Everyone’s Christmas tree could use a little extra sweetness. These DIY donut ornaments are made with a donut pan and plaster of Paris, then painted and decorated in countless fun ways.
Make a baker’s dozen for your own tree, attach a donut ornament to each gift, or give them as small holiday presents.
These ornaments are a thoughtful, homemade gift for donut lovers, teachers, friends, or for a white elephant exchange. They’re simple to make and delightful to receive.
Supplies Needed
You’ll need just a few basic supplies to create these donut ornaments:
Donut pan
Plaster of Paris
Disposable tub or Tupperware for mixing and a stir stick
Twine
Small paper clips (one per ornament)
Hammer
Acrylic paint (one color for the donut base and one for the frosting)
Foam brushes
Puffy paint for sprinkles (optional)
Step-by-Step Donut Ornament Tutorial
Follow these straightforward steps to make plaster donut ornaments:
1. Before mixing the plaster, tie a small loop of twine to one side of each paper clip. Do this for every ornament you plan to make before you pour the plaster — plaster of Paris sets quickly.
2. Prepare the plaster of Paris following the package directions and stir until smooth.
3. Spoon or pour the mixed plaster into each cavity of the donut pan. Fill up to the top edge of the center hole and gently shake the pan to level the plaster.
4. After a few minutes, press a paper clip with the twine loop into the edge of each donut, horizontally. The paper clip will anchor the twine inside the plaster while the loop hangs over the pan edge. If the plaster starts to set before the clip is fully covered, spoon a little more plaster on top and smooth it.
5. Wait about an hour, then remove the donuts from the pan. Flip the pan over onto a soft towel and tap the ring of each donut with a hammer until it pops out. Allow the donuts to finish drying according to the plaster manufacturer’s instructions.
6. Once fully dry, paint the bottom and about 1/2″ up the inner and outer edges with the donut base color. Paint the top with the frosting color. Let the paint dry completely.
7. Add sprinkles or other details using puffy paint. Pipe tiny dots or lines for sprinkles and let dry until the puffy paint is set.
They turn out adorable. Use classic Christmas colors for a holiday look, or try rainbow, chocolate, or other creative combinations to match any theme.
Gifting Donut Ornaments
These handmade donut ornaments make lovely little gifts. Here are ideas for presenting them:
– Create a set of six with different “toppings” and package them in a donut box.
– Tie a single ornament to the top of a wrapped gift as a festive topper.
– Place a few ornaments in a clear gift bag or reusable muslin bag with a tag that reads “Something sweet for your tree!”
– Pair an ornament with a donut pan, a doughnut cookbook, or a baking mix for a baker or a child who loves to make treats.
– Add an ornament to a gift card for a local donut shop to make a fun teacher, secret Santa, or white elephant gift.
Try A DIY Ornament Exchange
Ornament exchanges are a wonderful tradition to share with crafty friends. Each person makes or buys an ornament to exchange each year, creating a meaningful collection from people you care about. Pick an annual theme—these donut ornaments are perfect for a “dessert” themed exchange.
More DIY Christmas Ornaments
If you want a whole tree full of handmade ornaments, try pairing these donuts with other easy projects for a cohesive, festive look.
- DIY Circus Animal Cookie Ornaments
- DIY Rudolph Ornaments
- DIY Popsicle Stick Gingerbread House Ornaments
- Christmas Window Popsicle Stick Ornament Craft
All photos by Studio DIY
Enjoy making these charming donut ornaments and sharing them with friends and family — they’re sure to bring smiles to anyone who hangs them on their tree.
DIY Donut Christmas Ornaments
Equipment
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Donut Pan
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Disposable Tub or Tupperware
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Stir Stick or Disposable Spoon
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Hammer
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Foam Brushes
Materials
- Plaster of Paris
- Twine
- Small Paper Clips 1 per donut
- Paint any color(s) of choice
- Puffy Paint optional, for sprinkles
Instructions
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Tie a loop of twine to one side of a paper clip before stirring up your plaster.
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Stir plaster of Paris according to package instructions.
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Spoon plaster into each donut pan cavity up to the top edge of the center hole and shake the pan to level it.
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A few minutes after pouring, press a twine-tied paper clip horizontally into the edge of each donut to anchor the loop. If the plaster starts to set before the clip is covered, add a little more plaster on top and smooth it.
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After about an hour, flip the pan onto a towel and tap each ring with a hammer until the donuts release. Allow to dry fully per package directions.
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When dry, paint the bottom and about 1/2″ up the inner and outer edges with your donut color.
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Paint the top with the frosting color and let dry.
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Optional: use puffy paint to add sprinkles or other details. Allow all paint to dry before hanging.