Texture was the deciding element when I tried the classic glazed doughnut from Krispy Kreme and Dunkin’.

Although Dunkin’ and Krispy Kreme are two of the largest doughnut chains, I was curious a few years back which one had the greatest glazed doughnut. To find out which one was the winner, I decided to conduct my own taste test.

From a purely quantitative standpoint, it’s challenging to determine which doughnut is the best. While Krispy Kreme has 1,400 merchants worldwide, including doughnut shops and partnerships with retailers, there are 13,000 Dunkin’ outlets worldwide.

Although Dunkin’s earnings aren’t disclosed, publicly listed Krispy Kreme reported a 5.7% increase in net revenue to $442.7 million in the first quarter of the year.

I visited both chains because I knew that pure stats wouldn’t help me, and now I understand why the latter is so well-liked.

Here’s what I thought when I visited the businesses back in 2019 to commemorate National Donut Day.
I started my tour inside Penn Station, one of the original Krispy Kremes on the island of Manhattan.

Penn Station is seen in this 2019 snapshot.

The only Krispy Kreme in Manhattan for a very long time was located at Penn Station. Currently, Manhattan is home to seven Krispy Kremes, the largest of which being the Times Square flagship location that opened its doors in September 2020.
At the time, an original glazed was $1.49, and I chose it.

In the end, I bought two more to get a three-pack, which included a cute little box and was $4.89 (now $6.99). Since then, the cost has increased; a single glazed currently costs $2.19.
On National Donut Day, however, all normal doughnuts are free and don’t require a purchase.
The glazed doughnut with Krispy Kreme topping was exceptionally light, fluffy, and delectable.

It melted in my tongue, was perfectly glazed throughout, and had the perfect amount of sweetness. The glaze imparted the perfect amount of crunch.
My fingers were somewhat sticky after handling the glaze, which was the one drawback.

Because the glaze is so delicate, a fingerprint leaves its mark on the pastry the moment you touch the doughnut. It isn’t very attractive.

I next made my way to Dunkin’ Donuts to check what their glazed alternative had to offer.

While I found the Dunkin’ alternative to be tasty, it was very different from the airy and flaky doughnuts offered by Krispy Kreme. It was a dense object.

Additionally, because the glaze flavour was not as strong, it tasted primarily like a doughnut.
Choose Dunkin’ if you like your doughnuts thicker and more cakey. It was dense, but excellent.

At that time, a Dunkin’ Donut costs $1.39 per donut, ten cents less than a Krispy Kreme donut. Now, they are a little more pricey at $2.09 for a glazed one.

The name Dunkin’ Donuts was changed to just Dunkin’ because the chain is now less focused on food and more on beverages.

Dunkin’ will give you a free classic doughnut on National Donut Day when you buy any drink.

Comparing a Dunkin’ Donut to its Krispy Kreme equivalent, the former appears denser.

The density of the Dunkin’ donut is visible.

The frosting was overpowered, in my opinion, by the flavour of the Dunkin’ doughnut. Personally, I think the opposite is preferable. I’m tasting the sugar in a glazed or frosted doughnut, not the dough itself.
All things considered, it’s difficult to top the basic Krispy Kreme doughnut; it’s precisely what I imagine a glazed doughnut to be: sweet, sticky, and incredibly wonderful.

That might just be a matter of taste, though. Dunkin’ is the best option if you’d rather have a doughnut that looks like cake.
In any case, having glazed doughnuts as a snack never makes a poor day.