25 Indulgent Brunch Doughnut Recipes for New Year That Feel Decadent

Posted on November 28, 2025

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Introduction

Brunch feels extra fun during New Year celebrations, and doughnuts always bring a playful, sweet touch to the table. These recipes mix fresh flavors, creative fillings, and simple techniques you can enjoy at home. Whether you’re frying, baking, glazing, or filling, each doughnut offers a cozy treat for gatherings, parties, or slow mornings. Pick a few favorites and build your own brunch spread.

1. Classic Vanilla Glazed Doughnuts

Soft, warm, and topped with a simple creamy glaze.

Ingredients

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 ¼ tsp instant yeast
  • ½ cup warm milk
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • ¼ cup melted butter
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • Oil for frying
  • Glaze: 1 cup powdered sugar + 2 tbsp milk + 1 tsp vanilla

Instructions

  1. Mix milk, sugar, and yeast. Rest 5 minutes.
  2. Add eggs, butter, vanilla, and flour. Knead 8 minutes.
  3. Let rise 1 hour.
  4. Roll to ½-inch thickness and cut rings.
  5. Rest 20 minutes.
  6. Fry at 350°F (175°C) until golden on both sides.
  7. Dip warm doughnuts into glaze.

How to Serve It

Let glaze drip for a shiny finish. Add sprinkles for a festive touch.

2. Cinnamon Sugar Brioche Doughnuts

Light brioche dough and warm cinnamon sugar make this a cozy brunch pick.

Ingredients

  • 3 ½ cups flour
  • ½ cup warm milk
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 2 ¼ tsp yeast
  • 3 eggs
  • ½ cup softened butter
  • Oil for frying
  • ½ cup sugar + 1 tbsp cinnamon

Instructions

  1. Mix milk, yeast, and sugar.
  2. Add eggs and flour. Knead 5 minutes.
  3. Add butter and knead 8 more minutes.
  4. Rise 1 hour.
  5. Cut rounds and rest 30 minutes.
  6. Fry at 350°F until puffed.
  7. Toss warm doughnuts in cinnamon sugar.

How to Serve It

Serve warm with a cup of coffee.

3. Maple Pecan Glazed Doughnuts

A sweet maple glaze paired with crunchy pecans.

Ingredients

  • Base dough: same as Recipe #1
  • Glaze: ½ cup maple syrup + 1 cup powdered sugar
  • ½ cup chopped pecans

Instructions

  1. Prepare and fry doughnuts as in Recipe #1.
  2. Mix maple syrup with powdered sugar.
  3. Dip warm doughnuts into glaze.
  4. Press pecans on top.

How to Serve It

Great for winter brunch boards.

4. Strawberry Cream-Filled Doughnuts

Sweet, fruity, and perfect for breakfast trays.

Ingredients

  • Base dough: Recipe #1
  • Filling:
    • 1 cup whipped cream
    • ½ cup strawberry purée
    • 1 tbsp sugar

Instructions

  1. Fry doughnuts as whole rounds (no holes).
  2. Whip filling ingredients until thick.
  3. Poke a hole and pipe filling inside.
  4. Dust with powdered sugar.

How to Serve It

Chill 10 minutes before serving for a firmer filling.

5. Chocolate Ganache Doughnuts

Rich chocolate flavor with a soft dough base.

Ingredients

  • Base dough: Recipe #1
  • Ganache:
    • 1 cup chocolate chips
    • ½ cup warm cream

Instructions

  1. Prepare doughnuts and fry.
  2. Melt chocolate with warm cream.
  3. Dip tops of doughnuts into ganache.
  4. Let set slightly before serving.

How to Serve It

Add chocolate curls for a fancy finish.

6. Lemon Zest Doughnuts

A bright, citrusy option for morning crowds.

Ingredients

  • Base dough
  • Glaze:
    • 1 cup powdered sugar
    • 2 tbsp lemon juice
    • 1 tsp lemon zest

Instructions

  1. Fry doughnuts.
  2. Mix glaze ingredients.
  3. Dip the tops and garnish with zest.

How to Serve It

Pairs well with berry bowls.

7. Blueberry Crumble Doughnuts

A bakery-style treat with fruity glaze.

Ingredients

  • Base dough
  • Blueberry glaze:
    • ½ cup blueberry purée
    • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • Crumble topping:
    • 2 tbsp butter
    • 2 tbsp flour
    • 2 tbsp sugar

Instructions

  1. Fry doughnuts.
  2. Mix glaze ingredients.
  3. Bake crumble at 350°F for 10 minutes.
  4. Dip doughnuts and add crumble on top.

How to Serve It

Drizzle extra blueberry purée if desired.

8. Caramel Apple Doughnuts

A warm fall-to-winter flavor perfect for New Year mornings.

Ingredients

  • Base dough
  • Caramel glaze: ½ cup caramel sauce + ½ cup powdered sugar
  • ½ cup diced apple sautéed in 1 tbsp butter + 1 tbsp sugar

Instructions

  1. Fry doughnuts.
  2. Mix glaze.
  3. Spoon warm apple bits on top.

How to Serve It

Dust lightly with cinnamon.

9. Peanut Butter Chocolate Swirl Doughnuts

Sweet, nutty, and visually fun.

Ingredients

  • Base dough
  • ½ cup melted peanut butter
  • ½ cup melted chocolate

Instructions

  1. Fry doughnuts.
  2. Drizzle both toppings in alternating lines.
  3. Let set 10 minutes.

How to Serve It

Add crushed peanuts for crunch.

10. Cookies & Cream Doughnuts

A crowd-pleasing classic.

Ingredients

  • Base dough
  • Glaze:
    • 1 cup powdered sugar
    • 2 tbsp milk
    • 4 crushed chocolate sandwich cookies

Instructions

  1. Mix glaze and fold in cookies.
  2. Dip fried doughnuts.
  3. Add extra cookie crumbs on top.

How to Serve It

Perfect with cold milk.

11. Espresso Glazed Doughnuts

A brunch pick for coffee lovers.

Ingredients

  • Base dough
  • Glaze:
    • 1 cup powdered sugar
    • 2 tbsp brewed espresso

Instructions

  1. Fry doughnuts.
  2. Stir glaze and dip tops.

How to Serve It

Sprinkle cocoa powder lightly on top.

12. Raspberry Jam-Filled Doughnuts

Sweet, tart, and always a favorite.

Ingredients

  • Base dough (rounds)
  • ¾ cup raspberry jam

Instructions

  1. Fry whole rounds.
  2. Pipe jam inside.
  3. Roll in sugar.

How to Serve It

Serve warm for soft filling flow.

13. Honey Butter Doughnuts

Soft and lightly sweet with buttery richness.

Ingredients

  • Base dough
  • ¼ cup melted butter
  • 3 tbsp honey

Instructions

  1. Fry doughnuts.
  2. Mix honey and butter.
  3. Brush over warm doughnuts.

How to Serve It

Add flaky salt for contrast.

14. Banana Cream Doughnuts

Smooth tropical filling meets fried dough.

Ingredients

  • Base dough
  • Filling:
    • 1 ripe banana mashed
    • ½ cup whipped cream
    • 1 tbsp sugar

Instructions

  1. Whip filling.
  2. Fry doughnuts and pipe inside.
  3. Dust with powdered sugar.

How to Serve It

Top with a slice of banana.

15. Pistachio Rose Doughnuts

A floral, nutty combination perfect for brunch boards.

Ingredients

  • Base dough
  • Glaze:
    • 1 cup powdered sugar
    • 1 tbsp rose water
    • 1 tbsp milk
  • ¼ cup crushed pistachios

Instructions

  1. Mix glaze.
  2. Dip doughnuts.
  3. Add pistachios.

How to Serve It

Add dried rose petals for color.

16. S’mores Doughnuts

A fun, campfire-inspired brunch treat.

Ingredients

  • Base dough
  • ½ cup melted chocolate
  • ½ cup mini marshmallows
  • ¼ cup crushed graham crackers

Instructions

  1. Dip doughnuts in melted chocolate.
  2. Press on marshmallows and torch lightly.
  3. Add graham crumbs.

How to Serve It

Best served immediately while warm.

17. Caramel Latte Doughnuts

A sweet coffeehouse-style doughnut.

Ingredients

  • Base dough
  • Glaze: 1 cup powdered sugar + 2 tbsp strong coffee
  • 2 tbsp caramel sauce

Instructions

  1. Glaze doughnuts.
  2. Drizzle caramel on top.

How to Serve It

Add a pinch of espresso powder.

18. Mango Coconut Doughnuts

Vibrant and tropical for sunny-themed brunch spreads.

Ingredients

  • Base dough
  • Glaze: ½ cup mango purée + 1 cup powdered sugar
  • ½ cup toasted coconut

Instructions

  1. Fry doughnuts.
  2. Dip in mango glaze.
  3. Add coconut flakes.

How to Serve It

Serve chilled for a refreshing twist.

19. Chocolate Hazelnut-Filled Doughnuts

A rich filling inside a soft shell.

Ingredients

  • Base dough
  • 1 cup chocolate hazelnut spread

Instructions

  1. Fry doughnuts.
  2. Pipe filling through a side hole.
  3. Dust with sugar.

How to Serve It

Top with chopped hazelnuts.

20. Brown Butter Glazed Doughnuts

A nutty, warm flavor perfect for brunch.

Ingredients

  • Base dough
  • Glaze:
    • ¼ cup browned butter
    • 1 cup powdered sugar
    • 1 tbsp milk

Instructions

  1. Brown the butter.
  2. Mix glaze ingredients.
  3. Dip doughnuts.

How to Serve It

Sprinkle a tiny pinch of nutmeg.

21. Orange Creamsicle Doughnuts

Bright citrus paired with creamy vanilla.

Ingredients

  • Base dough
  • Glaze:
    • 1 cup powdered sugar
    • 2 tbsp orange juice
    • ½ tsp vanilla

Instructions

  1. Mix glaze.
  2. Dip doughnuts.
  3. Add vanilla drizzle.

How to Serve It

Add orange zest curls.

22. Chai Spice Doughnuts

A cozy spice-filled brunch choice.

Ingredients

  • Base dough
  • Glaze:
    • 1 cup powdered sugar
    • 1 tbsp strong chai
    • ½ tsp chai spice mix

Instructions

  1. Mix glaze.
  2. Coat doughnuts.

How to Serve It

Dust with extra spice mix.

23. Blackberry Jam-Filled Doughnuts

Tart berry flavor meets warm fried dough.

Ingredients

  • Base dough
  • ¾ cup blackberry jam

Instructions

  1. Fry doughnuts.
  2. Pipe jam inside.
  3. Roll in sugar.

How to Serve It

Add a small dollop of jam on top.

24. Chocolate Peanut Crunch Doughnuts

Crunchy texture with rich chocolate coating.

Ingredients

  • Base dough
  • 1 cup melted chocolate
  • ½ cup crushed peanuts
  • ¼ cup crisp rice cereal

Instructions

  1. Dip doughnuts in chocolate.
  2. Add peanut and rice topping.
  3. Let set.

How to Serve It

Serve with iced coffee or milkshakes.

25. Salted Caramel Cream Doughnuts

A creamy caramel center with a sweet-salty topping.

Ingredients

  • Base dough
  • Filling:
    • ½ cup caramel sauce
    • ½ cup whipped cream
  • Flaky salt for topping

Instructions

  1. Whip caramel and cream together.
  2. Fill doughnuts.
  3. Drizzle caramel on top.
  4. Add a pinch of salt.

How to Serve It

Best served slightly chilled so the filling firms up.

Conclusion

These doughnut recipes bring sweet energy to any New Year brunch table. Try a few, mix flavors, and create a spread that suits your guests and your mood. They’re fun to make, simple to customize, and perfect for sharing with the people you enjoy spending your morning with.

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