We all love a good donut, but sometimes a glazed ring or sugar-dusted round just doesn’t quite cut it. For those occasions, America's many specialist bakeries and chains have risen to the challenge with some pretty outrageous creations. From limited-edition options that don't skimp on the sprinkles to outlandish innovations that have become customer favorites, read on for some of the most unusual donut flavors in the US.
Click or scroll through our gallery to discover America's most unusual donut flavors, counting down to the most outrageous of all.
Famed for its array of innovative pastries, Supermoon Bakehouse is a bakery that should top your bucket list when visiting New York City. The team switches up its menu monthly, but you can always expect an exciting lineup of options. When the Honey Lavender Doughnut returns to menus, fans go wild. This delicate donut is filled with a honey lavender crème pâtissière, rolled in sugar, and finished with a sprig of lavender.
Is there any combination better than strawberries and cream? Fans of San Diego's Donut Bar certainly don't think so, which is probably why its Strawberry Split is a crowd favorite. The specialty donut shop, loved for its colorful and cutting-edge varieties, serves this menu item sliced in half, piped to bursting with whipped cream, and filled with fresh strawberries.
If there’s one donut that’s going to win over little kids, it’s the Unicorn from California Donuts. This adorable treat sees a classic sweet donut topped with white chocolate, sprinkles, and a fondant horn and ears. Finished with an adorable iced nose and eyes, it’s almost too cute to eat.
Donut Crazy may have a long list of regular menu items, but it’s the monthly ‘Crazies’ that get customers talking. A popular treat that returns again and again is the Dunkaroo, a vanilla glazed cake donut topped with vanilla dip, Graham cracker crumbs, sprinkles, buttercream, and Teddy Grahams. The flavors may be simple, but the presentation speaks for itself.
Chicago-born BomboBar specializes a in a style of Italian filled donuts known as bombolini. Warm, sugar coated and fluffy centered, they’re irresistibly sweet and delicious. The menu at BomboBar changes frequently but tends to be reliably over-the-top, with everything from pumpkin spice to cannoli-flavored options. The team even serves up bombolini stuffed with house-made gelato.
Hawaiian poi-glazed donuts are made with taro root; it's boiled and pounded into a paste, then added to the donut batter to give it a striking purple hue. Kamehameha Bakery has been making its Poi Glazed donuts and other malasadas – yeast-raised donut balls originating from Portugal – since 1978, and they’re as beautiful (and delicious) as ever.
This isn't just any old chocolate-flavored donut; this is a Vincent Van Doughnut chocolate creation. This St. Louis–based bakery is known for turning out creative made-from-scratch donuts, and it has legions of loyal customers. Its experimental flavors may come and go, but this triple chocolate treat – famously called Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate – is a longstanding favorite. Decadent and delicious, it's a sour cream old-fashioned ring donut with a rich chocolate glaze, chocolate chips, and chocolate ganache.
If your ideal breakfast comes in the form of a bowl of Cinnamon Toast Crunch, you’ll adore Broad Street Dough Co.’s Howell Crunch (pictured center). This is anything but a standard donut; it's a sweet treat loaded with sticky maple syrup, crispy Cinnamon Toast Crunch, and a drizzle of vanilla icing. The small chain has three locations across New Jersey, and one in Encinitas, California.
When you’re spoiled for choice, it’s often easiest to pick the most eye-catching item available – and at Sandy Pony Donuts, you won’t be disappointed if you do. The Yabba Dabba Doo-Nut is irresistibly sweet and features a honey glaze topped with an assortment of Fruity Pebbles cereal. Expect crispy pieces to be flying everywhere when you bite into it, but that’s all part of the fun. The chain has locations in Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia.
With a menu as bountiful as the one at Paula’s Donuts, it’s hard to choose just one option. But ask any regular, and they’ll let you know there’s one clear winner here: the Key Lime. Drawing inspiration from the Florida Keys favorite, this baked treat features a Key lime pie filling, and it comes topped with angel cream and toasted coconut.
While there’s arguably no beating a classic slice of red velvet cake, this Santa Barbara–based bakery’s donut variation certainly draws in the crowds. Offering a twist on the traditional treat, this donut comes dusted with powdered sugar, topped with tangy cream cheese frosting, and finished with extra red velvet cake crumbles. It may look spongy like a cake, but it has a distinct donut shape and texture.
While potato-based dough may sound strange to some, we promise you’ll love The Holy Donut’s starchy potato donuts as much as the locals do. Customers line up out of the door for the small chain’s unique donuts, which are made from scratch daily using Maine-grown potatoes. Capitalizing on the dough’s unique savory qualities, the Maple Bacon donut is a crowd favorite. With its salty, crispy bacon pieces and sweet maple glaze, it’s essentially a bacon and pancake breakfast in donut form.
Tantalizingly sweet, Blue Star Donuts’ signature vegan flavor is hard to beat. The Tropical Delight is first infused with a natural coconut emulsion before being dipped in a tropical glaze made with passion fruit purée, fresh pineapple juice, and real bananas. To finish off, it’s topped with a toasted coconut sprinkle, which adds a smoky-sweet crunch.
Suárez Bakery, which has two locations in Charlotte, has become famous locally for its adorable (and very craveable) donuts. If a celebration is in order, there's no better option than the Texas Doughnut Cake, a tower of the bakery's signature donuts filled with layers of cream. These giant stacks are available to pre-order, with a range of different fillings and sprinkles to choose from. Serving up to eight people, it's the ultimate crowd-pleaser.
Novel Ice Cream offers a variety of ice cream flavors served in a cup or waffle sandwich. However, it's best known for its warm donut buns, which have a scoop of ice cream stuffed inside. The bright blue Cookie Monster ice cream donut (or ‘Doughmelt'), loaded with your choice of toppings – think mini cookies, crushed Oreos, and sprinkles – is a real standout in terms of both taste and appearance.
It’s hard not to love Union Square Donuts. The Massachusetts-based chain has become renowned for its innovative flavors, and its creamy Tiramisu Donut is irresistible. The brioche donut comes bursting with fluffy mascarpone espresso cream, and it's topped with a thick dark chocolate ganache, a dusting of cocoa powder, and a house-made ladyfinger. Just make sure you have a stash of napkins on hand, as it makes for messy eating.
Those after a taste of nostalgia should visit Glam Doll Donuts. The team here has crafted many delicious donut options, but it’s the School Lunch that keeps customers returning. The filled treat is guaranteed to bring back memories from your school days – it comes loaded with peanut butter and jelly, and it's finished with a sprinkling of crushed potato chips for good measure.
With two Las Vegas locations, Saint Honore is not only loved by locals, but it’s garnered a loyal following on social media too – and it’s easy to see why. The donut shop has become renowned for its ‘Couture’ range, offering everything from Strawberry Shortcake donuts (stuffed with strawberries and cream) to Crème Brûlée donuts (filled with vanilla custard and finished with caramelized sugar). But it’s The Cannoli that’s perhaps the most extravagant choice here. Complete with a cannoli filling made with ricotta, sugar, cream, and chocolate chips, it’s iced with chocolate ganache, dusted with powdered sugar, and topped with a cannoli.
Doughnut Plant has done the unthinkable: it's transformed the classic Italian pasta dish cacio e pepe into a donut. Somewhat surprisingly, it works brilliantly. Made from a sourdough-based mix, this savory feast is laced with Parmesan, black pepper, and butter. It's available exclusively at weekends and always sells out, so we’d recommend heading down early to avoid disappointment.
The Salty Donut is renowned for its regularly changing menu filled with exciting flavor combinations. However, when the Cookie Monster returns, it’s always guaranteed to sell out. Made with brioche dough, the donut is filled with house-made cookie dough, slathered with a natural Blue Majik vanilla bean glaze, and finished with chocolate chip cookie chunks and Oreo crumbs. The combination of soft center and crunchy toppings is pretty unbeatable.
The retro Hi-Lo Diner in Minneapolis is known for its big breakfasts and main meal–worthy donuts. Known as Hi-Tops, these come topped with a mix of sweet and savory ingredients. The epic Gary Cooper is a house-made donut finished with buttermilk fried chicken, maple-bourbon syrup, country gravy, and green onion. Another outrageously good option is the Notorious P.I.G.: a donut buried under pulled pork, black bean and corn salsa, sour cream, and a fried egg.
Famed for its flavor-popping donuts, Chin Up Donuts is a Scottsdale must-visit. The team constantly adds new and unusual combinations to the shop's expansive donut range, but perhaps none are as memorable (or as fiery) as the Sriracha-cha. This sweet and savory style boasts a sriracha glaze, cinnamon sugar dust, and a sprinkling of red pepper flakes. The heat is balanced brilliantly by the sweetness from the cinnamon sugar.
Customers don't have to choose between savory and sweet when having breakfast at Duck Donuts, which has locations across the US. The hugely popular Breakfast Sandwich donut comes in various guises, from plain cheese and egg to the full works: sausage, egg and cheese on a donut finished with maple frosting and crispy bacon shards.
No one does donuts quite like Voodoo. Founded in Portland, Oregon, the imaginative chain now boasts locations across the US, including in Texas, California, and Florida. Anything you order here is bound to get your taste buds racing, but it’s the Voodoo Bubble that keeps fans coming back for seconds. The raised ring is finished with popping pink vanilla frosting, bubble gum dust, and a piece of bubble gum slotted in the center.
How far does your love for everything bagel seasoning go? That’s the question posed by this unusual treat from Blackbird Doughnuts. The Massachusetts-based chain has crafted a sugary style that sees a brioche donut filled with whipped cream cheese and topped with everything bagel seasoning. The idea of a sweetened version of this bagel classic may seem odd at first, but once you take a bite, you’ll quickly realize that it really does work.
If a regular-sized donut just isn’t big enough, San Antonio–based shop The Art of Donut has a gigantic option that’s large enough to make heads turn. Fit for a family, this epic donut comes dressed in a dozen different flavors (think cinnamon sugar, blueberry, and pecan) and can be sliced up and enjoyed like a cake.
This stylish Austin-based food truck may be known for its dessert-style donut holes, but it's the spot's savory treats – including sandwiches and burgers made with donuts in lieu of bread – that really stand out. The popular Mother Clucker, perfectly crisp fried chicken in honey butter served on a hot garlic donut, is outrageously good.
Tom and Chee has garnered a loyal following thanks to its fully stacked grilled cheese sandwiches, garlicky tater tots, and Grilled Chee Donuts. The Grilled Chee delivers exactly what its name suggests: a glazed donut is sliced, loaded with Cheddar cheese, then grilled until it reaches gooey, melty perfection. The chain, which has locations in Ohio, Kentucky, and Oklahoma, offers an equally tempting s’mores-style option for those who prefer their donuts sweet.
Making a strong case for the savory donut is California-based chain Sidecar Doughnuts. Here you’ll find a menu filled with tempting options, but it’s the Basil Eggs Benedict donut that’s the star of the show. The fluffy malasada-style donut is filled with an oozy poached egg, a slice of Benton’s Country Ham, and a rich basil Hollandaise sauce. Unusual? Yes. Delicious? Absolutely.
Now discover where to find the best donut in every US state
Last updated by Lottie Woodrow.