A donut croquembouche sounds so fancy. A Christmas Donut Hole Tree is much easier to say. But whatever you call it, this dessert will be the star of your Christmas table. And it’s so easy to make because you use Dunkin’ Munchkins it in.
For more sweets to make, check out all of our desserts.
If you invite me somewhere, I’m always coming with a cute treat. Our friends at our community pot luck know this all too well. Every time I show up, they’re always asking, “What did you bring?”
So of course, it should be no surprise that my go to treat this holiday season has been this Christmas Donut Hole Tree. It’s super easy to make and is stunning on a table.
What makes it so easy is you use Munchkins from Dunkin’ in this. So you don’t need to worry about making cake pops or homemade donut holes, then assembling them into a tower. Just go to Dunkin’, order 50 (and a coffee for yourself because of course you should), and you’re almost done.
If you like this idea, but would rather a savory version, check out our Charcuterie Tree For Christmas (which I keep calling a charcute-tree because that’s super fun to say).
Christmas Donut Hole Tree (aka Donut Croquembouche)
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This post is mostly a tutorial, but a tutorial with food. So below, it has ingredients and supplies lumped together in the list below.
Christmas Donut Hole Tree Ingredients & Supplies:
- 1 piece white cone shaped craft foam (3.7 inch x 8.9 inch)
- White cling wrap
- 50 toothpicks
- 50 assorted Dunkin’ Munchkins
- Wooden star
- Pencil
- Yellow card stock
- Scissors
- Paint brush
- Mod Podge
- Flat wooden craft pick (3.5 inch)
- Green felt
How To Make A Christmas Donut Hole Tree:
Wrap the cone shaped craft foam in the white cling wrap. You want to make sure you cover the cone completely because you don’t want the Munchkins against the Styrofoam in any way.
Stick a toothpick into the cone, near the bottom. Leave just enough of the toothpick out that a Munchkin can fit.
Put a Munchkin on the toothpick.
Continue this until you have a full row around the bottom.
Then, continue until you get to the top of the cone foam. Set it aside.
Trace the wooden star onto the yellow card stock. Cut out two stars.
Paint some Mod Podge to one side of the wooden star. Stick the card stock star onto it.
Flip it over. Paint some Mod Podge to the other side of the wooden star. Put the wooden craft pick, pointy side out, onto the star. Add a little Mod Podge to the stick.
Stick the card stock star onto that side. Let it dry.
Stick the star onto the top of the donut croquembouche.
Cut a large circle from a piece of green felt.
Originally, I had intended on embellishing this with ribbon like a traditional tree skirt, but I decided against it because it would detract from the donut croquembouche.
Place the donut croquembouche onto the piece of felt.
Display and impress your guests.
Christmas Donut Hole Tree: Frequently Asked Questions
This is definitely not a traditional croquembouche. That’s small creme puffs, not donuts, that form a tower. The creme puffs are the entire structure. Then, they’re covered in caramel.
This one is different because it uses donut holes, not creme puffs. It has a foam cone as the base. And there’s no spun caramel.
But, the concept is the same. And the final shape is the same.
You can use any Munchkins in this donut tree. I ordered an assortment of glazed, blueberry glazed, and powered sugar (side note: This was super easy to do on the app) because I loved how the variety of them looked on the tree itself.
I wanted this to feel light and airy, which is why I didn’t order any chocolate Munchkins (even though those are my favorite).
Don’t order jelly-filled Munchkins, if your store has those, because you could stick a toothpick through the jelly and make a mess of your tower.
The glazed Munchkins were a little bigger than the other ones, so if you buy a foam cone that’s a little bigger than the one suggested, getting all glazed would be best for you (or just order more than 50).
You can make this donut tree ahead of time, although I wouldn’t really suggest it. The Munchkins will stay freshest for about three days in the fridge if they’re in an airtight container, which would mean you would have to get this into an airtight container.
You could purchase the Munchkins ahead of time, if you needed. But I wouldn’t assemble the donut tree until the day you want to eat it.
You absolutely can reuse the foam cone. When you’re done with it, carefully take out all of the toothpicks and remove the cling wrap. Since the Munchkins only touched the cling wrap, the cone is completely food-free and can be reused.
You can reuse it a few times before you end up with so many toothpick holes that you’ll want a new cone.
Win A Dunkin’ Gift Card:
This donut hole tree would be the perfect treat for your upcoming Christmas parties. And we want to help you pick up some Munchkins to make them — and whatever else Santa wants for a treat.
Head over to our Instagram page for a chance to win one of three $25 Dunkin’ gift cards to use to spoil Santa (or yourself. Don’t worry, we won’t tell the big man).
Just look for the image of this donut tree on our Instagram page for all the details on how to enter for a chance to win.
New Dunkin’ Rewards Program:
The new Dunkin’ Rewards program rolled out on October 6, 2022. Find out all about it in our How To Get Free Coffee & More With Dunkin’ Rewards (Formerly DD Perks) post.
More Recipes Using Dunkin’ Products:
This actually isn’t our only recipe using Dunkin’ products. Our Coffee Cake With Hazelnut Glaze uses Dunkin’ coffee in it and our Chocolate Strawberry Dessert Kabobs uses chocolate Munchkins.
Christmas Donut Hole Tree (aka Donut Croquembouche)
A donut croquembouche sounds so fancy. A Christmas Donut Hole Tree is much easier to say. But whatever you call it, this dessert will be the star of your Christmas table.
Materials
- 1 piece white cone shaped craft foam (3.7 inch x 8.9 inch)
- White cling wrap
- 50 toothpicks
- 50 assorted Dunkin’ Munchkins
- Wooden star
- Yellow card stock
- Mod Podge
- Flat wooden craft pick (3.5 inch)
- Green felt
Tools
- Pencil
- Scissors
- Paint brush
Instructions
- Wrap the cone shaped craft foam in the white cling wrap.
- Stick a toothpick into the cone, near the bottom. Leave just enough of the toothpick out that a Munchkin can fit. Put a Munchkin on the toothpick.
- Continue this until you have a full row around the bottom. Then, continue until you get to the top of the cone foam. Set it aside.
- Trace the wooden star onto the yellow card stock. Cut out two stars.
- Paint some Mod Podge to one side of the wooden star. Stick the card stock star onto it.
- Flip it over. Paint some Mod Podge to the other side of the wooden star. Put the wooden craft pick, pointy side out, onto the star. Add a little Mod Podge to the stick. Stick the card stock star onto that side. Let it dry.
- Stick the star onto the top of the donut croquembouche.
- Cut a large circle from a piece of green felt. Place the donut croquembouche onto the piece of felt.
Did you use this Christmas Donut Hole Tree Tutorial to make it? Let us know how it went in the comments.
Laura @ Our Grand Lives
Thursday 30th of November 2023
How fun! This would be so fun to build with my grandkids! Great idea!
Helen at the Lazy Gastronome
Monday 27th of November 2023
What a fun idea!! My grandson would eat them up!! LOL.
Jennifer Wise
Monday 27th of November 2023
What a fun idea!
Terri
Friday 24th of November 2023
Such a fun and tempting idea. I know that in Norway there is a wedding cake that looks very similar. There is no Dunkin Donuts where I live or I would give this a try!
EsmeSalon
Wednesday 22nd of November 2023
What an awesome idea, and fun thing to have the kiddos make and enjoy as well.