Donut Hole Reindeer & Elves

These donut hole reindeer & elves are the perfect holiday treat. They are cute, tasty, fun to make with kids, and oh-so-festive to spread cheer and creativity.

After creating snowman cupcakes, my three boys were buzzing with excitement for more festive treats. We brainstormed some fun ideas and landed on donut hole reindeer & elves!

When my boys and I set out to create these fun little snacks, we had a blast turning ordinary donut holes into magical holiday characters!

Why I love this recipe

• It’s a simple activity that anyone can get into, whether you’re baking with kids or just enjoying a little holiday cheer.
• No baking is required. Just some simple assembly and decorating!

Ingredients

• plain donut holes, not powdered
• Nutella
• eyeball candies, or any small candy eyes
• red M&Ms
• whipped cream
• strawberries, for hats
• mini marshmallows
• pretzels, for reindeer antlers

Step by step

Assemble the elves:

1. Use Nutella to attach the eye candies and M&M nose to each donut hole.
2. Inside the donut hole, pipe a little Nutella for a surprise filling.
3. Add a dollop of whipped cream on top.
4. Cut the stem off a strawberry and set it on the whipped cream for the hat.
5. Add a bit more Nutella to the tip of the strawberry hat and attach a mini marshmallow. Set them aside.

Assemble the reindeer:

1. Use Nutella to attach the eye candies and M&M nose to each donut hole.
2. Break pretzels into antler shapes and press into the sides of the donut hole to make antlers.

Can I use store-bought donut holes?

Absolutely! Store-bought donut holes work perfectly for this recipe. Just make sure they are plain and not powdered or glazed to ensure the decorations stick well.

Variations

Try using different types of candy for the eyes and nose or even swap out the pretzels for mini candy canes for a sweet twist.

You can even experiment with flavored whipped cream or different spreads to mix up the flavor profile!

If you’re looking for a Nutella substitute, you can use peanut butter, almond butter, or even chocolate frosting. Any spreadable ingredient that helps the decorations stick will work!

Serving suggestions

• serve them on a festive platter for a holiday party
• pair them with peppermint hot chocolate or milk for a sweet treat
• wrap them in cellophane and give them as sweet, homemade gifts

Storage

The donut elves are best served same day due to the fresh strawberry hat. For the reindeer, store in an airtight container for up to 1 week in the refrigerator.

If you try this recipe please comment and rate it below, I love hearing from you!