Looking for a fun Halloween treat? These Halloween Monster Chocolate Donuts are perfect for any spooky celebration. They’re baked in a donut pan, packed with chocolatey goodness, and decorated with candy eyeballs for a playful touch. Whether for a Halloween party or a fun treat, these donuts will be a hit.

These themed donuts are great for Halloween morning or as a surprise treat for your kids. They’re easy to make and a lot of fun to decorate. Keep reading to discover how to whip up these playful, monster-inspired donuts for a memorable Halloween celebration.

Ingredients you’ll need for these Easy Halloween Donuts

This recipe calls for simple ingredients, found in any grocery store:

• All-purpose flour: Provides structure to the donuts, giving them their shape and making them sturdy enough to hold up all the fun decorations.
• Dutch-process Cocoa powder: Adds rich chocolate flavor and also contributes to the color, making the donuts dark and spooky—perfect for a Halloween treat.
• Baking Soda: Works as a leavening agent, helping the donuts rise and become light and fluffy by reacting with acidic ingredients like yogurt.
• Baking Powder: Another leavening agent, baking powder ensures the donuts rise evenly and get a nice, soft texture.
• Salt: Enhances the flavors, balancing the sweetness and bringing out the richness of the chocolate.
• Milk: Adds moisture to the batter, creating a smooth and creamy consistency, which helps in achieving a tender crumb.
• Instant espresso powder: Intensifies the chocolate flavor without making the donuts taste like coffee. It’s a little secret ingredient that makes the chocolate taste deeper.
• Unsalted butter: Adds richness and flavor to the donuts while contributing to their tender, moist texture.
• Granulated sugar: Sweetens the donuts and also helps in creating a soft texture by trapping air during the mixing process.
• Vanilla extract: Adds a subtle warmth and enhances the overall flavor profile, complementing the chocolate.
• Eggs: Bind the ingredients together, provide structure, and help the donuts rise, ensuring they’re light and airy.
• Yogurt: Adds moisture and a slight tanginess, which not only makes the donuts tender but also reacts with the baking soda to help them rise.
• Sprinkles: Halloween sprinkles bring a fun, colorful touch to the donuts, making them look festive and perfect for Halloween.
• Candy Eyes: Create the “monster” look, adding a playful, spooky element to the finished donuts.
• Candy Melts: Used to decorate the donuts, candy melts can be easily melted and drizzled or spread on top, adding a sweet, colorful finish that helps the sprinkles and candy eyes stick.

Take a look at the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the full recipe.

Add-ons and Substitutions for these cute Halloween Donuts

• Crushed cookies: Sprinkle crushed chocolate sandwich cookies on top of the donuts after applying the candy melts for added crunch and extra chocolate flavor.
• Mini Marshmallows: Add some mini marshmallows to the donut batter or on top as decoration to give a gooey texture and a ghostly look.
• Chocolate Chips: Mix chocolate chips into the batter for melty pockets of chocolate inside the donuts.
• Colored Icing: Use colored icing to draw spooky faces or patterns on the donuts, adding to the Halloween theme.
• Edible Glitter: Sprinkle some edible glitter on top of the candy melts for a shimmery, festive touch.
• Buttermilk: Substitute regular milk with buttermilk for a tangier flavor.
• Sour Cream: Substitute the yogurt for sour cream, with similar results.

How to make these Halloween Monster Donuts

Donut Recipe

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray the donut pan with baking spray and set it aside.

In a medium-sized mixing bowl, mix the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt, then set it aside. In a small bowl, mix the milk and espresso powder, and set that aside as well.

In a large bowl, cream the butter, sugar, and vanilla until light and fluffy, about 1 1/2 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Then, mix in the yogurt until combined.

Alternate adding the milk mixture and dry ingredients to the batter, starting and ending with the dry ingredients, and beat until well incorporated.

Fill the prepared donut tins about 2/3 full. Bake for 13-17 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove from the oven and let the donuts cool for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a cooling rack to cool completely.

Decorations

When the donuts are at room temperature, melt the candy melts in a microwave-safe bowl. Dunk the chocolate donuts in the melted candy, and immediately cover them with sprinkles (if using) or “glue” on the eyes.

To attach the eyes on top of the sprinkle-covered donuts, use a bit more melted candy melts as the adhesive.

Place them on top of a piece of parchment paper or wire rack to let the candy melts set completely.

Orange One-Eyed Monster:

1. Dunk the donut in melted orange candy melts.
2. Place one large candy eyeball on top.
3. Stick white Jimmies sprinkles around the donut hole to create teeth.

Furry Monsters:

1. Dunk the donut in melted white candy melts (or use melted chocolate).
2. Immediately cover the donut with purple, pink, yellow, or orange sprinkles.
3. Stick small and large candy eyeballs using melted candy melts as glue.

White Monster with Black Teeth:

1. Dunk the donut in melted white candy melts or melted white chocolate.
2. Place two small candy eyeballs on top.
3. Sprinkle white Jimmies over the donut.
4. Stick black Jimmies around the donut hole to create teeth.
5. Glue red confetti sprinkles on top of the candy eyes using melted candy melts.

Mummy:

1. Dunk the donut in melted white candy melts or melted white chocolate.
2. Stick two small candy eyeballs on top.
3. Place the melted white candy melts in a piping bag with a small hole cut in the tip. Drizzle the candy melts in all directions over the donut, avoiding the eyes.

Green Three-Eyed Monster:

1. Dunk the donut in melted green candy melts.
2. Glue three small candy eyeballs on top.

Expert Tips for these easy Halloween treats

Here are some expert tips to ensure your Halloween monster donuts turn out perfectly:

1. Use Room Temperature Ingredients: Make sure your butter, eggs, and sour cream are at room temperature before you start. This ensures that your batter mixes smoothly, giving you a light and fluffy donut.
2. Avoid Overbaking: Keep a close eye on your donuts while they’re in the oven. Overbaking can dry them out, so check them at the 13-minute mark and remove them as soon as a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
3. Cool Before Decorating: Always let your donuts cool completely before decorating. Decorating warm donuts can cause the candy melts to slide off and the decorations to melt or shift.
4. Work Quickly with Candy Melts: Candy melts set quickly, so don’t wait too long before adding sprinkles or gluing on the candy eyes. Have your decorations ready to go before you start dipping the donuts.

Following these tips will help you create beautiful and delicious Halloween monster donuts!

Frequently Asked Questions

How should I store leftover donuts?

Store leftover donuts in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2-3 days. If you want to keep them fresh for a longer period, you can refrigerate them for up to a week. Be sure to let them come to room temperature before serving in any of your Halloween parties.

Can I freeze the donuts?

Yes, you can freeze the donuts! To do so, place the cooled, undecorated donuts in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Once frozen, transfer them to an airtight container or freezer bag. They can be frozen for up to 2-3 months. When ready to eat, thaw the donuts at room temperature and add decorations after thawing.

What should I do if my candy melts start to set before I finish decorating?

If your candy melts start to set, you can gently reheat them in the microwave in short bursts of 10-15 seconds, stirring between each interval until they become fluid again. If the melts cool too quickly, they might not adhere well to the donuts.

How can I achieve a smooth coating with candy melts?

Make sure your candy melts are fully melted and have a smooth consistency before dipping your donuts. If the candy melts are too thick, you can thin them out by adding a small amount of vegetable oil or coconut oil. This will help achieve a smooth, even coating for the perfect treat.

Take a look at this link for more Fall Recipes or click on the links below for more Halloween recipes:

If you make this recipe, please be sure to give it a star rating and leave a comment!

Take a look at this Halloween Donut video to see these donuts up close.