Pro tips, variations, and serving ideas
Pro tips
- Use room-temperature ingredients (butter, egg, yogurt, coffee cooled) for a smoother batter and even baking, similar to other baked donut guidance.
- Don’t overfill the pan; 3/4 full gives a good rise without losing the donut hole shape.
- Let donuts cool completely before glazing so the glaze sets instead of soaking in.
Variations
- Swap some flour for cocoa powder for an even more chocolatey donut and keep the coffee glaze.
- Use mini white chocolate chips or a mix of mini and regular chips for varied texture.
- Add a pinch of espresso powder to the batter or glaze for stronger coffee flavor.
How to serve
- Serve with coffee or hot chocolate for breakfast or brunch.
- Arrange on a stand or platter for a brunch spread or dessert table.
- Warm briefly in the microwave right before serving if you like a softer glaze and slightly warm crumb.
Storage and make-ahead
These are cake-style baked donuts, so they store similarly to other glazed cake donuts.
- Room temperature: Store in a loosely covered container at room temperature; typical guidance for cake donuts suggests they stay good about 1–2 days at their best, sometimes up to several days if stored well.
- Avoid humidity and heat: Keep donuts in a cool, dry spot; high humidity or heat can cause glaze to melt or donuts to become soggy.
- Freezing: For longer storage, you can freeze unglazed donuts individually wrapped and stored in an airtight container for up to about 2–3 months, then thaw and glaze later, as recommended for many baked donuts and donuts in general.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to use Greek yogurt?
Plain Greek yogurt is popular in baked donut recipes because it adds moisture and tenderness without making the batter thin. You can usually swap with regular thick plain yogurt, but avoid very runny yogurt or sour cream changes without testing.
Can I bake these in a muffin pan?
You can bake the batter in a mini muffin or regular muffin pan for “donut muffins,” adjusting bake time (mini muffins are often done around 10–12 minutes, regular around 15–18 minutes) and testing with a toothpick.
How long will they stay fresh?
Most sources say cake donuts are best within the first day or two, though they can be stored several days if kept in a sealed container at room temperature. For optimal texture, enjoy within 24–48 hours of glazing.
These Chocolate Chip Donuts deliver a soft, coffee-kissed crumb, plenty of mini chocolate chips, a sweet coffee glaze, and a chocolate drizzle in an easy baked format. Save or print this recipe for weekend baking or brunch, and share it with anyone who loves the idea of coffee-shop-style donuts straight from a home oven.