The Best Fluffy Pancakes recipe you will fall in love with. Full of tips and tricks to help you make the best pancakes.
When the holiday season rolls around, it can feel like every event calls for something festive, eye-catching, and irresistibly delicious. Whether you’re hosting a Christmas brunch, bringing a dessert to a potluck, or simply want a centerpiece-worthy treat that doesn’t require hours in the kitchen, this Easy Christmas Donut Hole Tree checks all the boxes. It’s charming, fun to assemble, and shockingly simple — requiring only donut holes, frosting, toothpicks, and your favorite decorative touches. The final result looks like a stunning Christmas tree made entirely from sweet, fluffy donut holes, yet it’s so effortless that anyone can make it.
This recipe has become a viral holiday favorite because it blends decorative food art with zero baking. The donut holes create a beautiful, bite-sized dessert tower that guests happily pull apart. The assembly process is not only easy but also enjoyable — kids love helping stick on donut holes and sprinkling powdered sugar like fresh “snow.” Whether you keep it classic with powdered sugar donuts or jazz it up with glazed, cinnamon-sugar, or chocolate-covered donut holes, there’s no wrong way to build your donut tree.
You can scale this recipe for large gatherings or intimate celebrations. Make a tall, tiered donut hole tree for a dessert table, or create several mini trees for individual centerpieces. It instantly transforms an ordinary table into a winter wonderland.
Why This Donut Hole Tree Is the Perfect Christmas Party Treat
Aside from being undeniably adorable, this recipe has several major advantages:
1. No Baking Required
That’s right — no oven time, no dough preparation, and no cleanup from flour or sticky batter. You’re building, not baking.
2. Budget-Friendly
Donut holes are inexpensive and widely available, especially during the holiday season.
3. Showstopper Appeal
Guests actually gasp when they see this dessert. It looks like something from a high-end bakery or professional catering service.
4. Customizable
Choose any flavor, color theme, or decorations:
- Cinnamon-sugar donut holes
- Glazed donut holes
- Chocolate donut holes
- Green frosting accents
- Holiday sprinkles
- Rosemary “pine branches”
- Sugared cranberries
5. Kid-Friendly Project
Children love helping shape the tree and decorate it. It’s essentially edible crafting.
How to Choose the Best Donut Holes
You can use any kind of donut holes, but here are the most popular choices:
Powdered Sugar Donut Holes
Perfect for a snowy winter tree. They hide imperfections beautifully.
Glazed Donut Holes
Gorgeous shine and amazing flavor. Great for attaching sprinkles or edible pearls.
Cinnamon Sugar Donut Holes
Warm, cozy, and perfect for rustic-themed holiday parties.
Chocolate or Red Velvet Donut Holes
Add beautiful contrast and rich flavor.
Mix and match flavors to create a multi-textured, multi-colored tree.
Ingredients
- 45–60 donut holes (powdered, glazed, or mixed)
- 1 styrofoam cone (8–12 inches tall)
- Toothpicks
- ½ cup store-bought frosting or melted chocolate (to help donuts stick)
- Powdered sugar for dusting
- Fresh rosemary sprigs (optional for a “pine tree” look)
- Holiday sprinkles, edible pearls, or cranberries for decorating
Instructions
- Prepare the base.
Place the styrofoam cone on a plate, cake stand, or flat serving board. - Attach the donut holes.
Insert toothpicks into the cone at an angle, leaving half the toothpick exposed. Press donut holes onto the toothpicks. Begin from the bottom and work upward. - Cover the cone completely.
Continue adding donut holes around the cone, filling gaps as best as possible. Some may need a dab of frosting to stay secure. - Add decorative touches.
Tuck small rosemary sprigs between donut holes for a pine-tree effect. Insert cranberries or edible decorations for color. - Dust with “snow.”
Sift powdered sugar over the entire donut tree for a flawless snowy finish. - Serve.
Set on the dessert table and let guests pull donut holes off the tree.
Tips for a Perfect Donut Hole Christmas Tree
Use a sturdy base.
A cake stand or cutting board keeps the tree stable.
Refrigerate before serving.
Chilling helps the frosting “glue” set, making the tree sturdier.
Mix donut hole sizes.
Smaller ones fill gaps and make the structure look fuller.
Don’t skip powdered sugar.
It gives the tree that magical snowy appearance.
Use longer toothpicks for heavy donuts.
Glazed or chocolate donuts sometimes require more support.
Decoration Ideas
Classic Winter Tree
- Powdered sugar donuts
- Cranberries
- Rosemary sprigs
- Thick snowfall of powdered sugar
Elf Theme
- Colorful sprinkles
- Red and green donut holes
- Mini candy canes
Chocolate Lover’s Dream
- All chocolate donut holes
- Gold edible glitter
- Chocolate drizzle
Glam Christmas Tree
- White donut holes
- Edible pearls
- Silver and gold sprinkles
Serving Suggestions
This donut hole tree is perfect for:
- Christmas brunch
- Office holiday parties
- School celebrations
- Family gatherings
- Winter dessert tables
- Christmas Eve festivities
Pair with hot cocoa, eggnog, coffee, or mulled cider.
Make-Ahead Instructions
Assemble same day for best freshness.
Donut holes dry out after 24 hours, so build the tree within 6–8 hours of serving.
Prep ingredients ahead:
- Wash rosemary
- Sort donut holes
- Open decorations
Assemble and chill
Refrigerate until guests arrive for maximum stability.
Easy Christmas Donut Hole Tree
A festive, no-bake donut hole Christmas tree perfect for holiday parties, potlucks, brunches, and dessert tables.
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Place the styrofoam cone onto a serving board or cake stand.
- Insert toothpicks halfway into the cone, beginning at the bottom.
- Press donut holes onto each toothpick, working in rows upward.
- Fill gaps with smaller donut holes or use frosting as glue.
- Decorate the tree with sprinkles, cranberries, and rosemary sprigs.
- Dust lightly with powdered sugar to create a snowy finish.
- Refrigerate until serving to help set decorations.
Notes
Assemble the donut hole tree within 6–8 hours of serving for best freshness.
Fun Fact
Edible holiday trees date back centuries, often made from pastries, nuts, or sugared fruits in grand feasts. This modern donut hole version is an adorable (and much easier) nod to those elaborate edible centerpieces.
