Though some stores are known for stocking better-quality products, I found that doesn’t always equal better taste.
Wegmans
I know, I know.
I had high hopes for this one because, well, it’s Wegmans.
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The bag of four cost me a very reasonable $5.
Sold out for the day!
Surely that’s a good sign, right?
Photo: Jennifer Cannon, Eat This, Not That!
Wrong.6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e
The look:Thick and compact in the traditional cake-doughnut style.
The taste:This doughnut was incredibly dense, almost tough.
Did I mention it was dry?
Photo: Jennifer Cannon, Eat This, Not That!
Obvious differences in atmosphere aside,Walmart’s apple cider doughnutswere a marked improvement in flavor overall.
Theycame in a clamshell package of six for $3.98.
The look:Smaller and just about half the calories of the Wegmans doughnuts at 190 cals per serving.
Photo: Jennifer Cannon, Eat This, Not That!
This donut is compact and, at first glance, looks to be dry on the outside.
There is a glaze-ish coating on the outside.
Grab an extra napkin, it’s sticky!
Photo: Jennifer Cannon, Eat This, Not That!
The taste:Surprisingly good!
This doughnut was not too sweet and there wasn’t an obvious apple flavor.
It wasn’t a bad doughnut, but it wasn’t the greatest, either.
Photo: Jennifer Cannon, Eat This, Not That!
Eventually, I located a pack at Target in Cherry Hill, N.J.
The Favorite Day apple cider glazed doughnuts came in a clamshell package of six for $3.99.
The look:On the smaller side like Walmart’s with an obvious glaze coating on the outside.
They also pack the calories as Walmart’s version at 190 per serving.
The taste:Pretty solid for baked good froma big box store.
The glaze on the outside seemed to keep its caky insides from drying out.
The elevated apple flavor of this doughnut set it apart from both Walmart and Wegmans and tasted fresh!
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Whole Foods
Whoa!
Now we’re getting somewhere.
I knew once I laid eyes on these babies they were going to be good.
One of the bakers who was out restocking and moving things around pointed me toward a freshly made box.
A box of four set me back $6.49.
The look:Large and almost fluffy.
They’re nestled into a box with a neat but generous coating of cinnamon and sugar on the outside.
If there were a beauty contest for donuts, Whole Food’s apple cider donuts would win.
Butthere was still another that I lived even better.
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Trader Joe’s
How ‘bout them apples?
Much has been said over the years aboutTrader Joe’s most famous fall bakery itemand for good reason.
The label plainly reads, “Old-Fashioned Cake Donut.”
Similar in size and shape to the Wegmans doughnuts, they came coated in cinnamon and sugar.
The taste:Nostalgic.
The proprietor, Mr. Padd, used to make them from scratch.
The flavors of both apple and cinnamon shine through in this old-fashioned style doughnut.
It’s not even a little bit dry.
This doughnut is, in a word, excellent.
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