Christmas Donut Tree has become one of my family’s newest traditions! You start with a Styrofoam cone foundation and using simple toothpicks, attach grocery bakery donut holes. I like to embellish mine with fresh rosemary sprigs and dots of pomegranate arils.
Christmas time is rich with recipe traditions and I have a few that I know you’ll love! My Christmas Tree Cheese and Cracker Tray would be perfect for any party. Peppermint Bark Cookies are my oldest son’s favorite so we make sure to bake them every year. Chocolate Star Bread is so easy to make and would be great for a holiday brunch. Though, not super traditional, you could even make my Chocolate Orange Pull Apart bread. It reminds me of the chocolate oranges that come out every Christmas.
Christmas Breakfast
Ever since I got married, we’ve had the exact same Christmas Breakfast. It’s been Cinnamon Pull Aparts, sausage links and orange slices. The pull aparts are a recipe from my mother in law that I loved so much.
I was at the store and saw a beautiful edible tree made from donuts on a cover of a magazine. I knew instantly I had to recreate my very own at home.
Our local grocery store, HEB has the best donut holes in their bakery sections. I picked up both Sour Cream and Powdered Sugar donut holes and then swung by the nearest craft store to buy two Styrofoam cones. I didn’t have instructions to go off so here is what I came up with.
How To Make Christmas Donut Trees
Here’s what you will need:
- 80-90 Donut Holes Powdered Sugar or Sour Cream
- Fresh Rosemary Sprigs
- 1/4 Cup Pomegranate Arils
- 1/2 Cup Powdered Sugar
- 90 Toothpicks
- 12 inch Styrofoam Cone
- Plastic Wrap
- Wrap the styrofoam cone ins two layers of plastic wrap.
- With the cone in an upright position, push in a toothpick in about half way in starting at the bottom of the cone.
- Gently push a donut hole into the toothpick.
- Be sure to make the donut hole lines up to the bottom of the cone.
- Push another toothpick close to, but not right next to the donut hole. You want to allow space for the next donut hole.
- Place another donut hole on the toothpick.
- Work your way around the base going in a straight line meeting up with the first donut hole.
- For the next rows, be sure to tuck the donut holes in between to help fill in the gaps.
- Once you’ve covered the cone completely, trim short pieces of the rosemary springs.
- Place the rosemary in spots where you may need to fill in the gaps.
- Embellish with pomegranate arils throughout and dust with powdered sugar.
If you need any other holiday recipes, I’ve got them!
- Cherry Cordial Chocolate Cookies
- Cranberry Almond Cookies
- Peanut Butter Caramel Pretzels
- Orange Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies
- Christmas Wreath Charcuterie Board by No. 2 Pencil Blog
Christmas Donut Tree Recipe
Christmas Donut Tree
Ingredients
- 80-90 Donut Holes Powdered Sugar or Sour Cream
- Fresh Rosemary Sprigs
- 1/4 Cup Pomegranate Arils
- 1/2 Cup Powdered Sugar
- 90 Toothpicks
- 12 inch Styrofoam Cone
- Plastic Wrap
Instructions
- Wrap the styrofoam cone ins two layers of plastic wrap.
- With the cone in an upright position, push in a toothpick in about half way in starting at the bottom of the cone.
- Gently push a donut hole into the toothpick.
- Be sure to make the donut hole lines up to the bottom of the cone.
- Push another toothpick close to, but not right next to the donut hole. You want to allow space for the next donut hole.
- Place another donut hole on the toothpick.
- Work your way around the base going in a straight line meeting up with the first donut hole.
- For the next rows, be sure to tuck the donut holes in between to help fill in the gaps.
- Once you've covered the cone completely, trim short pieces of the rosemary springs.
- Place the rosemary in spots where you may need to fill in the gaps.
- Embellish with pomegranate arils throughout and dust with powdered sugar.
*Originally published October 2020 and updated November 2024.
