Warm, fluffy, and bursting with flavor, these chocolate cake mix donuts are a dream come true!
Coated in a rich, decadent frosting and finished with a shower of sprinkles, they're surprisingly easy to make.
With just a handful of ingredients, you can have a batch of these irresistible treats ready to devour in no time.
Ready for more cake mix hacks that will blow your mind? I've got a whole collection of amazing recipes just waiting for you!
My family are donut fanatics, especially when it comes to chocolate! Our son, Michael, especially loved chocolate frosted donuts when he was little.
So a few years ago, I decided to take matters into my own hands and grab a donut pan. Game-changer! It's incredibly easy to make bakery-worthy donuts at home, and this recipe for cake mix donuts is our absolute favorite.
Looking for more sweet breakfast ideas? Try my Chocolate Glazed Donuts or my Pumpkin Glazed Donuts.
Table of Contents
- How to make Cake Donuts with Cake Mix?
- Helpful Kitchen Tools
- Ingredients
- Recipe Substitutions and Variations
- Step-by-Step Directions
- How to Fill the Donut Pan
- Baking Instructions
- Frosting and Decorating
- Before You Begin!
- How Long do Baked Donuts Last?
- Can you Freeze Baked Donuts?
- More Recipes to Love
- 📖 Recipe Card
- 💬 Comments
How to make Cake Donuts with Cake Mix?
Love the taste of bakery-fresh donuts but lack the time (or maybe the patience) for a from-scratch recipe? Cake mix donuts are your secret weapon!
With just a few simple additions to a box of cake mix, you can whip up a batch of incredibly delicious donuts that taste like they came straight from the bakery.
No measuring flour, no fussing with yeast – just pure chocolatey goodness with minimal effort.
Helpful Kitchen Tools
Wilton 6-Cavity Doughnut Baking Pan, Makes Individual Full-Sized 3 ¾
Walfos Silicone Donut Mold - Non-Stick Silicone Doughnut Pan Set, Just Pop Out! Heat Resistant, Make Perfect Donut Cake Biscuit Bagels, BPA FREE and Dishwasher Safe, Set of 3Prestee 200 Pieces Anti Burst Piping Bags - 12 Inch, Pastry Bags, Icing Piping Bags, Tipless Piping Bags, Icing Bags, Frosting Bags, Piping Bags, Cookie Decorating SuppliesUnpretentious Chocolate Sprinkles (5 Tbsp) Rich & Real Cocoa Flavor, Decorative Dessert Topping
Ingredients
Here's a quick overview of the ingredients for this recipe. Find the exact amounts and click the Instacart button to easily add them to your cart – all in the printable recipe card below!
- 1 box of chocolate cake mix, any brand
- Water
- Vegetable oil
- Egg
- Chocolate frosting, any brand
- Chocolate sprinkles
Recipe Substitutions and Variations
- This recipe makes approximately 18-24 donuts depending on how full you fill the donut pan.
- Don't be afraid to experiment with different cake mix flavors! Vanilla, strawberry, or even spice cake would work well. Just remember to adjust the frosting and sprinkles to complement the chosen flavor.
- Go beyond sprinkles! Try drizzling melted chocolate, chopped nuts, or even shredded coconut over the frosting.
Step-by-Step Directions
Step 1: Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a donut pan. In a bowl, combine cake mix, water, oil, and egg.
Step 2: You can do this by hand with a whisk or a wooden spoon, or use an electric mixer on low speed. Be careful not to overmix.
How to Fill the Donut Pan
Spoon the batter into a large plastic bag or decorating bag (set in a glass for easier filling). Snip off a corner and pipe the batter into the donut wells.
Step 2: Transfer batter to a freezer bag or disposable pastry bag, snip a corner, and pipe into donut pan.
Baking Instructions
Step 3: Bake 12-14 minutes, then cool completely.
Frosting and Decorating
Step 4: Microwave frosting in 10-second bursts until softened, but not melted. Generously frost each donut with the softened chocolate frosting and then dip it in chocolate sprinkles.
Before You Begin!
If you make this recipe, please leave a review and star rating. This helps my business thrive and continue providing FREE recipes.
How Long do Baked Donuts Last?
Leftover donuts can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week…but let's be honest, these cake mix donuts are so irresistible, they might not last that long!
Can you Freeze Baked Donuts?
To freeze these donuts for later, place the cooled donuts in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Freeze for about an hour, then transfer to a freezer-safe container or bag. When ready to enjoy, thaw at room temperature and frost as directed.
More Recipes to Love
Explore the versatility of cake mix with Four Different Cake Mix Cookie Recipes , each offering unique flavors and textures. And if you're in the mood for something a bit more decadent, try our Chocolate Chunk Muffins – they're perfect for a weekend breakfast or afternoon treat.
📖 Recipe Card
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Baked Chocolate Cake Mix Donuts
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 box of chocolate cake mix any brand
- 1 cup water
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- 1 egg
- 1 can chocolate frosting 16 ounce size
- Chocolate sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and spray the 6 count donut pan with non-stick cooking spray.
- Combine the chocolate cake mix with the water, oil and egg.
- Scoop the batter into the gallon freezer bag.
- Seal the bag and snip one corner with the kitchen scissors.
- Gently squeeze the batter into the donut wells, filling each about ¾ full.
- Bake 12-14 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and let cool completely.
- Remove the donuts from the donut pan, and repeat the baking process with the rest of the donut batter.
- Once the donuts have cooled, heat the frosting in the microwave for about 10-15 seconds. You want it soft but not completely melted.
- Generously frost each chocolate donut with chocolate frosting and then dip in the chocolate sprinkles.
Notes
How to Fill the Donut Pan:
Spoon the batter into a large plastic bag or decorating bag (set in a glass for easier filling). Snip off a corner and pipe the batter into the donut wells.This recipe has been updated since 2019.
Nikki says
I made these and they are delicious but some of mine fell apart. Did I not fill the pan enough? Not bake long enough? I'm not sure why some of them didn't hold up as well as others. Any ideas?
Lois says
I'm not really sure! I'll have to do some research and figure out what could possibly have gone wrong. Did you spray the donut pan well enough? Did you have to bake the donuts in batches? Did you spray the donut pan before adding the batter the second time? I'm sorry it didn't work out great for you, but glad you enjoyed the taste.
Terri says
I made these. They are easy and delicious. And that's not a bad calorie count for one of these tasty donuts. I will definitely be making them again.
Mother of 3 says
Those sound so delicious! I just bought a doughnut pan last fall and we've been having fun experimenting with different recipes. Pinned.
Sarah @ The DIY Mommy says
These look super tasty and I love that you used a boxed mix to make it fast 🙂
Lois says
Thanks Sarah!
gail says
Your donuts look so yummy! Thanks for sharing your recipe at our Talk of the Town. I'm choosing your recipe as my feature this week.
Pinning!
gail
Lois says
Yeah! Thanks for the feature!