Famous Doughnut Chains

Two doughnut giants

Krispy Kreme was founded by Vernon Rudolph, who bought a yeast-raised doughnut recipe and in 1937 rented a building in what is now historic Old Salem in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He began by selling to local grocery stores. The name is a deliberately playful spelling of crispy cream.

Dunkin' began in 1950 in Quincy, Massachusetts, and grew into a coffee-and-doughnut chain found around the world.

Why glazed doughnuts are so light

The airy texture comes from yeast. The dough rises, is cut into rings and rises again before frying, so it puffs up in the hot oil. A thin waterfall of sugar glaze then coats the warm doughnut, setting into a shiny shell.

Cake doughnuts are different: they use baking powder instead of yeast, which gives them a denser, more crumbly bite.

Sweet facts

Doughnuts are a treat rather than a meal. Most single doughnuts fall roughly between 200 and 300 calories, with filled and frosted versions at the higher end, and much of that energy comes from sugar and frying oil.

Pairing one doughnut with a plain coffee instead of a sweetened, cream-topped drink keeps the total sugar far lower. Both chains publish nutrition information for each item.

Doughnuts around the world

Dunkin' has spread far beyond the United States. It opened in Japan around 1969, in Saudi Arabia in 1986 and in many other countries, where local menus often add regional flavours.

Krispy Kreme is also famous for its glowing hot light, which tells customers that fresh doughnuts are coming off the line right now.

Doughnut tips

If you want the freshest doughnut, timing matters. Many shops make the main batch early in the morning, and some show a light or sign when a fresh batch is coming out. A glazed doughnut eaten warm, minutes after frying, is a different experience from one eaten hours later.

For a lighter treat, a plain glazed ring is usually lower in calories than a filled or heavily frosted doughnut. Mini doughnuts and doughnut holes are another way to enjoy the taste in a smaller portion.

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