Mmm… doughnuts! Whether you consider the sweet rings of perfection breakfast or dessert, there are few things more satisfying than sinking your teeth into a fresh doughnut.
That’s why we’re here to teach you how to make a delectable chocolate glaze recipe. It’s perfect for homemade baked goods—such as these classic cake doughnuts—or elevating a package of store-bought treats.
How to Make Chocolate Glaze for Doughnuts
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
- 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
- 6 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- Sprinkles, optional
Directions
Step 1: Create the glaze
Place your chopped chocolate in a heatproof bowl and set aside.
Then add the whipping cream and corn syrup to a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Once this mixture is steadily bubbling, turn off the stove and pour the mixture over the chocolate. Add in the vanilla extract then whisk until smooth.
Let the chocolate glaze cool for about 15 minutes or until the mixture thickens slightly. Learn how to make the best glaze for doughnuts.
Editor’s Tip: If you haven’t already, check out our guide to making homemade doughnuts.
Step 2: Glaze the doughnuts
Once the glaze has cooled slightly, take your doughnuts and dip the tops right into the glaze and turn upright; be quick to avoid drips! Then finish with sprinkles, nuts or any other extras. You might end up with better doughnuts than the best doughnut shops in every state!
Tips for Making Chocolate Glaze
TMB studio
How can you prevent a lumpy doughnut glaze?
If you’re noticing that your chocolate doughnut glaze isn’t as smooth as you’d like, the mixture could just need a little bit of extra love with the whisk, so keep on stirring.
Otherwise, add a little bit more liquid to the mixture to get rid of those lumps. You can thin out the glaze with a bit more whipping cream. Add this a teaspoon at a time and continue to whisk until it’s a smooth texture.
Can you cover the entire doughnut with chocolate glaze?
While this chocolate gaze can be addicting and you might want to dunk the entire doughnut in it, we don’t recommend it. A chocolate glaze for doughnuts is only to be used as a topping to your doughy dessert. If the glaze is used to entirely cover the dessert, it won’t set properly and you’ll find yourself in a sticky situation.
How do you store chocolate-glazed doughnuts?
Chocolate doughnut glaze should be stored in an airtight container and placed in the refrigerator. This will keep the glaze good to use for up to three days. If you haven’t eaten all the deliciously chocolate-glazed doughnuts and need to store those leftovers as well, you can either store them in an airtight container or place them in a paper bag. The doughnuts can last up to a week in the refrigerator or up to two days at room temperature.
Other Ways to Use Chocolate Glaze
Don’t stop at just using this chocolate glaze for doughnuts! Try this topping on some of your favorite desserts to make beautifully designed bundt cakes, chocolate glazed brownies or as an upgrade to quick bread. Chocolate glazed banana nut bread? Yes, please!
More Tasty Doughnut Recipes
Apple Cider DoughnutsApple doughnuts remind me of family trips to South Dakota. We’d stop at Wall Drug for a dozen or so before camping in the Badlands. Maple glaze was and still is my favorite. Share a batch with friends and family who appreciate a hot, fresh apple cider doughnut. —Melissa Hansen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
If you’re craving strawberry doughnuts, here is your guide to make some!
Banana Beignet BitesWhen I was a little girl, my grandmother took me aside one day and taught me how to make her famous banana beignets. Although we made them during the holidays, they're pretty fantastic any time of the year. —Amy Downing, South Riding, Virginia
Air-Fryer DoughnutsMy sons and I love doughnuts, but in the Florida heat, I rarely want to deep-fry them. I tried making this easy air-fryer doughnut recipe, and it turned out so well with no mess! —Christine Hair, Odessa, Florida
Swedish DoughnutsOne day, my father got a hankering for doughnuts and asked me to make him some. I ended up trying these. Dad—and everyone else—loved the results. They come out so golden and plump. —Lisa Bates, Dunham, Quebec
Drop DoughnutsRemember this recipe after your next holiday dinner. I use any leftover mashed potatoes to make these light and fluffy doughnuts. The dish was originally created by my neighbor's mother-in-law as a breakfast treat or a snack. —Marilyn Kleinfall, Elk Grove Village, Illinois
Berry-Filled DoughnutsFour ingredients are all you'll need for this sure-bet breakfast treat. Friends and family will never guess that refrigerated buttermilk biscuits are the base for these golden, jelly-filled doughnuts. —Ginny Watson, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
Delicious Potato DoughnutsI first tried these tasty treats at my sister's house and thought they were the best I'd ever had. They're easy to make, and the fudge frosting tops them off well. When I make them for friends, the recipe is always requested. —Pat Davis, Beulah, Michigan
Glazed DoughnutsThe light coffee flavor in these tasty sugar-glazed doughnuts makes them a perfect start to the morning...on Christmas Day or any day. You'll find that the recipe is a delectable way to use up leftover potatoes. —Pat Siebenaler, Random Lake, Wisconsin
Want an easy fast-food doughnut option for Christmas day?
Krispy Kreme Christmas doughnuts are a delicious go-to.
Jelly DoughnutsThere's no need to run to the bakery for delicious jelly doughnuts! These sweet treats are lighter than air. I've been fixing them for 25 years for my husband, our two daughters and their families. They disappear almost as fast as I make them. —Kathy Westendorf, Westgate, Iowa
If you want to make restaurant-style doughnuts, here's our favorite copycat
Krispy Kreme doughnut recipe.
Almond Bear ClawsThis bear claw pastry recipe is absolutely melt-in-your-mouth delicious! It's impossible to resist the delicate dough, rich almond filling and pretty fanned tops sprinkled with sugar and almonds. I made yummy treats like this when I worked in a bakery years ago. —Aneta Kish, La Crosse, Wisconsin
New Orleans BeignetsThese sweet, square and holeless French doughnuts are known as beignets. New Orleans’ traditional breakfast always includes a few of these powdered sugar delicacies. —Beth Dawson, Jackson, Louisiana
Glazed Doughnut HolesHere's a simple recipe to create a colorful and fun breakfast—or snack! For the glaze, use any type of juice you like. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen. Next, learn how to make a
chocolate glaze for doughnuts.
Gluten-Free Apple Cider DoughnutsI wanted to make a gluten-free apple cider doughnut that tasted so good, the fact that it’s gluten-free is beside the point! —Kathryn Conrad, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Pumpkin Doughnut DropsI always have a few special treats handy when the grandchildren visit. These cake doughnuts are one of their favorite snacks. —Beva Staum, Muscoda, Wisconsin
Blue-Ribbon DoughnutsWhat could be more delicious than a warm homemade doughnut? I've been making these tasty treats for my children and grandchildren for many years. —Kay McEwen, Sussex, New Brunswick
Cider DoughnutsHere on our 1,250-acre farm, we usually have a quick breakfast on the go. So I often keep a batch of these light and moist doughnuts on hand. They disappear quickly because no one can eat just one! —Suzanne Christensen, Defiance, Iowa
Maple-Bacon Doughnut BitesWhile these delicious bite-size treats are ready in minutes, they’ll disappear in a flash. And don’t relegate the deep-fried goodness to the breakfast nook—I’ve never had anyone turn these down no matter the time of day. —Chelsea Turner, Lake Elsinore, CA
Updated: Nov. 28, 2023
