There has been a long-running debate of which chain is home to the superior doughnut, Krispy
Kreme or Dunkin’.
It’s all a matter of taste, and that’s not an argument we plan on getting into.
Today, it’s all about positivity.
This list focuses on Krispy Kreme, and the 10 Reasons Why Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Are
So Delicious.
The Smell That Started It All
Krispy Kreme doughnuts were never intended to be sold directly to customers.
When Vernon Rudolph, the mastermind behind this phenomenal pastry, opened his first bakery
in 1937, he exclusively did business with grocery stores.
However, the smell of freshly made doughnuts wafted from his bakery into the streets of
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, drawing townspeople to his door.
The locals were so entranced by the amazing scent, Rudolph decided to begin selling fresh
pastries straight to the customers.
In order to sell his coveted Original Glazed Doughnuts, Rudolph had a hole cut in the wall
of his bakery.
It was through this hole that the exchange of money for doughnut occurred.
We have the irresistible smell of Krispy Kreme doughnuts to thank for the fact that we’re
now able to purchase them fresh off the conveyer belt.
We can probably all agree that having to resort to buying them from the grocery store after
they’ve been sitting on the shelf for who knows how long just wouldn’t be the same.
If you’re as in love with the smell of Krispy Kreme doughnuts as the people of Winston-Salem
were back in 1937, then you’re in luck.
You can actually buy candles scented to smell like some of the most popular Krispy Kreme
varieties.
Unfortunately, these are no longer available in stores, but you can still find them on
Amazon and eBay.
Don’t Mess with Perfection
Something else that makes Krispy Kreme doughnuts so incredible is the fact that they haven’t
tried to mess with perfection.
While Krispy Kreme has come out with new, creative doughnut varieties over the years,
their recipe for their classic Original Glazed Doughnut hasn’t changed since 1945.
This is their signature doughnut and it dates all the way back to Krispy Kreme’s opening
in 1937.
Over the first few years, the recipe was tweaked slightly but, once it was perfected, they
let it be.
Clearly this was the right move, since the Original Glazed Doughnut is still their most
popular product.
This doughnut keeps people coming back time and time again because they know they can
rely on it to be consistently delicious.
Nostalgia is also a big factor at play, because many people have been eating this doughnut
for as long as they can remember.
With the Original Glazed Doughnut, parents and grandparents have the opportunity to share
one of their favorite childhood treats with younger generations.
Krispy Kreme gives people what they want and, in this case, what they want is the same old
reliable, delicious doughnut they’ve been eating since they were young.
The Krispy Kreme Glaze
They’re called Krispy Kreme doughnuts for a reason.
Without their famous glaze, these doughnuts are all crisp and no cream.
In response to a post asking what makes Krispy Kreme doughnuts so good, one Reddit user testified
to the importance of the glaze by sharing a story about the time they specifically asked
for a doughnut without it.
Needless to say, they quickly came to regret their decision and implored others not to
make the same mistake they did.
Everything about the doughnut this Redditor received was perfect – it was fresh out
of the fryer and at the optimal temperature to be eaten, but even the ideal conditions
weren’t enough to salvage it.
Without the glaze it was bland and disappointing.
The Redditor described it as practically tasteless and said that the texture was all wrong.
Turns out that, especially in the case of the Original Glazed Doughnut, it’s the glaze
that makes the pastry.
It’s what brings the flavor and brings the doughnut up to that perfect level of sweetness.
So please, respect the glaze.
It’s the real reason behind the amazing reputation of Krispy Kreme.
If you’ve ever had the (very strange) urge to order one of their doughnuts sans-glaze,
we ask that you repress it.
Don’t insult the doughnut like that.
Honor the art of baking and eat the pastry as it was intended to be eaten.
You’ll be doing yourself a favor.
Manufacturing
Anyone who knows anything about doughnuts knows that they’re supposed to be fried,
not baked.
What you may be surprised to discover is that many establishments receive a shipment of
frozen doughnuts, which are then baked and sold.
Naturally, cutting corners in this manner doesn’t do the doughnuts any favors.
This is not the way of Krispy Kreme.
Since the company’s opening in 1937, all their doughnuts have been manufactured in
house.
While their recipe is a closely guarded secret, they’re very open about the production process.
The doughnuts were made by hand until 1963, after which machines were brought in to maximize
efficiency.
The dry doughnut mix used at all Krispy Kreme locations is identical and is shipped out
from the main production plant.
The mix is made into dough on location.
After the dough is prepared, it’s sent through a machine called a hopper, which carries it
into an extruder.
The extruder is what shapes the dough into rings.
The rings are then carried on a slow conveyer belt that travels in an escalating zig-zag
pattern through the hot and humid proof-box.
This is where they rise and take the form of doughnuts.
After this step is completed, the dough is deep-fried in vegetable oil, one side at a
time.
The final steps are cooling and glazing.
The freshly fried doughnuts travel by conveyer belt through a waterfall of newly prepared
glaze, which coats them instantly.
And that’s how Krispy Kreme doughnuts are made.
This finely-honed technique ensures the production of perfect doughnuts every time.
Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Are Always Fresh
It might be the Tim Hortons motto, but the term “Always Fresh” could just as easily
be applied to Krispy Kreme.
Freshness is, of course, a key component of a good doughnut.
A dry, cold, day-old doughnut just doesn’t have the same appeal as one fresh out of the
fryer.
Most places that sell doughnuts prepare a fresh batch once per day, typically early
in the morning, before opening.
This means that you won’t be disappointed if you grab a doughnut on the way to work.
However, if you plan to pick up a box in the evening to bring to a dinner party, you might
not be thrilled with the results.
Fortunately, Krispy Kreme is aware of this issue and strives to combat it.
They know their doughnuts have a 12-hour shelf life, and so they make two batches a day.
Just like other establishments, one batch is manufactured quite early in the morning,
but, unlike many of their competitors, they also produce a second batch around midday.
This means that, regardless of when you stop by your local Krispy Kreme, you’ll be greeted
with fresh, still warm doughnuts.
The fresher the doughnut, the better it tastes, and Krispy Kreme’s dedication to quality
has won tremendous customer loyalty.
Knowing that they can rely on Krispy Kreme to always deliver fresh, delicious doughnuts
is what keeps people coming back.
The Krispy Kreme Hot Light
While Krispy Kreme tries to deliver fresh doughnuts all day long, nothing beats a freshly
glazed doughnut just out of the fryer.
This is the prime time for the doughnuts to be eaten, and it’s at these moments that
Krispy Kreme locations turn on their Hot Lights.
A concept originating in 1992, the Hot Light is something like the Bat Signal in Batman
comics.
However, instead of summoning a superhero, it calls to hungry customers.
The Hot Light signifies that a fresh batch of doughnuts has just been made and invites
customers to come and get them while they’re hot.
Of course, not everyone can while away the hours watching the Hot Light, waiting for
it to begin glowing red.
Thankfully, you no longer have to watch it 24/7 in order to be alerted to the sale of
fresh doughnuts.
With the new Hot Light app, you can be notified whenever the Hot Light at your local Krispy
Kreme has been turned on.
Then, of course, you drop everything and run.
Thanks to the Hot Light and its corresponding app, you know when to stop by Krispy Kreme
in order to get your hands on what is essentially the perfect doughnut.
The recipe and manufacturing process are just part of what makes a great doughnut.
Freshness and temperature have a major effect on its taste and texture as well.
If you can get all the variables to perfectly align, your taste buds are in for a truly
incredible experience.
Free Food Tastes Better
Krispy Kreme is nothing if not generous.
It seems like they’re giving out free doughnuts every other day.
Many locations will participate in holiday promotions, for example, giving away free
doughnuts on National Doughnut Day or Veteran’s Day.
Other giveaways require some customer participation.
On Election Day, Krispy Kreme locations across America gave out freebies to anyone wearing
an “I Voted Sticker” and, on Halloween, many locations will reward those in costume
by giving them a pastry on the house.
Additionally, in the name of reducing waste, Krispy Kreme will often give away leftover
doughnuts around closing time.
These obviously aren’t their freshest products, but let’s be real here, no one’s saying
no to free doughnuts.
So, how exactly does Krispy Kreme’s generosity factor into their doughnuts’ great taste?
Technically, it shouldn’t, but for some reason free food just always tastes better.
It’s like the feeling you get when you’ve earned a free coffee by acquiring enough stamps
on a membership card.
It’s a small thing that really saves you very little money, but you end up feeling
the slightest bit triumphant afterwards.
A free doughnut is the highlight of any day and not having to pay makes the pastry taste
even sweeter.
Since Krispy Kreme has regular promotions, keep an eye out at your local location to
see when they might be participating.
It’s definitely something you don’t want to miss out on.
Sweetness
Something that sets Krispy Kreme doughnuts apart from the crowd is how light they are.
Many doughnuts are incredibly dense and leave you feeling like you’ve just consumed an
entire cake, not just a small pastry.
With Krispy Kreme you’re guaranteed to satisfy your sweet tooth without the subsequent sugar
rush and ultimate crash.
Knowing this makes eating one of their doughnuts that much more enjoyable.
It’s the perfect compromise.
Surprisingly, the Original Glazed Doughnut has only ten grams of sugar – that’s less
than what some people put in their morning coffee!
By not being too heavy-handed with the sugar, Krispy Kreme has created the perfect dessert.
Some people like their desserts sweetened to the point where you can feel cavities forming
upon the first bite, but, in general, people seem to like their desserts with a little
more going on than just pure sugar.
That’s where Krispy Kreme really delivers.
There’s a lot of flavor going on outside of the sweetness, which shows just how good
these doughnuts really are.
As Goldilocks would say, they’re not too sweet, they’re not too sour, they’re just
right.
Even more impressive is the fact that people are able to complete a race after eating a
dozen Krispy Kreme doughnuts!
An annual hospital fundraiser involves participants running two and half miles, eating twelve
doughnuts, then running two and a half miles back to the start.
That seems pretty supportive of the fact that these doughnuts won’t weigh you down!
The Super-Secret Recipe
The manufacturing process and freshness are both big parts of what make Krispy Kreme doughnuts
so great, but the real hero here is the secret recipe.
You can have the best equipment in the world, but if the recipe’s no good, then the final
product won’t be either.
And when we say secret, we mean secret.
Kept in a safe, the ingredient list for these renowned doughnuts is as guarded as Fort Knox.
As previously stated, the doughnut mixture arrives at locations premixed, so even Krispy
Kreme employees don’t know exactly what goes into the pastries they sell!
Several rumors about this secret recipe have cropped up over the years, one of the more
popular one’s being that mashed potatoes are the secret ingredient.
While this would account for how light and fluffy the doughnuts are, we’ve decided
to label that rumor as false.
But who knows?
Anything is possible.
We’ll likely never find out what actually goes into making a Krispy Kreme doughnut,
but we can’t say we have any complaints about that.
They haven’t let us down yet, so as long as they keep doing what they’re doing and
we get to keep eating their doughnuts, we’re perfectly happy to leave that mystery unsolved.
Specialty Ghostbusters Doughnuts
Krispy Kreme has broken our hearts a few times with limited time offers, such as their specialty
Ghostbusters doughnuts.
These celebratory doughnuts were sold in honor of both the thirtieth anniversary of the original
Ghostbusters film and the upcoming release of the franchise’s reboot.
Two new doughnuts were released: one with a frosting drawing of the Ghostbusters’
logo, and one designed to look like the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man’s face.
The artwork on both was pretty impressive.
There’s very little as universally loved as doughnuts and Ghostbusters, so this was
a winning combination.
Those who were fans of both the pastry and the franchise were living their best lives
during this promotion.
People love pairing pop culture and food – we see it in cereal all the time.
It’s one of those things that shouldn’t make the food taste better, but it absolutely
does.
We hope Krispy Kreme doesn’t draw the line at Ghostbusters.
There are so many other pop culture references for them to explore.
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