Chocolate for breakfast? Three kinds of chocolate make these moist and fluffy Chocolate Zucchini Donuts so good. The soft baked chocolate donuts are a delicious and acceptable way to eat your "greens" for breakfast.
If you love chocolate zucchini recipes, you need to try this Choc Zucchini Cake recipe with the rest of your green veggies.
Why Make Zucchini Donuts
Do you spell it doughnut or donut??? I always wonder that when I go to write that word. Then I find myself typing the shorter version...probably because I'm too lazy to type the extra letters.
We had an extra zucchini after making dinner the other night, so I decided to turn it into an easy baked donut with lots of chocolate goodness. They were so moist and delicious because of the shredded zucchini and yogurt.
The chocolate zucchini donuts did not last long at all in our house! Our kids ate them for breakfast and snack time.
And I may have even eaten one (or more) for dinner because they have yogurt and zucchini in them. That sounds like a perfectly acceptable dinner to me! Wink, wink.
Ingredients
Adding shredded zucchini to this chocolate donut recipe gives them a moist and delicious texture. Chocolate chips and a chocolate glaze makes them an extra chocolatey treat to enjoy any time of day.
- Butter - Unsalted and softened.
- Brown Sugar - Sweetens the donut batter and keeps them soft.
- Egg - Adds moisture and binds the ingredients together as they bake.
- Greek Yogurt - Gives the baked donuts a soft and fluffy texture.
- Zucchini - Adds texture and moisture to baked goods.
- Flour - Thickens the batter. Make sure to measure the flour correctly using the spoon and sweep method.
- Dark Cocoa Powder - gives the donuts a rich and dark color and taste.
- Baking Powder & Baking Soda - adding both provides the lift as the donuts bake.
- Cinnamon, Nutmeg, & Salt - adds flavor and spice.
- Buttermilk - Makes baked goods bake moist and light.
- Miniature Chocolate Chips - added to the batter and on top of the donuts
- Semi Sweet Chocolate Chip & Shortening - melted together to make a chocolate glaze
- Sprinkles
How to Make Chocolate Zucchini Donuts
These chocolate frosted donuts are so easy to make. If you can make a traditional chocolate donut, you can make this one. The batter comes together in minutes, and using a ziplock bag makes it easy to fill the donut pan quickly!
The extra chocolate on top of these soft fluffy donut gives them a slight crunch when you bite into them.
Step One: Prep
- Preheat the oven.
- Spray a regular sized donut pan with nonstick baking spray.
Step Two: Chocolate Donut Batter
- Beat the butter and sugar in a large bowl until creamy.
- Add the egg, yogurt, and shredded zucchini and mix in.
- Stir together the dry ingredients. Add them alternately to the butter mixture with the buttermilk.
- Gently stir in miniature chocolate chips.
- Spoon the donut batter into a large ziplock bag and cut one corner off.
- Fill the donut cavities ¾ full and bake.
- Place on a wire rack and cool completely.
Step Three: Chocolate Glaze
- Heat the chocolate chips and shortening in a microwave safe bowl for 30 seconds.
- Stir and heat again if needed.
- Dip the tops of the cooled chocolate zucchini donuts in the melted chocolate.
- Place on a tray or wire rack and add mini chocolate chips and sprinkles before the chocolate sets.
Recipe Tips
- Use Baker's Joy or another similar brand to grease and flour the donut pans each time you bake a new batch. This will keep your donuts from sticking to the pan when you remove them.
- Spoon the batter into a large ziplock baggie and cut one corner off to "pipe" the batter into the greased pan. It makes it so much easier to fill the donut pan.
- Make sure you cut a big enough hole for the mini chocolate chips in the batter to get through.
FAQs
No you do not. I shred it using the smallest holes in my hand held grater. No one will even know the green veggies are hiding under all that chocolate goodness.
The chocolate donuts with sprinkles will stay fresh for 2-3 days on the counter if stored in a loosely sealed container. The donuts tend to get moist if kept in a tightly sealed container.
You sure can. Place the chocolate cake donuts in a single layer on a wax paper lined tray. Place the tray in the freezer for 1-2 hours or until the donuts are frozen. Remove and place the frozen donuts in a container or bag and place in the freezer for 2-3 months.
To thaw the donuts, open the bag or remove the lid from the container and place on the counter. The donuts should be ready to eat in 30 minutes.
More Easy Donut Recipes
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Recipe
Chocolate Zucchini Donuts Recipe
Chocolate for breakfast? Three kinds of chocolate make these moist and fluffy Chocolate Zucchini Donuts so good. The soft baked chocolate donuts are a delicious and acceptable way to eat your "greens" for breakfast.
Ingredients
For the Donuts
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ⅔ cup packed brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- ⅔ cup Greek yogurt
- 1 cup finely shredded zucchini
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- ½ cup dark cocoa powder
- ⅓ cup buttermilk
- ½ cup miniature chocolate chips
For the Glaze
- 1 ¼ cups semisweet chocolate chips
- 1 Tablespoon shortening
- ½ cup miniature chocolate chips
- Green sprinkles
- Green edible glitter
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Spray a regular sized donut pan with nonstick spray.
- Cream the butter and sugar until fluffy. Add in the egg, yogurt, and zucchini and continue to mix.
- Stir together the salt, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, baking powder, and cocoa powder.
- Slowly add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture alternately with the buttermilk.
- Stir in ½ cup miniature chocolate chips by hand. Do not over mix.
- Spoon the donut butter into a large ziplock bag and cut one tip off. Fill the donut pan cavities no more than ¾ full.
- Bake the chocolate donuts for 12 minutes. Let cool in the pan for 2-3 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Place the chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl with the shortening. Heat and stir 30 seconds at a time until melted.
- Dip the tops of the cooled donuts in the chocolate. Top with the remaining chocolate chips, sprinkles and edible glitter before the chocolate sets.
- Place on a try and let the chocolate set before serving. Store in a loosely covered container.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 16 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 289Total Fat: 15gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 28mgSodium: 254mgCarbohydrates: 38gFiber: 3gSugar: 22gProtein: 5g
Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.
*This post for Chocolate Zucchini Donuts was first posted on June 24, 2012. The photos were updated July 2017 and the post was republished July 22, 2021.
Janet
I just discovered this donut recipe today after googling chocolate zucchini recipes! Just wondered - does the 1 1/4 cups of semi sweet choc. chips go into the glaze with the shortening? And the mini choc, chips are divided, half go in the batter, and half get sprinkled on top of the donuts? Thank you!
Jocelyn
I am so happy to hear you found my recipe when googling. Yes, half the mini chocolate chips go in the batter, and the rest are for decorating the tops. The regular chocolate chips get melted with the shortening for the choclate glaze. I hope you enjoy the donuts!!!
Heather @ My Overflowing Cup
Thanks so much for this delicious recipe! I shared the link in my post today.
K.COG
Can this recipe be used for cupcakes rather than a doughnut?
Jocelyn Brubaker
Yes, you can bake the batter in muffin liners. I would say fill them at least 3/4 full and bake about 15-16 minutes.
DessertForTwo
Right?! I haven't made donuts in too long! I think those who really like to eat them type 'donut' because it saves time so we can eat more! 🙂 xo
Jocelyn Brubaker
I love the way you think 🙂
Becca from ItsYummi!
Whooop! When it's doughnut day, my taste buds come calling! These look awesome!
Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips
If there is one way to get my son to eat zucchini, it would be with chocolate and frosting!
Taylor @ Food Faith Fitness
I LOVE baked goods with zucchini, but I would have never thought of putting it in a donut! The best way to celebrate Donut Day! Pinned 🙂
Nancy P.@thebittersideofsweet
These doughnuts sound amazing! I love that there is zucchini in them!
Jennifer
I saw this on a 4th of July roundup and just had to pin it. I hope you’ll share your best post of the week on my Friday Flash Blog Linky Party going on ALL weekend at The Jenny Evolution.
Jennifer
thejennyevolution.com
Gia
These look amazing!! I hope you don't mind, I borrowed your pictures and will absolutely link back in my post! I can not wait to make these!! 🙂
Jocelyn Brubaker
Hi, Gia. I don't mind if you borrow the picture and link back to my site for the recipe. Would you please remove the recipe from your site though? Thank you so much!!
Gia
Done! Thanks again !
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thank you so much! I really appreciate the link love! I hope you enjoy the donuts too! Now I am craving them again 🙂
Gia
I can not wait to try them! And I will be back for more. I love your website! 🙂
Jason
They look like fireworks, awesome!
Jenn "Rook No. 17"
Jocelyn, I hope you and your family had a very happy 4th of July!
Your donuts not only sound divine, but they look so festive and fun!
Jenn
Six Sisters
These donuts are so cute and look delicious! Thanks for the great recipe! We appreciate you linking up to our "Strut Your Stuff Saturday". We hope you'll be back soon! -The Sisters
Emily
wow! I will be trying this for sure! We love zucc and donuts are always a hit :o)
you are being featured at this weeks Tasty Tuesday party. Stop by and grab a featured button and join in this weeks party tonight. http://www.nap-timecreations.com/
Liz
Looks great!
Heather Kinnaird
perfect for the holiday weekend!
Danielle Wagasky
Hi there! I just wanted to let you know I featured you in my Fourth of July Round up. Stop by and check it out and snag a featured button.
Danielle @ Blissful and Domestic
http://www.blissfulanddomestic.com
allisamazing
These look delicious and I love the way you frosted them. It makes them look even more delicious 🙂
Sarah Carletti
Bonkers! These look awesome! I would love if you could link up to my Thursday Food Fest. Sarah