Learn how to make homemade chocolate peppermint donuts with rich ganache and festive crushed peppermint topping—the perfect holiday treat! Enjoy an easy, from-scratch recipe that brings wintery cheer to your home.

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As November settles in with its chilly winds and the first flurries of snow, it's time to start baking up those holiday treats that bring cozy warmth to the season. And here on the homestead, we’re kicking things off with a family favorite: baked chocolate peppermint donuts!

These donuts are the perfect blend of rich chocolate and refreshing peppermint. They're topped with decadent chocolate ganache and sprinkled with crushed peppermint candy. It's a holiday treat that’s as festive as it is delicious!

If you follow me on social media, you already know I’m a donut enthusiast. They’re my number-one request from family and friends, and who can blame them? Donuts are the ultimate comfort dessert, whether baked, fried, or filled! If you're new to making donuts, these baked chocolate peppermint donuts are the perfect place to start. They’re effortless, mixing up in five minutes and baking in under ten. Let’s get right into it!

Why Baked Donuts?

You might wonder why we’re baking these donuts instead of frying them. While fried donuts have their delicious charm, baking donuts is quicker, less messy, and healthier. Baking brings out a light and fluffy texture; we enjoy more donuts without guilt and with less oil! Plus, these baked donuts are super kid-friendly, so little hands can help without any worries about hot oil.

My Favorite Donut Pans

To make baked donuts, you’ll need a trusty donut pan. My favorite donut pan is a classic six-donut non-stick pan. The non-stick coating ensures the donuts slide out easily, keeping that perfect donut shape intact. I like to keep some of these pans handy to bake a big batch quickly. Look for pans with a sturdy feel and a dark finish to help them heat evenly. And here’s a pro tip: use a piping bag to pipe the batter into the pan for a neat, no-mess look!

Chocolate Ganache – The Rich Topping

The chocolate ganache is the perfect topping for these peppermint donuts. It’s silky and smooth and takes them to the next level. You only need some ingredients: chocolate, butter, and corn syrup. I love how the ganache adds a rich layer of chocolate that balances perfectly with the donut’s moist cake.

Heat the butter and corn syrup until melted. Pour it over the chopped chocolate or chocolate chips and stir until silky smooth. Dip each donut into the ganache, letting any extra drip off, and set them on a rack to let the ganache set. The result? A glossy, chocolatey finish that makes each donut irresistibly inviting!

Crushed Peppermint Candy – The Festive Crunch

Now for the festive touch: crushed peppermint candy! This step is where the holiday magic truly happens. The crushed peppermint adds that peppermint burst with each bite, giving the donuts a festive look perfect for November and December gatherings.

I like to use peppermint candy canes for this—they crush up quickly and give the best balance of color and flavor. Sprinkle them generously over the ganache while it’s still setting so the pieces stick. The contrast of the dark chocolate with the pops of white and red peppermint is a showstopper on any holiday table.

Tips for Making the Perfect Chocolate Peppermint Donuts

• Keep Your Ingredients Room Temperature: For best results, let your ingredients come to room temperature before mixing. This helps the batter blend smoothly and creates fluffier donuts.
• Pipe Batter with Ease: Use a piping bag (or even a ziplock with the corner snipped) to fill the donut pans evenly without any mess.
• Ganache Consistency: If your ganache is too thick, add a little more warm cream to thin it. If it’s too thin, just let it cool – it will naturally thicken.
• Peppermint Crunch: Crushed peppermint can melt if stored too long, so for the crunchiest texture, add them just before serving or store them carefully in an excellent, dry spot.

Enjoying Your Chocolate Peppermint Donuts!

These donuts are the perfect treat to enjoy with a cozy mug of hot chocolate or coffee. They’re great as a dessert for holiday gatherings, an afternoon snack, or a breakfast treat on a wintry morning. They store well in an airtight container for a few days, but they’re so delicious that they rarely last that long!

Homemade Chocolate Peppermint Donuts

Heather - Tiny Farm Big Family

A delicious chocolatey baked donut topped with peppermint candy to go with your seasonal hot coco. 

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Ingredients

  

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup buttermilk
• 1 large egg
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Chocolate Ganache:

• ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 2 teaspoon of corn syrup
• 2 TBS butter
• 2-3 teaspoon of water

For Topping:

• Crushed candy canes to taste

Instructions

 

• Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a donut pan.
• 2. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. In another bowl, whisk together sugar, buttermilk, egg, melted butter, and vanilla extract. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until just combined.
• 3. Spoon the batter into a piping bag and cut the tip. Pipe the batter into the prepared donut pan. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow donuts to cool in the pan for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
• 4. Make the Chocolate Ganache: In a small saucepan, heat the chocolate chips, butter, corn syrup, and 2 teaspoon of water, stirring constantly until smooth and well combined.
• 5. Dip the cooled donuts into the chocolate ganache, allowing any excess to drip off. Sprinkle crushed candy canes over the ganache while it's still wet.
• 6. Allow the ganache to set, and then your chocolate donuts with chocolate ganache and crushed candy cane are ready to be enjoyed!