Heavenly Chocolate Custard Donuts Recipe: Soft, Sweet Bliss

Sweet, pillowy donuts filled with silky chocolate custard burst with decadent flavor that melts in your mouth.

These delightful treats promise a luxurious dessert experience that feels like pure indulgence.

The creamy chocolate custard filling adds an irresistible richness to each soft, golden donut.

Crafted with simple ingredients, this recipe brings bakery-style magic straight to your kitchen.

Each bite delivers a perfect balance of tender dough and smooth chocolate goodness.

The combination of light pastry and velvety custard creates an unforgettable dessert that will have everyone asking for seconds.

Prepare to become the star baker in your circle with these irresistible chocolate custard donuts.

Why Sweet Filled Breakfast Treats Are a Morning Delight

  • Craft Comfort Breakfast: Indulge in a delightful morning treat that brings warmth and joy to your kitchen, perfect for creating special family memories.
  • Master Culinary Skills: Learn a sophisticated baking technique that transforms simple ingredients into a gourmet breakfast pastry, boosting your cooking confidence.
  • Customize Your Delight: Easily adapt the recipe by experimenting with different fillings or sugar coatings, making each batch unique and exciting for everyone.
  • Weekend Brunch Champion: Impress guests with a professional-looking dessert that looks complex but is surprisingly manageable for home cooks of all skill levels.

Ingredients for a Sweet Filled Breakfast Treat

Base Ingredients:
  • Flour: The primary dry ingredient that provides structure to the dough.
  • Warm Milk: Helps activate yeast and creates a soft, tender texture.
  • Eggs: Adds richness and helps bind the dough together.
  • Yeast: Essential for creating a light and airy texture in the dough.
  • Sugar: Provides sweetness and helps with yeast activation.
  • Salt: Enhances the overall flavor of the dough.
Enriching Ingredients:
  • Butter: Softens the dough and adds a rich, smooth flavor.
Filling and Coating Ingredients:
  • Cornstarch, Cocoa, Chocolate: Create a smooth and rich chocolate custard filling.
  • Vanilla: Adds depth and warmth to the chocolate custard.
Finishing Ingredients:
  • Granulated Sugar: Used for coating the fried doughnuts for extra sweetness.
  • Vegetable Oil: Used for frying the doughnuts to golden perfection.

Preparing a Sweet Filled Breakfast Treat: How-To

Step 1: Activate Yeast

Combine warm milk, egg, and yeast in a mixing bowl.

Gently stir until yeast completely dissolves and becomes frothy.

Step 2: Create Dough Base

Add sugar, flour, and salt to the yeast mixture.

Mix thoroughly until a soft, sticky dough forms.

Step 3: Incorporate Butter

Knead softened butter into the dough.

Continue working the dough until it becomes smooth and elastic.

Step 4: Allow First Rise

Cover the dough with a clean kitchen towel.

Let it rise in a warm spot for 2-3 hours until it doubles in size.

Step 5: Prepare Chocolate Filling

In a separate bowl, whisk together:
  • Sugar
  • Eggs
  • Cornstarch
  • Cocoa powder
  • Salt

Step 6: Heat Milk Mixture

Warm milk with vanilla extract in a saucepan until it reaches a gentle boil.

Step 7: Create Custard Base

Slowly pour hot milk into egg mixture, whisking constantly to prevent scrambling.

Step 8: Finish Custard

Cook the mixture over medium heat, stirring continuously until it thickens.

Add chocolate and butter, mixing until smooth.

Step 9: Chill Filling

Transfer custard to a container and refrigerate for 2-4 hours until completely cooled.

Step 10: Shape Donuts

Divide dough into 8 equal portions.

Roll each portion into a smooth ball.

Step 11: Second Proofing

Let dough balls rest for 30-40 minutes, allowing them to slightly expand.

Step 12: Fry Donuts

Heat oil to 350°F.

Carefully fry donuts until they turn golden brown on all sides.

Step 13: Finish Donuts

Remove donuts from oil, let them cool slightly, then roll in granulated sugar.

Step 14: Fill with Chocolate

Use a piping bag to inject each donut with chilled chocolate custard.

Breakfast Treat Tips for Sweet Results

  • Ensure milk is warm (not hot) to help yeast activate without killing it, creating a perfectly risen dough.
  • Add flour gradually to achieve a soft, slightly sticky dough that won't become tough or dry.
  • Maintain steady 350F oil to prevent doughnuts from absorbing excess oil or burning on the outside.
  • Temper egg mixture slowly with hot milk to prevent scrambling, creating a silky smooth chocolate filling.
  • Allow sufficient rising and resting time for dough to develop flavor and achieve light, airy texture.

Variations to Try with Filled Breakfast Treats

  • Gluten-Free Delight: Replace wheat flour with almond or coconut flour for a celiac-friendly version. Use gluten-free baking powder to maintain texture.
  • Vegan Chocolate Dream: Swap eggs with flax eggs, use plant-based milk, and coconut cream for custard. Select dark chocolate without dairy for filling.
  • Low-Sugar Option: Substitute sugar with stevia or monk fruit sweetener. Use sugar-free chocolate and reduce overall sweetness while maintaining flavor profile.
  • Fruit-Infused Variation: Blend fresh raspberries or strawberries into custard for a fruity chocolate version. Add zest from orange or lemon to enhance complexity.

Ways to Serve Sweet Filled Breakfast Treats

  • Breakfast Bliss Companions: Pair these luscious doughnuts with creamy cappuccino or freshly brewed espresso for a morning indulgence.
  • Weekend Brunch Delight: Serve alongside crispy bacon, scrambled eggs, and fresh fruit salad to create a decadent weekend breakfast spread.
  • Sweet Sharing Moment: Present on a beautiful platter with powdered sugar dusting and chocolate drizzle for an Instagram-worthy dessert that invites friends and family to enjoy together.
  • Afternoon Tea Treat: Complement these doughnuts with light herbal tea or cold milk, making them perfect for a midday snack or casual gathering.

Storage for Breakfast Treats

  • Store filled doughnuts in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days, keeping them fresh and delicious.
  • Wrap unfilled doughnuts individually in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer bag to preserve for 1-2 months, perfect for quick treats.
  • Keep chocolate custard in a sealed container in the refrigerator, consuming within 3-4 days for optimal flavor and texture.
  • Allow refrigerated doughnuts to sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before serving to restore their soft, pillowy texture.

FAQs

  • What is the key to getting soft doughnuts?

The secret is letting the dough rise properly for 2-3 hours and ensuring the yeast is fully dissolved in warm milk. This helps create a light, fluffy texture.

  • How do I know if my custard is ready?

The custard is done when it thickens and coats the back of a spoon. It should have a smooth, pudding-like consistency without any lumps.

  • Can I make the custard ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the chocolate custard 2-4 hours in advance and refrigerate it. This actually helps the custard set and develop a richer flavor.

Print
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Chocolate Custard Donuts Recipe


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4.6 from 19 reviews

  • Total Time: 3 hours 35 minutes
  • Yield: 12 1x

Description

Scrumptious chocolate custard donuts invite sweet-toothed adventurers into a world of delectable indulgence. Rich, pillowy pastries filled with silky chocolate custard promise a heavenly escape that satisfies deep dessert cravings in one delightful bite.


Ingredients

Scale

Main Dough Ingredients:

  • 2.25 cups bread flour
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 0.5 cup + 2 tablespoons (150 milliliters) warm milk
  • 3 tablespoons (45 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 5 tablespoons (63 grams) granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 envelope (7 grams) instant yeast

Filling and Custard Ingredients:

  • 2.25 cups (540 milliliters) whole milk
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 3 egg yolks, room temperature
  • 1 egg, room temperature
  • 0.5 cup (100 grams) granulated sugar
  • 2.5 tablespoons (20 grams) cornstarch
  • 0.25 teaspoon salt

Chocolate Ingredients:

  • 8 ounces (226 grams) bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons (30 grams) unsalted butter, softened

Instructions

  1. Activate yeast by combining warm milk, egg, and yeast, ensuring complete dissolution.
  2. Create dough base by incorporating sugar, flour, and salt into the liquid mixture.
  3. Integrate softened butter into the dough, kneading until achieving a smooth, elastic texture.
  4. Allow dough to proof in a warm environment for 2-3 hours, expanding to approximately double its original volume.
  5. Prepare custard foundation by whisking together sugar, eggs, cornstarch, cocoa, and salt until thoroughly combined.
  6. Heat milk and vanilla to a rolling boil, creating a rich aromatic liquid.
  7. Temper egg mixture by gradually introducing hot milk, stirring continuously to prevent curdling.
  8. Simmer custard over medium heat until thickened, then incorporate chocolate and butter for enhanced richness.
  9. Refrigerate custard for 2-4 hours to achieve optimal setting and flavor development.
  10. Divide proofed dough into 8 uniform spherical portions.
  11. Permit dough balls to rest and relax for 30-40 minutes, enhancing texture and elasticity.
  12. Deep fry doughnuts in 350°F oil, rotating to ensure even golden-brown coloration.
  13. Allow freshly fried doughnuts to cool slightly, then coat generously with granulated sugar.
  14. Insert chocolate custard into doughnuts using a piping technique, ensuring even distribution.

Notes

  • Activate yeast properly by using warm milk between 100-110°F to ensure perfect dough rising and soft texture.
  • Handle dough gently during kneading to prevent gluten development, keeping pastry tender and light.
  • Prevent custard from curdling by tempering eggs slowly with hot milk, whisking constantly to maintain smooth consistency.
  • Create gluten-free version by substituting wheat flour with almond or coconut flour and using xanthan gum for binding.
  • Prep Time: 3 hours 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Category: Desserts, Snacks
  • Method: Frying
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 12
  • Calories: 300
  • Sugar: 18 g
  • Sodium: 250 mg
  • Fat: 12 g
  • Saturated Fat: 7 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 40 g
  • Fiber: 2 g
  • Protein: 6 g
  • Cholesterol: 70 mg
Nathaniel Brooks

Nathaniel Brooks

Founder & Recipe Developer

Expertise

Farm-to-table cuisine, Seasonal recipe development, Culinary storytelling

Education

Ivy Tech Community College – Indianapolis, IN
Culinary Arts / Hospitality Administration & Events
Focused on hands-on training in classical and modern culinary techniques. ​


Nathaniel’s story starts in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, where farm stands, backyard gardens, and old family recipes shaped his love for real food. After graduating from Ivy Tech Community College in Indianapolis, he spent years working in farm-to-table kitchens, learning how to turn local, seasonal ingredients into something memorable.
Today, Nathaniel pours that same spirit into every single recipe on Aspiring Culinarian – recipes that feel real, comforting, and connected to the land. When he’s not in the kitchen, you’ll find him foraging wild herbs, chasing sunsets with his camera, or writing about the flavors that shaped his roots.

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