Dunkin's new chocolate donuts: All fluff, no stuff
You know how really attractive people can sometimes get away with murder just because they're so good looking? (It's like the hot guy who stole my seat yesterday on the subway: I allowed it only because he was so very pretty.)
Such is the case with Dunkin' Donuts new chocolate donuts. They're so lovely to look at that you're willing to overlook the fact that the taste is something of a letdown. Don't believe me? I've got an office full of disappointed coworkers ready to back me up ...
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In celebration of Chocolate Lovers Month and Valentine's Day, Dunkin' Donuts has introduced a new line of yeast raised chocolate donuts in several appetizing-looking varieties.
So what exactly is a "yeast raised donut," you ask? A yeast raised donut is made from yeast-leavened dough -- versus the baking powder-leavened dough of a traditional cake donut. Yeast raised donuts tend to be lighter, airier, and fluffier than their cake donut counterparts. Still confused? Krispy Kreme is the pinnacle example of a yeast raised donut, while Dunkin' is more known for its cake donuts (though the yeast-raised Glazed and Boston Kreme varieties are certainly on its menu as well).
As you can see, yeast raised donuts are fairly ubiquitous. But yeast raised chocolate donuts? Not so much. In fact, with the introduction of the new line, Dunkin' Donuts is now claiming to be the only domestic chain to offer cocoa yeast donuts.
So how do they taste?
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When I brought the new chocolate donuts into the office, my coworkers clustered around in excitement -- no doubt because the donuts certainly are pretty to look at. The Cocoa Confetti is a chocolate ring topped with chocolate icing and rainbow-colored sprinkles. The Cocoa Kreme Puff is a powered sugar chocolate donut with vanilla butter cream oozing out. And, the Reverse Boston Kreme is chocolate donut with a Bavarian chocolate cream filling and vanilla icing.
But after sampling all three of the selections, I had a bunch of coworkers grumbling, particularly over the fact that the chocolate flavor was way too subtle; all that they could taste was the sugary icing and filling. And, the "doughy" -- one person even said "bagel-y" -- texture of the donut only added to their disappointment. I think it's pretty safe to say I've got a office full of cake donut-loving co-workers. To each her own. You can't fault them for that.
Overall, a fairly unsatisfying experience. But one I'm willing to overlook this Valentine's Day because the donuts themselves are so darn pretty.
Image via Dunkin' Donuts
Written by Kim Conte for CafeMom's blog, The Stir.
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