Homemade Baked Eggnog Donuts

Indulge in the warmth of the holiday season with these delightful Homemade Baked Eggnog Donuts. These pillowy-soft baked fluffy treats are infused with the rich, comforting flavors of eggnog in the batter + generously coated in a decadent eggnog glaze. Whether enjoyed as a morning Christmas delight or a sweet evening treat, these easy-to-make donuts are sure to bring the cozy essence of winter to your table. Gluten-free + Make ahead option.

Why Homemade Baked Eggnog Donuts Are The PERFECT Holiday Treat!

No arm-twisting is needed here when it comes to eggnog—it's a staple in our home, especially during the countdown to the holidays. Surprisingly, I didn't grow up loving eggnog, but I have grown to LOVE baking with it. From Eggnog French Toast to Fluffy Overnight Apple Butter Eggnog Cinnamon Rolls and Eggnog Cheesecake + Snickerdoodle Cookie Crust. I've even whipped up a dairy-free Creamy Homemade Vegan Eggnog to cater to everyone. With the holidays approaching, it's all about diving into that creamy, spicy goodness. Anyone else on team Eggnog?

Whether you're enjoying these Homemade Baked Eggnog Donuts as a sweet treat with your morning coffee or pairing them with apple cider for dessert, they're a holiday must-have. The batter's as easy as can be-- mixing up eggnog (yep, the star of the show!), cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and a dash of vanilla for that cozy, festive flavor. And let's not forget the finishing touch—the dreamy eggnog glaze on top!

These baked eggnog Christmas donuts are a healthier twist on donuts and they're ready in just 25 minutes. Perfect for holiday gatherings, these goodies are a surefire hit with everyone. I mean, who doesn't love a good ol' donut, right? Plus this is a great recipe to use any leftover eggnog you may have...especially if you've been whipping up my Vegan Caramel Eggnog Mocktails!

Jump to:

• Why Homemade Baked Eggnog Donuts Are The PERFECT Holiday Treat!
• What Is Eggnog?
• How To Make Homemade Baked Eggnog Donuts
• Ingredients
• Donut vs. Doughnut
• Baked vs Fried Doughnuts? 
• Why You Will LOVE Baked Eggnog Donuts
• Perfect Occasions For Baked Eggnog Donuts
• Equipment Needed for Baked Eggnog Donuts
• Can I Use A Different Sweetener?
• Cake Flour vs. All-Purpose Flour.
• How to Make Your Own Homemade Cake Flour
• Homemade Baked Eggnog Donuts Q + A's
• How to Know If Your Baking Powder + Baking Soda are Fresh
• More Sweet Holiday Recipes to Try Next!
• MADE OUR RECIPE(S)?
• Homemade Baked Eggnog Donuts

What Is Eggnog?

Eggnog is like the cozy heart of the holiday season! It's this creamy, dreamy drink made with milk, cream, sugar, eggs, and a sprinkle of spices like nutmeg or cinnamon. Some folks like to add a dash of rum or bourbon for an extra festive kick. It's like a sip of holiday cheer, all creamy and delicious, perfect for those chilly winter days! BUT eggnog isn't just for sipping— You can add this creamy concoction to all sorts of baked goods--- Think eggnog-flavored cookies, cakes, pancakes + more! If you are vegan or dairy-free check out my Creamy Homemade Vegan Eggnog recipe!

How To Make Homemade Baked Eggnog Donuts

This easy eggnog donut recipe is a breeze—all you do is mix the batter, bake it in a donut tray, and then let them cool before glazing them with your homemade eggnog glaze!

Ingredients

DONUTS:

• Organic all-purpose flour: Provides the base structure for the recipe. (You can also sub with pastry flour; See Notes!)
• Organic cane sugar: Adds sweetness to the batter.
• Baking powder: Acts as a leavening agent, helping the donuts rise.
• Baking soda: Assists in the leavening process, contributing to the donuts' texture.
• Spices: Ground cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves. Infuses the batter with warm, aromatic spices, giving the donuts that holiday flavor.
• Sea salt: Enhances the overall taste by balancing the sweetness and flavors.
• Large organic egg: Offers structure and helps bind the ingredients together.
• Vegetable oil: Adds moisture to the batter, contributing to a tender texture.
• Vanilla extract: Provides a depth of flavor.
• Eggnog: The star ingredient! Brings creaminess + richness. I like using a lactose-free eggnog like lactaid so it's a little easier to digest but use whatever brand you prefer!

EGGNOG GLAZE:

• Organic powdered sugar: Forms the base for the glaze, providing sweetness and texture.
• Vanilla extract: Adds a delicious warming flavor.
• Ground nutmeg: Enhances the holiday-inspired flavor.
• Eggnog: Infuses the rich, creamy taste of eggnog while creating the perfect consistency for drizzling over the donuts.

TO MAKE THE EGGNOG GLAZE:

• Whisk together the powdered sugar, vanilla, nutmeg, and eggnog until smooth and consistency is met. NOTE: For a thicker glaze, add additional powdered sugar (1 tablespoon at a time) until consistency is met. For a desired thinner glaze, add additional eggnog (1 tablespoon at a time) until consistency is met.
• Once fully cooled while still on the cooling rack or a wire rack, spoon the glaze atop each christmas donut and allow the glaze to harden a bit and "set".

SHOP MY FAVORITE TOOLS FOR BAKING, ESPECIALLY FOR THESE CHRISTMAS DONUTS!

Here, I’ve curated a list of baking essentials that I use to achieve my favorite baked goods, especially with this Homemade Baked Eggnog Donuts. Everything from my fave loaf pan, wooden spoons, parchment paper, and more. SEE THEM HERE!

Donut vs. Doughnut

Donut vs. doughnut - It's the spelling dilemma that has perplexed people for ages. Some say "donut" is easier to spell and faster to say, while others argue "doughnut" is the more proper and sophisticated way to spell it.

Baked vs Fried Doughnuts? 

In case you are new to making your own doughnuts or you just didn't really understand the full difference between the two---I wanted to break down the real distinction between a baked doughnut or donut and a fried one. Granted, both types taste absolutely amazing; however, once you've tried both, you'll notice the difference while eating.

Baked Doughnuts: These types of fluffy doughnuts are generally whipped together in a bowl (generally without yeast) and are lighter in texture. They can also be "cakey" depending on the ingredients used.

Fried Doughnuts: These types of fluffy doughnuts are generally denser in texture and have a bit of a crunchiness (on the outside) from being deep-fried. They typically have a sweeter flavor and richer texture.

Why You Will LOVE Baked Eggnog Donuts

• Better for you--Baked, not fried, for healthiness.
• Pure holiday-flavored bliss-- They're an absolute burst of eggnog goodness.
• Quick + EASY -- You won't believe how quickly these scrumptious donuts come together – perfect for satisfying donut cravings in a jiffy!
• Anytime, anywhere-- Whether it's breakfast, brunch, or dessert, these donuts are the chameleons of deliciousness.
• Irresistibly sweet-- The eggnog glaze coating takes them from "Yum!" to "YUM!" – it's the cherry on top!

Perfect Occasions For Baked Eggnog Donuts

These events are a great excuse to eat these donuts!

• Holiday festivities
• Birthdays
• Barbecues
• Potlucks
• Kids Sleepovers
• Family gatherings
• Graduations
• Dinner parties
• Actually, any time is a good time for a donut, right? Bake away for a little weekday pep-up!

Equipment Needed for Baked Eggnog Donuts

The only unique piece of equipment you need to make this homemade eggnog donuts recipe is a donut pan. If you're a donut fan, I highly recommend adding one to your kitchen toolbox. You'll never have to go out for donuts again, and you can always customize the ingredients, flavors, and decorations of your breakfast pastries!

The easiest way to fill a donut pan without a major mess is to pipe the batter into the rings. You don't need a special pastry bag, however. A simple gallon-sized Ziplock bag will do the trick. Simply fill the bag with your batter (work in batches to avoid over-filling the bag), then snip off one corner. Aim for a ¾-inch hole to pipe the batter cleanly into the donut rings in the pan. 

The last piece of equipment you'll need is a wire cooling rack. Ensure your donuts are fully cooled before glazing them. Waiting for these treats to cool is the hardest part of the whole recipe! Then you can use stay fresh containers to store them in for a longer fresh time.

Can I Use A Different Sweetener?

Definitely! If you choose to opt out of cane sugar, you can always substitute with coconut sugar, Agave, or pure maple syrup instead. For liquid sweeteners, just adjust the amount of milk you use by reducing the amount to ¼ cup to start, slowly adding up to ½ cup. If you're interested in learning more about sweetener options see my post about The Best Healthy Sugar Alternatives + Substitutes!

Cake Flour vs. All-Purpose Flour.

When it comes to the main ingredient of this entire Christmas donut recipe—-the flour, I enjoy using Bob’s Red Mill Unbleached White All-Purpose Flour, which is ideal for all kinds of baking, including this one.

However, I do occasionally use Super-Fine Cake Flour which adds a nice airiness and fluffiness to your cakes or other baked goods as well.

How to Make Your Own Homemade Cake Flour

If you're in a pinch and you don't have any cake flour on hand, and you only have all-purpose flour---no worries! You can still achieve that extra fluffiness that cake flour would by simply adding 1 teaspoon of arrowroot or starch to your flour before whisking. 

Homemade Baked Eggnog Donuts Q + A's

How to Know If Your Baking Powder + Baking Soda are Fresh

Baking is such a science, but more importantly because certain ingredients like your leaveners (aka baking powder + baking soda) are completely fresh so that your vegan donuts (and other baked goods) fully rise and bake through nicely and are the right texture.

In case you weren't aware, there's an easy to double-check both the baking powder and baking soda. Here's what you need:

BAKING SODA HACK:

-Add 1 teaspoon baking soda with ¼ cup vinegar or lemon juice in a bowl and if it's fresh, the mixture should "bubble/fizz". If no bubble/fizz is present, then your baking soda needs to be replaced.

BAKING POWDER: 

-Add 1 teaspoon baking powder with ¼ cup Hot tap water in a bowl and if it's fresh, the mixture should "bubble/fizz". If no bubble/fizz is present, then your baking powder needs to be replaced.

More Sweet Holiday Recipes to Try Next!

If you love this Homemade Baked Eggnog Donuts recipe, you'll love my other Winter treats!

• Peppermint Oreo Cheesecake
• Vegan Pumpkin Pecan Sticky Buns
• Vegan Chai Ginger Bread
• Best Vegan Sweet Potato Pie
• Vegan Pumpkin Pie

MADE OUR RECIPE(S)?

If you tried this Homemade Baked Eggnog Donuts recipe or any other recipe on my website, please please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below. I love hearing from you.

Love this Post? SHARE!