Christmas Donuts are a whimsical and festive addition to your holiday baking lineup. These soft, baked donuts are as fun to decorate as they are delicious to eat. With designs inspired by Santa, snowmen, reindeer, wreaths, and more, each donut becomes an edible work of art—perfect for Christmas morning, festive brunches, or wintertime parties. Whether you’re decorating with kids or creating a themed dessert table, these donuts bring seasonal joy to every bite.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

These Christmas Donuts are more than just a sweet treat—they’re a creative and engaging holiday activity. Here’s what makes them so special:

Baked, not fried, for a lighter, fuss-free alternative to traditional donuts.
Endless decorating possibilities using basic candies, sprinkles, and frosting.
A festive way to get the whole family involved in the kitchen.
Ideal for gifting, party trays, or Christmas morning breakfast.
Soft, tender texture with customizable colors and flavors.

Ingredients

(Tip: You can find the complete list of ingredients and their measurements in the recipe card below.)

For the donuts (baked)

all-purpose flour
sugar
baking powder
salt
milk
large eggs
unsalted butter, melted
vanilla extract

For the decorating

red, green, white, and chocolate frostings
pretzel twists (for reindeer antlers)
candy eyes, mini M&Ms, chocolate chips, marshmallows
holiday sprinkles, colored sugar
mini bows or fondant accents (optional)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a donut pan.
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla extract.
Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir just until combined.
Spoon the batter into the prepared donut pan, filling each cavity about 3/4 full.
Bake for 12–14 minutes, or until the donuts are lightly golden and spring back when gently pressed.
Allow the donuts to cool in the pan for a few minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Decorating Instructions:

Divide your frosting into bowls and tint with food coloring as needed.
Dip or spread frosting over each cooled donut, using a spoon or spatula.
Decorate each donut according to your desired design:

Wreath Donut: Green frosting, red candy bow, and green/red sprinkles
Reindeer Donut: Chocolate frosting, pretzel antlers, candy eyes, red M&M nose
Santa Donut: Red sugar coating, black licorice belt, yellow candy buckle
Grinch Donut: Green frosting with a red candy heart and sprinkles
Sprinkle Donut: Any frosting topped with colorful Christmas sprinkles
Snowman Donut: White frosting, marshmallow eyes, chocolate chip mouth, and an orange sprinkle for the nose

Let the decorations set before serving or storing.

Servings and timing

Servings: 12 donuts
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Bake Time: 14 minutes
Decorating Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 59 minutes
Calories per Serving: 260 kcal

Variations

Gluten-free option: Use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend for a celiac-friendly version.
Chocolate donuts: Add 1/4 cup cocoa powder and reduce flour by the same amount for a chocolatey base.
Spiced donuts: Mix in cinnamon, nutmeg, or ginger for a warm, holiday-inspired flavor.
Maple glaze: Use maple syrup in the frosting for a rich, seasonal twist.
Filled donuts: Use a piping bag to inject jam or frosting into the center before decorating.

Storage/Reheating

Storage: Store decorated donuts in a single layer in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.

Freezing: Freeze undecorated donuts for up to 1 month. Thaw completely before frosting and decorating.

Reheating: Briefly warm undecorated donuts in the microwave (10–15 seconds) if desired. Decorated donuts are best served at room temperature.

FAQs

Can I use store-bought donuts instead?

Yes. You can use plain cake donuts and decorate them if you’re short on time.

What’s the best type of frosting for decorating?

A thick, spreadable buttercream or glaze works best. Use gel food coloring for vivid colors.

Do I need a donut pan?

Yes, for this baked recipe a donut pan is essential. You can also try using a muffin pan and a foil “hole” insert as a DIY method.

Can I make these donuts ahead of time?

Yes, bake the donuts a day ahead and decorate just before serving.

How do I make the red sugar coating for Santa donuts?

Toss white granulated sugar with red gel coloring until evenly tinted, then press into frosting.

Can kids help with decorating?

Absolutely! These donuts are perfect for a holiday baking day with kids.

How do I make the snowman face stick?

Apply a thin layer of frosting, then gently press on marshmallows and chocolate chips to secure.

Are these donuts suitable for gifting?

Yes, they make adorable, customizable gifts when boxed or wrapped individually.

Can I use candy melts instead of frosting?

Yes, melted candy wafers provide a smooth finish and harden nicely for packaging.

Can I double the recipe?

Certainly. Double all ingredients to make 24 donuts—great for larger gatherings or parties.

Conclusion

Christmas Donuts bring creativity, color, and holiday spirit to your baking this season. With a simple baked base and endless decorating possibilities, they’re perfect for Christmas breakfasts, festive dessert tables, or edible crafts with kids. Whether shaped into reindeer, snowmen, or wreaths, each donut delivers holiday magic in a delightful bite-sized form.

Christmas Donuts

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Make your holidays extra merry with these Christmas Donuts! Baked and decorated in the most festive ways—think Santa belts, reindeer faces, snowmen, wreaths, and Grinch grins—these adorable treats are perfect for holiday parties, Christmas morning breakfast, or a fun decorating session with kids.

Author: Asma
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Decorating Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 14 minutes
Total Time: 59 minutes
Yield: 12 donuts
Category: Dessert, Holiday Baking
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American
Diet: Vegetarian

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a donut pan.
In one bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
In another bowl, combine milk, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla.
Add wet ingredients to dry and mix just until combined.
Spoon batter into donut pan cavities, filling each about 3/4 full.
Bake for 12–14 minutes until donuts are golden and spring back when touched. Let cool on a wire rack.
Prepare frosting colors by tinting with food coloring as needed.
Dip or spread each donut with desired frosting color.

Decorating Ideas:

Wreath Donut: Green frosting, red bow candy, green/red sprinkles
Reindeer Donut: Chocolate frosting, pretzel antlers, candy eyes, red nose
Santa Donut: Red sugar, black licorice belt, yellow fondant buckle
Grinch Donut: Green frosting, heart candy, holiday sprinkles
Sprinkle Donut: Any color frosting with festive sprinkles
Snowman Donut: White frosting, marshmallow eyes, chocolate chip mouth, orange sprinkle nose

Let decorations set before serving or storing.

Notes

Donuts can be baked a day ahead and decorated when ready to serve.
Let kids decorate their own donuts for a fun holiday activity.
Store decorated donuts in a single layer in an airtight container.