These tiny Elf Donuts are a delightful treat for your “Elf on the Shelf” and a fun activity to make with kids for Santa’s elves on Christmas Eve.
If an Elf on the Shelf visits your home each holiday season, these mini elf donuts are a must-make. Kids especially enjoy creating and leaving them out for their elf. They are simple to prepare and require only a few common ingredients—perfect for a quick holiday craft and snack.
Elf Donut Ingredients
- Cheerios cereal (plain)
- Powdered sugar
- Milk
- Chocolate chips (semisweet)
- Small sprinkles (optional)
- An empty matchbox, optional — we use one to create a tiny “donut box” for the finished treats. It’s optional but adds charm.
To Make the Elf Donuts
Powdered Sugar Donuts
Start by covering your workspace with parchment paper so the donuts can dry and cleanup stays easy.
In a small bowl, mix powdered sugar with a little milk until you reach a thick frosting consistency—thick enough to coat the Cheerios without running off.
Work in small batches: add about ten Cheerios at a time to the frosting and use a toothpick to flip and coat them fully. Pull each Cheerio out with the toothpick, letting excess frosting drip off, and place them on the parchment paper.
If you want sprinkled donuts, add colorful sprinkles immediately after dipping while the frosting is still wet. For a powdered-donut look, dip the frosted Cheerios into a small bowl of powdered sugar, flipping them a few times with the toothpick to ensure even coverage. Place them back on the parchment to dry.
Don’t wait too long to add sprinkles or extra powdered sugar, since the frosting will begin to set. Doing a few at a time keeps things manageable. An easy way to handle the Cheerios is to pierce them through the center with a toothpick. Let them dry for about an hour until the coating is set.
Chocolate Donuts
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper before coating the Cheerios so the chocolate sets cleanly and cleanup is simple.
Melt the chocolate chips either in the microwave or on the stovetop until smooth and creamy.
Microwave method: Place chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl and heat for 45 seconds. Stir, and if needed continue in 15-second intervals, stirring after each, until completely melted and smooth.
Stovetop method: Place chocolate chips in a small pot over low to medium heat, stirring frequently. When only a few chips remain, remove from heat and stir until completely melted and creamy. Avoid overheating.
Pour the melted chocolate into a small bowl and dip a few Cheerios at a time, flipping them with a toothpick to coat evenly. Remove each Cheerio and let excess chocolate drip off before setting them on the parchment-lined sheet.
You can leave the chocolate donuts plain or add sprinkles while the chocolate is still wet. Work in small batches and transfer the tray to the refrigerator for about 30 minutes, or until the chocolate is fully set.
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How to Make the Donut Box
To present the donuts like a store-bought box, use an empty matchbox covered with plain white paper to hide any print or cardboard. Let kids decorate it or write a small label. A matchbox will hold about a dozen elf donuts, so plan to display extra donuts beside it if you make more.
Our elf, Sparkles, delights our daughter each morning when she returns from the North Pole nightly check-ins. The Elf on the Shelf tradition has the elf visiting during the day and traveling back to the North Pole at night to update Santa on holiday behavior.
Looking for Christmas Cookie Ideas?
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Christmas Rice Krispie Treats
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Elf Donuts
Ingredients
- 1 cup Cheerios, plain
- ¼ cup powdered sugar, plus extra for dusting
- ¾ teaspoon milk
- ½ cup semisweet chocolate chips
- small sprinkles (optional)
Instructions
For the powdered sugar donuts:
- Combine powdered sugar and milk until you reach a frosting-like consistency.
- Place small batches of Cheerios into the frosting and flip to coat using a toothpick.
- Remove each Cheerio with the toothpick, allow excess to drip off, and set on parchment paper.
- Add sprinkles or dust with additional powdered sugar immediately while the coating is wet.
- Let set and dry for about an hour.
For the chocolate donuts:
- Melt chocolate chips in the microwave or on the stovetop until smooth and creamy.
- Dip small batches of Cheerios into the melted chocolate, flipping to coat with a toothpick.
- Let excess chocolate drip off and place on parchment-lined sheet.
- Add sprinkles before the chocolate sets, if desired.
- Chill in the refrigerator until the chocolate is firm, about 30 minutes.
Notes
Use a parchment-lined tray to transfer chocolate-covered Cheerios to the refrigerator for setting.
Microwave melting: Heat chocolate chips for 45 seconds, stir, then continue in 15-second intervals until smooth.
Stovetop melting: Heat on low to medium and stir frequently; remove from heat when just a few chips remain and stir until melted.
Do not overheat the chocolate; it should be creamy for easy coating.
Yield depends on the amount you make; this version makes about 40 elf donuts.
Nutrition information is approximate and should be used only as a guideline.
Update Note: This recipe was originally posted earlier and republished in 2020 to add step-by-step directions and new photos.