Description
Celebrate the holidays with these delightful Christmas Doughnuts, perfect for festive gatherings. This versatile recipe offers both baked and fried options, yielding light, fluffy doughnuts with a festive glaze and colorful sprinkles or crushed candy canes for a cheerful finishing touch.
Ingredients
Doughnuts
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2/3 cup whole milk
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract (optional)
- Vegetable oil for frying (if making fried doughnuts)
Glaze and Decoration
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2–3 tablespoons milk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Red and green sprinkles or crushed candy canes for decoration
Instructions
- Prepare Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, ground nutmeg, and salt until well combined.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together whole milk, melted unsalted butter, eggs, vanilla extract, and almond extract until smooth and fully incorporated.
- Combine Batter: Gradually add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, stirring gently just until combined; avoid overmixing to keep the doughnuts tender.
- Baking Option – Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a doughnut pan thoroughly to prevent sticking.
- Baking Option – Bake Doughnuts: Spoon the batter into the prepared doughnut molds and bake for 10 to 12 minutes until the doughnuts are golden brown and springy to the touch.
- Frying Option – Heat Oil: Pour enough vegetable oil into a deep pot to a depth of about 2 inches and heat it to 350°F (175°C).
- Frying Option – Prepare and Fry Doughnuts: Roll out the dough on a floured surface to about 1/2-inch thickness. Cut into doughnut shapes with a doughnut cutter. Fry in batches, turning once, for 1 to 2 minutes per side or until golden brown.
- Drain Fried Doughnuts: Remove fried doughnuts using a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels to remove excess oil.
- Prepare Glaze: Whisk together powdered sugar, 2 to 3 tablespoons of milk, and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract until smooth and pourable. Adjust milk quantity as needed for desired consistency.
- Glaze and Decorate: Dip cooled doughnuts into the glaze, allowing excess to drip off. Immediately top with festive red and green sprinkles or crushed candy canes. Let the glaze set before serving.
Notes
- For a richer flavor, add a pinch of cinnamon to the dry ingredients or use eggnog instead of milk.
- Use gel food coloring in the glaze for colorful holiday variations.
- Baked doughnuts offer a lighter texture, while fried doughnuts provide a classic crisp exterior with a tender inside.
