Grinch Donuts are baked chocolate donuts, dusted with green sugar and finished with a red candy heart. These easy holiday donuts are delicious enough to make anyone’s heart grow three sizes!
Treats with a Grinch theme are always a hit, especially when they taste as good as they look. Try this easy Grinch Peppermint Fudge next. Or give our delicious grinch cookies a try next.
Why these Donuts are Best
This recipe makes the perfect treat for a holiday party or Christmas breakfast. Enjoy these Grinch Donuts with an Egg Nog Latte and some holiday tunes around the tree!
- Grinch colors. Neon green donuts accented with a red heart creates a “Grinchy” vibe that’s instantly recognizable if you’re familiar with the classic holiday character.
- Baked, not fried. Making these in a donut pan makes them easy to bake and share!
- Light and fluffy donuts. With a tender crumb and a pillowy soft consistency, Grinch Donuts keep everyone coming back for more.
We love our chocolate baked donuts, so it’s a no brainer we made a holiday version!
Ingredient Notes
You’ll need all the basics to make our classic chocolate donuts, from flour to butter, we’ve got it all.
- Whole milk – You will need some for the donut batter and additional milk for the icing.
- Green gel food coloring – I use this neon gel coloring for amazing color!
- Green dusting sugar – Dipping the iced donuts in this sugar gives them a delicious crackly coating and more Grinch-green color.
- Red heart sprinkles – The finishing touch. One gets placed in the top right of each Grinch Donut before serving.
Tips and Tricks
- Filling the donut pans: Spoon the batter into a plastic bag with a zip top. Snip of a corner, then squeeze batter into each cavity of the pan until it’s 2/3 full.
- Tap the pan on the counter. Give the filled donut pan an aggressive tap or two to flatten the batter. It’s a thick batter that needs a little extra help to get evenly distributed.
- Bake for 7 minutes. The donuts should be fluffy and soft at the touch when you take them out of the oven. They’ll continue cooking through as they cool. Baking for even a few minutes too long will result in dry, tough donuts.
- Icing the donuts. Lightly dip the top of each donut into the icing followed by the dusting sugar. Be careful not to use too much icing or it will drip down the sides of the donut.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, this recipe can be made in any kind of donut pan. Keep in mind that the shape and size of your pan effects the look of the donuts. When you use a different pan your Grinch Donuts will look different from mine, but they’ll still be adorable and delicious!
I find mine at craft stores or online. Some well-stocked grocery stores will also carry them in the baking aisle.
If you want a tasty baked donut without the Grinch colors, go ahead and make these without the green food coloring.
You can also change up the colors of the food dye and dusting sugar for different occasions and seasons.
These donuts are best enjoyed within 1 to 2 days of baking them. Store them in an airtight container at room temperature for best freshness.
More Holiday Breakfasts
- Cranberry Christmas Cake
- Pumpkin French toast
- Overnight French Toast
- Pecan Sticky Buns
- Blueberry Sweet Rolls
- Monkey Bread
Breakfast Recipes
See all Breakfast and Brunch recipes
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Grinch Donuts
Ingredients
For the donuts
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ¾ cup plus 2 Tbsp milk
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter melted
For the frosting
- 1 Tablespoon heavy whipping cream
- 1 Tablespoon whole milk
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoon corn syrup
- 3 drops neon green food coloring
- ¾ cup powdered sugar
- Large Red Heart Sprinkles
- Green Dusting Sugar
Instructions
- For the donuts, mix dry ingredients in bowl. Beat in the eggs, milk, vanilla and butter. Beat until well blended.
- Spray donut pan with cooking spray. Fill each donut cup about ¾ full (I use a ziploc with the corner snipped to do this neatly). Fills about 8-10 donuts.
- Bake donuts in 325 degree oven for about 11-14 minutes. Allow to cool slightly, remove from pan.
- While cooling, make glaze. In small saucepan on medium low heat, mix together the cream, milk, butter, vanilla and corn syrup. When butter is completely melted add in food coloring and remove from heat.
- Whisk in the powdered sugar, adding it slowly until desired consistency.
- Dip each donut into the glaze, then add green dusting sugar and one large red heart sprinkle on top.
- Let sit and dry for a few minutes and enjoy!
Notes
- I bought this set of Neon gel food coloring from Amazon!
- If having trouble with the batter evening out after piping it into the donut spots, use a toothpick to level them out before tapping the pan on the counter.
- Don’t overcook your donuts. They will finish cooking after you pull them out of the oven. If you cook them until they’re fully finished in the oven, you’ll end up with some tough and dry donuts. You want them to feel finished on the outside, but just pillowy soft when you lightly press on them.
- Each donut pan will give a different look. You don’t have to use the one I used, but be aware a different pan may not result in the same look as my donuts.
- Too many milk options? Use whole milk for the donuts and the frosting and skip the heavy cream.
Nutrition
Make Christmas morning even more fun with these adorable Grinch Donuts!
