You know those mornings when the kids wake up at 5 AM on Christmas Day, and you're barely functioning but they're bouncing off the walls with excitement? Yeah, that's when you need Christmas Snowman Donuts. I discovered this genius breakfast hack three years ago when Emily was six, and honestly? It's saved my sanity every Christmas morning since.
These adorable little snowman donuts on a stick take maybe 10 minutes to throw together, and the kids think you're basically the coolest parent ever. Plus, they're so distracted building their own snowmen that you can actually drink your coffee while it's still hot (revolutionary, I know!).
Last Christmas, Emily's best friend came over for a sleepover on Christmas Eve, and I woke up to find both girls had already raided my donut stash and made their own snowman army before I even got downstairs. So yeah, these are THAT easy and THAT fun.
If you're looking for another quick Christmas morning option, my Cinnamon Swirl Pancakes are always a hit with the holiday crowd too!
Jump to:
- Why You Will Like This Christmas Snowman Donuts Recipe
- What You Need For Snowman Donuts
- How To Make A Donut Snowman
- How To Store Christmas Snowman Donuts
- Fun Ways To Switch Up Your Donut Snowman
- Christmas Snowman Donuts FAQs
- Recipes You May Like
- Final Thoughts On Christmas Snowman Donuts
- Donut Snowman (Easy Christmas Morning Breakfast)
Why You Will Like This Christmas Snowman Donuts Recipe
- Ridiculously fast - We're talking 2-3 minutes per snowman, so you can make a whole batch while the coffee brews
- Zero cooking required - No oven, no stove, no mess (my kitchen stays clean on Christmas morning!)
- Kid-approved activity - They can actually help make these without you stressing about kitchen disasters
- Perfect for parties - Classroom treats, Christmas parties, or neighborhood gift exchanges
- Stays fresh for days - Make them ahead and store in bags for up to 5 days
- Budget-friendly - Most ingredients are from the regular grocery store, nothing fancy needed
What You Need For Snowman Donuts
- Mini powdered sugar donuts (the pre-packaged kind work perfectly)
- Mini M&Ms (grab the regular bag, you'll need various colors)
- Black sprinkles (also called sugar pearls or black sanding sugar)
- Mini Reese's cups (unwrapped - important!)
- Multicolored sour strips (for the scarves)
- Pretzel sticks (the regular salted ones)
- Cake pop sticks or wooden skewers
- Cellophane bags (if you're gifting them)
- Ribbon (optional, for tying the bags)
Quick note: I always buy extra donuts because about 1 in every 5 splits when you slide them onto the stick. Don't ask me why - it just happens!
How To Make A Donut Snowman
- Stack your snowman base - Carefully slide three powdered sugar donuts onto a cake pop stick or wooden skewer. Start from the bottom and work your way up. Go slow here because these donuts can be fragile (I learned this the hard way when Emily and I made our first batch and broke like 6 donuts).
- Add the snowman's hat - Place a mini Reese's cup on top of the third donut. Press it down gently so it stays put. This seriously looks adorable and tastes even better.
- Create the buttons - Press one mini M&M into the donut hole of each of the bottom two donuts. I usually use red or green M&Ms for a festive look, but Emily likes to go rogue with purple and blue buttons (her snowmen are fashion-forward, apparently).
- Make the carrot nose - In the center of the top donut, press an orange M&M horizontally to look like a little carrot nose. This is honestly the cutest part.
- Add the eyes - Press two black sprinkles (or sugar pearls) into the top donut for eyes. Space them out evenly above the nose. Sometimes I use chocolate chips if I'm out of black sprinkles - works just as well.
- Attach the arms - Break a pretzel stick in half and press each half into either side of the middle donut. These make perfect little stick arms!
- Wrap the scarf - Cut a small piece from a sour strip and wrap it around the "neck" area between the top and middle donut. This adds such a cute pop of color.
- Package for gifting - If you're sending these to school or giving them as party favors, slide each snowman into a cellophane bag and tie it with a festive ribbon.
Pro Tips For Assembly
Listen, I've made probably 50+ of these over the last few years, so here's what I've learned:
The donuts slide onto the sticks easier when they're fresh. If they've been sitting out for a day or two, they get a bit harder and crack more easily.
Don't push the M&Ms in too hard or they'll just fall through the donut hole (trust me on this one). Just a gentle press is enough.
For younger kids (like 4-5 year olds), I pre-stack the donuts for them and let them do the decorating part. It's safer and less frustrating for everyone.
How To Store Christmas Snowman Donuts
These little guys actually keep really well! Here's what works:
Short-term storage (1-2 days): Leave them on the sticks and place them upright in a tall glass or container. Cover loosely with plastic wrap. They'll stay fresh on the counter.
Longer storage (3-5 days): This is where those cellophane bags come in handy. Slide each snowman into its own bag, tie with ribbon, and store in an airtight container. The bags keep them from getting squished and help maintain freshness.
Can you freeze them? Honestly, I haven't tried it because these never last long enough in my house to need freezing! But theoretically, you probably could for about a week. Just let them thaw at room temperature before serving.
The powdered sugar might get a little less fluffy after a few days, but they still taste great. Emily ate one that had been sitting for 4 days last year and declared it "still really good" (high praise from a picky 9-year-old).
Fun Ways To Switch Up Your Donut Snowman
Want to get creative? Here are some variations I've tried:
Chocolate snowmen: Use chocolate donuts instead of powdered sugar ones for a different look. They're less "snowy" but equally delicious.
Fancy scarves: Instead of sour strips, try fruit roll-ups cut into thin strips, or even colorful licorice laces.
Different hats: Can't find mini Reese's cups? Use chocolate kisses, mini peanut butter cups, or even a small chocolate chip cookie!
Allergy-friendly version: For nut allergies, skip the Reese's cups and use a chocolate coin or Andes mint as the hat. For gluten-free, you can find gluten-free mini donuts at most health food stores now.
Color themes: Match your M&M colors to your party theme - all red and green for traditional Christmas, or blue and silver for a winter wonderland vibe.
One time Emily insisted on making "girl snowmen" with pink scarves and purple hats. She used chocolate donuts, pink M&Ms for buttons, and topped them with pink-wrapped Reese's. They were actually super cute!
Christmas Snowman Donuts FAQs
Yes! Assemble them up to 5 days in advance and store in airtight containers or cellophane bags.
Absolutely! This is a perfect activity for kids ages 4+ with adult supervision when using the sticks.
Use any mini chocolate cup, chocolate coins, or even a chocolate chip cookie for a nut-free alternative.
Each snowman takes about 2-3 minutes to assemble, making this a quick 10-minute project for a small batch.
Recipes You May Like
- Mini Blueberry Muffins - Another easy breakfast option that kids love, perfect for Christmas morning when you want something a bit more substantial alongside these sweet treats.
- Cinnamon Swirl Pancakes - These are my go-to Christmas breakfast when I want to feel fancy but don't want to spend hours in the kitchen. The swirl pattern is so festive!
- Small Batch Chocolate Chip Cookies - For when you want to bake with the kids during the holidays but don't need 4 dozen cookies sitting around tempting you (just me?).
Final Thoughts On Christmas Snowman Donuts
Look, I'm not going to lie and say this is some gourmet breakfast that'll blow your mind. But you know what? On Christmas morning when you're running on 4 hours of sleep and the kids are already asking when they can open presents for the 47th time, these donut snowman treats are exactly what you need.
They're fun, they're fast, they keep the kids busy for a bit, and honestly? They're pretty darn cute sitting there on the breakfast table with their little pretzel arms and sour strip scarves.
This recipe has become such a Christmas tradition in our house that Emily actually reminded ME about it this year in October. "Mom, we ARE making the snowman donuts again, right?" (Yes, child, we are definitely making the snowman donuts again.)
So go ahead and give these Christmas Snowman Donuts a try this year. Whether you're making them for your own kids, bringing them to a classroom party, or just want a fun holiday activity that doesn't require actual cooking skills, they're pretty much perfect.
Don't forget to save this to Pinterest so you can find it next Christmas when you're frantically searching for "easy Christmas morning ideas" at 11 PM on Christmas Eve!
Donut Snowman (Easy Christmas Morning Breakfast)
Equipment
- Cello Bags
- Skewers
Ingredients
- 3 mini powdered sugar donuts
- mini m&ms for buttons and nose
- black sprinkles for eyes
- 1 mini reese's cup unwrapped
- 1 multicolored sour strip for scarf
- 1 pretzel stick for arms
- 1 cake pop stick or wooden skewer
- cellophane bag optional for packaging
- ribbon optional for packaging
Instructions
- Place three powdered sugar donuts on a cake pop stick or wooden skewer. Be careful and have extras when sliding the donuts on a stick – sometimes, they will split down the middle.
- Place a mini Reese's cup on top of the donut. This will act as the snowman's hat.
- Press one mini M&M for each button in the donut hole of the bottom two donuts.
- In the center of the top donut, press in an orange M&M for the snowman's nose.
- Press black sprinkles (sugar pearls) into the top donut for the eyes.
- Break pretzel stick in half and press the halves onto either side of the middle donut.
- Make a sour strip and wrap it around the snowman's "neck" to act as a scarf.
- If sending it to school for snacks, place it into a cellophane bag and tie it with a ribbon!
