• by Teresa Buyikian , Yesterday

Dunkin’s smallest offering is throwing serious main character energy in its 2025 holiday efforts.

"The Little Holiday Munchkin" is a new children’s book and animated holiday spot featuring Dunkin’s Munchkin Donut Hole Treats.

The charming :60 ad, seen here, is narrated by Emmy-nominated writer and director Mindy Kaling and turns “Dunkin’s most beloved small treat into a holiday hero.”

The Dr. Seuss-esque story tells the munchkin origin tale, where, after being cut from a full donut, they were “forgotten, alone. No powder, no glaze, no box of their own.” That is, until a small child discovers the equally tiny donut hole, claiming it as his own. “It didn’t need more sprinkles. It didn’t need more shine,” says Kaling. “It just needed someone to say, ‘you’re mine.’” The spot closes with the super “Sometimes the smallest part is the best part,” as the child eats a Munchkin.

“The holidays at Dunkin’ are all about creating moments of joy,” says Jill Nelson, chief marketing officer at Dunkin’, in a release. “The Little Holiday Munchkin is a reminder that joy can come from the smallest things – whether it’s a donut hole treat, a moment of kindness, or a story shared together.”

The children’s book is available now at Dunkin locations nationwide, with $2 from each sale benefiting the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation, the chain’s nonprofit arm that “helps bring joy to children battling hunger or illness.” In addition to the Munchkin origin story, the book also contains a recipe for Munchkins Bread Pudding.

The :60 spot is viewable on Dunkin’s YouTube channel as well as on its Instagram and TikTok platforms. The brand has also released a holiday Munchkin merch collection, available here, which includes coffee mugs, hats, baby onesies T-shirts, socks and plushies.