Whether you spell it donut or doughnut (we will be using the Americanized version, donut, today) matters not. What is of more importance is acknowledging a significant reality: People love this fried-dough treat.
According to calculations by Statista—based on the U.S. Census data and Simmons National Consumer Survey (NHCS)—more than 201 million Americans consumed donuts in 2020, and this figure is projected to increase to more than 207 million in 2024. Dallas resident Dan Sullivan said that he has no strong opinions regarding where he gets his donuts but that he enjoys when they make their way into his life.
“In this carb-conscious and sugar-avoiding world, I do appreciate the occasional work donut morning ‘happy hour,’ especially if it includes a donut(s) with vanilla icing and sprinkles,” he said.
Oftentimes, an individual has a donut that is so delicious that it changes his or her life forever, and whatever donut shop made it gains a faithful customer. For Dallas-area resident Rachel Balthrop Mendoza, that donut came from a place that, to her, looks simple on the outside but holds significant value on the inside.
“Hands down, the best donuts in the metroplex come from Cafe Donuts at Abrams and Mockingbird,” she said. “Their selection is fantastic, their service is amazing, and their donuts are sweet, melty goodness. They still hand dip everything—it’s incredible. I’m both proud and ashamed to say I’ve thrown down 2 dozen donut holes and more after some long runs. They’re that good.”
Balthrop Mendoza also said that it is no mystery why so many people love donuts.
“So, so much sugary goodness enveloping just the right amount of fried dough,” she said. “It’s a special skill to find the right balance, which is why some shops do it far better than others.”
Dallas-area resident Matt Scamardo said that his donuts of choice come from Shipley’s, a franchise that began in Houston and now has more than 300 stores in the nation.
“You can’t beat the glazed donuts, hot and fresh—they just melt,” Scamardo, who prefers old-school classic donuts to the more modern extravagant ones, said. “The new stuff is trying to be cake.”
That “new stuff” has become much more common, with various store menus including donuts with icing and toppings such as cereal, candy, bacon, and chili peppers. The list goes on, and you can even order a peanut butter and jelly donut at some shops. Though Balthrop Mendoza typically prefers simplicity, she is not opposed to opting for something different every once in a while.
“I’ll admit to getting in a mood for the fancy-pants ones that some places offer these days,” she said. “But that’s more if I’m looking for just plain dessert over a morning donut. The best in that realm are Salty Donut over in Bishop Arts (and newly opened on the weekends in Klyde Warren) and Hurts Donut in Frisco and Fort Worth.”
Whether you prefer a gourmet donut or an old-school glazed from a local shop that simply has the word DONUT over the door, you have ample options. Whatever you choose, Sullivan advises that you make sure that no part of your donut is left behind.
“I’ll let others fend for the fancy donuts with bacon and all of that other nonsense,” he said. “And please, if you’re going to eat a donut, you have to consume all of it. Leaving half of a donut just looks sketchy and makes me lose my donut appetite.”
WEEKLY PHOTO OP
Ralph Brinkmann is a Monday mood