Christmas Donuts made to look like reindeer (specifically Rudolph)! These cute and festive donuts are simple to make and sure to be a hit this holiday season!
Try some of our most popular Christmas treats like these Christmas Oreo Truffles, easy Christmas Gifts with free printable bag toppers, or Christmas Oreo Pops.
Christmas Donuts
One of my favorite donut shops recently made some donuts to look like reindeers and I couldn’t resist creating my own and sharing them here! My kids went crazy for these–I mean, of course they’re delicious (a donut in a donut!), and they’re such a fun treat as well!
These donuts make such a festive addition to a Christmas dessert (or brunch) spread. Or they make for the perfect treat to give out to friends, co-workers, and neighbors.
Christmas Donuts also make for a terrific Christmas breakfast–they’re quick and easy to put together, plus filled with loads of sugar– which is what Christmas breakfast dreams are made of! 🙂
How To Make Christmas Donuts At Home
If you’re interested in making donuts from scratch, try this maple donuts recipe (or for semi-homemade donuts you’ve got to try our Air Fryer Donuts or Cronut recipe).
But to keep things as simple as possible for these Christmas donuts, I swung by our local donut shop and grabbed a mixed box of chocolate and maple glazed. If there is one flavor preferred in your family get that flavor–these “reindeer” are especially cute on chocolate or maple since that is the color of a reindeer’s coat!
Christmas Donut Ingredients
Beyond the maple and/or chocolate-glazed donuts, here’s what else you’ll need:
- Mini pretzel twists. The pretzels get broken in half to create the antlers. (Use leftover pretzels in our favorite Chex Mix Recipe or Christmas Snack Mix.)
- Mini donut holes. Grab these old-fashioned donut holes or assorted donut holes, depending on the flavors you prefer.
- M&Ms. The nose is a red M&M® attached with melted chocolate. Grab a holiday bag of M&Ms or pick out the reds from a regular bag of them. Another alternative would be to use big red Christmas sprinkles for the nose.
- Melted chocolate. To create the eyes and attach the M&M to the Christmas donuts, we use melted chocolate. Use your favorite type of chocolate–milk, semi-sweet, or dark. See “quick tip” box below.
Quick Tip
We recommend chocolate specifically made for melting, like good-quality baking bars (such as Bakers®, Lindt®, or Ghiardelli®) or good quality melting wafers (such as Ghiardelli) for best results. Both bars and melts are found in the baking aisle of the store.
Storage
As with all donuts, this Christmas Donut recipe is best the same day it’s assembled. Donuts are always best fresh! If you’d like to prepare them a couple hours in advance, cover them tightly once the chocolate piping decoration has fully firmed up.
Variations
Looking for more Christmas Donut inspiration? Use leftover donut holes to make a donut hole tree–these are stunning!
More Christmas Desserts:
- Christmas Crack aka saltine cracker toffee
- Christmas Mason Jar Gift Ideas four different festive ideas!
- 3 Ingredient Christmas Cookies made four different ways
- Mexican Wedding Cookies aka “snowball” cookies
- Eggnog Recipe the best from-scratch eggnog!
Christmas Donuts
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup chocolate melts or chopped chocolate bar (Note 1)
- 12 maple or chocolate-glazed donuts (or a combo of both!)
- 12 old-fashioned or powdered donut holes
- 12 mini pretzel twists, broken in half
- 12 red M&M's
Instructions
- MELT CHOCOLATE: Add chocolate melts or finely chopped chocolate to a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in bursts of 15 seconds, stirring in between each burst for 15 seconds until nicely melted. Once melted and smooth, use a spatula to transfer every bit of chocolate into a small plastic bag. (I use a cup to hold the open plastic bag so I can scoop the chocolate right inside.) Seal the bag without air in it and cut off the very tip.
- PIPE ON EYES: Start with piping on the eyes. Set out all of the donuts and pipe 2 closed eye shapes on each donut.
- FINISH: Gently press a donut hole in the center of each donut. (These are not intended to be firmly attached-- so people can remove them for easier eating!) Use some leftover chocolate to pipe some chocolate on the back of the M&M and attach each M&M to the center of the donut hole. Break a pretzel in half and gently press into either side of the donut.
- SERVE: Serve promptly, enjoying soon after decorating. (They're best enjoyed same day they're made.)
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
