Chocolate Orange Baked Doughnuts

Jan 15, 2014, Updated Oct 23, 2014

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These chocolate orange baked doughnuts are perfect for breakfast but even better for dessert…

I guess life can’t just be made of fried doughnut goodness. Well, it could but I guess it could make an issue when it comes to fitting into my jeans. Stretchy pants for life yo!

So obviously I went for the baked doughnuts today. But don’t let that stop you from craving these bad boys. They are suuuuuuper chocolaty and packed with orange zest, orange extract and topped with a fluffy orange cream cheese frosting. I probably shouldn’t tell you this but I wanted to just eat the frosting right from the spatula. To bad you can’t put frosting on everything. Although that might get weird…frosting on pizza? Gross. Frosting on graham crackers? The most delicious treat ever.

These doughnuts are great for breakfast but I enjoyed them for dessert as well. They are similar to a fluffy brownie and totally hit the spot. If I had ice cream in the house I definitely would have added a scoop to my doughnut.

Life is short. Add the ice cream.

Chocolate Orange Baked Doughnuts

Ingredients:

For doughnuts:
2/3 cup Dutch-process cocoa
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1 1/4 cups dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon espresso powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup dark chocolate chips
2 large eggs
3/4 cup milk
2 tablespoons orange zest
1 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon orange extract
2 teaspoons white vinegar
1/3 cup vegetable oil

For frosting:
4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
2 teaspoons orange zest
2 tablespoons fresh squeezed orange juice
2 cup powdered sugar (more if needed)

Source: Doughnut recipe adapted from King Arthur Flour.

Directions:

For doughnuts:
Preheat the oven to 350°F and spray a 6 count doughnut pan with non-stick spray, set aside.

In a large bowl whisk together cocoa, flour, sugar, baking powder, espresso powder, baking soda, salt, and dark chocolate chips. Set aside.

In a small mixing bowl whisk together eggs, milk, orange zest, vanilla extract, orange extract and vinegar.

Add the egg mixture and vegetable oil to the flour mixture and gently stir to combine.

Fill the doughnut pan about 1/2 full and bake the doughnuts for 15 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the doughnut.

Let the doughnuts rest for 30 seconds, loosen the edges/middle, flip the pan and lightly tap to help doughnuts fall from the pan.

Let doughnuts completely cool before frosting.

For frosting:
In the bowl of an electric mixer add cream cheese, butter, orange zest and orange zest. Blend until combined.

Slowly add in powdered sugar and beat until fluffy. Add more powdered sugar if the frosting is too thin. If the frosting is too thick simply add a few more drops of orange juice.

Spread on doughnuts and enjoy! Sprinkle on more zest if desired.