Dunkin Donuts is an undisputed leader in the donut industry, beloved for their impressive array of sweet offerings to suit any taste. With over 70 years of donut-making experience and more than 12,500 locations worldwide, Dunkin has earned its reputation as a go-to source for deliciously dependable donuts and coffee.
As a longtime donut connoisseur and food industry analyst, I‘ve always been fascinated by the cult following that certain Dunkin donut varieties have achieved. Loyal customers wax poetic about iconic offerings like Boston Kreme and Glazed, while eagerly awaiting the annual return of seasonal favorites like Pumpkin Munchkins. Social media lights up with colorful snapshots whenever a trendy new flavor debuts.
But which donuts are the true champions of the Dunkin menu? I‘ve done a deep dive into the data, consulted with industry insiders, and of course, taste-tested extensively to determine definitively which donut varieties can lay claim to being Dunkin‘s most popular. Whether you‘re a devoted Dunkin regular or an occasional indulger, consider this your expert guide to the best of the best in the Dunkin donut case.
Dunkin‘s Donut Dominators: Top Sellers Revealed
Let‘s start with some cold, hard facts. While Dunkin keeps much of its sales data under wraps, a few key figures have been revealed over the years that point to clear donut favorites.
According to a CNBC report, Dunkin‘s top-selling donut is the humble Glazed, which accounts for about 19% of their total donut sales. That‘s a staggering statistic, especially considering Dunkin‘s extensive variety—in any given case, you might find up to 50 different donut options. Yet the simple, sugary Glazed continues to dominate, demonstrating the enduring appeal of this classic indulgence.
Coming in second is the beloved Boston Kreme, a New England staple featuring Bavarian creme filling and chocolate icing. Food industry publication QSR Magazine reports that the Boston Kreme has consistently held the silver medal position in Dunkin‘s donut sales for well over a decade. Rounding out the top 5 bestsellers are Chocolate Frosted, Jelly, and Chocolate Glazed Cake donuts.
These rankings have remained remarkably stable over time, even as Dunkin introduces trendier new flavors and seasonal offerings to keep things fresh. While limited-edition donuts like Brownie Batter and Sugarplum Macchiato might generate short-term buzz, the tried-and-true favorites maintain their position as sales juggernauts.
Regional Donut Delights and Flavor Fixations
Of course, popularity can vary significantly from region to region. Just as pizza toppings and barbecue styles differ depending on where you are in the country, donut preferences can be surprisingly regional.
Take the Sour Cream donut—while it‘s a niche flavor in most of the U.S., it‘s a beloved staple in the Midwest. Meanwhile, the French Cruller reigns supreme in the Northeast, no doubt thanks to the influence of European bakery traditions in cities like New York and Boston. And coconut donuts have an especially fervent following in tropical climates like Florida and Hawaii.
Dunkin is no stranger to these regional preferences, and often tests out new flavor ideas in specific markets before deciding whether to take them national. For example, Dunkin rolled out a selection of Texas-themed donuts including Yellow Cake with Chocolate Icing and Peanuts to celebrate the opening of their 100th store in the Lone Star State.
Certain areas also have fierce loyalty to specific Dunkin donut varieties that aren‘t as well-known elsewhere. In the Mid-Atlantic region, the Peanut Stick is practically a cultural institution. This glazed, peanut-encrusted treat even earned a loving ode from food writer Allison Robicelli, who called it a "salty, yeasty miracle." Over in the Pacific Northwest, the Blueberry Cake donut has an especially devoted fan base.
The Great Debate: Yeast vs. Cake Donuts
Beyond specific flavors, perhaps the most fundamental divide in the donut-loving community is the question of yeast vs. cake. These two main categories of donuts each have distinctly different textures, and fierce proponents on both sides.
Yeast donuts, which include varieties like Glazed, Boston Kreme, and Jelly, are made from a dough that‘s been leavened with yeast, proofed, and then fried. The result is a puffy, pillowy donut with a satisfyingly chewy texture. According to Dunkin‘s in-house encyclopedia of donut knowledge, yeast donuts make up about 65% of their total donut sales.
Cake donuts, on the other hand, rely on chemical leaveners like baking powder or baking soda for their lift. This yields a denser, more compact texture that some describe as having more of a "bite" than yeast donuts. Old Fashioned, Sour Cream, and Blueberry are all popular examples of Dunkin‘s cake donut lineup.
While the majority of Dunkin customers seem to prefer the lighter texture of yeast donuts, cake donuts have their share of passionate devotees who appreciate the substantive heft and unique mouthfeel. In recent years, there‘s been a bit of a cake donut renaissance as foodie culture has sparked new interest in old-school, hand-crafted specialties like crullers and apple cider donuts.
Filled Donuts on the Rise
Another key trend in the world of Dunkin donuts is the increasing popularity of filled varieties. Once mostly limited to fruit jelly, creme-filled donuts now come in an ever-expanding range of flavors from classic Boston Kreme to avant-garde options like Cookie Dough or Brownie Batter.
According to food industry analyst Technomic, filled donut sales at restaurants grew 3.1% from 2018 to 2019, even as the overall donut market remained relatively flat. Drilling down to Dunkin specifically, their filled donuts have jumped from about 10% of the chain‘s total donut sales in the early 2000s to nearly 25% today.
There are a few factors driving the filled donut boom. For one, consumers are increasingly seeking out indulgent, over-the-top treats as an occasional splurge. Filled donuts fit the bill perfectly—Boston Kreme, for example, packs in a generous dollop of rich Bavarian creme under a lavish layer of chocolate icing. These donuts feel extra-decadent and special compared to their unadorned counterparts.
The visual appeal of filled donuts also can‘t be overlooked, especially in the Instagram era. A cross-section shot of a jelly donut oozing with colorful filling is practically made for social media. Dunkin has leaned into this trend with limited-time offerings like Valentine‘s Day-themed heart-shaped donuts with vibrant pink and white fillings, practically begging to be shared online.
Nostalgia and Novelty: The Donut Emotional Connection
Ultimately, the popularity of certain Dunkin donut varieties goes beyond pure flavor—it‘s also deeply tied to emotional factors like nostalgia and novelty. Biting into a Boston Kreme, for example, might evoke fond childhood memories of weekend mornings at Dunkin with Grandpa. Snagging a wacky new limited-time donut can provide a thrilling break from the everyday routine.
Indeed, Dunkin‘s ever-changing lineup of seasonal specials is a key element of its donut strategy. The chain is constantly introducing new novelty donuts to drive traffic and create buzz. In the fall, Pumpkin Spice and Apple Cider donuts take center stage. Winter brings playful offerings like snowflake-shaped Vanilla Frosted and rich Chocolate Cocoa Minis.
Spring and summer see fruity, tropical flavors like Lemonade, Strawberry Shortcake, and Coconut come to the fore. And of course, major holidays get their own festive lineups—who could resist a shamrock-sprinkled Lucky Mint donut for St. Patrick‘s Day or a star-spangled Donut Hole Flag Cake for the 4th of July?
Donut scholar Paul R. Mullins argues that donuts are the "ultimate nostalgia food," serving as edible symbols of comfort, tradition, and shared cultural history. The sheer longevity of Dunkin Donuts—which has been slinging donuts since 1950—has embedded the brand into America‘s collective memory. To enjoy a Dunkin Boston Kreme or Jelly donut is to take part in a beloved national ritual.
At the same time, Dunkin smartly keeps its donut offerings fresh and exciting with a constant churn of new flavor combinations to appeal to customers‘ sense of food adventure and FOMO. Savvy use of social media helps these novel creations generate organic buzz and go viral with eye-catching photos and influencer endorsements.
This potent combination of nostalgia and novelty helps explain why even as foodie culture has trended towards gourmet, artisanal treats, Dunkin has managed to stay relevant and even increase donut sales year after year. In a tumultuous world, the sweet familiarity of Dunkin is powerfully reassuring. But that comfort is balanced by the tantalizing pull of the new and now.
The Bottom Line: Dunkin Runs on Donuts
At the end of the day, Dunkin‘s donut dominance shows no signs of slowing. While the quick service chain has made admirable strides in expanding its beverage and savory food offerings in recent years, donuts remain the sugary heart and soul of the brand.
According to Scott Murphy, President of Dunkin‘ Americas, donuts still make up about 30% of Dunkin‘s sales mix—an impressive feat for a company that sells 1.9 billion cups of coffee annually. Donuts are also a key driver of profitability. Restaurant consulting firm Technomic estimates that the profit margins on donuts are up to 35% higher compared to other menu items due to low ingredient costs.
But Dunkin isn‘t content to rest on its glazed laurels. The company is constantly experimenting with new donut varieties to keep pace with the fantastical creations at trendy upstarts like Voodoo Doughnut. Recent innovations have included Donut Fries (strips of donut dough tossed in cinnamon sugar), Donut Holes filled with Chococcino Creme, and Donut Twists in multiple flavors.
Looking ahead, I‘d wager we‘ll see even more innovative riffs on classic Dunkin donuts as well as totally novel flavor profiles no one even saw coming. The chain could apply learnings from its next-level coffee lineup to dream up donuts featuring cold brew, oatmilk and more. Vegan donuts are a major opportunity as more consumers embrace plant-based eating. Globally-inspired flavors like matcha, ube, and guava would add a trendy twist.
But even as Dunkin pushes the boundaries of what a donut can be, I have no doubt that the tried-and-true top sellers like Glazed, Boston Kreme, and Chocolate Frosted will continue their reign as crowd favorites. After all, Dunkin has always been a master at giving the people what they want. And America clearly wants—no, needs—its daily Dunkin donut fix.
