Fried vs Baked Donuts

Donut, fried cake, fried dough, or whatever you want to call it, is obviously one of the best comfort foods that's just nostalgic to crave. 

With various flavors, glazes, toppings, and fillings, donuts became more desirable to eat, especially for children.

Here I'll tackle the difference between fried and baked donuts and which is the better treat. 

Fried donuts will always be our favorite despite their health risk. On the other hand, Baked donuts are the healthier option and easy-to-cook if you want to prepare it on your own. 

If you're intrigued by this topic, read on to know more about donuts. 

Let's get into the details.

Fried Donuts

Authentic fried donuts are delectable indeed. It has a deep-fried flavor with a sweet touch from the toppings. 

However, these type of donuts are greasy and contains a lot of sugar. Therefore, they're to consume in minimal. 

The different kinds of fried donuts are as follows. 

Yeast Donut

A yeast donut is a raised dough using yeast as leavening. It is sometimes sour or called "sourdough" as it contains natural yeast.

It's the typical donut that we usually buy from donut shops.

The procedures of making yeast donuts are just like bread-making. It requires time and effort to achieve the perfect dough outcome. 

After the kneading, proofing, and cutting period, it expands (again) when deep-fried, resulting in a light and airy interior.

It's the perfect donut type for fillings such as jelly, spreads, custards, and cream.

Brioche

Brioche donuts are the type of donuts that has a high amount of butter and egg. Its dough is stickier than the original raised one.

It also contains yeast but its proofing time is much longer than raised donuts, resulting in a lighter dough.

It's sweeter than usual and less likely to have crumbs.

If you're in for a classic but sweeter dough donut bread, Brioche donuts are for you.

Fillings and glazes are also appropriate for this kind, just like other yeast donuts.

Cake Donut

This donut variety doesn't require much effort to make.

Cake donut's dough is a no-knead and sticky, almost like a cake batter; that's why it's called a "cake donut"

Since it doesn't require kneading, it's denser and drier as well and almost cake-like in the state.

It contains baking powder that acts as the leavening agent for it to rise. Typically, it's sweeter than raised donuts.

If preparing it at home, you'll need to use a donut dispenser or kneading effort for you to be able to roll it flat and cut your donut rings.

Old-fashioned

Old-fashioned donut is the cracked donut sets that we commonly see at donut shops.

It's called old-fashioned because of its traditional recipe. 

Before yeast donuts became popular and commercially sold, Americans normally cook donuts with baking powder.

Because of the presence of baking powder, the dough rises as it comes to frying, leaving the donut edges cracked.

The style of preparation is the same as yeast donuts. You'll need to knead the dough and rest it but for only a short time.

As to texture, it resembles the cake donut. Unfortunately, it doesn't often come with fillings as well.

It's best paired with coffee.

Cruller

Cruller is a donut-shaped deep-fried pastry. It's a popular pastry in the US and Canada with a twisted dough, commonly like a churro. 

It can be made with a cake donut batter or a pate a choux, mainly the churro batter. 

It can be thick and rich or thin, with a crispy exterior and fluffy.

Some people prefer it plain or with syrup or sugar-cinnamon coating. 

Most people like it for it has a sweet, deep dough flavor that resembles donuts.

Cronut

Cronut is the fusion of croissant and donut. This recently became a thing, and people sought after it. 

Its appearance is just like a thick donut. We know that croissant has layers, and is airy and flaky. Imagine now a ring-shaped croissant, a donut with a layered interior.

The recipe requires a lot of effort to get the best cronut.

If you're to cook it, remember that the dough folding technique is very important. It's recommended to fry in grapeseed oil as well for a richer taste and healthier option. 

Taste-wise, it's just like a croissant but fried. 

The idea of the cronut gave different appeal to the typical croissant and donuts.

Baked Donuts

If you want a healthier option, go with baked donuts.

This type of donut is time-saving, easy to make, and tastes good as if eating a cake and a donut at the same time. In addition, it is mostly less in calories and sugar content. 

One of the best things about baked donuts is that, if you're the one preparing it, you'll get to choose the ingredients. 

Unlike fried donuts, baked ones are prepared like cake with the use of molds and an oven. 

It's not like bagels, which are prepared like bread. Baked donuts compose of batter with a thick consistency. 

You can make it according to your preferences. You can bake vegan, low-calorie, gluten-free, or sugar-free. 

They're light, fluffy, but compact, often plain, unlike the commercialized donuts.

Though, it can be leveled up with glazes to make it look like authentic fried donuts.

Shape-wise, you can have identical loop shapes with the use of molds for baking, which the fried ones find hard to achieve.

It's also a 'one serving is enough' snack, perfect if you're on a diet. But it's addicting, so be cautious if you're consuming a lot.

It might be a plain and simple donut kind, it's still delightful and mouthwatering. 

If you're a cake and donut lover, a baked donut is a dessert that fits you.

Fried and Baked Donuts Sugar Content

Now, let's talk about the typical sugar content that these two types of donuts have. 

Fried donuts are said to be an unhealthy snack. So if you love donuts, but you're on a low sugar diet as well, you might want to cut down your donut intake.

Fried ones usually come with glaze, and their sugar content can be varied according to how they're made.

However, a study shows that the approximate sugar content of a donut with a glaze is 18.2 grams which might be quite concerning since we also can consume other food with sugar alongside eating this dessert.

Baked donuts, on the other hand, can be made at home. Meaning, you can control the sugars for your recipe. You can make it vegan-friendly, keto, and sugar-free.

According to AHA, a healthy woman should consume only 24 grams, and a healthy man should intake only 36 grams of sugar a day. 

Therefore, fried donuts or baked donuts with high sugar content might be unhealthy for you if you consume it too much.

Personally, I eat two fried donuts for a day. But, sometimes, one serving is enough.

Always take sweets in moderation for your health and safety. If you often consume sugar beyond the recommended daily intake, you should watch out for these possible adverse effects:

• Acne breakout
• Weight gain
• Increased risk of diabetes and heart illness
• Fast skin aging
• Energy decrease

Calorie Content

Let's now talk about the Calorie content of both types.

The calorie content of donuts may vary, just like the sugar content. But let's take a look at their rough estimate of energy.

According to the USDA, a serving of fried or generic doughnuts have approximately 421 calories. It was calculated with carbohydrates, fat, and protein. 

This is within the recommended daily intake of 2,000 kcal for women and 2,600 kcal for men. 

You might also consider the other food you intake if you're observing your daily calorie count.

However, if you're on a low-calorie diet, you should be aware of this before consuming fried donuts. The healthier option is a baked donut.

You can make your own at home depending on your diet. This type has roughly 160 calories per donut.

There are ingredients you might want to try for low-calorie baked donuts namely:

• Unbleached whole wheat flour
• Gluten-free self-rising flour
• Pancake Mix

Can You Eat Fried or Baked Donuts Every Day?

You can eat fried or baked donuts every day but be mindful of your sugar and calorie intake.

We have discussed the sugar and calories present in a fried donut. Therefore, you shouldn't eat too much of it that might go over the recommended daily intake of both nutrients.

You can try baked donuts for a nutritious substitute.

Conclusion

Which is better? Fried or Baked? 

Fried Donuts is better, regardless of its health risks. 

And actually, donuts are originally fried. That's what makes them distinct from other bread and pastries. 

Personally, I think fried donuts are addictive, and I am a fried donut person. 

I prefer pillowy dough that's perfect with filling and glaze. 

Nonetheless, baked donuts can be a good and much healthier alternative. If you're making it yourself, you just need creativity to make it as the fried.

Overall, donuts are excellent, even it is fried or baked, store-bought or homemade. There are just things to consider according to consumers' liking.  Donuts are donuts, after all, and we can't get enough of it!