Autumn is renowned for its vivid foliage, comfortable jumpers, and, of course, special foods. Although pumpkin spice has been the unofficial flavor of fall for a long time, I and many others are starting to yearn for something else.
I’ve always had a soft spot for the traditional apple-cider doughnut, which goes well with a steaming hot cup of coffee on a brisk autumn day. Something about the combination of toasty cinnamon and tart apple flavor perfectly embodies the spirit of fall.
In the Northeast, apple cider doughnuts were a beloved fall treat when I was a child. Apple orchards are as plentiful as the changing leaves in upstate New York and New England, where I spent many weekends touring. Usually, the high point of the vacation, these excursions would not be complete without indulging in freshly prepared apple-cider doughnuts.
But now that I live in New York City, having the real apple-cider doughnut experience is a little harder. Since the closest apple orchard is far away, I decided to look for a satisfactory substitute closer to home.
My family and I tasted apple-cider doughnuts from Trader Joe’s, Wegmans, and Whole Foods to determine which would best satiate our autumnal appetites. The order of each doughnut in our home is shown below.
Trader Joe’s Apple-Cider Doughnuts: Inexpensive but Tasteless
According to the business website, we began our taste test with Trader Joe’s apple-cider doughnuts, made by a family-run bakery in western Massachusetts. For that distinctive fall flavor, these doughnuts are wrapped in cinnamon sugar after being prepared with genuine apple cider.
At first glance, they appeared to be typical cake doughnuts they were thick, conventional in shape, and rather smaller than anticipated. They were the least costly option of the group, costing $4.50 for a pack of six.
The price was tempting, but I couldn’t help but notice that they looked a lot like regular store doughnuts. Hopefully, the flavor would make up for their unimpressive looks.
I was disappointed that Trader Joe’s apple-cider doughnuts exceeded my expectations. Although the website refers to them as “fluffy,” I thought they were more gluey than anything. The doughnuts were delicious, but they lacked the lightness that I think makes a wonderful cider doughnut. The texture was a little thick.
Regarding taste, I was not impressed. I was looking for a rich, sour apple-cider taste, but the doughnuts tasted fake and too sugary, like green apple candy.
The doughnut seemed to attempt to mimic apple cider’s flavor, but it fell completely short. My wife and the children decided these were the least favorite of the three doughnuts we tasted. Even at the tempting price, I wouldn’t repurchase them.
Wegmans Apple-Cider Fry Cakes: An Enzymatic Take on a Traditional Recipe
Wegmans’ apple-cider fried cakes were next on the menu. Wegmans calls these “fry cakes,” even though most people would call them cake doughnuts. I had great hopes for their popularity because I got the final box in the shop the day I went there.
These fried cakes were somewhat more costly than Trader Joe’s, at $5 for a pack of four, and they didn’t seem like what I had anticipated. Wegmans’ cider doughnuts had a thick glaze covering them, giving them a glossy, decadent look, unlike most other versions, which are either plain or sprinkled with cinnamon sugar. I was excited to try glazed cider doughnuts even though I wasn’t sure how I would feel about them.
The initial taste was a delightful revelation. The fried cakes from Wegmans had a dense, cake-like texture that was enjoyable to chew.
These doughnuts tasted just like cider, unlike Trader Joe’s. My kids liked the sweet touch that the glaze brought, and the apple taste was subdued yet noticeable. They even proclaimed Wegmans the winner of our tasting test quite fast.
Even though I liked the doughnuts a lot, I thought the glaze wasn’t essential. My apple-cider doughnuts are better when they’re simpler, allowing the cider flavor to shine, even if it provides a distinct texture and sweetness.
Even with my taste, I thought the doughnuts were generally rather fresh, and if I were already at Wegmans, I wouldn’t think twice about getting them. I doubt I would make a special effort to find them, though.
Whole Foods Apple-Cider Doughnuts: Pricey But Worth It
Last but not least, we sampled the apple-cider doughnuts from Whole Foods. They are pricey but well worth it. When I searched online for store pickup, these doughnuts didn’t even come up, so I had no idea that Whole Foods had them. Fortunately, I discovered them in the bakery aisle. They were wrapped in simple plastic containers with just a price tag for a label.
Whole Foods’ doughnuts were by far the most costly option, costing $6.50 for a box of four, but they were also the biggest. I wanted to know if better quality would come at a larger cost.
It was evident from the first taste that these doughnuts were unique. The apple-cider flavor from Whole Foods was spot-on; it had a tart, peppery flavor reminiscent of the doughnuts I used to buy from upstate orchards. The thick, dense doughnut was well complemented by the large quantity of sweetness and texture provided by the cinnamon-sugar covering.
The texture of the doughnuts caught my attention the most. The Whole Foods doughnuts were wonderfully moist, with a crispy surface that added intrigue to every mouthful despite their substantial size.
They were almost perfect after reheating them in the air fryer for a few minutes. I completely agreed with my wife that Whole Foods had the greatest apple-cider doughnuts.
I thought these doughnuts were worth the extra money, even if the greater price would put some people off. Even though they came from a grocery store, they captured everything I love about apple-cider doughnuts and the fresh-from-the-orchard sensation.
Conclusion
Ultimately, our tasting investigation demonstrated that there are differences among apple-cider doughnuts. Trader Joe’s doughnuts were disappointing due to their thick texture and artificial flavor, even though they were reasonably priced. Wegmans’ glazed fried cakes were a good alternative, although I felt the frosting was slightly excessive.
But Whole Foods’ exquisitely moist, delicious, spiced doughnuts took first place. Although they are the most expensive, they provide the most genuine apple-cider doughnut sensation.
Whole Foods is the undisputed victor in this doughnut competition, regardless of your level of expertise with cider doughnuts or whether you’re just searching for a delicious fall treat.
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