No Bake Acorn Donut Holes Fall Dessert
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These fun and festive donut holes were created a few years ago when I wanted to create a fun fall snack. We already had the donut holes, so these were easy (and fun) to make.
They’re also a great treat to make ahead of time, which I love. Set them out on a platter for Thanksgiving, a fall birthday party, or just because it’s a cool fall day and your house deserves to feel festive.
These cute acorn treats don’t get any easier to make. You just need four ingredients.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Cute and Delicious – These little acorn-shaped treats are packed with chocolate flavor and look amazing on any fall dessert table.
Simple and Easy Recipe – This recipe uses just four ingredients and comes together with no baking required. Most of the time is hands-off while the chocolate sets.
Festive – These acorn donut holes are the perfect treat for fall parties, Thanksgiving gatherings, Halloween celebrations, and school events. They bring so much charm to any occasion.
Ingredients
Chocolate Almond Bark – This is the key ingredient that gives you that smooth, shiny chocolate coating without any fuss. It melts easily and sets up firm, which is exactly what you want here. You can find it in the baking aisle.
Pretzel Sticks – These become the little stems of your acorns. Breaking them in half gives you the right size. They add a nice salty crunch that balances the sweetness of the donut hole and chocolate coating.
Chocolate Sprinkles – These give the top of the acorn that textured, realistic look. Regular round chocolate sprinkles work great, but chocolate jimmies work well too.
If you love fun chocolate-dipped treats, my Chocolate Covered Pretzel Rods use the same easy dipping method and are just as festive for the holidays.
Substitutions & Alterations
- You can use white almond bark or vanilla almond bark instead of chocolate for a different look. Add orange food coloring for a fun fall twist.
- Swap chocolate sprinkles for mini chocolate chips pressed gently into the wet chocolate for a different texture on top.
- If you can’t find pretzel sticks, small pretzel rods cut down to size work just as well for the stems.
How to Make Acorn Donut Holes
This is an overview of the step-by-step instructions. For the full recipe details and amounts, see the recipe card below.
Step 1 – Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. Melt the chocolate almond bark in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second increments, stirring well between each interval, until smooth.
Step 2 – Insert a toothpick into the bottom of a donut hole. Dip the top third of the donut hole into the melted chocolate, letting any excess drip off.
Step 3 – Immediately sprinkle the chocolate-dipped top with chocolate sprinkles before the coating sets.
Step 4 – Carefully remove the toothpick and place the donut hole onto the parchment-lined baking sheet. Break a pretzel stick in half and press one half gently into the top of the dipped donut hole to create the acorn stem.
Step 5 – Repeat with all remaining donut holes. Allow them to set at room temperature for about one hour before serving.
Time Saving Tips ⏰
- Work in small batches when dipping so the chocolate stays fluid and warm. If it starts to thicken, pop it back in the microwave for 15-20 seconds and stir well.
- Have your sprinkles and pretzel sticks ready to go before you start dipping. Once the chocolate is on, you’ll want to add the sprinkles quickly before it sets.
- For a cleaner look, use a toothpick to gently nudge any drips back up before placing the donut hole on the parchment.
- These set up best at room temperature. If your kitchen is very warm, you can place the tray in the refrigerator for about 20 minutes to speed things up.
- Store finished acorn donut holes in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days, or in the refrigerator for up to four days.
How to Serve Acorn Donut Holes
These adorable little acorns are so fun to serve for any fall occasion. Here are a few of my favorite ways to enjoy them.
Arrange them on a wooden board or a fall-themed platter as part of a Halloween or Thanksgiving dessert spread. They look stunning grouped together and always get compliments.
Serve them alongside other chocolate treats like my Milk Chocolate Bark Candy for a fun dessert table that your whole family is sure to love.
Recipe FAQs
What if my chocolate keeps dripping? Let the excess drip off for a few extra seconds before placing the donut hole down. You can also use a toothpick to clean up any pooling chocolate on the parchment paper.
Can I use real melted chocolate instead of almond bark? You can, but almond bark is much easier to work with because it sets faster and firmer without tempering. If you use chocolate chips, add a small amount of coconut oil to help it melt smoothly and set up properly.
My pretzel stems keep falling over. What can I do? Make sure to insert the pretzel stem while the chocolate is still wet so it holds in place as it sets. Pressing gently but firmly straight down helps it stay upright.
Can kids help make these? Absolutely. Adding the sprinkles and pressing in the pretzel stems are great jobs for little helpers. Just handle the melted chocolate yourself since it can get hot.
More Fall Treats You’ll Love
Acorn Donut Holes
Equipment
- Microwave Safe bowl
- toothpicks
Ingredients
- 14 ounce package of donut holes about 28
- 14 pretzel sticks
- 24 oz. chocolate almond bark
- 1/4 cup chocolate sprinkles
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with parchment.
- Add the almond bark to a microwave safe bowl and heat for 30 second increments, stirring well in between, until melted.
- Insert a toothpick into the bottom of a donut hole, and dip the top 1/3 into the chocolate. Let the excess drip away.
- Sprinkle with chocolate sprinkles.
- Remove from the toothpick and place onto the parchment lined sheet.
- Break a pretzel stick in half, and insert the half into the top of the dipped donut hole.
- Repeat for all of the donut holes, then allow them to set for about an hour.
Notes
Nutrition
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