Rich Baked Chocolate Donuts with Shio-Koji for Valentine's

1. 1

   Chop up the chocolate using a kitchen knife, or break up with your hands, if using segmented bars.

2. 2

   Put the pancake mix, cocoa powder, shio-koji, egg, sugar, and milk in a bowl, and mix together with a whisk.

3. 3

   Place the butter in a heat-proof dish, melt in the microwave for 30 seconds on 600 W, then add to Step 2.

4. 4

   Scrape the residual melted butter from the Step 3 bowl with your fingers, and use to grease the donut molds.

5. 5

   Take half of the chopped chocolate, and divide it evenly between the molds.

6. 6

   Add the remaining half of the chocolate to the Step 3 mixture, and mix with a rubber spatula.

7. 7

   Pour the Step 5 batter into the Step 4 molds.

8. 8

   Gently pick up the mold case, and rap it against your work surface several times to release any air bubbles that may be trapped in the batter.

9. 9

   Preheat an oven to 170C, insert the Step 6 mold case, and bake for 15 minutes.

10. 10

    How to cleanly remove the donuts from the molds (If using a silicon mold tray).

11. 11

    1) Wait until the baked donuts are cool to the touch.

12. 12

    2) Push your fingers into the bottom of the mold so that the donut starts to come away from it.

13. 13

    Continue pushing, then clasp the donut with your free hand and twist it from side-to side until the donut is released from the mold.

14. 14

    Here is a version of the recipe using half the listed quantity of egg

* Per serving · 4 servings · Values may vary.