Name: Halloween Donuts Recipe
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 40 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon baking powder; ½ teaspoon baking soda; ¼ teaspoon salt; ½ cup cocoa powder; ¾ cup sugar; ½ cup oil; 2 large eggs; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; ½ cup milk; 2 cups confectioner’s sugar; 3 tablespoons milk; ¼ cup Halloween sprinkles

Jump to Recipe· 4.5 from 29 reviews

If you’re looking to wow your friends and family this spooky season, I’ve got just the treat for you. This Halloween Donuts Recipe is not only delightfully chocolaty but also super fun to decorate with festive sprinkles that scream Halloween. Trust me, these donuts turn out soft, fluffy, with just the right amount of cocoa flavor, and the glaze makes them irresistibly sweet. Stick around because I’m sharing all my little tips to make sure your donuts come out homemade-perfection every single time.

❤️

Why This Recipe Works

Simple Ingredients: You don’t need a ton of fancy stuff; everything is pantry-friendly and easy to find.
Perfect Texture: The combination of baking powder and baking soda gives these donuts a tender, light crumb without feeling dense or greasy.
Effortless Decoration: The powdered sugar glaze sets quickly and holds your Halloween sprinkles like a charm for that festive look.
Quick Baking Time: You get homemade donuts in less than 40 minutes, making it an easy last-minute treat for Halloween parties.

The image shows a white plate with six donuts stacked in a pile on a white marbled surface. Each donut has a lavender colored icing with a smooth texture evenly covering the top. On top of the glaze, there are many small sprinkles in orange, black, yellow, and purple colors including round, rod-shaped, and pumpkin-shaped pieces. One extra donut with the same decoration is placed to the upper right of the plate, and two more similarly decorated donuts are partially visible on the left side near two glass bottles filled with milk. A folded orange and black checkered cloth lies to the right of the plate. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

The beauty of this Halloween Donuts Recipe lies in the balance of flavors and textures from each ingredient. I love how the cocoa powder gives a deep chocolate touch without overwhelming sweetness, and the glaze ties everything together perfectly. When shopping, pick good quality cocoa and fresh baking powder for the best rise.

All-purpose flour: Provides the structure and lightness for soft donuts.
Baking powder: The main leavening agent to make the donuts rise and fluff up.
Baking soda: Works with baking powder, balancing acidity, and helps with browning.
Salt: Enhances the chocolate flavor and balances sweetness.
Cocoa powder: Adds rich chocolate flavor and that classic dark donut color.
Sugar: Sweetens the donuts and contributes to that tender crumb.
Oil: Keeps the donuts moist; I use neutral oil like canola or vegetable.
Eggs: Bind everything together and add richness.
Vanilla extract: Boosts the flavor, giving warmth and depth.
Milk: Adds moisture and helps create a smooth batter.
Confectioner’s sugar: The base of the glaze that hardens with milk.
Halloween sprinkles: For that fun, seasonal touch that makes these donuts extra festive.

📝

Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Tweak to Your Taste

I like to keep the base recipe straightforward, but you can totally have fun personalizing your Halloween Donuts Recipe. Whether it’s extra chocolate chips sneaked into the batter or swapping milk for almond milk, the tweaks make the recipe your own.

Chocolate lovers: I’ve added mini chocolate chips into the batter before—double the chocolate fun!
Dairy-free: Swap regular milk for oat or almond milk and use coconut oil instead of vegetable oil to make it vegan-friendly.
Spice it up: Add a pinch of cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice to the dry ingredients for a fall-flavored twist.
Decoration variations: Try colored glazes in orange, green, or purple by adding a few drops of food coloring to the glaze.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Halloween Donuts Recipe

Step 1: Prep Everything Before You Mix

First, I set my oven to 350°F and grease my donut pans really well with cooking spray. This step is crucial because donuts are delicate and will stick if your pan isn’t coated properly—trust me, I learned the hard way! I recommend using two 6-cup donut pans if you have them, otherwise one 12-cup pan works too. While the oven heats, I get all my ingredients measured out—having everything ready makes mixing a breeze.

Step 2: Mix Dry and Wet Ingredients Separately

I mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder in a bowl until everything is evenly combined. Separately, I whisk the sugar and oil in a bigger bowl until it looks fluffy—this lightens the texture of the donuts. Then I add the eggs one by one, beating well after each addition. Finally, I stir in the vanilla extract to round off the flavors.

Step 3: Combine and Fold Gently

Now for the fun part! I pour the flour mixture and the milk into the wet ingredients and fold everything together gently. The key here is not to overmix—the batter should be just combined with no dry patches. Overmixing can make the donuts tough, so I use a spatula and fold carefully to keep them tender.

Step 4: Bake and Cool

I spoon about 3 tablespoons of batter into each well of the donut pan, filling them almost to the top. Then it’s off to the oven for 15 minutes. The best way to check for doneness is to poke a donut with a toothpick—it should come out clean. Cooling is important here, so I transfer the donuts to a cooling rack and let them rest while I prepare the glaze.

Step 5: Make the Glaze and Decorate

While the donuts cool, I whisk together confectioner’s sugar and milk until smooth and thick but still pourable. Then I dip the donut tops in the glaze and immediately sprinkle on festive Halloween sprinkles before the glaze sets—that way they stick perfectly. After they dry for a bit, they’re ready to serve!

💡

Pro Tips for Making Halloween Donuts Recipe

Don’t Overfill: Filling the donut cups with too much batter can cause the donuts to overflow and bake unevenly. Stick to about 3 tablespoons per cup.
Use Room Temperature Ingredients: This helps the batter mix evenly and results in a lighter texture.
Dip Quickly for Even Glaze: Don’t hold the donut in the glaze too long or it can get soggy—dip and lift right away.
Cooling Matters: Always let your donuts cool completely before glazing so the glaze doesn’t melt off.

How to Serve Halloween Donuts Recipe

A white plate holds five chocolate donuts stacked in a loose pile, each covered with a smooth, light purple glaze. Bright orange, purple, black, and yellow sprinkles of different shapes and sizes are scattered thickly over the top of each donut, creating a colorful, festive look. Around the plate, some sprinkles are also scattered on the white marbled surface. To the upper left, there is a small glass bottle filled with white milk and a purple-striped straw inside. In the top right area, a white bowl holds more of the same mixed sprinkles. An orange and black checkered cloth is partially visible on the lower right. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Garnishes

I usually stick to classic Halloween sprinkles in black, orange, and purple—they add that perfect crunch and make the donuts look festive. If you want to go extra, little candy eyeballs or edible glitter make these donuts instantly more fun and kid-friendly.

Side Dishes

These donuts pair wonderfully with a warm cup of spiced apple cider or pumpkin spice latte to really amp up the fall vibes. For a party, I like serving them alongside fresh fruit slices or a simple yogurt dip to balance the sweetness.

Creative Ways to Present

For a Halloween party, try arranging the donuts on a tiered stand decorated with mini pumpkins and faux spider webs. I’ve even used colorful cupcake liners under each donut for an extra pop of color. Another cute idea I tried was stacking donuts to make a spooky “donut tower” centerpiece that impressed everyone!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Leftover donuts can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days. I like to place parchment paper between layers if stacking to keep the glaze from sticking together. If you don’t plan to eat them right away, refrigeration can help but might dry them out.

Freezing

Freezing works best if you glaze the donuts after thawing. Just freeze the plain baked donuts in a single layer on a baking sheet, then transfer to a freezer bag. When ready, thaw completely and then dip in glaze and decorate for a fresh taste.

Reheating

I warm up leftover donuts in the microwave for about 10 seconds on a plate with a damp paper towel nearby to keep them from drying out. But I usually avoid microwaving glazed donuts since the glaze can melt or get sticky. Reheating plain donuts before glazing is your safest bet.

FAQs

Can I make this Halloween Donuts Recipe vegan?

Absolutely! You can substitute the eggs with flax eggs (1 tablespoon ground flaxseed + 3 tablespoons water per egg) and swap milk with almond or oat milk. Use coconut oil or another plant-based oil instead of vegetable oil, and double-check your sprinkles to make sure they’re vegan-friendly too.
What can I use if I don’t have a donut pan?

If you don’t have a donut pan, you can fill a muffin tin and bake them as mini muffins—bake time might vary slightly, so keep an eye on them and check with a toothpick for doneness around 12-15 minutes.
How do I prevent the glaze from running off?

Make sure your donuts are completely cooled before glazing, and that your glaze is thick—not too runny—to help it stick. Dipping quickly and adding sprinkles immediately before the glaze sets also helps anchor everything in place.
Can I prepare the batter in advance?

You can prepare the batter a few hours ahead and keep it refrigerated, but it’s best to bake the donuts fresh to retain their light texture. If refrigerated, stir the batter gently before baking.

Final Thoughts

This Halloween Donuts Recipe holds a special place in my kitchen when October rolls around. It’s one of those recipes that feels like a little celebration every time I bake it —simple ingredients, quick prep, and irresistibly delicious results. Whether you’re sharing with kids, hosting a party, or just treating yourself, these donuts bring that perfect cozy, festive vibe. I can’t wait for you to try it and watch your family’s faces light up with every bite—happy baking (and Halloween)!