Acorn Donut Holes
When I saw these acorn donut holes doing the rounds on TikTok and Instagram, I just knew I had to create my own version! And let me tell you, they were SUCH a success, and my little girl absolutely loved them. They look like mini acorns, take all of 10 minutes to put together, and you only need four ingredients. No baking, no frying, no stress. Just a fun, cute little fall project that’s actually as easy as it looks.
They’re perfect for:
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Fall parties
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Thanksgiving dessert tables
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A festive after-school snack
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Kids to help make (no hot ovens or tricky steps – my little girl is 3 and she managed these just fine with a little help from me!)
(Whilst you’re here, be sure to also take a look at more of my sweet treats that are perfect for fall, including pumpkin Biscoff truffles, gingerbread thumbprint cookies with cranberry sauce, pumpkin spice microwave caramels, spiced apple cider baked donuts, and s’mores pretzel rods!)
Ingredients
There’s a printable recipe card waiting for you at the bottom of this post, and it covers ingredients, measurements, and step-by-step instructions!
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Glazed Donut Holes – Just grab a box from the bakery section—no need to make your own. You’ll need about 20, but a few extra never hurt (especially if little hands are helping).
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Chocolate Chips – Any kind works, but semi-sweet or milk chocolate melt the smoothest. If you’ve kept yours in the fridge or freezer, expect them to take a little longer to melt.
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Pretzel Sticks – You can use whole sticks or snap them in half for a more “acorn stem” look. Shorter sticks are easier for little ones to handle.
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Chocolate Jimmies – These are the classic, rod-shaped chocolate sprinkles. They give that perfect acorn “cap” texture. Make sure to use jimmies, not nonpareils or sanding sugar—they don’t stick the same way.
How To Make Acorn Donut Holes
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If your pretzel sticks are long, go ahead and snap them in half — you’ll only need 10 that way instead of 20.
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Add the chocolate chips to a small microwave-safe bowl and melt in 30-second intervals, stirring each time, until smooth and glossy. (If your chips were stored in the fridge or freezer, it might take a little longer to melt.)
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Pour your chocolate sprinkles into a separate small bowl and set it nearby.
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Dip the top of each donut hole into the melted chocolate — just enough to coat the tip — and gently scrape the excess off on the edge of the bowl. Then immediately dip it into the sprinkles so they stick to the chocolate.
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Gently press a pretzel stick into the chocolatey end of the donut hole to make the acorn stem. Try not to knock off your sprinkles in the process.
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Set each one on a parchment-lined tray and repeat until you’ve made them all.
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Pop them in the fridge or freezer for 5 minutes if you want the chocolate to set, or dig in right away while they’re still a little melty. Up to you — there’s no wrong way to eat an acorn donut hole.
Storage Notes
These are best enjoyed the day you make them. Once assembled, the donut holes will start to soften and the pretzels can get stale—so I don’t recommend storing them. Just make, serve, and watch them disappear!
Serving Ideas
These acorn donut holes are made for fall festivities. Set them out on a cute platter for Thanksgiving dessert, add them to a kids’ fall party spread, or bring them to your next school bake sale or Friendsgiving. They also make the sweetest little addition to a harvest-themed dessert board or brunch table. Serve them alongside mugs of hot cocoa or apple cider for the full cozy effect.
Acorn Donut Holes
Ingredients
- 20 glazed donut holes
- ¾ cup chocolate chips
- 10-20 pretzel sticks
- ¾ cup chocolate jimmies sprinkles
Instructions
- If your pretzel sticks are long, go ahead and snap them in half — you’ll only need 10 that way instead of 20.
- Add the chocolate chips to a small microwave-safe bowl and melt in 30-second intervals, stirring each time, until smooth and glossy. (If your chips were stored in the fridge or freezer, it might take a little longer to melt.)
- Pour your chocolate sprinkles into a separate small bowl and set it nearby.
- Dip the top of each donut hole into the melted chocolate — just enough to coat the tip — and gently scrape the excess off on the edge of the bowl. Then immediately dip it into the sprinkles so they stick to the chocolate.
- Gently press a pretzel stick into the chocolatey end of the donut hole to make the acorn stem. Try not to knock off your sprinkles in the process.
- Set each one on a parchment-lined tray and repeat until you’ve made them all.
- Pop them in the fridge or freezer for 5 minutes if you want the chocolate to set, or dig in right away while they’re still a little melty. Up to you — there’s no wrong way to eat an acorn donut hole.
And just like that, your acorn donut holes are ready to steal the show! Whether you’re making them for a classroom party, Thanksgiving dessert table, or just a cozy fall afternoon snack with the kids, they’re guaranteed to get smiles. If you gave them a try, I’d love to hear how they turned out—feel free to leave a comment or tag me on Instagram @slimmingviolet so I can see your cute creations!
