My visits to the mall always involve buying doughnuts from Krispy Kreme or Dunkin Donuts. I just love them with my coffee. I also end up getting a few extra for breakfast next morning! My love for them led me to trying this Chocolate Filled Doughnut Recipe.
I have always wanted to bake my own breads, doughnuts, cinnamon rolls – basically anything with yeast in them. You get an amazing feeling when you work with a yeast dough. A warm cozy smell fills your kitchen as soon as you start kneading it. And that smell intensifies once it’s baked or fried! The house literally smells like a mini bakery!
The three of us – me and my siblings – always feel jealous of whoever gets more lucky with the chocolate filling in their doughnut. So I decided to try my hands at baking them in my kitchen. But there was a problem – I didn’t have a stand mixer, which meant looking for a dough recipe that could be kneaded with hand. The recipes I found strictly mentioned that doughnut doughs are sticky and not meant for hand kneading. But then this one on SmittenKitchen had instructions for both – using the hand mixer and kneading by hand. That’s where I drew inspiration from to make my own Chocolate Filled Doughnut Recipe!
I know there’s a bit of an effort in kneading the dough, waiting for it to rise and then frying and filling the doughnuts. But trust me, it’s worth every minute! The doughnuts turn out so light and fluffy and you can puff them up with as much chocolate filling as you want :D. The dough comes together in just a few minutes. It is sticky, but it’s easily handled with oiled hands. I usually let it rise in a lightly heated oven (that has been turned off). Once it’s double in size, I roll it on my kitchen counter and cut it in small circles. After a second rise they are fried and filled. I filled mine with an easy dark chocolate ganache.
I hope I have convinced you to try this Chocolate Filled Doughnut Recipe! In case you are not a doughnut person, try these Cardamom Cinnamon Rolls from the blog.
Ingredients
- 2 ½ teaspoons yeast
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup lukewarm milk
- 2 large egg yolks(room temperature)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla essence
- 2 tablespoons soft unsalted butter
- Pinch of cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 ⅓ cups all purpose flour
- Vegetable oil for deep frying
- Powdered sugar for dusting
- 250 grams Finely chopped dark chocolate
- 350 grams heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla essence
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the yeast, sugar and milk. Let stand for 5-10 minutes or until it becomes foamy. (If it doesn’t turn foamy, your yeast is stale).
- Whisk in the egg yolks, vanilla essence and then the butter.
- Now add the flour with the salt and cinnamon in two batches. Combine and mix to form a dough with the help of a spatula.
- Leave it for a few minutes and then knead the dough with oiled hands for 5-7 minutes or until it forms a smooth round. The dough will be soft and sticky, but Don’t add more flour.
- Cover the dough with plastic wrap and keep in a oiled bowl for at least 1 hour or until it doubles in size.
- Using a rolling pin, roll the dough on a floured kitchen counter and spread to a thickness of ½ to ¾ inch.
- Cut into 2 inch circles using a round cookie cutter. Re-roll the scraps and cut into as many rounds as possible. I could manage 22.
- Let cut dough rise for another 30-40 minutes on an oiled tray.
- Meanwhile, make the chocolate ganache filling by pouring hot cream over chopped dark chocolate. Let it sit for a couple of minutes before mixing. Cool.
- Heat vegetable oil in a heavy pot or frying pan. Use leftover dough scrap to check the oil. If the dough fries and rises to the top of the oil immediately, it’s perfect for frying the doughnuts.
- Fry 3-4 doughnuts at a time. Cook on each side for about 1-2 minutes or until golden.
- Drain doughnuts on a paper towel to absorb extra oil. Repeat with all doughnuts.
- After 10-15 minutes, when doughnuts are cool enough to handle, poke holes on the side of each using the back of a spoon.
- Place the chocolate ganache filling in a piping bag with a round tip. Insert the tip in the side hole of doughnut and squeeze the chocolate gently until the doughnut puffs up a bit. Repeat with all doughnuts.
- Generously dust the doughnuts with powdered sugar on both sides.
Notes
If the doughnuts are perfectly fried on both sides, you will be able to appreciate a white ring in the middle of each doughnut. Check in pictures.
They looked fabulous, tasted delicious and surely beat the store bought ones! The generous stuffing is the best part about this Chocolate Filled Doughnut Recipe. I plan to try them with a jam filling next time.
Before I sign off, thanks for all the love on my Bhutan Post. I was elated to read your comments! I guess love for travel and food binds us all together!!
64 Comments
These definitely look worth the time to make! And that chocolate filling?!! Drooling!! These are totally perfect with a nice hot cup of coffee 🙂
You are right Kelly!! I love them with coffee too???? Thanks friend ????????
It sunday morning, and now I need a donut, filled with that chocolate filling!
Haha! Thanks so much Patrick ????
That chocolate filling is simply mouth-watering, Deepika! Can I use another kind of oil for frying, such as palm oil?
Hey, thank you ????!! I haven’t tried frying them in any other oil! But I think Palm oil should work fine too :). If you try, let me know how it turned out for you!
I’ve tried them in palm oil and they turned out delicious. Thanks again for my new favorite doughnut recipe, Deepika! 🙂
Yayyyyy???????? You made my day! I am so glad they worked out for you????
I was convinced at Picture #1!! Delicious comfort all the way!
Thank you Annie????
I’m with you on working with yeast dough. It’s the best! I’m going to work up the nerve to make my own donuts because these look SO GOOD!
Hehe! Thanks Kelsie???? I am sure you will love these????
Deepika! I love Smitten Kitchen – such great recipes! I’m a newbie with yeast dough but determined to make some delicious things with it, now chocolate-filled doughnuts are on my list. These are making my mouth water!
Thanks so much Laura! I love Deb’s recipes too! Also I think, working with yeast gets better with each recipe!
Deepika, these donuts look extremely delicious.. The chocolate filling is mouth watering.
Thank you Neetha???? Fresh homemade donuts are so comforting!
They look absolutely delicious love! The chocolate ganache must have made for more magic to the already fluffy doughnuts. And its amazing that you kneaded the dough by hand…they are truly a labour of love!
Now tell me, who got the doughnut with the most chocolate? 😉
Hehe???? Well, I must tell you honestly, since I filled these, I kept the overstuffed ones separately for my younger brother! He loves doughnuts more than I do and so he enjoyed them the most! Thanks for the love always ????????
I have totally fallen in love with these beauties. It’s so light and airy, just as a perfect donut should be. You seriously need to lock up this recipe. I’m gonna try this one of the weekends Deepika:)
Bang on Maria! They are so light and airy! And so yummy ????. Thanks for the love! I hope you like the recipe when you make it????
I kind of like kneading my hand, it’s a bit therapeutic! These look absolutely delicious and definitely worth the effort!
I love kneading by hand too! Thanks for the love Carlee????????
i’ve never made doughnuts before! well, fried ones anyways. but these sound even better than dunkin or krispy kreme, so i think it’s time (; especially because there’s chocolate involved!
Thank you so much Heather! You will love these????
I have never made filled donuts before but they are at the top of my to do lists! These look like seriously decent donuts! I prefer kneading with my hands (mostly because im too poor to invest in a stand mixer lol) but there is something enjoyable about using your hands so thank you for providing a recipe! Love it plus the sprinkles on the chocolate are super cute x
Yay! I am glad someone noticed the little effort in those sprinkles! Thanks Ruby????
These look soooo good!!! That filling! So light and soft! I wish you could send me a dozen 🙂 I have only ever made baked donuts, but now I NEED to try these!
Yes Kathy, they turn out really light and fluffy! And so yumm????
These look so impressive Deepika! I’ve made baked donuts a few times, but never with a filling. These are so tempting. Love that filling oozing out!
Thank you Leanne???? I was trying for the first time too! And I love the recipe so much that I keep making these now!
Oh yum Deepika…these look amazing. Chocolate filled doughnuts are the best and your recipe sounds delicious….so well worth the effort and time.
Thanks Ashika ???? They are worth all the time!
I’ve been wanting to try homemade donuts soon! Now I’m motivated!
Yay! I hope you make them soon!
I don’t recall when last time I made “real donuts” as for the few years the only donuts I’ve made were cake donuts which are certainly delicious but not the same (Less calories and fats means less fun, right?:) These bad guys look perfect. I’d definitely grab one or two (Dozens, I mean)
I so agree with you Ben! Fried donuts are another level yummy! The entire process is so satisfying!
These look absolutely dangerous Deppika, but oh so worth it!
Haha! Thank you so much????
You just won “the most amazing recipe I’ve seen on the internet today” award! I’ve been avoiding refined sugar so I haven’t had a donut in awhile, but when I get around to making them at home, THIS is the recipe I’m going to try! Amazing 🙂
Thanks Christina! I hope you like them!
These look awesome! I totally understand the dilemma with who gets the most filling! It seems like sometimes you totally get ripped off!
These just look amazingly fluffy, soft and delicious! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks so much Matt???? I am glad you like them as much as I do!
I, my hubby and my daughter love chocolate filled doughnut. My mouth is watering now. Lovely sharing. 🙂
We love them too! Thank you Puja????
Wow, these doughnuts look stunning, Deepika! I’m super impressed that you made these at home…they look just as good (if not better) than the kind you get at the mall. I’m a huge fan of Krispy Kreme, but we don’t have any stores near us anymore. Guess I’ll just need to make a batch of these homemade ones instead. Great post!!
Thanks so much David???? I love Krispy Kreme too! But trust me, these came out pretty amazing!
These are just perfect! I love a fresh filled donut and the chocolate filling is everything!! Take care.
Thanks Stacey???? Have a great weekend!
These doughnuts look like they came from a bakery! They are one of my hubby’s guilty pleasures—he would love a batch (me, too!).
Thank you so much Liz???????? I think doughnuts are loved by all kinds of people!
Wow those doughnuts look amazing!
Thanks a bunch Michelle 🙂
these look so so good — i am now incredibly hungry D; I also used to argue with my siblings all the time over who got the more chocolaty dessert! I think it’s a sibling thing ha
Thanks Em???? I am glad you get some nostalgia after seeing these!
omg these look amazing!!!! i love filled donuts so much 🙂
Thank you Georgie ????
Good use of cinnamon and dark chocolate with this homemade donuts. It makes it more tasty and healthy. Thanks for sharing your recipe, Deepika!
I am glad you like the recipe Andre! Thank you so much!
Hey Deepika , I am about to make these and I have a question. Can I use 3 small egg yolks instead of two large ones ? Thanks a bunch. Can’t wait to try these out.
Yes Priya, that shouldn’t be a problem :). Let me know how they turn out for you❤️
Hello my dear Deepika!! Gosh you’re so popular, I had to scroll so much to get to the bottom of your comments list, haha! But I totally understand why you are so popular! 😉 You wanna know something strange about me? I don’t actually like doughnuts (I know I am like the only person in the world). BUT…I have never had homemade doughnuts before, only the super sweet ones you buy from the store. SO…there is a good chance I could like these, since they are homemade and anything homemade tastes better, and ESPECIALLY since these ones are filled with chocolate! I think you should make a batch and then mail them to me so I can try, ok? 🙂 hehe
Awww You are so sweet Alia???????? I wish I could send these to you! They really did turn out amazing! I think, you should make these and try them! I would be glad if I could change your perspective about doughnuts! And thanks for all the love????
These look absolutely marvelous! I have a soft spot for donuts, but I hardly ever make them at home. I think I need to give these a try!!
Yes you should Tracy???? Fresh fried donuts are addicting! Thank you so much ????