Christmas Donuts
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These baked Christmas donuts are the perfect holiday breakfast. Light and tender, they’re flavored with sweet vanilla and warm cinnamon. They’re frosted with an eggnog glaze, and decorated with festive holiday sprinkles. They’ll bring smiles and joy on Christmas morning.
🧑🏼🍳 Why This Recipe’s a Keeper
- These Christmas donuts are fun, festive and special. They’re everything you want for a memorable holiday breakfast or dessert. They’re so delicious.
- They’re quick and easy to make. Prep the donut recipe in 15 minutes then bake. Decorate these holiday treats as desired. It can be as simple as dipping one side of the baked donuts in glaze, then adding a few a candy sprinkles.
- It’s a great recipe to make with children and teens. Baking together creates beautiful holiday memories.
- These donuts are baked, not fried. There’s no greasy residue on the donuts, no oil splatters in the kitchen, and clean-up’s a breeze.
- Christmas donuts are portable, hand-held treats. No fork or plate required. They’re easy to transport to parties, church socials, and school functions.
🛒 Ingredients
🍩 For Christmas Donuts
- All-Purpose Flour: Provides strength and structure for the donut batter. Make sure to use the spoon-and-level method so you get an accurate measurement.
- Granulated Sugar: Adds the perfect amount of sweetness.
- Baking Powder: This leavening agent helps the donuts to rise so they’re soft and tender.
- Ground Cinnamon: Adds a bit of warmth and spice to the donuts.
- Mace or Nutmeg (optional): We use just a pinch. Mace is the predominant flavor of donut shop donuts. If you don’t have it on hand you can use nutmeg, or leave it out completely.
- Kosher Salt: Helps balance out the sweetness of the Christmas donuts.
- Whole Milk: Adds moisture to create the donut butter. I use whole milk, but feel free to use what you have on hand.
- Vegetable Oil: Provides rich moisture which is important for tender donuts. For the best flavor and results, we use it in combination with butter.
- Butter: Adds rich delicious moisture and a buttery taste.
- Large Egg: Binds the batter together.
- Pure Vanilla Extract: Enhances the sweetness and flavor of the donuts.
🥣 For Eggnog Glaze
- Powdered Sugar: This is the base of our donut glaze. It provides structure for the mixture while contributing the ideal amount of sweetness.
- Eggnog: Contributes rich delicious flavor with fun holiday twist. But feel free to use heavy cream with a splash of vanilla extract instead.
- Food Coloring: Optional, but it makes the donuts especially beautiful. For best results, use gel food coloring – not liquid food coloring. Gel provides a vibrant concentrated color and does not affect the texture of the glaze. I use AmeriColor in Super Red and Forest Green.
- Holiday Sprinkles: I favor sprinkle mixes by Sweet Tooth Fairy (from Michaels), as their jimmies and sprinkles are softer and don’t create a super hard crunch. But feel free to use your favorite Christmas sprinkles.
📖 Recipe Steps
🍩 Make the Batter & Bake the Donuts
Recipe Prep: Preheat oven to 350ºF. Grease two 6-well donut pans with nonstick spray.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, mace or nutmeg (if using), and salt.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the milk, vegetable oil, melted butter, egg, and vanilla.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Stir until just combined – do not overmix.
- Transfer the donut batter to a large piping bag or a zip-top bag with 1 bottom corner cut off. Pipe enough batter to fill each well of the donut pan half way full – the donuts will rise quite a bit as they bake.
- Bake the donuts for 13 to 15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Turn the donuts out onto a wire rack and let them cool.
🥣 Make Eggnog Glaze & Decorate Christmas Donuts
Recipe Prep: Place a wire rack over a baking sheet lined with paper towels or waxed paper for easy clean-up. This will catch any drips and allow excess glaze to drain off.
- Make sure the donuts are completely cool before glazing. We don’t want residual heat within the center of the donuts to rise up, melt the glaze, and make it drippy.
- Add the powdered sugar to a medium bowl along with 1/4 cup of eggnog. Whisk to combine. The glaze should be thick but pourable. If it’s too thick, add another tablespoon of eggnog and whisk. Continue this process of whisking and adding until the glaze reaches the desired consistency. If it ever becomes too thin, you can always add more powdered sugar to thicken it up.
- Transfer 1/3 of the glaze to a small bowl. (Use bowls that are a bit larger than the size of the donuts – wide enough for dipping the treats.) Add 1 drop of red food coloring. For a brighter color, add another drop and stir to combine. Continue adding until you have the desired color. Transfer another 1/3 of the glaze to a different bowl. Add 1 drop of green food coloring. Continue adding and stirring until you achieve the desired color.
- Holding a donut by the edges, dip the top into the glaze. Gently shake the donut from side to side to encourage excess glaze to drip off. Set the treat on a wire rack. If desired, add zig-zag drizzles across some of the glazed donuts. If adding sprinkles, do so immediately while the glaze is still wet. Feel free to get creative. Allow the donuts to sit until the glaze has hardened slightly – about 10 minutes. Then enjoy.
👩🏻🍳 Recipe FAQ
These are the most commonly asked questions when making the BEST baked Christmas donuts, and the most helpful answers for recipe success.
Grease the pan well with nonstick spray, or baking spray, to create a non-stick barrier. Baking spray is designed for baking and includes flour. It combines the benefits of both greasing and flouring, providing an extra layer of nonstick protection. I like Baker’s Joy.
Don’t overmix the batter. Overmixing can lead to a dense texture by developing gluten, which results in a tougher donut. Mix the batter until the ingredients are just combined. Use a donut pan so the batter will maintain its shape and cook evenly. This will contribute to a uniform texture throughout the donuts.
Baked donuts taste best when enjoyed the same day they’re baked. Their light fluffy texture and delicious flavor are optimal when they just come out of the oven. However, if stored properly in an airtight container at room temperature, they can remain relatively fresh for 1 to 2 days. But their flavor and texture may begin to decline after the first day.
No. This is not recommended. In general, baked donuts do not need to be refrigerated as this can make them stale faster. However, if the donuts have perishable toppings, then they should be refrigerated. But the texture of the cake will be affected.
Let donuts cool completely before storing them. This will help prevent condensation which can make them soggy. Arrange the donuts in a single layer inside a parchment paper-lined airtight container. If stacking the treats, place a layer of parchment paper between the donuts. If using a zip-top bag, remove as much air as possible before sealing.
When you’re ready to enjoy leftover (unfrosted) donuts, reheat them in a conventional oven or a toaster oven for just a few minutes to restore their freshness. Do not microwave – this can make them soggy.
⏲ Expert Tips for Christmas Donuts
- Work quickly and efficiently when glazing and decorating the donuts. The glaze may set quickly, so have your holiday sprinkles ready to go.
- Create patterns and use a variety of edible decorations. Experiment with creating patterns or designs with the glaze. For example, swirl different colors together to create a striped effect. For visual interest, use a variety of sprinkles like snowflakes and holly, or crushed candy canes.
- For perfect zig-zag drizzles, add glaze to a squeeze bottle or a piping bag.
- Allow proper drying time before stacking or storing the donuts. This helps maintain the integrity of the glaze, so you won’t have indents in the frosting.
- If gifting or serving the donuts, consider the presentation. You can pack them in festive boxes or arrange them on a tray with a few red Christmas bulb ornaments.
- The key to successful holiday baking is having fun and letting your creativity shine. Your baked Christmas donuts will be truly special, and your holiday experience will be amazing.
🎄More Christmas Treats
If you enjoy holiday baking and fun Christmas treats, you’ll love these festive recipes. For more holiday favorites, visit our Christmas Category.
- Grinch Fudge
- Christmas Tree Cupcakes
- Gingerbread Man Cookies
- Christmas Hot Chocolate Bombs
- Christmas Shortbread Cookies
Rate This Recipe ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Flavor testers rated these the BEST Christmas donuts. They loved the delicious flavor of the cake and frosting, the light tender texture, and gorgeous presentation – like they were made by a gourmet bakery. And they appreciated that these breakfast treats are baked, not fried.
If you agree this recipe’s a keeper, give it a 5-star rating in the comments. Then be a recipe hero. Share it with friends. 📌 Pin it to Pinterest.
Christmas Donuts
- Total Time: 30 Minutes
- Yield: 12 Donuts 1x
Description
These baked Christmas donuts are the perfect holiday breakfast or dessert. Light and tender, they’re flavored with sweet vanilla and warm cinnamon. They’re frosted with a delicious eggnog glaze, and decorated with festive holiday sprinkles.
Ingredients
For Baked Donuts
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon ground mace or ground nutmeg (optional)
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 2 tablespoons salted butter, melted
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
For Eggnog Glaze
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1/4 – 1/3 cup eggnog*, as needed for desired consistency
- AmeriColor gel food coloring – Super Red, 5 drops
- AmeriColor gel food coloring – Forest Green, 5 drops
- Holiday sprinkles, for decorating (see notes)
Instructions
Make the Batter & Bake the Donuts
Recipe Prep: Preheat oven to 350ºF. Grease two 6-well donut pans with nonstick spray.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, mace or nutmeg (if using), and salt. In a large bowl, whisk together the milk, vegetable oil, melted butter, egg, and vanilla.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Stir until just combined – do not overmix.
- Transfer the donut batter to a large piping bag or a zip-top bag with 1 bottom corner cut off. Pipe enough batter to fill each well of the donut pan half way full – the donuts will rise quite a bit as they bake.
- Bake the donuts for 13 to 15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Turn the donuts out onto a wire rack and let them cool.
Make the Glaze & Decorate the Donuts
Recipe Prep: Place a wire rack over a baking sheet lined with paper towels or waxed paper for easy clean-up. This will catch any drips and allow excess glaze to drain off.
- Make sure the donuts are completely cool before glazing. We don’t want residual heat within the center of the donuts to rise up, melt the glaze, and make it drippy.
- Add the powdered sugar to a medium bowl along with 1/4 cup of eggnog. Whisk to combine. The glaze should be thick but pourable. If it’s too thick, add another tablespoon of eggnog and whisk. Continue this process of whisking and adding until the glaze reaches the desired consistency. If it ever becomes too thin, you can always add more powdered sugar to thicken it up.
- Transfer 1/3 of the glaze to a small bowl. (Use bowls that are slightly larger than the donuts – wide enough for dipping them int the glaze.) Add 1 drop of red food coloring. For a brighter color, add another drop and stir to combine. Continue adding until you have the desired color. Transfer another 1/3 of the glaze to a different bowl. Add 1 drop of green food coloring. Continue the process of adding and stirring until you achieve the desired color.
- Holding a donut by the edges, dip the top into the glaze. Gently shake the donut from side to side to encourage excess glaze to drip off. Set the treat on a wire rack. If desired, add zig-zag drizzles across some of the glazed donuts. If adding sprinkles, do so immediately while the glaze is still wet. Feel free to get creative. Allow the donuts to sit until the glaze has hardened slightly – about 10 minutes. Then enjoy.
Notes
* If you don’t like the flavor of eggnog: Feel free to use heavy cream instead, with a splash of vanilla extract.
Holiday Sprinkles: Add a fun pop of color and tender crunch. I make my own sprinkle mixes by combining jimmies, nonpareils, and other sprinkles I can find. But if you don’t want to make your own, these are some great store-bought options at Michaels:
- Red & Green Mix: Sweet Tooth Fairy Bright Boughs Sprinkle Mix.
- Holly & Berries Mix: Sweet Tooth Fairy Holiday Greens Sprinkle Mix.
- Snowflakes: Krazy Sprinkles Winter Snowflake Shapes by the Bakell company.
- Prep Time: 15 Minutes
- Cook Time: 15 Minutes
- Category: Donuts
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
Christmas Donuts 👉🏻 Join the Conversation
Are you excited to make these delicious baked treats? Will it be for a holiday brunch, a Sunday church social, or for breakfast on Christmas morning? Share your thoughts on these easy Christmas donuts in the comments below. I’d love t hear from you.
