Christmas Donuts Recipe
This Christmas Donuts recipe is the ultimate treat on that special morning. On the breakfast table in less than 30 minutes, can you imagine the faces on those kiddos when they wake up to gingerbread donuts?
With a yummy glaze that tastes like Christmas along with ginger snap crumbles, your family will want you to make these all year long!
When I was in Germany a few years ago, I had a real gingerbread cookie. I went on a Viking River Cruise from Budapest to Nuremberg, and it was my first time in Germany. (See what to do on the Romantic Road or one day in Budapest!)
For someone who had never had homemade gingerbread cookies, I was hooked! There really is no comparison.
You will probably never buy ready-made gingerbread again after making these donuts! Try serving them with hot chocolate for the ultimate special treat!
Gingerbread Origin
Did you know gingerbread houses originated in Germany? Of course, ginger root was first discovered in Asia. According to an article on Smithsonian, it’s thought that 11th- century crusaders who were returning from the Mediterranean introduced the spice to Western Europe.
A favorite gingerbread treat the world over is the gingerbread man cookie. But gingerbread in Europe was formed in all kinds of shapes, including flowers, crosses, and even armor.
No wonder the gingerbread man stuck! Eating an armor cookie is not nearly as fun!
I’m betting this recipe for gingerbread donuts will become a family tradition. As the kids grow up and have kids of their own, they will all remember having gingerbread donuts over the holiday season. And making memories is what the holidays are all about.
Why this Recipe Works
These pretty Christmas donuts can be on the table in under 30 minutes! Once you gather your ingredients, it takes 5 minutes to whip it up, and eight minutes in the oven.
This recipe makes just six homemade donuts, so just enough for a family. If you have a larger family, have company, or you’re taking this to a gathering, simply double or triple the recipe.
By the way, shall we talk about what a perfect treat these would be for Christmas dessert topped with ice cream? Yum!
What You Need to Make this Recipe
All the ingredients are easy to find around the holidays.
Warm spices – the simple mixture of cinnamon, ginger, allspice, and cloves are what give these Christmas donuts that holiday flavor.
Egg Nog– creamy egg nog makes a wonderful icing combined with powdered sugar.
Gingersnap cookies– gingersnap cookies are the perfect topping for this delicious recipe!
How to Make this Recipe
Preheat your oven to 350º.
Spray a donut pan with non-stick baking spray or coat with vegetable oil. I love this pan and it comes as a two-pack so you could double the batch making a dozen at once if you wanted to.
Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, cloves, and salt with a whisk in a large bowl and set aside.
Whisk together the egg, molasses, vanilla extract, milk, butter, and brown sugar in a small bowl.
Slowly add the wet ingredients to dry ingredients.
Stir the donut batter together until just combined.
Scoop the batter to a piping bag or plastic bag with the end cut off, and pipe batter into donut molds. Fill the wells of the pan about 2/3 full.
Stick donut pan in the oven and bake for 8 minutes. (As all ovens are a little different, just be sure the edges start to turn golden brown.)
Remove the donuts from the pan and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Set aside.
Icing Recipe Instructions
Stir together the confectionary sugar, hot water, eggnog, and maple syrup. (If your icing is too thick, add another 1/2 teaspoon of eggnog to reach desired consistency.)
Place paper towels or a baking sheet under the wire rack to catch the glaze for less mess.
Dip tops of donuts into glaze.
Return each glazed donut to the cooling rack.
Top with crumbled gingersnaps.
Let the glaze dry a bit before serving. Or not. I couldn’t wait!
This easy Christmas donuts recipe is best served on the same day they are made but can be stored in an airtight container.
Everyone will love these donuts, especially the kids! For more fun desserts, make Gingerbread Muffins or this polar bear cake! They will both be a big hit with everyone!
Top Tips
When dipping the donuts, use a shallow bowl and don’t touch the bottom as it will leave indentations on your beautiful donuts!
It’s okay to double dip these donuts until the have the perfect look (or until you’ve used all the icing.)
You can drizzle instead, but I think they are prettier dipped.
Variations
You could do so much with this easy Christmas donut recipe. Adding chocolate chips would be delicious. I’m thinking about adding dried cranberries the next time I make them.
Instead of gingersnaps, you could use holiday sprinkles to decorate the donuts.
Crushed candy canes would be fun, too, though I don’t know if I’d serve that for breakfast!
You could also make different colors of icing using food coloring to make Christmas wreath donuts.
FAQ
These will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for about 5 days. I’d bring them to room temperature before serving, but if you can’t wait, they are pretty good cold, too!
You can totally freeze this recipe in an airtight container or freezer bag. Place wax paper between them to try to keep them pretty.
You could easily make mini donuts. I haven’t tried it but I’m guessing it would double the batch.
More Christmas Recipes
These Gingerbread Chocolate Chip Cookies are such a great dessert. If you’re a fan of gingerbread, go ahead and save that one now!
I also have a roundup of gingerbread desserts. You’re sure to find a few new favorites on that list!
Disney fans will love these Gingerbread Mickey Mouse cookies. For something a little different, try this Butter Pecan Blondie recipe, too. SO good!
What’s your favorite gingerbread recipe? Tell me so I can try it, too!
Easy Christmas Donuts Recipe
Ingredients
Donuts Ingredients
- 1 c flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ginger powdered
- 1/4 tsp allspice
- 1/8 tsp ground cloves
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 c brown sugar
- 1 egg large
- 3 T molasses
- 1/3 c whole milk
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 T butter unsalted, melted
Icing Ingredients
- 1 c confectioner's sugar
- 1 T water hot
- 2 tsp eggnog
- 1/4 tsp maple syrup
- ½ C gingersnap cookies crumbled
Instructions
Donut Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
- Spray donut pan with non-stick baking spray.
- Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, cloves, salt in a large bowl and set aside.
- Whisk together the egg, molasses, vanilla, milk, butter, and brown sugar in a small bowl.
- Slowly add the wet ingredients to dry ingredients.
- Stir together until just combined.
- Scoop the batter to a pastry bag and pipe batter into donut pan filling each about 2/3 full.
- Bake for 8 minutes. (As all ovens are a little different, just be sure the edges start to turn golden brown.)
- Remove the donuts from the pan and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Set aside.
ICING RECIPE INSTRUCTIONS
- Stir together the confectionary sugar, hot water, eggnog, and maple extract. (If your icing is too thick, add up to another 1/2 teaspoon of eggnog to reach desired consistency.)
- Dip tops of donuts into glaze.
- Return each glazed donut to the wire rack.
- Top with crumbled gingersnaps.
- Let the glaze harden before serving. Best served on the same day but can be stored in an airtight container.
