Holiday Donut Christmas Trees: A Festive Centerpiece

Introduction

The Holiday Donut Christmas Tree is the ultimate easy, no-bake centerpiece that brings instant cheer to any festive table. Originating as a quick hack for busy bakers, this recipe transforms simple store-bought powdered donuts into whimsical, edible trees. They are incredibly fun to assemble, making them a perfect activity for children, and they offer a delightful twist on traditional Christmas cookies. Forget the oven—these sweet stacks are ready to decorate in under 30 minutes!

Ingredients

12 Powdered Sugar Donuts (4 large, 4 medium, 4 small – for 4 trees)
1 cup (240 g) Vanilla Buttercream Frosting or Royal Icing
Green Gel Food Coloring (Forest Green recommended)
1 teaspoon (5 ml) Whole Milk (if thinning frosting slightly)
2 tablespoons (30 g) Assorted Holiday Sprinkles (nonpareils, sanding sugar)
8-10 small Candy Pearls or Mini M&M’s per tree
4 Small Star Candies or Starburst cut-outs (for the topper)

Step-by-step Preparation

**Prepare the Icing:** Place the vanilla frosting into a medium bowl. Add 3-5 drops of green gel food coloring. Mix thoroughly until a deep, consistent Christmas green is achieved. If the frosting is too stiff to pipe, add milk half a teaspoon at a time until it reaches a thick, pipeable consistency (like toothpaste).
**Frost and Stack the Base:** Place the largest donut on your serving platter or plate. Using a piping bag fitted with a star tip (or a Ziploc bag with the corner snipped), pipe a thick ring of green frosting around the center hole of the largest donut. Gently place the medium donut on top, aligning the holes. Repeat the process, piping frosting and topping with the smallest donut.
**Coat the Tree:** Once the three donuts are stacked, use an offset spatula or the back of a spoon to generously coat the entire exposed surface of the donut stack with the remaining green frosting. Ensure the coverage is thick and even—this is the foliage of your tree.
**Decorate Immediately:** While the frosting is still wet, begin decorating. Press the small candy pearls or mini M&M’s into the frosting to resemble ornaments. Sprinkle the assorted holiday sprinkles over the entire tree for a glittery, snowy effect.
**Finish and Set:** Pipe a small dollop of frosting on top of the smallest donut and affix the star candy topper. Allow the trees to sit undisturbed at room temperature for at least 30 minutes so the frosting can firm up and securely hold the stack together. (Assembly time: 15 minutes per batch; Setting time: 30 minutes).

Nutritional Information

This recipe is an indulgent holiday treat. Based on using standard store-bought donuts and buttercream, one assembled Holiday Donut Christmas Tree (3 donuts) contains approximately 450-550 calories, 25g of fat, and 60g of carbohydrates, primarily sugars. While lacking significant vitamins or fiber, its main benefit is providing festive joy and acting as a wonderful visual centerpiece.

Storage

Store the assembled Donut Christmas Trees in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, or refrigerated for up to 4 days. If refrigerated, allow them to sit out for 15 minutes before serving to soften the frosting. Do not attempt to freeze, as the frosting and donut texture will degrade upon thawing. To maintain structural integrity, store them on a flat surface away from direct heat.

Conclusion

These spectacular little trees are the perfect accompaniment to a cozy cup of hot cocoa or eggnog. For a fun variation, try using chocolate donuts for a “dirt” base, or color the icing blue for a whimsical frozen forest theme. You can also swap the sprinkles for edible glitter or shredded coconut to mimic snow. They make fantastic individual desserts for holiday potlucks and truly capture the spirit of the season with minimal effort!