Red Velvet Donuts Topped with Chocolate Ganache

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Last Updated on June 26, 2021 by Alaina Bullock

These soft and moist Red Velvet Donuts are topped with a scrumptious chocolate ganache glaze that makes them absolutely delicious! Plus the vibrant red color and delectable chocolate flavor make these baked red velvet donuts the perfect Valentine’s Day treat for your special someone!

I’ve shared with you an easy recipe for baked donuts before, and they were delicious (have you made them, yet?), but this baked donut recipe is going to blow your mind simply because of two little words…

Red. Velvet.

If you like red velvet then you are going to love these donuts (and be sure to stick around, because I have another red velvet recipe I’ll be sharing next week)! These Valentine’s Day Red Velvet Donuts has a flavor like no other. They are slightly sweet and just a tad tangy. And the Godiva chocolate ganache glaze which gloriously crowns these baked donuts adds the perfect amount of rich, semi-sweet chocolaty-ness.

These red velvet doughnuts are also as pretty as they are delicious. And while they make a great treat for any time of the year, the gorgeous, rich red color and delectable chocolate flavor make them absolutely perfect for Valentine’s Day.

These fluffy, lightly sweetened and delicately tangy baked red velvet donuts topped with chocolate ganache glaze are the perfect treat for Valentine’s Day breakfast! Or lunch… Or a snack… Or any time, really. You’re gonna love ’em!

How To Make Red Velvet Donuts with Chocolate Ganache Glaze

These tender and moist Valentine’s Day baked Red Velvet Donuts are super easy to make and you don’t need lots of time to make them.

What You Need:

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Kitchen Tools Needed:

Ingredients Needed to Make Red Velvet Donuts

The complete recipe is in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post, but here is what you will need from the store for these Red Velvet Donuts. This recipe doesn’t call for any hard-to-find or unusual ingredients.

Valentine’s Day Sprinkles
unsweetened cocoa mix
white distilled vinegar
all-purpose flour
salt
baking soda
buttermilk
sugar
canola oil
egg
vanilla extract
red food coloring
Godiva Chocolate Baking Bar
Heavy Whipping Cream

Tips For Making and Storing Valentine’s Day Red Velvet Cupcakes

Here are some common questions, tips, and tricks about making and storing red velvet donuts.

Can You Make Valentine’s Day Red Velvet Donuts Ahead of Time?

Yes! These baked red velvet donuts can be made a day or so ahead of time. Just don’t glaze them until you’re about ready to serve.

Can You Store Red Velvet Donuts?

You can store these red velvet donuts. However, just keep in mind that unlike fried donuts, baked donuts will start to fall apart as the glaze soaks in, so it’s best to eat them quickly! However, if you have leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container on the counter for up to 2 days.

Red Velvet Donut Topping Ideas

Not a fan of chocolate ganache? Try using a cream cheese glaze instead. Or, you could try a vanilla glaze. This one from Alton Brown is my favorite!

You could also just sprinkle powdered sugar on top of your donuts and skip the chocolate ganache. Or add the powdered sugar on top of the chocolate. The possibilities are many!

How to Make Chocolate Ganache

Chocolate ganache is amazingly delicious. And while the name may sound fancy and difficult, it’s really not hard to make. Plus you only need two ingredients: heavy cream (or heavy whipping cream) and pure chocolate. Here are some tips and tricks to help if you’ve never made it before.

Chocolate Ganache Ingredient Tips

use a 1:1 ratio of cream to chocolate.
For the best tasting ganache, I prefer using semi-sweet chocolate.
Do not use chocolate chips because they will not melt into the best consistency.
The best chocolate to use is a pure chocolate baking bar, such as Ghirardelli or Bakers brands.
Only use heavy cream or heavy whipping cream. Do not use half-and-half, whole milk, or any other liquid as the ganache won’t set up properly.
For a non-dairy alternative, use canned coconut milk.

Tips for Making Chocolate Ganache

A large serrated knife works best to chop the chocolate.
Chop the chocolate as fine as possible. The finer it is, the quicker it melts with the cream.
Warm the cream on the stove only. The microwave won’t heat it evenly enough.
After you pour the warm heavy cream over the chopped chocolate, let it sit for a few minutes. The chocolate will soften and begin to melt which means no need to over-stir it.
Use real chocolate; cheap chocolate chips often result in a grainy ganache.
Use only a glass or metal bowl. Plastic bowls could melt or lead to a grainy or greasy ganache.
Use a small spatula or spoon, not a whisk, to stir the chocolate and warm the cream. Using a whisk allows air to get into the melting chocolate resulting in a greasy ganache.

Chocolate Ganache Troubleshooting

If the chocolate doesn’t melt, either it wasn’t chopped fine enough or the cream wasn’t warm enough. Place the mixture into a double boiler OR place the glass bowl over a small saucepan of simmering water. Stir constantly over the indirect heat until it’s smooth.
If the chocolate seized, it came into contact with water. Don’t let even one single drop of water get into the bowl! This awesome article from The Spruce Eats explains how to fix it.

Ways to Use Chocolate Ganache

Use ganache right away for a fruit dip or drizzle it on top of cakes, pound cakes, ice cream, and so much more.
Wait and let the ganache cool completely (about 2 hours), then it can be scooped with a spoon, spread, or even piped with piping tips.
Make a whipped ganache (frosting consistency) by whipping completely cooled ganache on medium-high speed until it becomes light in color and fluffy in texture (about 4 minutes).

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