Name: Apple Donuts for Back to School: A Fun and Easy Recipe to Kickstart the School Year
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 45 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 12 plain donuts (store-bought or homemade, fully cooled); 2 cups powdered sugar; 2–3 tbsp whole milk; 1 tsp vanilla extract; 3 drops red food coloring (or more as needed); 12 pretzel sticks (for stems); 12 fresh mint leaves (for leaves); Cinnamon, nutmeg, or crushed graham crackers (for apple pie donuts); Caramel drizzle (for caramel apple donuts); Melted chocolate (for dipping)

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These Apple Donuts are a creative and delicious way to make back-to-school season more exciting. With a shiny red glaze, a pretzel stick stem, and a mint leaf garnish, they look just like apples while still being a sweet and fun treat. Whether you’re sending kids off to school, hosting a fall party, or looking for a classroom-friendly dessert, these donuts are sure to impress.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

A fun, festive treat that looks like real apples.
Easy to make with store-bought or homemade donuts.
Great for school parties, teacher gifts, or family baking projects.
Customizable with different glazes, colors, and flavors.
Kid-friendly and perfect for getting children involved in the kitchen.

Ingredients

(Tip: You’ll find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)

12 plain donuts (store-bought or homemade, fully cooled)
2 cups powdered sugar
2–3 tablespoon whole milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 drops red food coloring (or more for desired shade)
12 pretzel sticks (for stems)
12 fresh mint leaves (for leaves)

Optional Variations:

Cinnamon, nutmeg, or crushed graham crackers for apple pie donuts
Caramel drizzle for caramel apple donuts
Melted chocolate for dipping

Directions

Prepare the donuts
- If store-bought, place them on a wire rack set over a baking sheet.
- If homemade, make sure they’re completely cooled before glazing.
Make the glaze
- In a bowl, whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth.
- Adjust milk until you get a thick but pourable consistency.
- Stir in red food coloring until evenly mixed.
Glaze the donuts
- Dip the tops of the donuts into the glaze, swirling slightly for even coverage.
- Place back on the wire rack and let excess glaze drip off.
Let the glaze set
- Allow donuts to sit for 20–30 minutes at room temperature until the glaze firms up.
- For faster results, refrigerate for 5–10 minutes.
Add the apple stem and leaf
- Insert a pretzel stick into the top of each donut.
- Wrap a mint leaf around the pretzel stick to resemble an apple leaf.
Serve and enjoy
- Arrange donuts on a platter or package in boxes for gifting.

Servings and timing

Servings: 12 donuts
Prep time: 15 minutes
Set time: 20–30 minutes
Total time: 45 minutes

Variations

Apple Pie Donuts: Add cinnamon and nutmeg to the glaze, sprinkle with crushed graham crackers.
Caramel Apple Donuts: Drizzle caramel sauce over the glazed donuts.
Chocolate-Dipped Apple Donuts: Dip half of each glazed donut in melted chocolate for a two-tone effect.
Mini Apple Donuts: Use mini donuts for party-friendly bite-sized versions.
Apple Cider Donuts: Use apple cider in homemade donut batter for authentic apple flavor.

Storage/Reheating

Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
Refrigerate for up to 4 days (glaze may firm more).
Best enjoyed fresh — do not freeze once glazed, as the texture changes.

FAQs

Can I use homemade donuts instead of store-bought?

Yes, just make sure they are fully cooled before glazing.

Can I make the glaze ahead of time?

Yes, but it may thicken as it sits. Stir in a little extra milk if needed.

Do I have to use red food coloring?

No, you can use green, yellow, or a mix to create different apple varieties.

Can I make these donuts nut-free?

Yes, just skip any nut-based toppings and stick to the glaze, pretzel, and mint leaf.

Can kids help with this recipe?

Absolutely, kids can help with dipping donuts and adding the stems and leaves.

What type of donuts work best?

Plain cake donuts hold the glaze well, but yeast donuts also work.

Can I make these donuts vegan?

Yes, use vegan donuts, plant-based milk, and vegan pretzel sticks.

How do I stop the glaze from being too runny?

Add more powdered sugar until it reaches the right consistency.

Can I flavor the glaze differently?

Yes, try almond extract, maple extract, or a hint of cinnamon.

Are these good for school parties?

Yes, they’re kid-friendly, fun to look at, and easy to transport.

Conclusion

Apple Donuts are a fun, festive, and easy way to bring creativity to back-to-school season or fall celebrations. With a simple glaze, pretzel stems, and mint leaves, these donuts transform into edible apples that both kids and adults will love. Whether you keep them classic red or experiment with flavors and colors, they’ll be a sweet hit at any gathering.

Maggie