The Nutrition Intel On Donuts (2024)

Not all donuts are created equal. Size, toppings, fillings, and preparation methods all make a big difference in donut calories. (And BTW, every bite is well worth it.)

ByKelsey Ogletree

Published on February 3, 2021

The Nutrition Intel On Donuts (1)

A Saturday morning bakery run, complete with your favorite latte and a donut, sounds like a perfect way to ring in the weekend. But should you be worrying about donut calories? What about sugar? Is it okay to eat donuts every weekend?

First, know this: While it's true that some foods have more nutritional value than others (kale vs. candy, if you will) that doesn't mean any food is inherently "good" or "bad" and labeling things you eat this way can actually have some harmful effects on your mental health and perpetuate the toxicity of diet culture.

Bottom line? Don't do it. Oh, and donuts aren't evil.

Still, there's more to learn about these delicious pastries that can clue you in to how to build the treats into a healthy diet. For example, the average glazed donut (about 4 inches in diameter) contains about 253 calories, 14 grams of fat, and 4 grams of protein — plus 14 grams of sugar. But not all donuts are created equal. Depending on how they're made or if they have a filling or icing, some can have as much 400-500 calories or more per donut, says Maggie Michalczyk, a Chicago-based registered dietitian. That's a lot of donut calories for something without a lot of nutrition staying power.

What Affects Donut Calories?

So, how can you tell how many donut calories you're consuming? There are a few things to consider:

  • How they're prepared: Fried or baked? Fried donuts will typically have more calories than baked donuts, due to being cooked in oil.
  • What kind of batter: Donuts are typically made with either yeast or cake batter. Airier yeast donuts usually have fewer calories than cake donuts, which have a denser texture.
  • Toppings: Beyond a basic glaze or sprinkles, donuts these days are topped with everything from whipped cream and cookie crumbles to colorful cereal and bacon. Pretty obvious, but the more toppings, the more donut calories you're consuming.
  • Fillings: Filled donuts that contain cream, chocolate, or jams will have more calories and sugar than those that are not filled.
  • Size: Donuts are all over the place in size, from one-bite donut holes to huge treats bigger than your hand. The standard size for a donut, however, is about 3 inches in diameter, says Michalczyk. Obviously, the bigger your donut, the more calories it will have — and the more toppings it can hold.

In general, most donuts are high in calories, fat, and carbohydrates, and low in nutrients, says Roxana Ehsani, M.S., R.D., C.S.S.D., L.D.N., spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. (

The Healthiest Orders at Dunkin' Donuts

Examples of Donut Calories

While the calorie range for donuts varies widely, here are a few examples of donut calories for different types you come across, according to Ehsani.

01of 03

Plain Glazed Donut

  • 190-480 calories
  • 22-56 grams carbs
  • 11-27 grams fat
  • 3-5 grams protein

02of 03

Iced Donut with Cream Filling

  • 350 calories
  • 41 grams carbs
  • 19 grams fat
  • 4 grams protein

Specialty Donut with Toppings (i.e. Cookies and Cream)

  • 390 calories
  • 49 grams carbs
  • 21 grams fat
  • 4 grams protein

How Donut Calories Compare to Other Breakfast Pastries

It's tough to do a direct comparison because breakfast pastries, just like donuts, vary widely in calorie content depending on their ingredients, size, and preparation method. Plus, names can be deceiving: For instance, you might assume, a bran muffin or slice of banana bread is the best choice, but those can still be high in calories, fat, and sugar, says Ehsani. (Craving banana bread now? Sorry, but this recipe for vegan banana bread can solve that.😉)

When it comes to treats such as croissants, danishes, scones, and coffee cake, they're all made from refined flour, sugar, butter or oil, and eggs. Ehsani says your best option if you're going to have a breakfast pastry is to choose one that's on the smaller side (those massive blueberry crumble muffins are likely higher in sugar, fat, and calories than most donuts) and preferably made with whole grains, as it will contain more filling fiber to keep you satisfied. (

Even better, skip the coffee shop variety and make your own breakfast pastry at home using whole-grain flours, heart-healthy oil, and less sugar, or a sugar alternative.

The Bottom Line On Donut Calories

Don't let anyone tell you that you can't eat donuts. "While a donut is not the healthiest food in the world, looking at food as 'good' or 'bad' can put a lot of stress around food and make you banish this food, only to make you feel extremely guilty when you do allow yourself to have it," says Michalczyk. She adds that looking at donuts as a treat you can enjoy once in a while — say, the occasional Saturday morning — is a smarter approach that will enable you to truly enjoy them and continue making healthy choices.

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The Nutrition Intel On Donuts (2024)

FAQs

Do doughnuts have any nutritional value? ›

If they're made with enriched flour, doughnuts provide small amounts of folic acid, thiamine, and iron. Yet, overall, they're not considered a good source of healthy nutrients ( 1 ). Instead, they're high in sugar, refined carbs, and fat. What's more, they fall into the category of ultra-processed foods ( 13 ).

Is it okay to eat a donut every day? ›

Anything can be bad for you if you over indulge. Eating one doughnut is not necessarily bad but if you eat one every day or eat one in combination with other high sugar/fat/ carb foods is when it becomes a slippery slope, especially when you are trying to lose weight.

Can I still lose weight if I eat a donut? ›

So back to the original question, “Can you eat doughnuts and lose weight?” Well, YES. Provided you can account for your daily macronutrient and micronutrient requirements, there's absolutely no reason why you can't enjoy your doughnuts in moderation.

How unhealthy is a donut? ›

One donut has a quarter of all of the saturated fat you should have in a day. DUH, donuts are bad for you. But do you know just how bad? An original Krispy Kreme donut has 11 grams of fat—5 of those being saturated—while a Dunkin' original donut has 6 gram of saturated fat (30 percent of your fat intake).

What is the healthiest donut? ›

Sugared Donut

The classic sugared donut is also the most nutritious donut on the menu. It has 240 calories, 11g fat, 4.5g saturated fat, 33g carbohydrates, 4g protein, 13g sugars, and 270mg sodium.

How many Krispy Kreme donuts can I eat a day? ›

A: There is no set rule for how often you can eat Krispy Kreme donuts. However, it is recommended to consume them in moderation as part of a balanced diet to avoid any health risks.

Do donuts have any benefits? ›

However, there is no mention of donuts having any health benefits. In fact, the fast food industry, which includes donuts, is recognized as a contributor to health issues such as high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes.

Is donuts considered junk food? ›

Easily identifiable examples of junk food include chips, doughnuts, candy, and cookies. But some products — such as sports drinks or breakfast bars — also meet the classification, as they're high in sugar and calories yet low in nutrients.

Are donuts bad for belly fat? ›

If you give in too often, they can bulk up your belly. Better Bet: Stop at one. A glazed doughnut has 260 calories. The whole box packs 3,120 calories.

Is it better to eat a donut or nothing for breakfast? ›

Make your choice based on whether calories, carbohydrates, fat, protein, or sodium content is of most importance to your overall meal planning. Selecting a doughnut for breakfast isn't something we recommend. However, it is a better choice if skipping breakfast is the alternative.

What to do after eating a donut? ›

Hydrate. Flush out all that sweet stuff from your system by hydrating ASAP with water or other low-sugar fluids, and foods high in water content. "Drink plenty of water and go for foods like watermelon, cucumbers, strawberries and yogurt," Seaver says.

Are donuts worse than pizza? ›

Comparing the two, it's essential to consider individual dietary needs and preferences. Pizza, with its potential for a variety of nutritious toppings, offers a chance for a more balanced meal. Donuts, on the other hand, often lack the nutritional profile needed to justify frequent consumption.

What is the most unhealthy donut in the world? ›

Honey Dew Donuts Coconut Jelly Stick

The Honey Dew Coconut Jelly Stick is the most calorie and sugar-heavy donut on our list with 590 calories and 40 grams of sugar per stick. Not only that, but it has a whopping 680 milligrams of sodium, which is almost a third of the recommended daily limit.

What to eat instead of donuts? ›

  • Skip the weekly donut breakfast. Replace with Granola and Greek yogurt. If you've made a tradition of weekly breakfast treats, the good news is you can keep it going and make it healthier. ...
  • Dump the candy bowl. Fill it with dried fruit and nuts. We know the drill. ...
  • Forget the cake. Celebrate with Muffins.

Is a banana healthier than a donut? ›

This isn't to say a doughnut is ever a nutritious choice. While delicious, it's filled with empty calories and provides you with virtually none of the vitamins and nutrients that will keep you alive, whereas something like a banana is a good source of potassium, dietary fiber, vitamin C and vitamin B-6.

Are donuts healthier than co*ke? ›

"The bottom line is that though the sugar content might be similar, eating donuts is not technically healthier than drinking a bottle of soda," Dr. Laing said. "A key message from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans is that everything we eat and drink over time matters.

Is it OK to eat one donut a day? ›

There are 387 calories in 100 grams of sugar. Eating just one doughnut is unlikely to cause any harm. However, unless that doughnut is the only source of sugar in your diet, you might go overboard. Too much sugar can lead to obesity, diabetes, heart disease, insulin resistance and metabolic problems.

How to get free dozen Krispy Kreme on birthday? ›

Will I get a birthday reward by being a part of Krispy Kreme Rewards? Yes! We want to celebrate the sweet moments in life and that includes your birthday. You will receive your birthday reward in your account on the 1st day of your birthday month as indicated in your profile.

What is the light rule at Krispy Kreme? ›

According to rumor, if you're lucky enough to see that light spring to life, you get a free treat. Turns out it's not true. Krispy Kreme's communication department shot down the tall tale in an email, writing, "The Hot Light signals that donuts are hot and fresh coming off the line, not a free donut.

Are donuts healthier than apples? ›

The effect of sugar in the body will be different according to the source of the sugar (of course apples are healthier than donuts and offer nutrients other than sugar), but once digested the sugar in your system is the same. And unfortunately sugar contributes to weight gain.

Is A donut better for you than a bagel? ›

Although bagels have slightly more calories, they contain significantly less fat and sugar than donuts. The higher calorie count in bagels can be attributed to their larger size and density compared to donuts. Donuts, however, have a higher fat and sugar content due to their frying process and sugar coating or filling.

Are donuts healthier than muffins? ›

When it comes to calories, carbs, and sugar, there's a clear winner: doughnuts. The fried rings have 155 fewer calories, half the carbs, and 21 fewer grams of sugar than muffins. Muffins don't lose out completely, though: They have 1 g more protein than doughnuts—and half the saturated fat.

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