Christmas Donuts Recipe

The holiday season is a time of indulgence, joy, and, of course, sweet treats. One treat that’s sure to bring a smile to anyone’s face is Christmas Donuts. These soft, fluffy donuts are perfect for breakfast, as a holiday snack, or as a festive gift for friends and family. Whether you’re hosting a Christmas brunch, a family gathering, or simply want to add a touch of sweetness to your holiday celebrations, these homemade donuts are the perfect addition to the festivities.

What makes Christmas donuts so special? They are infused with the warm, comforting flavors of the holiday season—think cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla. With the option to decorate them with colorful icing, sprinkles, or even powdered sugar, these donuts will not only taste delicious but also look festive on any table. Whether you’re frying them or baking them, this recipe can be easily adapted to suit your preferences and kitchen setup.

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the Donut Dough

1. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Set this dry mixture aside.
2. Mix Wet Ingredients: In another bowl, whisk together the sugar, eggs, milk, melted butter, vanilla extract, brandy (if using), and lemon zest. Mix until smooth.
3. Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, stirring gently until a thick, sticky dough forms. Be careful not to overmix, as this can result in dense donuts.
4. Knead the Dough: Lightly flour a clean surface and turn the dough out onto it. Gently knead the dough for 2-3 minutes until it becomes smooth and slightly elastic. If the dough is too sticky, sprinkle a bit of flour on top.

Step 2: Roll and Cut the Donuts

1. Roll Out the Dough: Using a rolling pin, roll the dough to about ½ inch thickness. It’s helpful to lightly flour your rolling pin to prevent the dough from sticking.
2. Cut the Donuts: Using a round donut cutter, or two different-sized round cutters (one large for the outer ring and one small for the center), cut out donut shapes. Re-roll any leftover dough and continue cutting until all donuts are formed.
3. Optional – Donut Holes: If you like, you can roll the leftover dough into small balls to make donut holes. These are perfect for snacking or for a fun twist on the traditional donut shape.

Step 3: Frying the Donuts

1. Heat the Oil: Pour vegetable oil into a deep fryer or large pot until it’s about 3 inches deep. Heat the oil to 350°F (175°C). Use a kitchen thermometer to ensure the oil is at the correct temperature.
2. Fry the Donuts: Carefully drop the donuts into the hot oil, a few at a time. Don’t overcrowd the pot. Fry the donuts for about 2-3 minutes per side, or until they are golden brown. Use a slotted spoon to remove the donuts from the oil and place them on a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.
3. Fry the Donut Holes: If you made donut holes, fry them in batches as well. These will cook faster, in about 1-2 minutes.

Step 4: Prepare the Glaze

1. Mix the Glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt until smooth. The glaze should be thick but pourable. If it’s too thick, add a little more milk to achieve the desired consistency.
2. Dip the Donuts: Once the donuts have cooled slightly, dip the tops into the glaze, swirling to coat them evenly. Allow any excess glaze to drip off before placing the donuts on a wire rack.

Step 5: Decorate the Donuts

1. Add Sprinkles: While the glaze is still wet, sprinkle the donuts with your choice of holiday sprinkles, crushed candy canes, or colored sugar crystals. The sprinkles will stick to the glaze and add a festive touch to the donuts.
2. Let the Glaze Set: Allow the glaze to harden for about 15-20 minutes before serving. This will ensure that the donuts are not too sticky when you bite into them.

Serving Suggestions

• Serve with Hot Cocoa: Pair your Christmas donuts with a steaming cup of hot cocoa, topped with whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon for an extra cozy treat.
• Christmas Brunch: These donuts are perfect for a Christmas morning brunch. Serve them with other holiday breakfast favorites like scrambled eggs, fruit salad, and bacon.
• Gift-Worthy: If you’re looking for a gift idea, Christmas donuts make an excellent homemade gift. Place them in a festive box or tin, tied with a ribbon, for a personal and thoughtful present.
• With Fruit: For a lighter option, serve these donuts alongside fresh fruit, such as strawberries, blueberries, or pomegranate seeds, for a touch of sweetness and color.

Tips for Perfect Christmas Donuts

1. Don’t Overmix the Dough: Overmixing can result in tough donuts. Mix until just combined and no flour streaks remain.
2. Use Fresh Ingredients: To get the best flavor, use fresh spices and ingredients. Fresh nutmeg and cinnamon can make a huge difference in the final flavor.
3. Temperature of Oil: The oil temperature is crucial for frying donuts. If the oil is too hot, the donuts will burn on the outside but remain raw on the inside. If the oil is too cold, the donuts will soak up too much oil and become greasy.
4. Coat While Warm: Coat the donuts with glaze while they are still warm to ensure the glaze sticks better.
5. Try Different Glazes: While the cinnamon glaze is a festive choice, feel free to experiment with other glazes, such as chocolate or orange glaze, for a unique twist.

Variations

1. Baked Donuts: If you prefer to bake your donuts instead of frying them, simply preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the donuts on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for about 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Once baked, dip the donuts into the glaze and decorate.
2. Vegan Donuts: For a vegan version, substitute the eggs and milk with plant-based alternatives such as almond milk and a flaxseed egg substitute.
3. Gluten-Free Donuts: Use a gluten-free flour blend in place of the all-purpose flour to make this recipe gluten-free.
4. Fillings: For a fun twist, consider filling your donuts with holiday flavors like cranberry jam, lemon curd, or chocolate ganache.

Conclusion

These Christmas Donuts are the perfect holiday treat that will add a touch of sweetness to your festive celebrations. With their soft, pillowy texture and cinnamon-spiced flavor, they are sure to delight both kids and adults alike. Whether you’re serving them for breakfast, as a snack, or giving them as gifts, these homemade donuts will quickly become a beloved tradition. With endless possibilities for decorating and serving, they’re sure to be a hit at any holiday gathering.

Yield: 12 Donuts

Christmas Donuts Recipe

Print

The holiday season is a time of indulgence, joy, and, of course, sweet treats. One treat that’s sure to bring a smile to anyone's face is Christmas Donuts. These soft, fluffy donuts are perfect for breakfast, as a holiday snack, or as a festive gift for friends and family. Whether you’re hosting a Christmas brunch, a family gathering, or simply want to add a touch of sweetness to your holiday celebrations, these homemade donuts are the perfect addition to the festivities.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Ingredients

• For the Donuts:
• 1 ½ cups (190g) all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup (150g) granulated sugar
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ¼ tsp salt
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• ½ tsp ground nutmeg
• 2 large eggs
• ¾ cup (180ml) buttermilk
• ¼ cup (60g) unsalted butter, melted
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tbsp fresh orange juice (optional, for a festive flavor)
• For the Glaze:
• 1 ½ cups (180g) powdered sugar
• 2 tbsp milk (or heavy cream for a richer glaze)
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• Red and green sprinkles (optional, for decoration)

Instructions

1. Preheat the Oven:
   Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease or lightly spray a donut pan with non-stick cooking spray.
   
2. Prepare the Donut Batter:
   In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
   
   In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs, buttermilk, melted butter, vanilla extract, and orange juice (if using).
   
   Gradually combine the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to overmix the batter.
   
3. Fill the Donut Pan:
   Spoon the donut batter into the prepared donut pan, filling each cavity about ¾ full. You can also use a piping bag or a zip-top bag with the tip cut off to pipe the batter into the pan for a cleaner look.
   
4. Bake the Donuts:
   Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a donut comes out clean. Remove from the oven and allow the donuts to cool in the pan for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
   
5. Prepare the Glaze:
   While the donuts cool, make the glaze by whisking together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract in a small bowl until smooth and glossy.
   
6. Glaze the Donuts:
   Once the donuts are completely cool, dip the tops of each donut into the glaze, letting any excess glaze drip off. Place the glazed donuts back on the wire rack to set for a few minutes.
   
7. Decorate (Optional):
   Sprinkle with red and green sprinkles or holiday-themed decorations while the glaze is still wet.

Notes

• Donut Variations: Add mini chocolate chips, chopped nuts, or dried fruit to the batter for extra texture and flavor.
• Make Ahead: Donuts can be made the day before and stored in an airtight container. Simply glaze them just before serving.
• Donut Holes: Use the same batter to make donut holes by filling a mini muffin pan and adjusting the baking time to 8-10 minutes.