Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup buttermilk, room temperature
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon red food coloring (gel preferred)
- For the Glaze:
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons milk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- For the Vampire Bites:
- 1/4 cup seedless raspberry or strawberry jam
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat and Prep – Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Use a non-stick spray or a light coating of melted butter to grease two 6-cavity donut pans. This ensures your donuts pop out easily without breaking their delicate shape.
- Step 2: Mix Dry Ingredients – In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt. Sift the cocoa powder if it looks lumpy to ensure a smooth batter later on.
- Step 3: Combine Wet Ingredients – In a separate medium bowl, whisk the buttermilk, eggs, melted butter, vanilla extract, and red food coloring. Mix until the color is a vibrant, uniform red. Using gel food coloring provides a deeper hue without thinning the batter.
- Step 4: Create the Batter – Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Use a spatula to fold the mixture together gently. Stop mixing as soon as you see no more streaks of flour. Overmixing leads to tough, rubbery donuts, so keep it light.
- Step 5: Fill the Pans – Transfer the batter into a large piping bag or a gallon-sized zip-top bag with the corner snipped off. Pipe the batter into the prepared donut cavities, filling them about two-thirds full. This helps the donuts rise evenly without overflowing.
- Step 6: Bake the Donuts – Place the pans in the center rack of the oven and bake for 10 to 12 minutes. Test them by pressing a finger lightly on the top; if they spring back, they are done. Let them cool in the pan for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Step 7: Glaze the Donuts – Whisk the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract in a small bowl until smooth. Once the donuts are completely cool, dip the top of each donut into the glaze. Place them back on the wire rack and let the glaze set for about 10 minutes.
- Step 8: Add the Vampire Bites – Warm the raspberry jam in the microwave for 10 seconds to thin it out. Use a toothpick or a straw to poke two small holes side-by-side in the top of each glazed donut. Using a small piping tip or a plastic syringe, fill the holes with jam and let a little “blood” drip down the sides for a spooky effect.
- Cook Time: 32 minutes