Danya Taste Tests Donuts
As some of you may recall, I have a tentative title for my memoir of “You Said There Would Be Donuts.” This isn’t just a love-letter title to my favorite circular wonder - it’s a lifestyle. I could go on for a while, but I refuse to be one of those Pinterest bloggers who swindle you into listening to their life story before revealing their recipe for Tuna Casserole. So here is the highly-scientific research I performed.
I selected my donut shops based on the following criteria
Ten minutes or less from my kid’s school
Not Dunkin or Krispy Kreme
I kept the number of donut shops to three. This is also my rule for wine tasting (another area of my expertise) because after three different flavors, my taste buds can’t distinguish nuances and I am not able to taste effectively. (Plus, sipping isn’t really my style. I just want to get tipsy and say saucy things and blame it on the booze.)
A factor I have decided to not consider in my rating is atmosphere. When dining out, I am always willing to pay more for a cool space and expert service. But when it comes to donuts, I would try them from a folding table in an alleyway. And honestly, many of my favorite donut shops are just a step above that. I’m a donut purist so I will not be swayed by funky combinations and gimmicky flavors.
To keep the testing consistent, I am only tasting traditional glazed donuts. Each donut is cut with a fork and knife to avoid cross contamination of glaze. A large gulp of milk is used as a palate cleanser between bites.
The rating system consists of the following categories:
Smell
Color
Texture
Taste
Donut Shop #1: Fluffy Fresh Donuts - Mission, KS
The storefront in downtown Mission, KS. The interior had a definite “dive” vibe, but I’m not here as the health department. I’m here as a rabid donut fan. The selection was dwindling and it was only 9 am on a Tuesday. They sell out quick most days.
Smell: Not too sweet smelling. Had a bit of a “funnel cake at the State Fair” scent.
Color: Dark Gold. The color you expect dough to be fresh out of the fryer.
Texture: Chewy. On the doughy side.
Taste: Ideal for those who do not care for a heavily frosted pastry but still like some sweetness.
Other notes: The glaze is very light and the focus of the donut is more on the precisely fried dough, thus relying less on sugary glaze to make it delicious.
I think I loved the color of the Fluffy Fresh the most. She was hearty in size and legit in the way a donut should be. I miss her already.
Donut Shop #2: Lamar’s Donuts - Mission, KS
About 100 feet from Fluffy Fresh is Lamar’s. My new goal is to own a home in this neighborhood and do a donut crawl every weekend. And it would for sure be a crawl because I would weigh 600 pounds.
Smell: Very vanilla. Had the most fragrant, traditional donut smell.
Color: The lightest of all the samples.
Texture: While it looks to be the densest of the bunch, it is definitely the softest. Melts in your mouth.
Taste: Very sweet. The glaze was heaviest here and that makes it taste more like sugar and less like quality dough.
Other notes: Lamar’s is a regional chain, and it is certainly superior to Dunkin and Krispy Kreme. However, the look of the donut appears more “manufactured” than the locally owned mom and pop shops.
Look at that shiny glaze…. I wish I could have seen the baker pour it on her….
Donut Shop #3: Mr. D’s Donuts - Shawnee, KS
(They do not have a website, but you can find them on FB)
Scary strip mall? No problem for me! I’d eat out of their dumpster.
Smell: No discernible scent.
Color: Light to Medium Gold.
Texture: Flaky, almost a light crunch from the frying and glaze application. The least doughy of the bunch. Almost has a croissant-like texture.
Taste: Well balanced. Not too heavy on the glaze or oily tasting.
Other notes: They were out of just the single glazed donut, so I had to get a glazed “twist,” which I was assured was the exact same thing as the regular glazed, it was just two donuts intertwined.
I cut her in half to level the playing field. Can you see the flaky factor? She is so perfect.
Here is my official ranking:
Mr. D’s
Fluffy Fresh
Lamar’s
Initially I believed Fluffy Fresh was my favorite, but after a few tastes I began to notice that it had a bit of an oily factor I didn’t notice initially. Mr. D’s just had the most interesting texture and all around balance of flavor. Now, if I was limiting myself to a single donut hole, I would choose Lamar’s. (However if you ever see me eating a single donut hole, know that my body has been invaded and it’s not me) However, to eat an entire Lamar’s glazed donut is just too much.
I had AJ do a quick sampling in the five minutes he had between conference calls and he ranked the donuts the same as I did. He also applauded my research methods and devotion to my craft.
I am accepting nominations for other donut shops in the KC area for a taste test! Let me know your thoughts as I believe the only productive debating happening right now is about donuts.
