Seven doughnuts you should be eating for National Doughnut Week

There's no excuse not to

(Crosstown Doughnuts/Facebook)

If you’re a really big fan of doughnuts, then every week is probably National Doughnut Week for you. Without wanting to be a square however, there is an official celebration, and – wait for it – it's happening right now.

National Doughnut Week is now in its 25th year and is raising money for The Children’s Trust, which helps children suffering from brain injuries.

Money for the trust is raised via participating bakers and cafes; you can find the nearest ones to you here.

By now you’re probably thinking though – what’s the best doughnut I can put in my mouth at the soonest available opportunity? Well you’ve come to the right place. We tried a range of doughnuts from some of the finest bakeries around, and here are the best ones:

1. Crosstown bakery

(Crosstown Doughnuts (Crosstown Doughnuts)

Crosstown specialises in the sort of gourmet doughnuts that you’ll be hard pressed to find anywhere else. And they’re not just unique, but completely delicious, with flavours including chocolate truffle, banana dulce de leche, coffee custard and creme brulee.

What to try first: Banana dulce de leche

2. St John

These are the only Michelin-starred doughnuts on the list, and you can tell. Dusted with sugar and oozing with various fruit fillings – including rhubarb, peach and apricot – they are everything you’d expect from the renowned restaurant.

What to try first: Rhubarb

3. Bread Ahead

 

A photo posted by Bread Ahead Bakery & School (@breadaheadboroughmarket) on May 5, 2016 at 5:43am PDT

Bread Ahead got into the gourmet doughnut game relatively early, and has been selling them at London’s Borough Market for the last three years. You can recognise them by the way their fillings come already oozing out of the pastry, with flavours including vanilla custard, orange and cardamom custard, and blueberry.

What to try first: Vanilla custard

4. Krispy Kreme

If you're a discerning doughnut lover, then Krispy Kreme may be more of a guilty pleasure, but it's a pleasure nonetheless. The chain has just launched a limited edition Nutella doughnut called the Nutty Chocolatta, and if you’re one of the many evangelical fans of the chocolate hazelnut spread, then you’ll probably want to get it down you right away.

5. Rinkoff Bakery

Yes, technically they may not be doughnuts. But Rinkoff's famous crodoughs, also known as cronuts, come close enough – and are definitely worth trying. Flavours include toasted Nutella and marshmallow, peanut butter and jam, and Oreo cheesecake.

What to try first: Oreo cheesecake

6. Cutter & Squidge

If the novelty of cronuts and crodoughs has starting to wear off for you, then the next step is to try a biskie by Cutter & Squidge. They’re a bit chewier but with less dough and more fillings to get your teeth into. Flavours include raspberry doughnut, blueberry cheesecake and pistachio roseberry.

What to try first: Raspberry doughnut

7. Dunn’s Bakery

Dunn’s is the bakery that founded National Doughnut Week, although that’s not the only reason why you should eat their products. They are masters of the classics - from the iced and sprinkled ringed doughnuts favoured by cartoon American cops, to the jam-filled numbers that give you the afternoon sugar rush you need and deserve.

What to try first: Iced and sprinkled ring

Special mention: Cabana's chicken doughnuts

If you think a chicken filled doughnut dusted with icing sugar is weird, that’s probably because it is. But while it proved divisive in The Independent newsroom, it’s worth giving a go just for the novelty. And if you don’t like it, you can always try Cabana’s much safer option – chocolate raindrop doughnuts – which are filled with Nutella.