I love making a treat that looks like a whole production with almost zero effort. I make Reindeer Donut Kabobs for parties every year.
Rows of mini chocolate donuts march down bamboo skewers, and I decorate a few on each skewer with pretzel antlers, candy eyes, and shiny red noses.
On a wooden board, they look like a tiny reindeer parade, and they fly off the table at holiday parties.
Yield: 8–10 kabobs
Prep Time: 10–15 minutes
Total Time: 10–15 minutes
Difficulty: Easy (kid-helper friendly)
Ingredients
- mini chocolate donuts
- bamboo skewers
- mini pretzels
- candy eyes
- red chocolate candies
- vanilla frosting or melted chocolate (for “glue”)
Helpful Extras
- wooden serving board
- parchment paper (decorate without mess)
- mini offset spatula or toothpicks for tiny glue dots
Step-by-Step Instructions
1) Thread the donuts.
Slide mini chocolate donuts onto each bamboo skewer. Tip: angle the skewer slightly so you don’t crack the chocolate coating.
2) Decorate a few per skewer.
On parchment, add micro-dabs of vanilla frosting (or melted chocolate) to attach candy eyes, set mini pretzels as antlers at the top, and press on a red chocolate candy for the nose.
3) Arrange & serve.
Fan the kabobs on a wooden serving board. Serve immediately (they’re cutest when the pretzels are super crisp).
Pro Tips
- Stick factor: If the glaze is slick, blot the donut surface before adding frosting so eyes and noses stay put.
- Antler insurance: Push the curve of the mini pretzel just under the donut edge for a better anchor.
- Kid assembly line: One person threads bamboo skewers, another dots frosting, and a helper adds candy eyes and red candies—so fast.
Variations
- Snowy herd: Use powdered mini donuts for a white “snow” look.
- Peppermint pop: Swap noses for mini peppermint candies.
- Gluten-free: Choose GF mini donuts and confirm decorations are GF.
Make-Ahead & Storage
- Make-ahead: Thread donuts up to 4 hours ahead and store covered at cool room temp. Add mini pretzels just before serving to keep them crunchy.
- Storage: Best same day. If needed, hold kabobs loosely covered (not refrigerated, to avoid moisture softening the pretzels).
Printable Recipe Card
Reindeer Donut Kabobs
Yield: 8–10 | Prep: 10–15 min | Total: 10–15 min
Ingredients
- mini chocolate donuts
- bamboo skewers
- mini pretzels
- candy eyes
- red chocolate candies
- vanilla frosting or melted chocolate
Directions
- Slide mini donuts onto each skewer.
- Use small dabs of frosting to attach candy eyes, pretzel antlers, and a red candy nose on a few donuts per skewer.
- Arrange on a board and serve immediately.
Reindeer Donut Kabobs
Yield: 8–10 | Prep: 10–15 min | Total: 10–15 min
Ingredients- mini chocolate donuts
- bamboo skewers
- mini pretzels
- candy eyes
- red chocolate candies
- vanilla frosting or melted chocolate
- Slide mini donuts onto each skewer.
- Use small dabs of frosting to attach candy eyes, pretzel antlers, and a red candy nose on a few donuts per skewer.
- Arrange on a board and serve immediately.
FAQ
Can I use plain or powdered donuts?
Yes! Powdered minis look snowy; plain glazed works too. You may need extra frosting for sticking.
How do I keep pretzels crunchy?
Add mini pretzels right before serving and avoid refrigerating the finished kabobs.
Are the skewers kid-safe?
For little ones, use 6-inch skewers and snip the sharp tips after threading, or use paper straws as sticks.
Can I transport these to a party?
Lay kabobs in a single layer in a shallow box lined with parchment. Add the pretzels on arrival for max crunch.
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