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    Home » Recipes » Chocolate Desserts

    Brownie Batter Donut Copycat

    Published: Oct 9, 2021 · Modified: Jul 15, 2022 by Karin and Ken · This post may contain affiliate links. Leave a Comment

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    Brownie batter donut is one of the most popular flavors at Dunkin, but why pay for it when you can make it? These copycat Dunkin brownie batter donuts feature brownie batter filling all wrapped up in a tender, delicious donut. Yum!

    I always get excited when Dunkin' brings out their special brownie batter donuts, but I realized that I don't have to wait all year to get them. I can just make my own! That's just what I did, too.

    Heart-shaped brownie batter donut next to another donut on a cooling rack and a broken donut on white plate. The donuts are tan in colour with white icing and brown chocolate sprinkles on top.

    Copycat Dunkin Brownie Batter Donuts

    This was inspired by my other Dunkin copycat recipe on this site, and pairs well with this amazing dalgona cloud coffee recipe. It's a one-two kick of sweet deliciousness!

    Ingredients

    It might take several ingredients to make these delicious donuts, but because most of them are kitchen staples, you probably have the majority of these ingredients in your kitchen right now.

    For the Donuts

    • all-purpose flour
    • granulated sugar
    • instant yeast
    • milk
    • warm water
    • cream
    • softened butter
    • melted butter
    • vanilla extract
    • salt

    For the Brownie Batter Filling

    • brownie mix
    • cocoa
    • butter, softened
    • vanilla
    • milk
    • powdered sugar
    • hot water

    For the Icing

    • heavy cream
    • melted butter
    • clear vanilla
    • powdered sugar
    • Chocolate Sprinkles

    See the recipe card at the end of the post for quantities and baking times.

    Instructions

    This recipe takes a few steps, but it's not something that will overwhelm you if you simply take your time and go step by step.

    Step 1: Prepare the Yeast

    Heat the milk and cream together in a microwave-safe dish until it's warm. Then, pour the warm water, milk, cream, yeast, and 1 tablespoon of sugar into the bowl of a stand mixer.

    Let the yeast rest for about five minutes until it's bubbly. Then, add the salt, remaining sugar, and vanilla.

    Step 2: Make the Dough

    Fit the mixer with a dough hook, and turn it on at low speed. Slowly add the flour a little at a time until a shaggy, wet, and sticky dough forms. Add the remaining flour if needed.

    Step 3: Knead the Dough

    Using the dough hook, continue mixing at medium speed to knead the dough for about six minutes.

    Step 4: Let the Dough Rise

    Remove the kneaded dough from the bowl and spray the bowl in oil. Gently shape the dough into a ball and place it back in the oiled bowl seam-side down.

    Lightly spritz the dough ball with oil and let it rise until doubled in size.

    Step 5: Roll Out the Dough

    Turn your dough out onto an oiled surface and, using a rolling pin, roll the dough out to about three-quarter inches thick.

    Step 6: Cut Out the Donuts

    Using a heart-shaped cutter, cut as many hearts out of the dough as possible, being careful to plan your cuts so you get the most hearts.

    Step 7: Let the Donuts Rise

    Place the donuts on a parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving a couple of inches between each one. Place a clean towel over the to of the tray and let the donuts rise for about thirty to forty minutes.

    Step 8: Bake the Donuts

    Brush the tops of the donuts with melted butter and bake in a preheated oven, turning about halfway through cooking. Remove the donuts when they're lightly golden brown. Let them cool completely.

    Step 9: Make a Hole in the Donuts

    Using a dowel or the end of a kitchen utensil like a wooden spoon, poke a hole in the side of each donut to make space for the filling.

    Step 10: Make the Filling

    To make the filing, place the cocoa powder and brownies mix in a bowl and whisk together. Add the butter and vanilla and mix well. Then, add milk and slowly add the powdered sugar, beating on medium speed. Add the hot water and beat on medium speed for about three minutes.

    Step 11: Fill the Donuts

    Place the filling into a piping bag and fill each donut as much as possible.

    Step 12: Make the Icing

    Place all the icing ingredients into a bowl and whisk until smooth. It should be thin enough to dip the tops of the donuts but not so thin that it runs off of them completely.

    Step 13: Dip the Donuts

    Dip the to of each donut into the icing and then sprinkle with chocolate sprinkles.

    Hint: Cut as many heart shapes out of the dough as possible on the first go around. You can only re-roll the scraps one time at the most before the dough becomes tough.

    Closeup shot of hand holding a piece of brownie batter donut with more donuts below.

    Substitutions

    Don't have the correct ingredients on hand? Or want to change something up? Here are some helpful tips for you to change this Dunkin brownie batter donuts recipe.

    • Yeast - If you don't have instant yeast, use regular yeast. Just give it extra time to proof.
    • Brownie Mix - Use any chocolate brownie mix you like. Any will work.
    • Milk - If you don't have heavy cream, milk will work. Don't use anything with less fat than 2% milk.

    Variations

    Want to personalize this brownie batter donut recipe? Here are some of my tried and true tips for changing up this recipe.

    • Add Cocoa to the Donuts - Add cocoa powder to the donut recipe to make double chocolate brownie batter donuts.
    • Add Cocoa to the Icing - For even more chocolaty goodness, add cocoa to the icing, as well.

    If you love recipes like this, you may also enjoy these glazed pumpkin donuts.

    Equipment

    There might be several steps to this recipe, but there's not a lot of equipment required. You'll only need standard baking equipment to make this recipe.

    • Measuring cups and spoons
    • Spatula
    • Stand or hand mixer
    • Mixing bowls
    • Wooden spoon
    • Baking sheets
    • Parchment paper
    • Piping bag

    Storage

    You can store these donuts for between three and four days in an air-tight container in the refrigerator. For longer storage, you can freeze these donuts for up to three months.

    Tips

    This recipe has several steps, but it's not that complicated. Although it's relatively easy, I have some tips here that will help you make the best donuts possible.

    • Cut as many heart shapes as you can out of the dough on the first go around. Reworking the dough makes it tough.
    • Be gentle when poking a hole in your donuts. You don't want to go all the way through them.
    • If your icing is too thin, add more powdered sugar. If it's too thick, add more heavy cream.
    Closeup shot of heart-shaped donuts on cooling rack. The donuts are tan in color with white icing and brown chocolate sprinkles on top.

    More Donut Recipes

    Do you like donuts? Here some recipes you may also like to try.

    • Spider Donuts
    • Maple Glazed Donuts
    • Air Fryer Biscuit Donuts

    FAQ

    Do you have questions about this brownie batter donut recipe? Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about copycat Dunkin brownie batter donuts.

    How long will these donuts last?

    These donuts will last for three to four days in the refrigerator or up to three months in the freezer.

    How do I freeze them?

    Let the donuts chill completely in the refrigerator and then lay them on a cookie sheet. Freeze them on the cookie sheet and then wrap them in cling wrap and place them in an air-tight, freezer-safe container or heavy-duty freezer bag.

    How do I thaw them?

    To thaw the brownies, place them in the refrigerator overnight.

    Can I double the recipe?

    Yes. This recipe has lots of steps, but the actual cooking is simple. Just double everything up.

    Why didn't my dough rise?

    Your yeast was probably too old. Yeast is a living organism. It makes things rise by the gas it releasing from eating the food (sugar) that you give it. Dead yeast doesn't eat.

    How do I make the hole in the donuts?

    Gently push the handle of your spoon about halfway into the donut. Then, move it back and forth gently to create a cavity for the filling.

    Brownie Batter Donut Recipe

    Ready to get cooking? Remember that you can print this recipe if you would like.

    Brownie Batter Donuts Copycat

    Karin and Ken
    This brownie batter donut recipe is delicious and easier to make than you think. Enjoy these copycat Dunkin brownie batter donuts any time.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 15 minutes mins
    Rise Time, divided 2 hours hrs
    Total Time 3 hours hrs 30 minutes mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 12
    Calories 491 kcal

    Equipment

    • Donut pan
    • Measuring cups and spoons
    • microwave safe bowl
    • mixing bowl
    • Hand mixer or stand mixer
    • dough hook
    • Plastic Wrap
    • cutting board
    • Rolling Pin
    • heart cookie cutter
    • rimmed baking sheet
    • Parchment paper
    • clean towels
    • pastry brush
    • dowel or end of wooden spoon
    • medium bowl
    • whisk
    • piping bag

    Ingredients
      

    • 3 cups all-purpose flour
    • ⅓ cup granulated sugar
    • 3 teaspoons instant yeast
    • ¾ cup milk
    • ⅓ cup warm water
    • ¼ cup heavy cream
    • 4 tablespoons softened butter
    • 2 tablespoons melted butter
    • 2 tablespoons vanilla extract
    • 2 teaspoons salt

    Brownie Batter Filling

    • 1 cup brownie mix
    • ½ cup cocoa
    • 1 cup butter softened
    • 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
    • 2 Tablespoon milk
    • 3 cups powdered sugar
    • 2 Tablespoon hot water

    Icing

    • 3-4 Tablespoons heavy cream
    • 2 Tablespoons melted butter
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 1 cup powdered sugar

    Decorations

    • Chocolate Sprinkles
    Get Recipe Ingredients

    Instructions
     

    • Get out and measure your ingredients.
    • Heat the milk and the cream together in a microwave safe dish until it is warm.
    • Pour the warm water, milk, cream, yeast, and 1 teaspoon of the granulated sugar into the bowl of stand mixer. Let the yeast mixture rest for about 5 minutes.
    • Once the yeast mixture is nice and bubbly, add in the salt, remaining sugar, and vanilla.
    • Fit the mixer with a dough hook and start running it on low speed.
    • Slowly add in the flour ½ cup at a time until you have added 2 ½ cups.
    • Once 2 ½ cups of flour have been incorporated, add in the softened butter 1 tablespoon at a time until combined.
    • Your dough should be a bit shaggy, wet, and sticky, but should hold shape, add in the remaining ½ cup of flour at this time if needed.
    • Knead the dough on medium speed for 6 minutes.
    • Once the dough has finished kneading remove it from the bowl momentarily. Spray the bowl with oil, gently shape the dough into a ball and place it back into the oiled bowl seam-side down, and lightly spritz the top of the dough with oil.
    • Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and a towel and place in a warm area to rise for 1.5 hours.
    • The dough should have doubled in size in 1.5 hours, take the dough out of the bowl and place onto an oiled work surface.
    • Use a rolling pin to roll the dough out to about ¾” thickness. Use a heart shaped cutter to get as many hearts out of the dough as possible.
    • This dough is not like cookie dough where you can re-roll multiple times, you should only re-roll the scraps 1 time at the most, otherwise the dough will get too tough.
    • Place the dough hearts onto a parchment lined baking sheet, making sure to leave a couple inches between each one.
    • Place a clean towel over the top of each tray and let rise for 30-40 minutes.
    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
    • Once the donuts have risen, lightly brush the tops with melted butter.
    • Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 15 minutes, rotating the trays halfway through. Remove from the oven when lightly golden and let cool completely on rack.
    • Use a dowel or end of a kitchen utensil to poke a hole in the side of each donut to make space for the filling.
    • To make the filling place cocoa powder and brownie mix in a bowl and whisk together.
    • Add the butter and vanilla and mix well.
    • Add milk and slowly add the powdered sugar while beating on medium speed.
    • Add the hot water and beat on medium for about 3 minutes.
    • Place the filling into a piping bag and fill each donut as full as possible.
    • To make the icing, place all icing ingredients into a bowl and whisk until smooth. The icing should be thin enough to coat the top of a donut when dipped, but not too thin that it runs off the donut completely.
    • Dip each donut top into the icing.
    • Then sprinkle with chocolate sprinkles.
    • Let the icing set for ten minutes.
    • Enjoy every bite.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 491kcalCarbohydrates: 91gProtein: 8gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 24mgSodium: 510mgPotassium: 185mgFiber: 3gSugar: 57gVitamin A: 306IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 63mgIron: 3mg
    Keyword air fried donuts, brownie batter
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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    Welcome!

    We are the kitchen divas: Karin and my partner in life, Ken.

    We have been attached at the heart and hip since the first day we met, and we love to create new dishes to keep things interesting. Variety is definitely the spice of life!

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