19g | Vitamin A: 147IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 24mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @marisasitaliankitchen or tag #marisasitaliankitchen!

 

Filed Under: Dessert, Doughnuts Tagged With: birthday, cake, chocolate, dessert, doughnuts, sprinkles, sweet, walnuts, zucchini

Previous Post: « Citrus Madeleines
Next Post: Vegan Eggplant Pockets »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. blanklindaravello

    April 16, 2016 at 7:37 am

    Lovely Marisa – I love the idea of using vegetables in sweet dishes

    Reply
    • blankMarisa

      April 16, 2016 at 10:52 am

      Thank-you Linda, it does take away some of the guilt doesn’t it ?

      Reply
  2. blankLynz Real Cooking

    April 16, 2016 at 8:39 am

    Yumm these look so beautiful and yummy! I love the fact that they are baked and the zucchini! Wonderful

    Reply
    • blankMarisa

      April 16, 2016 at 10:59 am

      Thank-you Lynn! Was wondering if this post appeared in your reader. Some followers are still experiencing this issue and I have not been able to resolve it. If you know of anyone with the same problem do let me know. Thanks a bunch ?

      Reply
      • blankLynz Real Cooking

        April 16, 2016 at 12:55 pm

        I will dear xxx

  3. blankLana-Once Upon a Spice

    April 17, 2016 at 12:58 pm

    What an eye & talent you have, sweet friend! xoxo!

    Reply
    • blankMarisa

      April 17, 2016 at 11:32 pm

      Thanks dear Lana, that is very kind of you πŸ™‚

      Reply
  4. blankTasty Eats Ronit Penso

    April 18, 2016 at 12:55 pm

    These look wonderful! I guess I can have more than one and claim it is healthy due to the zucchini! πŸ˜€

    Reply
    • blankMarisa

      April 18, 2016 at 10:47 pm

      Absolutely Ronit, and they are baked πŸ™‚

      Reply
  5. blanklapetitepaniere

    April 19, 2016 at 12:58 am

    These Doughnut sound delicious and look beautiful, Marisa! πŸ™‚

    Reply
    • blankMarisa

      April 19, 2016 at 6:17 pm

      Big thank-you Linda πŸ™‚

      Reply
  6. blankSweetRevelations

    April 19, 2016 at 9:18 pm

    Oh yes please!! These look awesome!!

    Reply
    • blankMarisa

      April 19, 2016 at 10:17 pm

      Thanks Renee?

      Reply
  7. blankNicoletta @sugarlovespices

    April 20, 2016 at 2:21 am

    I am a fan of chocolate zucchini cake, so I love the idea of this doughnuts. They look beautiful and delectable! Love that you have a gas oven; both in my roman and canadian kitchens I have a gas stove with an electric oven, so I’ve never baked with the gas one..

    Reply
    • blankMarisa

      April 20, 2016 at 8:40 am

      My gas oven is an Italian import with no frills or special gadgets and I was a little sceptical when I first purchased it as I had never used one before but I now adore it!

      Reply
  8. blankUn po' di pepe

    May 17, 2016 at 2:03 am

    I make a chocolate zucchine cake which is really good….but doughnuts-wow what an amazing idea! They look beautiful?

    Reply
    • blankMarisa

      May 17, 2016 at 11:06 pm

      Ah! Thank-you! ?

      Reply
  9. blankelliebleu

    July 6, 2016 at 6:38 pm

    I don’t think I could eat just one. I love the sprinkles. πŸ™‚

    Reply
    • blankMarisa

      July 6, 2016 at 6:43 pm

      Hi Ellie, since they are baked and not fried, to me that alone justifies having more than one! And sprinkles certainly makes everything better πŸ™‚

      Reply
      • blankelliebleu

        July 6, 2016 at 6:45 pm

        I have to agree. πŸ˜‰ Looks like I’m making doughnuts tonight.

  10. blankSandhya

    August 10, 2016 at 9:16 pm

    Baked and with zucchini! Double yes for these yummy donuts!

    Reply
    • blankMarisa

      August 10, 2016 at 9:20 pm

      There is no guilt here in having seconds…right! ?

      Reply
      • blankSandhya

        August 10, 2016 at 9:23 pm

        Absolutely πŸ˜‰

  11. blankKaryn h

    October 18, 2016 at 12:55 pm

    I have an abundance of zucchini and summer squash right now. I have been baking and zoodling for days. Today I made your chocolate zucchini donuts. Absolutely amazing!
    Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
    • blankMarisa

      October 18, 2016 at 6:33 pm

      I am so happy to hear that you’ve tried and love the doughnuts and thank-you so much for taking the time to visit and leaving a comment! It is very much appreciated πŸ™‚

      Reply

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