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:

  • Yeast Doughnuts
  • Glazed Yeast Doughnuts
  • Crispy and Creamy Doughnuts

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:

  • Plain Cake Doughnuts
  • Cake Doughnuts
  • Chocolate Cake Doughnuts

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:

  • Potato Donut Holes

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:

  • Funfetti® Donut Holes
  • Carrot Cake Donut Holes with Cream Cheese Dip

05of 20

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:

  • Costas French Market Doughnuts (Beignets)
  • Ham and Corn Beignets
  • Cinnamon Apple Beignets with Caramel Sauce

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:

  • Jelly Doughnuts
  • Super Easy Jelly Doughnuts
  • Jelly Doughnut Cupcakes

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:

  • Churros II
  • Churro Log Cabin
  • Homemade Churros with Cardamom and Chocolate

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:

  • Ashley's Apple Cider Doughnuts

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:

  • French Crullers

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:

  • Chef John's Apple Fritters
  • Apple Fritters I
  • Banana Fritters

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:

  • Glazed Pumpkin Donuts
  • Buttermilk Doughnuts

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:

  • Long Johns

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:

  • Polish Doughnuts

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:

  • Malasadas
  • Malasadas Dois

19of 20

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 donuts 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!

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 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 12 donuts called? ›

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 is the rarest donut? ›

First of all, it's filled with Dom Perignon jelly. If that isn't enough on its own, the donut is also covered by edible diamonds(?!) and topped with a 24k gold leaf and gold-dusted white chocolate flowers. You can't walk into your local Krispy Kreme and demand the Dom Perignon jelly, though.

What is America's Number 1 donut? ›

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

What does 🍩 mean? ›

The Doughnut emoji 🍩 depicts a doughnut, a commonly eaten baked good. It is commonly used to represent real and metaphorical doughnuts, breakfast, bakeries and baked foods, snacks, coffee breaks, The Simpsons, and negative stereotypes of police officers.

What is the most popular donut? ›

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

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.

Which Flavour donut is best? ›

The 12 Best Types of Donuts, Ranked
  • Chocolate Frosted. ...
  • Old Fashioned. ...
  • Maple Frosted. ...
  • French Cruller. ...
  • Apple Fritter. iambaker. ...
  • Glazed. The true baseline test of any donut shop's worth is the glazed donut. ...
  • Chocolate Glazed. It's a glazed donut, but with chocolate. ...
  • Boston Kreme. Laura in the Kitchen.
7 Jun 2019

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. Long John (pastry) Long John with maple frosting.

What is a filled donut called? ›

Berliner - A Berliner is a filled yeast donut made with generous amounts of eggs, milk, and butter. Named after its regional origin of Berlin, Germany, this donut's classical variety, Berliner Pfannkuchen, is deep-fried in lard and filled with jam.

Why is a donut called a 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 is a donut without a hole called? ›

Jelly Doughnut

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

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 name of a twisted donut? ›

Korean twisted donuts, or kkwabaegi, are classic Korean donuts found at Korean bakeries and at Korean street food venders. They are soft and fluffy on the inside with a beautiful chew and perfectly golden brown on the outside, covered in cinnamon sugar. They're amazing desserts and snacks for anytime of the day!

What do you call 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 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 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 state is famous for donuts? ›

L.A. became the country's epicenter of donut culture when Ted Ngoy, a Cambodian immigrant, arrived in California during the 1970s. After setting up a sweet shop of his own, he helped fellow refugees who had fled from the Khmer Rouge create their own pastry empires.

What city has the best donuts? ›

The 50 best cities for donut lovers
RankCityDonuts Proportion Rank
1Worcester, MA3
2Rochester, NY25
3Jersey City, NJ5
4Providence, RI21
46 more rows
8 Nov 2021

What is the oldest donut chain? ›

In 1931, Levitt opened the first Mayflower Donuts shop in Times Square. Then, additional Mayflower Donut shops opened in cities across the United States, making it the first doughnut shop chain in the United States.

What does 🍪 mean in text? ›

[ kook-ee ih-moh-jee ] Published December 9, 2021. The Cookie emoji 🍪 depicts a chocolate chip cookie. It is commonly used to represent cookies, snacks, or baking.

What does 🌽 mean? ›

The 🌽 emoji is a slang term for p*rnography.

The 🌽 emoji might be used to represent adult content on other social media platforms, but it's most well-known for its TikTok popularity.

What does +_+ mean in text? ›

Summary of Key Points

"Dead" is the most common definition for +_+ on Snapchat, WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.

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 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 country eats the most donuts? ›

For the love of doughnuts

Whether it be a cruller or apple fritter, Canadians eat the most doughnuts in the world. Although in pop culture, like in The Simpsons, the donut is often seen as portrayals of the American life, there are more doughnut shops in Canada per capita than any other country.

What is a Jesus donut? ›

The jesus donut is vanilla frosting with cinnamon sugar sprinkles on a vanilla cake donut. My favorite is the vanilla filled. Very sweet but it's supposed to be.

What is a honeymoon donut? ›

"Honeymooner" donuts. They're kinda inside-out. The filling is on a dent on top, because you can't pump cherries or chunky apple filling too well!

What is a purple donut? ›

Ube donuts (also ube doughnuts) have gained prominence as international flavors became more sought after and gourmet doughnuts have become more mainstream. With their vibrant purple hues, these donuts easily stand out from the crowd. But it's not just their looks that get people's attention.

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 a baked donut called? ›

Facturas are a popular baked doughnut found in every corner bakery. Other names that may be seen in bakeries are berlinesas and bolas de fraile ("friar's balls").

What is a finger donut? ›

What are Finger Doughnuts? Doughnuts are sweetened fried snack that can be made using the classic yeast leavened dough or from a cake batter. Finger Doughnuts are basically yeasted doughnut recipe that is shaped like a finger; hence the name.

What is a pickle donut? ›

It's a yeast donut that is stuffed with a pickle cheesecake filling, dipped in vanilla icing, sprinkled with dried dill, and then topped with pickle juice cubes.

What is a Texas style donut? ›

Texas Kolaches are a hearty breakfast pastry found at most donut shops around the great state of Texas. They are made with a light, fluffy yeast dough that surrounds a sausage. Typically cheese and jalapeno are included.

What is a donut with cream called? ›

The Boston cream (pie) doughnut or donut is a round, solid, yeast-risen doughnut with chocolate frosting and a custard filling, resulting in a doughnut reminiscent of a miniature Boston cream pie.

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.

Are donuts in the Bible? ›

Although the donut's origin is unknown, almost every nationality has a version of donut. It's even mentioned in the bible in Leviticus chapter 7, verse 12 where thanksgiving to god should be made of “Cakes mingled with oil, fine flour and fried.” No wonder Donuts are so heavenly! .

Which country invented donuts? ›

“Doughnuts are deep-fried cakes with a long European history and roots in still earlier Middle Eastern cuisine. They were introduced to America by the Dutch in New Netherlands to America as oliekoecken (oil cakes or fried cakes).

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 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 is the most donuts eaten in one sitting? ›

Chestnut already holds a world-record for eating 55 glazed donuts in eight minutes. That's approximately 14,795 calories. “Joey Chestnut is known as the black hole of donut holes," Major League Eating emcee Sam Barclay said in announcing the competition.

Is a donut healthier than an apple? ›

The effect of sugar in the body will be different according to the source of the sugar (of course apples are healthier than donuts and offer nutrients other than sugar), but once digested the sugar in your system is the same. And unfortunately sugar contributes to weight gain.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Otha Schamberger

Last Updated:

Views: 6212

Rating: 4.4 / 5 (75 voted)

Reviews: 82% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Otha Schamberger

Birthday: 1999-08-15

Address: Suite 490 606 Hammes Ferry, Carterhaven, IL 62290

Phone: +8557035444877

Job: Forward IT Agent

Hobby: Fishing, Flying, Jewelry making, Digital arts, Sand art, Parkour, tabletop games

Introduction: My name is Otha Schamberger, I am a vast, good, healthy, cheerful, energetic, gorgeous, magnificent person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.