Unique Donut Flavors: 23 Of The Best

Donuts are a popular dessert around the world, and depending on the culture they can come in countless shapes, sizes, and flavors. 

What really makes them attractive and fun to make is the level of simplicity, which when combined with the delicious taste, really makes them one of the best sweet snacks around. 

So, without further ado, let’s explore some of the best, and most unique, donut recipes around!

1. Sticky Orange/Olive Oil Baked Donuts

This vegan recipe is really delicious, and just goes to show how unusual ingredients can come together to make something great. 

What this recipe really represents is the coming together of sweet and savory ingredients to make something completely unique.

The olive oil perfectly complements the orange flavor, while the sticky, sugary glaze is countered by the inclusion of apple cider vinegar. 

Showing a meticulous sense of balance, this recipe is certainly one to try!

2. Mango Donuts 

For a taste of the Caribbean, why not try these mango flavored donuts? 

Soft, moist, and fluffy, these mango donuts are coated with a sticky mango glaze, as well as fresh mango pieces – creating a fruity, tangy treat that tastes wholly original. 

Garnished with more mango pieces, or with pistachio nuts, these donuts truly are a refreshing take on a classic sweet treat!

3. Ube Mochi Donuts

This Asian inspired donut recipe takes inspiration from two distinct traditions – the Filipino ube (or purple yam), and the Japanese tradition of mochi, a marzipan-esque dish often served with ice cream (for more Filipino recipes, check out our favorite Biscocho recipes). 

From the very get go, these donuts look so attractive and interesting, with a deep purple hue that really pops.

3However, it is the eating experience that really makes these stand out from the crowd, with the crispy outer shell, the soft gooey interior, and the distinctive ube mochi taste – which is somewhat reminiscent of vanilla and pistachio. 

4. Maple Glazed Donuts

These donuts really feel like a taste of Canada, thanks to the lashings of sticky maple syrup glazing that is spread across the top, and the distinct cinnamon taste to the mix which makes it the perfect sweet treat. 

There is something distinctly festive about this recipe, with the cinnamon giving it that seasonal, holiday vibe that just oozes wholesomeness, and family. 

Why not try for yourself? 

5. Glazed Cherry Donuts

Cherry can be a polarizing flavor for anything, and many people either love it or hate it.

However, this recipe for glazed cherry donuts might be just the thing to convert the naysayers, thanks to the soft center, and sticky, sugary glaze spread liberally across the top. 

Mixed with finely chopped maraschino cherries, and further sweetened with vanilla, sugar, and almond extract, there is just something incredibly comforting about this recipe – creating the perfect accompaniment to an afternoon coffee. 

6. ‘Old Fashioned’ Sour Cream Donuts

Sour cream might not be the first thing that springs to mind when you think of a sweet treat, but these sour cream donuts really prove us wrong, offering a simple yet effective take on the classic recipe. 

7. Baked Lemon Donuts

Everyone loves a nice, light lemon cake, and these donuts perfectly recreate that signature taste of heaven.

Chock full of fresh lemon zest, lemon juice, and glazed with a tangy, sweet lemon topping, these are the perfect summer treat, offering a lighter take on a classic. 

For something a little different, these soft and fluffy donuts might just be the ones for you!

8. Coffee Lover’s Donuts

Coffee and donuts are a famed combination, and this recipe pays homage to this staple of the industry.

Perfect for fans of coffee cake and a morning cup of Joe, these coffee donuts combine the sugary sweetness of this favorite dessert, with the strong bitterness of fresh coffee grounds and coffee syrup. 

While not for everyone, coffee fanatics will certainly find some comfort in this treat!

9. Strawberry Donuts

Strawberries go hand in hand with summer, and seem to represent everything heavenly, relaxing, and indulgent about that time of year. 

These strawberry donuts pay homage to that fact, delivering fresh pieces of diced strawberry, a homemade, sticky strawberry glaze, and a sweet vanilla taste to the dough that will leave you wanting more. 

10. Boston Cream Donuts

As the home of Dunkin Donuts, Boston (and New England in general) knows a thing or two about good donuts. 

This Boston Cream recipe pays perfect tribute to this city that has done so much for the brand, with a rich, chocolate glaze, and a thick, fluffy cream center that is as both indulgent as it is delicious. 

This is a celebration in your mouth, and in many ways represents a city that certainly doesn’t do things by half. 

If you’re a fan of the DD’s, you might also enjoy their special Dunkin Donuts iced coffees, which come in a variety of flavors and are a perfect complement to their donuts.

11. Apple Cider Donuts

The bitterness of apple cider might not seem like the ideal flavor for a donut, but this recipe proves that life can sometimes surprise you. 

Offering a tangy, apple taste, combined with the gentle spice of ground cinnamon, this feels like a taste of Fall, and you can almost imagine yourself driving through the auburn lanes of Vermont on the way to a nice little B&B.

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12. Raspberry Glazed Donuts

Raspberries are another light, tart summer fruit, and one that is extremely versatile when it comes to baking. 

These raspberry donuts take this idea and run with it, incorporating fresh raspberries into the mix, and dousing the thing in a rich, sticky raspberry glaze that feels right at home with afternoon tea, or a mid morning brunch. 

13. Orange Drop Donuts

As any donut aficionado will know, not all donuts are ring shaped, and some are far more reserved and subtle when it comes to delivering great taste and flavor. 

These orange drop donuts might seem simplistic, but what they offer in terms of texture, citrus tastes, and satisfaction are out of this world. 

14. Choco Butternut Donuts

While chocolate might be a staple of the brand, coconut can be a polarizing flavor. However, this delicious yet subtle combination might just be the thing to convert some of the coconut naysayers. 

Using butter, vanilla extract, nutmeg, sugar, and cocoa, these really are a sweet and almost botanical tasting treat, offering something a different take on this classic donut flavor. 

15. Maple Bacon Donuts

If you thought the maple glazed donuts were quintessentially Canadian, wait until you try these!

Taking inspiration from the classic breakfast combination consumed throughout the US and Canada, these maple bacon donuts combine the sweet and sticky with the salty, creating a combination that feels so wrong but tastes so right. 

16. ‘Unicorn’ Glazed Donuts

These donuts really feel like they were taken from the imagination of a child, thanks to the shimmering color scheme, the sweet, delicious flavor, and the choice of toppings. 

Bright and attractive, these very much represent what all things ought to be – wholesome, sweet, and packed with just enough innocence to bring the whole thing together. 

But don’t worry, no unicorns were harmed in the making of this delectable treat!

17. Whipped Cream Donuts

Whipped cream might not usually be considered as a donut filling, these simple yet effective snacks offer a light and fluffy take on a classic. 

With a simple powdering of sugar on the top, the combination of the crispy dough and the lightness of the cream really comes together to make something that clearly was meant to be. 

Just be warned, you might need a napkin!

18. Cotton Candy Donuts

Cotton candy is a staple of the fairground – as are donuts – but never before have they been combined in such an indulgent, amazing way. 

These too look absolutely brilliant, and the attractive blue hue and intricate decoration gives them the look of something out of this world.

And in many ways they are, offering a combination of flavors that represent pure, unadulterated fun – and really, what could be better than that? 

19. Biscoff Donuts

Biscoff is renowned for being an indulgent, luxury biscuit, with a rich gingerbread flavor palette that has become famous and well loved around the world. 

These donuts take that reputation for greatness and build on it, combining this sticky gingerbread filling with crispy yet soft dough to create something that feels like it was just meant to be. 

There is also something very seasonal about this recipe, with the gingerbread taste summoning feelings of Christmas, comfort, and delicious home cooked food. 

20. Matcha Baked Donuts

Commonly consumed throughout Asia, matcha is a powder derived from specially grown tea leaves, creating an earthy taste that can range from sweet to savory, depending on the mixture. 

These matcha baked donuts draw on this rich tradition, combining these flavors with nutmeg, vanilla, and almond milk to create a subtle yet unforgettable blend of flavors.

These pair really well with some matcha tea, or with matcha infused lattes, coffees, of milkshakes. 

21. Chai Spice Donuts

Incorporating cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, and all spice, these chai spice donuts really are a taste of the Fall, offering a perfect warmer for those cooler mornings. 

Pairing perfectly with warm beverages, these make a moreish, comforting treat for any dull afternoon when you need a pick-me-up. 

22. Key Lime Coconut Donuts

A popular dish throughout the United States, key lime pie is a zesty, tangy cheesecake loved by many.

These donuts draw on that rich legacy, taking the crispy, sugary dough and combining it with the freshness and tang of the key lime to create something altogether special and new. 

These do great in the heat, and thanks to the lime, will keep you feeling refreshed whatever the weather. 

23. Carrot Cake Donuts

Last on this list, but by no means least, these carrot cake donuts take inspiration from the much loved cake, combining nuts, cinnamon, fresh carrot, and spices to create something truly unforgettable. 

These too have an all round Fall feel to them, and make a nice addition to any seasonal get-together or occasion. 

Final Thoughts

And there we have it, everything you need to make some of the most deliciously unique donuts around!

What’s clear is the level of versatility that this much loved sweet treat has, and this, along with the great taste, clearly goes some way to explaining the long lasting popularity of this global favorite. 

Why not try some for yourself? Something tells me you won’t be disappointed!