Let's be honest — donuts give us life. But if you're gonna indulge, you wanna do it right.
And we've got you covered. From Dunkin' and Voodoo, to Yum Yum and Krispy Kreme, these
are the hottest jelly donuts around — ranked worst to best.
"Donut time…very tasty!"
The best thing about these lil jelly donuts from Katz Gluten Free is that they can be
enjoyed by the gluten-free crowd. They're also free of a few ingredients typically found
in other donuts: dairy, nuts, and soy.
Between the dust of sugar on the outside, and the jelly inside, the sweet-factor is
definitely on. But Katz's minis just can't offer the same vibe as a fresh-baked donut.
The bite is a bit harder and they're also store-bought and meant to be frozen until
they're eaten. But if you're living that gluten-free donut life, then we're here for it.
The beautiful union of strawberry and vanilla is nothing new. That combo has long been found
in everything from cake to ice cream. Canadian chain, Tim Hortons, attempted their first
spread into the U.S. in the '70s. But it was during the '80s, where they achieved the staying
power that's made them a donut destination in Eastern and Midwestern American cities.
And maybe the brand's introduction of the strawberry-vanilla donut is the reason for
some of its staying power.
Of course, we expect that a donut is gonna be sweet. But this particular pick from Tim
Horton's should come with a warning label about its overwhelming sugar factor. The strawberry
and vanilla flavors will knock you out with their punch. And the sprinkle-kissed icing
ramps up the sweet factor even more. But if tasting those flavors in a pastry would set
your donut-loving heart aflame, sipping tea or coffee with your treat could help cut the
sweetness a bit.
Apple jelly is certainly a unique presence on the jam scene. Go to most breakfast or
brunch joints, and the offerings generally consist of strawberry, mixed berry, and the
O.G., grape jelly. While apple butter is more prominent and easier to find, apple jelly
does exist in jar form for those who don't want to go all D.I.Y. at home.
Yum Yum Donuts launched in the early '70s with just one shop in Highland Park, California.
And that original location has since been joined by dozens more all around the state.
The apple jelly donut at Yum Yum is served covered in a cinnamon crumb, which makes sense
considering this mix is often what brings an apple dessert to life. But as far as we're
concerned, this version is just okay. Yum Yum offers plenty of other dynamic options
that would probably make for a tastier pick. The apple jelly donut might not be the star
of the menu, but if spiced apple is on your mind, it's a decent solution.
Dunkin' proudly hails itself as "America's favorite." And the ubiquitous chain — with
locations around the globe — has certainly cemented itself as a go-to for fried pastries
and, of course, their iconic coffees. And when a social media influencer like Charli
D'Amelio has her own specialty drink and merch line, you know this place is dominating the
market.
"I f----- love Dunkin', guy! What are you talking about?"
But since we find the chain at number 8 on our list, it's clear that Dunkin' could stand
a little improvement when it comes to the jelly donut category. As it turns out, their
jelly-filled donut doesn't boast any actual fruit. Instead, it's a mix of sweeteners and
apple juice that gives it that sweet jelly taste.
For a spot that offers some real donut stunners — if you know, you know — it seems like
they could amp up their jelly game by getting a nice jammy fruit involved in the situation,
and by adding some variety. The chain doesn't exactly lean on tradition, often jazzing up
their ad campaigns or adding new items, so giving this classic a twist doesn't seem out
of the realm of possibility.
Another old-school donut shop that has an international presence, Winchell's consistently
delicious donuts keep people coming back for more. Winchell's was actually purchased by
Yum Yum Donuts but still maintains its original brand.
Winchell's serves up no-frill pastries that scratch the donut itch. And their Lemon Jelly
with Donut Sugar option is a total standout. It packs a punch with a sweet and tangy filling
that inspires a bit of a pucker. But it does pose a question: What exactly is donut sugar?
It turns out that it's powdered sugar, but specifically formulated for donuts, so it
won't dissolve or melt as it sits atop baked goods. It's also known as 'snow,' and that
name is fitting considering how well it ends up covering our hands and clothes, instead.
In 2003, the founders of Voodoo Doughnut wanted to solve a problem in downtown Portland: the
lack of donut shops. They opened their first location, and within a month they were making
national news. Food and travel shows were talking about their outrageous donut creations,
making it a must-visit Portland attraction. And these days, Voodoo Doughnut has grown
to include shops in five states.
The donuts at Voodoo showcase a lot of visual flair — like the purple sprinkles and dust
that top off the Grape Ape. Then there's the Old Dirty Bastard donut, with its heap of
crumbled Oreo cookies and peanut butter drizzle.
"Hey guys, I'm so excited to meet you. I'm such a big fan."
"Oh, hey, we are too, man! You are delicious."
"I could just eat you right up right now."
The Voodoo Doll is one of their vegan offerings, and it looks exactly like its name. The voodoo-doll-shaped
pastry is filled with raspberry jelly, and topped with a chocolate frosting — with
a pretzel jabbed into its body. It takes our number 6 spot because it's as delightful in
taste as it is in looks. With the jelly and the frosting making a sweet and heady union,
it's truly both cheeky and divine.
In the jelly donut world, a "bullseye" refers to the divot in the top of a donut that holds
the filling. While some donuts are filled by injection — with filling pumped into
the center of the treat — in the case of a bullseye, it's loaded into the top indentation
where it settles in for a flavorful ride. When it comes to this style of jelly donut,
what you see is what you get. And it's delicious.
Top Pot's Raspberry Bullseye is a glazed donut with a tantalizing bullseye center. Here,
a thick helping of raspberry jam is plopped into that recessed area, challenging you to
try and taste it in your first bite. It's goopy for sure, and yes, super sweet. And
of course, it's totally worth it.
LaMar's Donuts and Coffee entered into being in 1960, when Ray LaMar launched his business
in Kansas City, Missouri. Thirty years later, he made it a franchise and now LaMar's can
be found in Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, and Nebraska. More recently, the company even
joined in the efforts to support essential workers during the pandemic. And on the eve
of National Donut Day, they presented winners of their first Essential Service Awards with
a year's worth of free LaMar's donuts.
From buttermilk bars to German chocolate knots, LaMar's offers a dizzying list of choices.
Their filled creations range from the creamy to the fruity, and the cherry-filled Bizmark
donut is a well-executed classic. You won't be disappointed by the bright cherry-flavored
filling that oozes from the center of this old standby.
"How do you feel about being known as this kind of menacing character in films?"
"I'm really glad I'm known for anything.”
[Laughs]
Actor Danny Trejo overcame a tough past that involved criminal behavior and prison time.
And when he got into the entertainment biz in the early '80s, he played a slew of roles
that highlighted his harder edges. Now in his seventies, he remains a unique fixture
in his hometown of Los Angeles, where he's opened up several businesses. Not only does
he own Trejo's Tacos, which has eight locations, he's also made Trejo's Coffee and Donuts another
Instagrammy hotspot. In fact, LA Weekly named the place the best donut shop in town, in
2019.
Trejo's offers a selection of raised, filled, and vegan treats. And some have fun names,
like the Maple Pig, which is — as you might have guessed — a maple-flavored donut with
candied bacon on top. As for Da Berry Bomb, it's just that; a hearty donut filled with
a blueberry and raspberry-flavored jam. And it's the authentic, fresh fruit that puts
this donut over the top.
Shipley Do-Nuts launched in Houston, Texas in the 1930s. And the chain still maintains
a vintage look and feel to this day. What one family humbly began, has expanded majorly,
now boasting more than 300 franchises throughout a number of states, including Florida, Alabama,
and Colorado.
While most people don't split hairs about different types of jelly in a donut, a lemon-filled
center can be polarizing. It's the tartness factor that's make-or-break. Lemon lovers
want that bitter tang inherent to the fruit. And if you're in that camp, Shipley Do-Nuts
knows just what you're looking for.
Fried without being greasy, this donut has a nice, light and puffy feel. The tang of
the lemon and the donut dough counter the sweetness of the lemon icing and glaze. It's
that balance that puts a pop of excitement in every bite.
Number 1 on our list, the iconic Krispy Kreme donut has been around for nearly 100 years.
The chain first opened in 1937 in North Carolina and has since managed to become a household
name. Krispy Kreme's glazed donuts are of course their calling card. Shaped like perfect
circles, they line up uniformly in a box, creating an mass-appeal with their no-frills
nature. It's from that foundation, that this popular donut shop has created a wealth of
treats to choose from.
"They have, like, gourmet donuts now."
When it comes to filled donuts, the brand goes all out; there's been everything from
limited edition caramel popcorn, to a decadent Oreo cookie kreme, to a one-day-only strawberry
supermoon. While you can clearly have your pick of hearty flavors when you want a stuffed
donut, when we enter the jelly arena, the Powdered Blueberry Filled jelly donut is pure,
fruity perfection. With one bite, all your jelly-filled dreams will come true.
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