If you’re on the hunt for a fun and tasty way to spread some holiday cheer in your kitchen, you’re going to absolutely love this Festive Christmas Donuts with Colorful Glaze Recipe. I remember the first time I made these—I was amazed at how such simple ingredients could turn into little edible bursts of Christmas magic. The bright glazes and playful sprinkles make them irresistible, and they’re surprisingly straightforward to whip up. Trust me, once you try these, your family will be begging for them every holiday season!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Simple Ingredients: You probably have everything in your pantry already, making this super convenient.
- Easy to Customize: The colorful glaze means you can match any holiday theme or make it your own.
- Delightful Texture: These donuts come out soft, tender, and perfectly light every time.
- Family Friendly Fun: Decorating with glaze and sprinkles is a great activity for all ages to enjoy together.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Each component in this recipe works together beautifully to give you donuts that are soft on the inside and lovingly coated with a shiny, colorful glaze. I always recommend starting fresh with your baking soda for the best rise, and if you decide to add food coloring, a little goes a long way!
- All-purpose flour: The base for perfect donut texture; be sure to spoon and level for accuracy.
- Baking soda: Gives the donuts that lovely lift and lightness.
- Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances flavors.
- Eggs: They bind everything together and add moisture.
- Sugar: For sweetness and a slight crunch in the baked donut.
- Butter (melted and cooled): Adds richness and keeps the donuts tender.
- Vanilla extract: Classic warm flavor that complements the festive vibe.
- Almond extract: Just a hint perfect for deepening the holiday taste.
- Milk: Keeps the batter smooth and helps create the soft donut crumb.
- Sprinkles: The colorful, festive topping that brings everything to life.
- Confectioners’ sugar: Needed for the glaze, so choose a fine, fresh batch for best results.
- Cocoa powder: For the chocolate glaze option that adds a lovely contrast.
- Food coloring (optional): Use your favorite shades to create beautiful glazes.
Variations
One thing I love about this Festive Christmas Donuts with Colorful Glaze Recipe is how easy it is to make it your own. Whether you’re catering to a crowd with dietary preferences or just want to experiment with new flavors, there’s lots of room for creativity.
- Gluten-Free: I swapped in a gluten-free flour blend once and the texture was surprisingly close to the original; just watch the baking time closely.
- Vegan Adaptation: You can use flax eggs and dairy-free butter to make these vegan-friendly, and they still come out delicious!
- Spiced Donuts: Adding a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg to the batter brings a cozy holiday warmth that my family adored.
- Glaze Flavors: I sometimes mix in a hint of peppermint or orange extract for extra festive punch in the glaze.
How to Make Festive Christmas Donuts with Colorful Glaze Recipe
Step 1: Prepare your ingredients and donut pan
Start by preheating your oven to 375°F (190°C). While it warms up, spray your donut baking pan lightly with baking spray to ensure the donuts come out cleanly. I usually give it just a quick mist because too much spray can cause a greasy texture on the donuts’ bottoms — something I learned the first time I made these! Then, whisk together the dry ingredients—flour, baking soda, and salt—in a bowl and set it aside.
Step 2: Mix wet ingredients and combine
Grab a large bowl and beat the eggs and sugar until the mixture is smooth and slightly pale. Next, add in the melted butter (make sure it’s cooled so it doesn’t cook your eggs) along with the vanilla and almond extracts. Once that’s combined, you’ll add your dry ingredients in two parts—half first, mix gently, then pour in the milk before adding the remaining flour mixture. Stir just until smooth; overmixing can lead to dense donuts, and I’ve been guilty of that a time or two.
Step 3: Fill and bake the donuts
I like to use a pastry bag to pipe the batter into the donut molds because it gives me better control and avoids messy spills. If you don’t have one, a spoon works just fine—just be sure not to overfill the molds. Bake the donuts for 12-15 minutes, watching closely near the end. They’re done when a toothpick inserted comes out clean and they spring back lightly when touched. Let them cool for about five minutes in the pan before carefully transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Step 4: Mix your colorful glazes
While the donuts cool, whisk together your white glaze (confectioners’ sugar, vanilla, milk, salt) in one bowl, and the chocolate glaze (confectioners’ sugar, cocoa powder, vanilla, milk, salt) in another. Want your donuts extra festive? Add a few drops of your favorite food coloring to the white glaze for vibrant holiday hues. Feel free to adjust the thickness by adding more confectioners’ sugar for a thicker glaze or a splash of milk to thin it out.
Step 5: Dip, decorate, and enjoy
Dip each cooled donut into your glaze of choice, letting the excess drip off before placing on a rack to set. If you want to add sprinkles, do it immediately after the dip so they stick nicely. For extra fun, I use the leftover glaze, thicken it a bit more with confectioners’ sugar, and pipe decorations right onto the donuts—this always gets oohs and aahs from everyone at the table!
Pro Tips for Making Festive Christmas Donuts with Colorful Glaze Recipe
- Don’t Overmix the Batter: I learned this the hard way when my donuts turned tough; mix just until the ingredients come together for a tender crumb.
- Melt Butter and Cool It: Adding hot butter to eggs scrambles them, so let it cool before mixing.
- Use a Pastry Bag: It makes filling the pan neat and easy, which I swear cuts down on cleanup time.
- Glaze Consistency is Key: If your glaze is too thin, it won’t stick well; too thick and it’s hard to dip—the perfect balance makes all the difference.
How to Serve Festive Christmas Donuts with Colorful Glaze Recipe
Garnishes
For me, colorful sprinkles are the star garnish because they instantly scream “holiday!” I also love sanding sugar for a subtle sparkle or crushed peppermint candies to add a refreshing pop. If you want to get a bit fancier, edible gold dust or tiny festive-shaped candies are show stoppers that make these donuts look professionally made.
Side Dishes
I usually serve these donuts for Christmas breakfast alongside a hot cup of coffee or a steaming mug of hot cocoa. They also pair wonderfully with fresh fruit salad or a creamy yogurt parfait to balance the sweetness and give the meal a fresh touch.
Creative Ways to Present
One year, I arranged the donuts on a festive platter surrounded by pine branches and little cranberry clusters to make a holiday centerpiece. Another time, I wrapped individual donuts in clear cellophane tied with a ribbon, turning them into adorable edible gifts. And if you’re feeling crafty, stack donuts on a tiered stand to create a colorful “donut tree” that steals the show at your Christmas brunch.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I store leftover donuts in an airtight container at room temperature to keep them soft for up to two days. If I know I won’t eat them that fast, I’ll refrigerate them, but I learned that they dry out a bit quicker this way, so I always prefer fresh when possible.
Freezing
Freezing these donuts works surprisingly well. I freeze them unfrosted in a single layer on a baking sheet, then transfer them to a zip-top bag. When I’m ready, I thaw them at room temperature and add the glaze fresh. This method preserves the donut’s texture much better than freezing them after glazing.
Reheating
To freshen up leftover donuts, I pop them in the microwave for about 10 seconds—it makes them taste almost like freshly baked. Just be sure to reapply glaze after if you’re using frozen donuts since the original glaze doesn’t react well to thawing and reheating.
FAQs
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Can I make these donuts without a donut pan?
Absolutely! If you don’t have a donut pan, you can use a muffin tin and create a hole in the center of the donuts after baking using a small cookie cutter or knife. The texture will be just as delicious, and you can still glaze and decorate them the same way.
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How do I prevent the glaze from dripping off?
Make sure the glaze is thick enough to coat the donuts but not so runny that it slides off. Also, dipping fully cooled donuts helps the glaze set quickly. Using thicker glaze by adding more confectioners’ sugar creates a better coating that stays put.
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Can I use powdered milk instead of regular milk?
Yes, powdered milk reconstituted with water works in this recipe, though fresh milk tends to give a slightly better texture and flavor. If using powder, be sure to mix it well with water before adding to your batter.
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Is it better to bake or fry these donuts?
This recipe is designed for baking, which makes it lighter and less greasy than fried donuts. Baking also means less mess and easier cleanup, which is a win during busy holiday mornings!
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How do I add different colors to the glaze?
Simply stir a few drops of gel or liquid food coloring into the white glaze before dipping your donuts. I prefer gel coloring because it doesn’t thin the glaze as much, letting you keep a nice balance for dipping and decorating.
Final Thoughts
I honestly can’t recommend this Festive Christmas Donuts with Colorful Glaze Recipe enough. From the first bite, it feels like a warm hug on a chilly morning, and the vibrant glaze makes your kitchen look like a winter wonderland. It’s become a beloved tradition in my family, and I’m sure once you try it, you’ll feel the same way. Go ahead, put on some holiday tunes, whip up these donuts, and watch smiles light up around your table—you’ll have yourself a merry little Christmas indeed!
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Festive Christmas Donuts with Colorful Glaze Recipe
- Prep Time: 20 min
- Cook Time: 15 min
- Total Time: 62 min
- Yield: 12 donuts
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
These festive Christmas Donuts are soft, fluffy, and perfectly sweet, topped with vibrant white and chocolate glazes and colorful sprinkles. Ideal for holiday breakfasts or brunches, they bring fun and flavor to your festive table with easy-to-follow steps and delightful decorating options.
Ingredients
Donut Batter
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 eggs
- 1 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 cup butter (melted and cooled)
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp almond extract
- 1 cup milk
White Glaze
- 2 cups confectioners’ sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 2 tbsp milk
- pinch of salt
- food coloring (optional)
- *plus more confectioners’ sugar to thicken glaze for decorating
Chocolate Glaze
- 1 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 3 tbsp milk
- 1 tsp vanilla
- pinch of salt
- *plus more confectioners’ sugar to thicken glaze for decorating
Toppings
- sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Begin by preheating your oven to 375 degrees F to ensure it reaches the right temperature for baking the donuts evenly.
- Prepare Pan: Spray the donut baking pan thoroughly with baking spray and set aside to prevent sticking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt until evenly combined; set aside.
- Beat Eggs and Sugar: Using an electric mixer in a large bowl, beat the eggs and sugar together until the mixture is smooth and slightly thickened.
- Add Butter and Extracts: Pour in the melted and cooled butter along with the vanilla and almond extracts, mixing to fully incorporate all flavors.
- Combine Batter: Add half of the flour mixture into the wet ingredients and mix gently; then add the milk and mix again. Finally, add the remaining flour mixture and stir just until the batter is smooth and uniform.
- Fill Donut Pan: Transfer the batter to a pastry bag and pipe it evenly into the prepared donut pan cavities. Alternatively, spoon the batter carefully into each cavity.
- Bake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake the donuts for 12 to 15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean and the tops are lightly golden.
- Cool Donuts: Let the donuts cool in the pan for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Prepare Glazes: While the donuts cool, prepare the white and chocolate glazes by whisking their respective ingredients in separate bowls until smooth. Add food coloring to the white glaze if desired for festive colors.
- Glaze Donuts: Once the donuts are fully cooled, dip each into the glaze of your choice, allowing excess glaze to drip off before placing on a cooling rack. If desired, immediately decorate with sprinkles before the glaze sets.
- Decorate: Use leftover glaze to decorate the donuts; if needed, thicken by adding more confectioners’ sugar. Fill a piping bag and add decorative details as desired.
- Set and Serve: Allow the decorated glaze to fully set before serving. Store any leftovers in an airtight container to enjoy later.
Notes
- With bright colors and festive designs, these Christmas donuts bring a delicious and fun flair to your holiday breakfast or brunch.
- Using a pastry bag makes filling the donut pan easier and results in a cleaner finish, but spooning the batter is a fine alternative.
- Adjust the thickness of glazes with additional confectioners’ sugar for easier decorating.
- Donuts are best enjoyed fresh but can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 donut
- Calories: 498 kcal
- Sugar: 61 g
- Sodium: 423 mg
- Fat: 17 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 82 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 71 mg
