Christmas Donut Hole Tree

This stunning Christmas Donut Hole Tree makes the perfect festive treat and doubles as holiday party décor. It’s easy to make and perfect for a crowd.

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Donut hole tree with powdered sugar and fresh rosemary on wood cutting board with cup and saucer in background.

I was intrigued when I saw different donut hole Christmas trees online and wondered how hard it would be to put one together.

Well, now I can report that the donut tree, while stunning, is actually really easy to make!

This recipe works because it’s:

Uses simple ingredients and materials. You’ll only need a handful of crafts supplies and about 15 minutes of your time.
Easy to assemble with just a few simple steps. I even let my kids help out!
Great for a crowd. It’s a delicious treat you can also use as the centerpiece for a Christmas party dessert or breakfast table.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Ingredients for a donut hole tree on counter including foam cone, toothpicks, and donuts.

Wrap a 12-inch styrofoam cone with plastic wrap so it’s completely covered.

Green styrofoam cone wrapped with plastic wrap and toothpicks on counter.

Press a toothpick at the base of the cone, then put a donut hole on top. You may need to adjust the donut or the toothpick so the tree still sits flat.

Repeat the process until the bottom of the cone has donuts around the base.

Donut holes on toothpicks sticking out of green styrofoam cone.

Then create another ring of donuts over the bottom ring, alternating the donuts so they sit above the gaps where two donuts touch in the bottom ring.

Styrofoam cone with toothpicks sticking out of it and donuts on some toothpicks.

Continue until the entire cone is covered. One single donut hole should be placed on the top.

Decorate the tree by sprinkling it with powdered sugar and tucking in small springs of rosemary throughout.

Donut hole tree and powdered sugar shaker on wood cutting board.

NOTE: If you don’t eat all of the donuts, you’ll need to remove them from the cone and place them in an airtight container so they don’t go stale.

Recipe Tips and Substitutions

The top of a donut tree made with donut holes, powdered sugar, and fresh rosemary.

You’ll need some force to press the toothpicks into the cone, so I would recommend having an adult do it. The toothpicks can get slippery too after touching the donuts so you may want to clean your hands periodically to avoid an accident!

When you get to the top of the cone, you’ll need to be more strategic with where you place your toothpicks. There’s not a lot of styrofoam at the top so you may need to press your toothpicks at an angle to avoid hitting any previous toothpicks.

Try to place the rosemary in any gaps where the cone can be seen. You can’t completely cover the cone with the donuts, so use the rosemary to hide what’s peeking through.

I used old-fashioned donut holes, but you could also use powdered sugar, chocolate, or a variety depending on the look you’re going for.

Add some sugared cranberries or pomegranate arils for a pop of red on your donut tree.

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Donut Christmas tree with donut holes, powdered sugar, and fresh rosemary.

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FAQs

Donut hole Christmas tree with powdered sugar and fresh rosemary on wood cutting board.

How many donut holes do you need for a tree?

You’ll need about 84 donut holes for a 12-inch cone. I bought 3 packages of donut holes that said they had about 28 donuts in each and I used every single donut.

Where can you find the styrofoam cones?

Your best bet will be at a hobby or craft store. I tried Michael’s and Hobby Lobby. The cones will be in the floral section with the other styrofoam forms.

I hope your family loves this Christmas donut hole tree! If you make it, be sure to take a picture and tag me on Instagram with @ashcroftfamilytable and use the hashtag #ashcroftfamilytable!