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Kim BussingUpdated: May 25, 2023
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From glazed to jelly-filled, doughnuts have won your heart and sweet tooth—but some pack more calories than others.
Breakfast on the go? Fuel for a long meeting? Nothing hits the spot quite like a doughnut, but, wait—there are how many calories in a glazed doughnut? Knowing the calorie counts won’t stop us from eating them, but it can give us a sense of how indulgent each treat might be.
This is how some of the most popular doughnuts stack up:
Glazed
200-250 calories
If you want to walk the fine line between all-out indulgence and a simple treat, a glazed doughnut might be your best bet. Often relatively low in calories, this option can satisfy your craving with something classic and reliably delicious.
Keep in mind that calorie count varies by bakery. Krispy Kreme reports that its version clocks in around 190, while larger sizes can creep past 300.
See how doughnuts are made at Krispy Kreme.
Chocolate Iced/Frosted
250-300 calories
Who can say no to chocolate? If you prefer your doughnut topped with some of the good stuff, you’re looking at extra calories. For what it’s worth, some chocolate cake doughnuts have fewer calories than their iced cousins.
Once again, Krispy Kreme’s doughnuts had some of the lowest calorie counts, coming in at 240 calories, while Dunkin’ offers the same for 280 calories. Bonus—sprinkles only add about 10 calories to a donut at Dunkin’.
Old Fashioned
300 calories
Like the glazed, the OG doughnut can be lighter than some filled or topped with generous frosting. Homemade is always better, and you can minimize your calorie count by whipping up a batch of old fashioned cake doughnuts in your own kitchen.
Thetraditional cake doughnuts at Dunkin and Krispy Kreme both have about 290 calories. The Starbucks old-fashioned doughnut is more indulgent at 480 calories.
Jelly-Filled
300 calories
It shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise that adding powdered sugar and jelly will raise the calorie count on this popular doughnut (as compared to a glazed doughnut), but it’s still not as calorie-tastic as a bismark or a creme-filled, frosted long john.
Can’t give up the jelly habit? Make your own jelly-filled doughnuts at home to customize how much sugar and jam you’re adding.
More Doughnut Recipes for Homemade Happiness
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Taste of Home
Apple Cider DoughnutsApple doughnuts remind me of family trips to South Dakota. We’d stop at Wall Drug for a dozen or so before camping in the Badlands. Maple glaze was and still is my favorite. Share a batch with friends and family who appreciate a hot, fresh apple cider doughnut. —Melissa Hansen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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If you’re craving strawberry doughnuts, here is your guide to make some!
Banana Beignet BitesWhen I was a little girl, my grandmother took me aside one day and taught me how to make her famous banana beignets. Although we made them during the holidays, they're pretty fantastic any time of the year. —Amy Downing, South Riding, Virginia
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Air-Fryer DoughnutsMy sons and I love doughnuts, but in the Florida heat, I rarely want to deep-fry them. I tried making this easy air-fryer doughnut recipe, and it turned out so well with no mess! —Christine Hair, Odessa, Florida
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There's no better pastry to pair with coffee. Find the best types of doughnuts to make for breakfast or brunch.
Swedish DoughnutsOne day, my father got a hankering for doughnuts and asked me to make him some. I ended up trying these. Dad—and everyone else—loved the results. They come out so golden and plump. —Lisa Bates, Dunham, Quebec
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Drop DoughnutsRemember this recipe after your next holiday dinner. I use any leftover mashed potatoes to make these light and fluffy doughnuts. The dish was originally created by my neighbor's mother-in-law as a breakfast treat or a snack. —Marilyn Kleinfall, Elk Grove Village, Illinois
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Taste of Home
Berry-Filled DoughnutsFour ingredients are all you'll need for this sure-bet breakfast treat. Friends and family will never guess that refrigerated buttermilk biscuits are the base for these golden, jelly-filled doughnuts. —Ginny Watson, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
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Taste of Home
Delicious Potato DoughnutsI first tried these tasty treats at my sister's house and thought they were the best I'd ever had. They're easy to make, and the fudge frosting tops them off well. When I make them for friends, the recipe is always requested. —Pat Davis, Beulah, Michigan
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Taste of Home
Glazed DoughnutsThe light coffee flavor in these tasty sugar-glazed doughnuts makes them a perfect start to the morning...on Christmas Day or any day. You'll find that the recipe is a delectable way to use up leftover potatoes. —Pat Siebenaler, Random Lake, Wisconsin
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Want an easy fast-food doughnut option for Christmas day? Krispy Kreme Christmas doughnuts are a delicious go-to.
TMB Studio
Jelly DoughnutsThere's no need to run to the bakery for delicious jelly doughnuts! These sweet treats are lighter than air. I've been fixing them for 25 years for my husband, our two daughters and their families. They disappear almost as fast as I make them. —Kathy Westendorf, Westgate, Iowa
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If you want to make restaurant-style doughnuts, here's our favorite copycatKrispy Kreme doughnut recipe.
Taste of Home
Almond Bear ClawsThis bear claw pastry recipe is absolutely melt-in-your-mouth delicious! It's impossible to resist the delicate dough, rich almond filling and pretty fanned tops sprinkled with sugar and almonds. I made yummy treats like this when I worked in a bakery years ago. —Aneta Kish, La Crosse, Wisconsin
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TMB Studio
New Orleans BeignetsThese sweet French doughnuts, inspired by the ones found in Cafe du Monde in New Orleans, are square instead of round and have no hole in the middle. They're a traditional part of breakfast in New Orleans. —Beth Dawson, Jackson, Louisiana
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Looking for a fancy breakfast pastry? Learn how to make delicate, swirled French cruller doughnuts at home.
Glazed Doughnut HolesHere's a simple recipe to create a colorful and fun breakfast—or snack! For the glaze, use any type of juice you like. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen. Next, learn how to make a chocolate glaze for doughnuts.
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Taste of Home
Gluten-Free Apple Cider DoughnutsI wanted to make a gluten-free apple cider doughnut that tasted so good, the fact that it’s gluten-free is beside the point! —Kathryn Conrad, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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Taste of Home
Pumpkin Doughnut DropsI always have a few special treats handy when the grandchildren visit. These cake doughnuts are one of their favorite snacks. —Beva Staum, Muscoda, Wisconsin
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Taste of Home
Blue-Ribbon DoughnutsWhat could be more delicious than a warm homemade doughnut? I've been making these tasty treats for my children and grandchildren for many years. —Kay McEwen, Sussex, New Brunswick
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Cider DoughnutsHere on our 1,250-acre farm, we usually have a quick breakfast on the go. So I often keep a batch of these light and moist doughnuts on hand. They disappear quickly because no one can eat just one! —Suzanne Christensen, Defiance, Iowa
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Taste of Home
Maple-Bacon Doughnut BitesWhile these delicious bite-size treats are ready in minutes, they’ll disappear in a flash. And don’t relegate the deep-fried goodness to the breakfast nook—I’ve never had anyone turn these down no matter the time of day. —Chelsea Turner, Lake Elsinore, CA
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Originally Published: May 20, 2019
Kim Bussing
Kim is a writer and creative consultant with more than a decade of experience publishing content about food and drink. She has told food and wine stories for top brands with household names, including Hilton and Marriott. Kim also writes about health and wellness topics, home decor and baking. For Taste of Home, she’s tackled stories about canned wines, co*cktail kits, wine Advent calendars and much more.Kim’s passion is bringing together nutrition and joy in every meal and she’s always on the hunt for the perfect gluten-free cinnamon roll.
