20 Different Types of Doughnuts You Need to Know (2024)

Doughnuts (also spelled donuts) were brought to America by the Pilgrims and Dutch settlers. With time, they have become a distinctly American treat. In fact, doughnuts were distributed to American soldiers on the front lines of World War I by female Salvation Army workers known as "Doughnut Girls." But their history goes all the way back to ancient Rome and Greece. They also have a rich history in Jewish cuisine as well.

Regardless of their origin, these versatile deep-fried dough balls have come to take on many different forms. Of course— this isn't an exhaustive list. There are literally endless types of doughnuts in the world. But we narrowed it down to some of the most popular types. Read on to learn the 20 different types of doughnuts you need to know about.

01of 20

Yeast Doughnuts

20 Different Types of Doughnuts You Need to Know (1)

Also referred to as "raised doughnuts," this doughnut type uses yeast as a leavener, giving it a light and airy interior. Some other types of doughnuts, such as jelly or cream-filled, often have a yeast doughnut base. These are full of air pockets and less likely to leave crumbs.

Popular Yeast Doughnut Recipes:

02of 20

Cake Doughnuts

20 Different Types of Doughnuts You Need to Know (2)

Unlike yeast doughnuts, these have a dense base that will hold all your favorite toppings, from sprinkles to bacon (if you're into that). The consistency of these doughnuts resembles cake, but drier, and crumbs are a given. They are leavened using baking powder, and then dunked into oil to cook.

Popular Cake Doughnut Recipes:

03of 20

Potato Doughnuts

20 Different Types of Doughnuts You Need to Know (3)

These doughnuts have a similar texture to cake doughnuts, but they're made with mashed potatoes or potato starch instead of flour. This makes them slightly lighter on the inside. Sometimes referred to as a Spudnut, these doughnuts were introduced in the mid-1900s, with a chain of Spudnut shops spreading across the United States. Today, the chain no longer exists but a few dozen shops have kept the name.

Try this Potato Doughnut Recipe:

04of 20

Doughnut Holes

20 Different Types of Doughnuts You Need to Know (4)

This doughnut variety is meant to be the hole that's missing from the center of the doughnut, and is made from leftover dough. They may be filled with cream, sprinkled with powdered sugar, or glazed. These bite-sized treats are perfect for hosting brunch or for being the favorite coworker at early morning meetings.

Popular Doughnut Hole Recipes:

Beignet

20 Different Types of Doughnuts You Need to Know (5)

Similar to a fritter, but French. This deep-fried yeasted doughnut is of French origin. It's made of choux pastry, which is a dough that puffs up as it fries. They're particularly popular in the U.S. in New Orleans, where they're usually served with a sprinkle of powdered sugar. Sometimes they're stuffed with a fruit filling or chocolate. However they're served, nothing beats these pillowy French delicacies.

Popular Beignet Recipes:

06of 20

Jelly Doughnut

20 Different Types of Doughnuts You Need to Know (6)

These classic doughnuts are typically round without a hole in the middle, and generally leavened with yeast. The center is stuffed with jelly, jam, or preserves (and sometimes chocolate!), giving you a burst of flavor with each bite. There are several variations of the jelly doughnut, including Berliners, bomboloni, paczki, and sufganiyot.

Popular Jelly Doughnut Recipes:

07of 20

Boston Cream Doughnut

20 Different Types of Doughnuts You Need to Know (7)

Boston cream doughnuts are hollowed out yeast doughnuts filled with custard and topped with chocolate frosting. It's the doughnut version of the Boston cream pie. Thank you, Massachusetts.

08of 20

Churros

20 Different Types of Doughnuts You Need to Know (8)

Do churros count as doughnuts? I dare say yes. Churros are long sticks of choux dough fried to perfection and sprinkled with sugar. They're often served with chocolate for dipping. Depending on where you are, you may be able to find them stuffed with dulce de leche or fruit filling. They're popular in Spain and much of the Spanish-speaking world.

Popular Churro Recipes:

09of 20

Cider Doughnuts

20 Different Types of Doughnuts You Need to Know (9)

These fabulous fall doughnuts are round with a hole in the middle, but are typically smaller in size and more dense. Cider doughnuts fall within the cake doughnut category. They're infused with apple-cider and sprinkled generously with cinnamon or sugar (and perfect for dunking in coffee!). Synonymous with apple orchards, fall festivals, and hayrides—cider doughnuts are like a warm hug on a cool fall day.

Try this Cider Doughnut Recipe:

10of 20

Cruller

20 Different Types of Doughnuts You Need to Know (10)

This doughnut has a unique, twisted shape that may be rectangular or circular. In New England, these beloved doughnuts tend to be of the rectangular variety. But the French Cruller is generally ring-shaped. The base is a cross between yeast and cake doughnuts, and typically comes with a honey or vanilla glaze.

Try this Cruller Recipe:

11of 20

Fritters

20 Different Types of Doughnuts You Need to Know (11)

Fritters go by many names, all depending on what they're made of. In the United States, they're made by frying a dough ball that is usually covered in fruit and glaze. But they can also be filled with savory ingredients such as crab or cheese. They tend to be shaped somewhat irregularly. Perhaps the most famous kind are apple fritters, which contain chunks of apple and are normally glazed or topped with sugar.

Popular Fritter Recipes:

12of 20

Glazed Doughnuts

20 Different Types of Doughnuts You Need to Know (12)

Made famous by Krispy Kreme, this doughnut has the classic circular shape with a hole in the middle. It has a sticky-sweet glaze, and its base is normally yeasted. Although the sugar glaze is the most popular, chocolate glaze is a fairly common alternative. It's always the first to go at staff meetings.

Popular Glazed Doughnut Recipes:

13of 20

Long John

20 Different Types of Doughnuts You Need to Know (13)

This unusual rectangular doughnut is risen with yeast, sometimes filled with custard or jelly, and frosted. It's similar to an eclair (and is referred to as one in some parts of the U.S.), but it's fried rather than baked. Because America. When it's topped with a maple flavored glaze, it's known simply as a maple bar.

Try this Long John Recipe:

14of 20

Old-Fashioned Doughnuts

20 Different Types of Doughnuts You Need to Know (14)

An old-fashioned doughnut, as the name suggests, dates all the way back to the 1830s. It has a similar glaze to the classic glazed doughnut, but with a more cakey base. It's a little rough around the edges, with a crunchy exterior but a soft inside. It has a larger hole in the center than most doughnuts, and it's peppered with cracks and ridges that soak up all the sweet glaze. You can also get them with chocolate glaze.

15of 20

Twists

20 Different Types of Doughnuts You Need to Know (15)

These oddly shaped yeast doughnuts are long and twisted. Cinnamon Twists are a popular rendition of this doughnut, with a delectable cinnamon-sugar glaze. They may also have a classic glaze, chocolate glaze, maple glaze, or sugar coating.

16of 20

Zeppole

20 Different Types of Doughnuts You Need to Know (16)

These fried doughnuts are of Italian origin. Their texture can either be fluffy or dense, depending on what type of dough they're made with. They're often topped with a sprinkle of powdered sugar. You may even find them stuffed with custard or chocolate!

17of 20

Cream-Filled Doughnut

20 Different Types of Doughnuts You Need to Know (17)

Cream-filled doughnuts are made with a yeast base, making for a light and stretchy inside. They're pretty much the same as jelly doughnuts, but with a different filling. Once the dough has been fried, the custard filling is piped into them. Sprinkle with powdered sugar for an irresistible treat.

Try this Cream-Filled Doughnut Recipe:

18of 20

Malasadas

20 Different Types of Doughnuts You Need to Know (18)

These Portuguese-style doughnuts are popular in areas settled by the Portuguese, specifically in Hawaii. They're leavened with yeast, giving them a light and fluffy texture. Once they have been fried, Malasadas are then rolled in sugar. They are often served plain, but they can be found filled with custard or fruit filling.

Popular Malasadas Recipes:

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Frosted Doughnuts

20 Different Types of Doughnuts You Need to Know (19)

Potentially the most picturesque of all doughnut types, frosted doughnuts get their name for what's on top: frosting. They can be either cake or yeast doughnuts, but cake doughnuts provide a sturdier base for thick frosting. Get creative with frosted doughnuts—sprinkles are a must!

20of 20

Blueberry Doughnut

20 Different Types of Doughnuts You Need to Know (20)

Blueberry doughnuts have an unassuming exterior, but they're one of the most beloved types. They are similar to old-fashioned doughnuts, with a hard exterior and a soft exterior. Blueberry doughnuts are glazed with a light, sugar glaze and packed with blueberry galore!

20 Different Types of Doughnuts You Need to Know (2024)

FAQs

How many different types of doughnuts are there? ›

It's no secret that donuts are delicious. Whether you like cake-style, old fashioned, jelly-filled, or crullers, there is a donut out there for everyone!

How many ways are there to choose a dozen donuts from 20 varieties? ›

Hence now the solution is ( 20 + 6 − 1 ) C 19 ( ie., no ways of solving x 1 + x 2 + ⋯ + x 20 = 6 ) = 177 , 100 .

How many ways can you select 12 donuts when 5 varieties are available? ›

In how many ways can one dozen donuts be selected if the store offers 5 varieties of donuts, and no order can contain more than 8 chocolate donuts? There are a total of 12+5-1 C12 = 16C12 = 1 820 possible orders without restrictions.

What are 12 donuts called? ›

At many bakeries, though, the fun doesn't end with 12 donuts. Instead, a lot of bakeries will give you an extra donut to create what's known as a "baker's dozen." That's 13 amazing donuts for the price of 12. What a deal! A baker's dozen isn't limited to just donuts, though.

What is the oldest donut? ›

Hanson Gregory, an American, claimed to have invented the ring-shaped doughnut in 1847 aboard a lime-trading ship when he was 16 years old. Gregory was dissatisfied with the greasiness of doughnuts twisted into various shapes and with the raw center of regular doughnuts.

What are 13 donuts called? ›

But a baker's dozen is commonly understood to mean 13. Are bakers just bad at counting?

What is the term for 13 donuts? ›

Then add one and you'll have a baker's dozen—simple math, right? If you're ordering from a bakery and request a baker's dozen of a certain item, you'll get 13 scones, dinner rolls, doughnuts, whatever. So even though you're requesting a baker's dozen of something, you'll actually receive an extra baked good.

What is the most popular type of donuts? ›

Glazed doughnuts have been ranked the most popular of donut types, with 36% of Americans selecting them as their top choice.

What is the best donut? ›

The 12 Best Types of Donuts, Ranked
  • Powdered. Befferoni and Cheese. ...
  • Strawberry Frosted. Probably the most “childish” donut thanks to its unnatural pink color (frequently accompanied by sprinkles), you can look like a big goober eating one. ...
  • Jelly. ...
  • Blueberry Glazed. ...
  • Chocolate Frosted. ...
  • Old Fashioned. ...
  • Maple Frosted. ...
  • French Cruller.
7 Jun 2019

What are the 2 types of donuts? ›

Yeast doughnuts, as the name clearly spells out, are made from dough leavened with yeast (think brioche), whereas cake doughnuts are traditionally made from a kind of cake batter that uses a chemical leavener (i.e. baking powder or baking soda).

What are little donuts called? ›

People in the United States might call them “Munchkins” because that is what Dunkin Donuts decided to call them. In India, there are desserts made from milk solids that look similar, which is why some Twitter users thought they were badly made Galub Jamun.

How do you cut a donut into 12 pieces? ›

You stack these one atop the other and cut a straight line through the C shape to split each C shape into THREE pieces. This gives you 6 donut pieces (though they may not all have the same weight). You then line these up on the table and cut horizontally through them all, and you get 12 pieces.

How many ways can you choose 3 donuts? ›

Therefore, there are 6+30+20=56 ways of choosing a set of three donuts.

How many ways are there to choose a dozen donuts from 21 varieties? ›

1) How many ways are there to choose a dozen donuts from the 21 varieties at a donut shop? Straightforward application of Theorem 2. r = 12, n = 21, so we have C(12+21-1, 12) = C(32, 12) = 225,792,840 ways.

What is a 100 layer donut? ›

THE 100 LAYER DONUT

It is a delicious hybrid of a croissant and a donut, and takes up to three days to craft this decadent creation. Once cooked, the 100 Layer Donut is rolled in sugar, filled with cream, and topped with a heavenly glaze. This is one experience you will want to have more than once.

What is the rarest donut? ›

The world's most expensive donut is crowned by a gold-plated fleur de chocolat in the shape of a cattleya orchid - and the corresponding engagement ring. "There are no upper limits, the customer can of course also express wishes about the ring, such as whether the diamond should have more carats.

What is a long donut called? ›

The Long John is a bar-shaped, yeast risen pastry like a doughnut either coated entirely with glaze or top-coated with cake icing. They may be filled with custard or creme. The term Long John is used in the Midwestern U.S. and Canada, and has been used in Texas. Long John (pastry) Long John with maple frosting.

Is there a donut Emoji? ›

The Doughnut emoji 🍩, also popularly called Donut emoji 🍩, was approved under Unicode 6.0 in 2010. On most major platforms, the emoji resembles a brown doughnut with chocolate icing and multicolored sprinkles. On WhatsApp, the doughnut instead has strawberry icing.

Why is it called donut? ›

They were originally called "oily cakes."

The early Americans took the fact that the treats were fried in oil quite literally, naming them olykoeks, translating to "oily cakes." The word 'donut' came soon after when a woman is said to have put nuts in the dough before frying it.

What was the first flavor of donut? ›

Fast-forward to the mid-19th century and Elizabeth Gregory, a New England ship captain's mother who made a wicked deep-fried dough that cleverly used her son's spice cargo of nutmeg and cinnamon, along with lemon rind.

What is a 3d donut called? ›

In geometry, a torus (plural tori, colloquially donut or doughnut) is a surface of revolution generated by revolving a circle in three-dimensional space about an axis that is coplanar with the circle.

What is the pink donut called? ›

doughnut. Pink-frosted with rainbow sprinkles and called the D'ohnut, because of course it is, the limited-time offering features the chain's traditional glazed doughnut as its base.

What is a female baker called? ›

The term “baker” dates back to around the year 1000. Another term that meant the same thing from that time was “bakester”. This latter word referred to female bakers; this is similar to how a “webster” was a female weaver, with the “-ster” ending implying a woman.

Is a dozen 10 or 12? ›

A dozen (commonly abbreviated doz or dz) is a grouping of twelve.

Why is there 2 ways to spell donuts? ›

The Official Dictionary Spelling of the word in question—if you're into that sort of thing—is “doughnut.” The expedited, simplified, Americanized spelling of “donut,” as Grammarist tells us, has been around since at least the late 19th century. It didn't catch on, though, until late in the 20th century.

What is a twisted donut called? ›

Twisted doughnuts are yeast donuts or sticks of pastry made from wheat flour or glutinous rice flour, deep-fried in oil. In China, they are known as mahua (麻花); in Korea, they are known as kkwabaegi (꽈배기) in the Philippines, they are known as shakoy and pilipit, in Japan, they are known as sakubei.

What is the #1 donut in America? ›

Their Cinnamon Caramel Donut was voted far and away the most popular donut in America.

What were the original donuts? ›

In the Dough

In the United States, the donut's roots date to the 1700s with the Dutch settlers' olykoek (oil cake), the “grandpa of the donut”.

What are the different donut flavors? ›

The Types Of Doughnuts You Should Know If You Call Yourself A Doughnut-Lover
  • Chocolate Frosted Doughnut. ...
  • Cinnamon Twist Doughnut. ...
  • Cruller. ...
  • Strawberry Frosted Doughnut. ...
  • Old-fashioned Doughnut. ...
  • Jelly Doughnut. ...
  • Blueberry Doughnut. ...
  • Glazed Doughnut.

What is the healthiest donut? ›

It may be surprising to see that the lowest calorie donut is a sugar donut. A sugar donut is a yeast-risen donut, making it light and airy and overall lower in calories than a traditional cake donut.

What is the biggest donut in the world? ›

The largest doughnut ever made was an American-style jelly doughnut. It weighed 1.7 tons, was 16ft wide and 16inches high.

How big is a donut? ›

THE PERFECT RING DOUGHNUT

Its diameter should be between 2.8-inches and 3.2-inches (72mm and 82mm).

What was an old-fashioned donut? ›

Old-fashioned doughnut
Old-fashioned doughnuts – cinnamon sugar (left), chocolate glazed (centre top) and maple glazed (right)
TypeCake doughnut
Main ingredientsFlour, sugar, eggs, butter, sour cream or buttermilk and chemical leavener
Media: Old-fashioned doughnuts

What is a 2D donut called? ›

1. Annulus. An annulus is the mathematical name for a 2D ring shape. Annulus is the Latin word for 'little ring'.

What is a donut without hole called? ›

Jelly Doughnut

These classic doughnuts are typically round without a hole in the middle, and generally leavened with yeast.

What is the curly donut called? ›

A cruller (/ˈkrʌlər/) is a deep-fried pastry like a doughnut popular in Europe and North America often made from a rectangle of dough with a cut made in the middle that allows it to be pulled over and through itself, producing twists in the sides of the pastry.

Why donut has a hole? ›

To fully cook the insides of the dough, the dough would have to stay in the oil for a longer time, which would lead to the outsides becoming burnt. Punching a hole in the middle of the dough, however, allows the insides and the outsides to cook evenly, creating a perfect doughnut.

How many donuts do I need for 50 people? ›

The Emmets share, "We typically recommend ordering 30 to 50 doughnuts less than the number of guests attending the wedding." If the doughnut wall is the main dessert or part of a limited spread at your reception, you should plan on ordering one doughnut per guest.

How do you fill a donut without a tip? ›

Instead of piping, slice the doughnut open part of the way using a paring knife, and then gently spoon some jam into the doughnut. Ice or top with confectioners' sugar. If you find the slit in the side of the doughnut unseemly, you can also pipe icing or whipped cream around the edges.

How long does it take to burn 1 donut? ›

A glazed donut hole with 52 calories would require 15 minutes of walking, 8 minutes of cycling, 6 minutes of jogging, or 4 minutes of swimming to burn off. A glazed chocolate donut would require 57 minutes walking, 31 minute bike ride, 23 minute jog or 17 minutes of swimming.

What are the clues for donut? ›

Clues:
  • Liverpudlian accent.
  • Football sweets featured in a 'pic n mix'
  • Described himself as "extra speedy"
  • Run ice rings around the competition.
  • They say they are not known for being lazy.
  • There was a jockey reference.
  • The VT included a reference to ornithology.
  • And they were eating crisps.
28 Jan 2022

How many ways can you choose 3 deserts from 10? ›

Combination: Choosing 3 desserts from a menu of 10. C(10,3) = 120.

How many ways can you put 3 balls in 4 boxes? ›

Answer. If the balls are different, then there are 43 ways to put them in 4 boxes.

Why are donuts always in a pink box? ›

According to the Los Angeles Times, it was shops run by Cambodian refugees in Los Angeles in the 1970s that popularized the usage of pink boxes. The shop owners decided to use pink boxes over more expensive white boxes in order to avoid skimping on ingredients.

How do you do the donut trick? ›

I have broken the donut down into 5 easy steps.
  1. Drive around the cone. ...
  2. Lift your foot off the accelerator. ...
  3. Get back on the accelerator. ...
  4. Let go of the steering wheel and reduce the amount of acceleration. ...
  5. Grab the steering wheel and slide gracefully around the cone. ...
  6. 5 comments.

What is America's #1 donut? ›

Hostess® Donettes® are America's #1 donut, based on independent national retail sales data.

What is the most popular donut type? ›

Glazed doughnuts have been ranked the most popular of donut types, with 36% of Americans selecting them as their top choice.

What is a forbidden donut? ›

These fluffy doughnuts, of The Simpsons notoriety, are baked until golden, then spun in a glossy, trademark pink glaze and showered in rainbow sprinkles. LR. by Laurel Randolph. November 3, 2021, 4:00am.

What is a spider donut? ›

These simple Spider Donuts feature mini chocolate-covered donuts, pretzel legs, and candy eyes. They're a little frightful and a lot of fun! What is this? Report Ad. These frightfully fun spider donuts are one of our new favorite Halloween desserts!

What is an Elvis donut? ›

Elvis Donuts – a banana donut topped with a simple chocolate glaze, peanut butter drizzle and crumbled bacon! It's a breakfast fit for the King of Rock n' Roll! Your family will love 'em too!

What are long donuts called? ›

The Long John is a bar-shaped, yeast risen pastry like a doughnut either coated entirely with glaze or top-coated with cake icing. They may be filled with custard or creme. The term Long John is used in the Midwestern U.S. and Canada, and has been used in Texas.

What is the original donut flavor? ›

Fast-forward to the mid-19th century and Elizabeth Gregory, a New England ship captain's mother who made a wicked deep-fried dough that cleverly used her son's spice cargo of nutmeg and cinnamon, along with lemon rind.

What is a classic doughnut? ›

Primary ingredients in the old-fashioned doughnut include flour, sugar, butter, eggs, sour cream or buttermilk, and chemical leavener. It is typically deep fried, may have a crunchier or crisper texture compared to other styles of cake doughnuts, and typically has cracks and pores on its surface.

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