Make these delicious and festive baked Christmas donuts for the cutest Christmas morning breakfast! They are so easy to make, and adorable, too!
It’s fun to get the whole family involved in baking and decorating these sweet and delicious little treats.
They also make a lovely gift for friends and neighbors! Decorate them with an array of colorful frosting and sprinkles, and package them with love.
You know I love a festive holiday treat. Whether it’s one of my favorite Christmas Cookies or a Christmas Cocktail, I love a themed dessert or drink! And who could resist these darling baked Christmas donuts?
There’s just something about a pretty tray packed with donuts that feels like a good time, am I right?
These are perfect for Christmas morning, of course. But equally important to note, they are easy enough that you can surprise your kids for a fun holiday themed breakfast any morning of the week.
They take five minutes of prep time and are in and out of the oven in under 15 minutes. They are soft, decadent and delicious – and so much fun to decorate! Let’s make some Christmas donuts.
Why You’ll Love these Christmas Donuts
- So Festive and Fun
- Great for Decorating
- Kids love Them
- Perfect to Package for Neighbor Gifts
- Easy to Customize
Ingredients and Substitutions
- All-Purpose Flour – To make these baked Christmas donuts gluten free, be sure to choose a 1:1 gluten free flour meant for baking.
- White Granulated Sugar – For added sweetness.
- Baking Powder – For rise
- Salt – To balance out the sweet in these baked donuts.
- Egg – Size large
- Whole Milk – You can sub with 2% or whatever you have on hand.
- Butter – Unsalted, melted
- Vanilla Extract – Use real vanilla, not imitation. Learn how to make your own homemade vanilla extract.
Topping:
- Chocolate Icing – We used a standard store bought container of chocolate frosting, and warmed it through.
- Sprinkles – Choose your favorites!
Variations
- Caramel Icing
- Orange Glaze
- Apple Glaze – so good for summer and fall!
- Classic Icing Recipe – this recipe was developed for cinnamon rolls but works beautifully here as well.
- Cream Cheese Glaze
- Cinnamon Frosting
Tools to Use
- Mixing Bowls
- Measuring Cups
- Measuring Spoons
- Donut Pan
- Baking Spray (this one is my favorite but you can use whatever you have on hand)
- A baking sheet and wire rack (to help make clean-up easy after decorating)
How to Make Christmas Donuts
- Preheat oven to 350ºF. Grease doughnut pans with baking spray to prevent sticking.
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together flour, sugar baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine egg, milk, butter and vanilla. Gradually add dry ingredients to wet mixture until just combined.
- Spoon batter into pans, filling just over ¾ full.
- Bake 14-15 minutes. Allow to cool 5 minutes before removing from tray.
Top:
- Melt icing in a small bowl. Lightly dip each Christmas donut in melted icing and add sprinkles or any decorative icing and elements. Serve warm.
Tips
- Need help with baking conversions? Check out my Essential Measurement Conversion Chart or use the servings bar in the recipe card.
- This recipe made 24 small baked Christmas donuts for us. However, if you use a donut pan with larger cavities, you’ll get less donuts overall. This also means your bake time might be a little longer, and the nutritional notes should be adjusted according to finished quantity.
- Don’t overmix the donut batter, the ingredients should be just combined. Over mixing can cause them to become chewy rather than light and fluffy.
- Don’t overfill your donut pan – Fill 3/4 full to allow for rise.
- Use the Toothpick Test – Insert a toothpick in the center. When it comes out clean, it’s done.
- Looking for these fun sprinkles? We have the best selection of sprinkles at our local Walmart, of all places!
- If you’re hoping to package these as gifts, allow the frosting to sit for a couple hours to harden first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Skipping the fryer is better for you, too. These baked Christmas donuts are more cake like, and less chewy than a traditional fried donut.
Absolutely! Not only are they fun to make, they are pretty to serve and taste delicious, too.
How to Store
- Room temperature – Store these baked Christmas donuts at room temperature for up to two days, in an airtight container.
- Refrigerator – Store these in the refrigerator for up to three days, warming for a few seconds in the microwave before serving.
- Freezer – If you are going to freeze, bake and cool completely. Simply place them in a plastic-freezer storage bag, seal tight, label, date, and store in your freezer for up to 2-3 months.
To defrost from frozen, microwave for 20-30 seconds or leave out at room temperature for 1-2 hours.
Dietary Considerations
- Nut Free
- Vegetarian
- To Make Gluten Free: be sure to choose a 1:1 gluten free flour for baking.
More Holiday Fun
Christmas Donuts
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups white granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 large egg
- 1¼ cups whole milk
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Topping
- Frosting (store bought container, warmed for dipping)
- Sprinkles
- Decorative icing
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350ºF. Grease doughnut pans with baking spray to prevent sticking.
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine egg, milk, butter and vanilla. Gradually add dry ingredients to wet mixture until just combined.
- Spoon batter into pans, filling just over ¾ full.
- Bake 14-16 minutes. Allow to cool 5 minutes before removing.
Topping
- Melt icing in a small bowl. Lightly dip each doughnut in melted icing and add sprinkles. Serve warm.
Julie’s Tips
- This recipe made 24 small baked Christmas donuts for us. However, if you use a donut pan with larger cavities, you’ll get less donuts overall. This also means your bake time might be a little longer.
- Don’t overfill your donut pan – Fill 3/4 full to allow for rise.
- Use the Toothpick Test – Insert a toothpick in the center. When it comes out clean, it’s done.
- If you’re hoping to package these as gifts, allow the frosting to sit for a couple hours to harden first.
Estimated nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is not guaranteed.
