Americans love theirdoughnutsconsuming more than 10 billion every year, according to theBBC.
That’s often a completely separate bakery side hustle.
No matter their shape, doughnuts are verifiably delicious and beloved for their range of flavors and tastes.
Photo: Shutterstock. Design: Eat This, Not That!
There is no lack of variety, from sprinkled and crumb cake to crullers and cream-filled.
Would Daylight triumph again or would another chain roll away with the title of best chocolate-frosted doughnut?
Let’s find out.
Photo: Megan Hageman, Eat This, Not That!
The latter is a yeast-based donut and just one cost me $1.49 at the drive-thru.
The look:Pumped up and standing tall at over an inch and a half thick.
The chocolate dip layer is lustrous but in a deep cocoa-colored shade of brown.
Photo: Megan Hageman, Eat This, Not That!
It’s also slightly blemished thanks to its brief stint in the bag.
The taste:Woefully dry and too bready.
The base is predictably similar to that of the chain’s Honey Dip glazed doughnut.
Photo: Megan Hageman, Eat This, Not That!
And, with its concentrated yet gooey texture, funnily enough, it reminded me of fudge.
Otherwise, I think you’re free to do better.
Many inevitably have a favorite doughnut as well, which they select from the shop’s hefty lineup.
Photo: Megan Hageman, Eat This, Not That!
The taste:Not necessarily a slam dunk(in')sorry!
But, I wouldn’t turn it away on a desperate morning.
The yeast donut is on the same level as Tim Horton’s in terms of density and chewiness.
Photo: Megan Hageman, Eat This, Not That!
However, it carries significantly more moisture and flavor.
And, for that reason alone, I can’t justify calling it anything other than a mediocre doughnut.
The look:I’ve definitely seen better-looking doughnuts.
The round itself looks fairly standard, yellow-tinted with a fine sugary varnish.
The taste:Regrettably stale, but I could tell it had potential.
The entire doughnut was a bit firm and crackly rather than soft and pillowy.
However, the overall taste was still laudable.
With each bite, a small gush of oil emerged coupled with a delicate sweetness from the surrounding glaze.
The chain’s signature creation is undoubtedly iconic, but that’s not necessarily where all the magic ends.
For some doughnuts, the journey continues after they make their way through the shower of glaze.
A select few are later injected with jelly, custard, or even the chain’s signature cream filling.
This is the sweet selection I was after, as I rolled up to place my order.
The look:About what I expected.
Once again, it acquired some defects in the bag.
Krispy Kreme should really take to using a small box like Dunkin' does to preserve the aesthetic.
(I know it tastes the same either way, but still!)
The taste:Flavorsome but teetering on cloying.
Plus, it doesn’t stop at just single doughnut design.
Patrons are also invited to build their own half dozens and full dozens.
Breakfast sandwiches are available with what other than doughnuts used as the buns.
And, for extreme sweet tooths, doughnut sundaes are even thrown in just for the heck of it.
It really is quite an impressive flock of sweets and goodies.
The pastry, though, is a little flat and obviously a cake doughnut.
The taste:I’ll be honest.
When it comes down to cake vs. yeast donuts, I typically side with the latter.
But, Duck had me changing my tune with this compact, crispy, yet perfectly moist delicacy.
Plus, don’t get me started on the chocolate frosting.
First off, the ratio of icing to dough is delicately balanced so that neither one eclipses the other.
Served warm to the point where it was nearly dripping, it was unbeatable.
