Graduation Donut Tower with Sprinkles (Printable)

Iced glazed mini donuts stacked into a tower and finished with rainbow sprinkles for a festive graduation centerpiece.

# What You'll Need:

→ Donuts

01 - 36 mini glazed donuts (store-bought or homemade)

→ Icing

02 - 2 cups powdered sugar
03 - 3 to 4 tablespoons whole milk
04 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Decorations

05 - 1/2 cup assorted colorful sprinkles
06 - Edible gold stars (optional)
07 - Graduation-themed toothpick toppers (optional)

→ Assembly

08 - 1 large foam cone, about 12 inches tall
09 - Wooden skewers or toothpicks

# Directions:

01 - If using homemade donuts, allow them to cool completely before decorating; if store-bought, use fresh donuts at room temperature.
02 - In a mixing bowl whisk powdered sugar with 3 tablespoons milk and vanilla until smooth and thick but pourable; add the remaining tablespoon of milk only if needed to reach a dip-able consistency.
03 - Dip the top of each mini donut into the icing, let excess drip back into the bowl, then immediately press the iced top into the sprinkles to coat; transfer to a rack and allow icing to set for about 15 minutes.
04 - Place the foam cone on a serving platter or cake stand so it sits securely and is easy to access from all sides.
05 - Starting at the cone base, impale each donut into the foam using a short wooden skewer or toothpick so the donuts sit flush and form an even first ring around the cone.
06 - Continue stacking donuts in slightly overlapping rings, working upward and angling each donut as needed to follow the cone shape; secure each donut with a skewer/toothpick to hold placement.
07 - Fill gaps with extra mini donuts or trimmed pieces for a uniform profile; scatter additional sprinkles and place edible gold stars or toppers as desired to finish the presentation.
08 - Present immediately or cover loosely and hold at room temperature for up to 2 hours; avoid refrigeration which can soften the coating and sprinkles.

# Helpful Hints:

01 -
  • This tower turns a table of grown-ups into giddy kids—trust me, nobody can resist pulling off a donut with a grin.
  • You only need simple ingredients, and it somehow always draws the biggest crowd and the loudest cheers.
02 -
  • The first time I made this, I didn't anchor the donuts well, and the leaning tower of donuts toppled mid-party—use plenty of skewers, especially at the base.
  • I found that adding the sprinkles right after icing is crucial—wait too long, and nothing sticks.
03 -
  • Lightly wrap the styrofoam cone with plastic or parchment before building to keep things food-safe and tidy.
  • Serrated knives work best for trimming donuts to fit awkward gaps, but take it slow to avoid squishing.
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