National Doughnut Day is June 1 but it’s always good to get a jump on the celebration—or extend it indefinitely.
Although there are so many bakers introducing Instagram-worthy flavors, designs and toppings, there are some who are actually thinking outside the doughnut box.
Here are a baker’s dozen.
Donut Burger Sliders at The Original Dinerant, Portland, OR
Chef Ben Teeter updates classic comfort food with Donut Burger Sliders featuring glazed buttermilk doughnuts around a ground beef patty and Tillamook cheddar cheese, drizzled with a rich donut glaze.
Krispy Kreme Chicken Ice Cream Sandwich from Chicken Charlies’ at OC Fair, California
Chicken Charlie is pretty much the master of fair food, and his Krispy Kreme Chicken Ice Cream Sandwich—a piece of fried chicken and vanilla ice cream sandwiched between two glazed, jelly-filled doughnuts covered with powdered sugar and Fruity Pebbles—is a perfect example of why people look forward to the OC Fair every summer.
Grilled Cheese Donut at Donut Bar, San Diego and Las Vegas
Your comfort food dream comes true in this fusion of grilled cheese and doughnuts. Donut Bar slathers butter on cinnamon sugar doughnuts, throws them on the griddle and adds American and Havarti cheese before putting them together in a surprisingly perfect marriage of tastes.
Cannoli Donuts at Hash Kitchen, Scottsdale
Fried to order with sweet dough, sugar, cinnamon and cannoli cream that fills the center, these are personal to Executive Chef Joey Maggiore. “Growing up as a Sicilian-American, a cannoli was a dish brought to the table to bring us together as a family,” he said. “Donuts are huge in the U.S. so I combined the two.”
Doughka at Dough, New York
These gorgeous loaves, inspired by the Babkas of Eastern European Jewish tradition, are made with doughnut dough, rolled, cut, braided and baked. They’re offered in three signature flavors—Mexican Chocolate, Lemon-Olive Oil and Sticky Banana—and are destined to become a tradition in your own home.
Maple Bacon Donut Cookie Cake at FattyCakesNY
This cookie cake is layered with doughnuts, which are also placed in between the cookie cakes themselves. If Maple Bacon’s not your thing, you can opt for the Pick 5 FattyCake and build your own cake with doughnuts and other treats of your choosing.
Everything Bagel Donut at Blackbird Doughnuts, Boston
Does it taste like a bagel or a doughnut? You’ll have to decide for yourself but we can tell you this brilliant creation is everything.
Triple Layer Donuts at Broad Street Dough Co., Oakhurst, NJ
A donut and a half stacked with fillings like vanilla mousse, cotton candy crunch and Nutella, these triple layer beauties are three times the deliciousness. It’s almost impossible to nail down the most popular one but the Antonio, an almond-flavored Italian cookie doughnut with cannoli, black raspberry preserves and smothered in chocolate, probably takes the cake.
Breakfast Sandwich at Do-Rite Donuts, Chicago
It’s easy to rationalize doughnuts for breakfast when they’re filled with protein-packed Applewood Smoked Bacon, Egg and Tillamook Cheddar. And when they come from a place called Do-Rite.
Profiterole Donut at Delmonico’s, New York City
Delmonico’s knows a thing or two about desserts—they invented the Baked Alaska, after all—and they’ve now created the Profiterole Donut, combining two sweet favorites. Caramelized Macadamia Nuts, Dulce De Leche Crema, Chocolate Sauce and 24K gold flakes make this dessert a modern classic.
Churro Donut at Pink Box Doughnuts, Las Vegas
It’s a Churro! It’s a Doughnut! It’s a Masterpiece!
Donut Monte Cristo at Glazed Donut Works, Miami Beach
Turkey, ham, Swiss cheese and Dijonnaise are placed between two halves of a glazed doughnut, then turned inside out. The inside of the doughnut becomes the outside of the sandwich and is dipped in a milk and honey egg wash, then griddled until it’s golden brown. It’s topped with housemade raspberry habanero jelly and dusted with powdered sugar. Originally a late night-only option, it’s now served day and night because of its popularity.
Pesto Spaghetti Donut from Pignotti’s at OC Fair, California
Dinner and dessert in one, this is the ideal meal when you’re on the run.
