Mini Christmas Doughnuts

January 30, 2021

If you have been looking for a fun group project that also happens to be quite adorable and delicious, then you need to plan on making and decorating a batch of mini Christmas doughnuts. Using a simple vanilla cake doughnut batter that is baked for just a few minutes in the oven (no hot oil required and very little clean up afterward) and a super easy glaze that can be dyed or flavored in so many ways, these little doughnuts become a cheerful project that will put everyone in the holiday spirit.

Let’s get them started…

To make the doughnut batter, you will need 1 cup of whole milk, 2 large eggs, 2/3 cup of granulated sugar, 1/3 cup of brown sugar, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, 10 tablespoons of melted butter, 2 tablespoons of instant french vanilla cappuccino, 4 teaspoons of baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 3 cups of all purpose flour.

The instant french vanilla cappuccino is optional, but highly recommended. It adds great flavor! I use Maxwell House, but whatever you have or find will work.

This recipe makes approximately 60 mini doughnuts and it can easily be cut in half for a small crowd or doubled for a major holiday fiesta.

In a medium bowl, combine 3 cups of all purpose flour with 2 tablespoons of instant french vanilla cappuccino, 4 teaspoons of baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon of salt.

In a large bowl, whisk together 1 cup of whole milk with 2 large eggs, 2/3 cup of granulated sugar, 1/3 cup of brown sugar, packed, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract and 10 tablespoons of melted butter.

Add the wet ingredients into the bowl containing the flour mixture and mix until just combined.

The easiest way to fill the cavities of your mini doughnut pan is by transferring the batter into a pastry bag, but this is optional. If you don’t have a pastry bag, you can use a gallon ziplock bag and just cut the corner off leaving a 1/2 inch opening instead.

If you don’t have either, you can use a spoon!

Fill the cavities half way and bake the mini doughnuts in a 350 degree oven for 6-8 minutes or until they feel set to the touch. Transfer them onto a cooling rack to cool and continue the process until all of the batter has been transformed into adorable mini doughnuts.

While the doughnuts are cooling, make your glaze.

I wanted a few different colors of glaze, plus some chocolate, so I combined 1/2 cup of confectioners sugar with 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla and just enough whole milk to make a thick, but smooth consistency (1-2 teaspoons) in four little bowls. Each bowl had enough glaze for 10-12 doughnuts (double dipped).

I left one white, added 2 teaspoons of special dark cocoa powder to the second bowl for my chocolate, added 1 drop of blue into another for my blue glaze and added 5 drops of red into the last bowl for my red.

Grab your sprinkles and get ready to have a whole bunch of fun….

Place a few sheets of parchment or wax paper under your cooling racks for easy post decorating clean up and start dipping your doughnuts. Dip their tops in the glaze of your choice and then return them to the cooling rack. Sprinkle with some festive holiday sprinkles and look how cute they are…

They are so cheerful and jolly! I am quite smitten with how they turned out, plus they are super tasty too! The options for decorating them are endless and I think this is something that any group would really get into.

Make a big pot of coffee, start your favorite Christmas movie and express your holiday spirit in the art form of mini doughnut decorating. You are going to have so… much… fun!

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