I compared Dunkin' and Krispy Kreme's pumpkin spice donuts, and Krispy Kreme annihilated Dunkin'

Irene JiangSep 3, 2020, 01:24 IST

Insider

Nothing says fall like the return of pumpkin spice menu items, and pumpkin spice season started earlier than ever before this year.
Krispy Kreme just brought back its pumpkin spice donut collection along with a new addition: the pumpkin spice cinnamon roll donut.
Consumers are gravitating towards comfort foods during the pandemic, making the early and extended return of pumpkin spice a logical sales booster.
I compared Krispy Kreme's pumpkin spice donut collection to Dunkin's, and I found that Krispy Kreme's donuts were better.

Nothing heralds the coming of fall like the return of the pumpkin spice latte and its many sweet companions.

With many Americans eager for something sugary to tide them over to the end of 2020, Dunkin' and Starbucks kicked off pumpkin spice season earlier than ever before this year. Also returning to the festive fall food roster are the pumpkin spice donuts at Dunkin' and Krispy Kreme.

Consumers continue to gravitate towards familiarity and comfort foods during the pandemic, making the early or extended return of pumpkin spice a logical choice for companies hoping to further boost sales.

This pumpkin spice season, Dunkin' brought back its apple cider donut and pumpkin donut through the fall. Krispy Kreme, meanwhile, launched its pumpkin spice donut collection that includes the previously available pumpkin spice glazed donut, pumpkin spice cake donut, pumpkin spice filled cheesecake donut, and a brand new offering: the pumpkin spice cinnamon roll donut. All four of Krispy Kreme's pumpkin spice collection donuts will be available through September. Last year, the popular items were only available for one week.

I tried all of Krispy Kreme's pumpkin spice donut collection and compared them against Dunkin's pumpkin spice donut offerings. Here's what I thought.

Since the nearest Krispy Kreme is an hour away, I asked Krispy Kreme to send me a box of their four pumpkin spice donut flavors.

Irene Jiang/Business Insider

I also went to the nearest Dunkin' to retrieve several of their classic fall donuts.

Irene Jiang/Business Insider

I started with Krispy Kreme's ever-growing pumpkin spice donut collection.

Irene Jiang/Business Insider

Krispy Kreme's first-ever pumpkin spice donut was the pumpkin spice cake donut, which has been on its menu for years and is usually available throughout the fall season.

Irene Jiang/Business Insider

Krispy Kreme's first-ever pumpkin spice donut was the pumpkin spice cake donut, which has been on its menu for years and is usually available throughout the fall season.

It's soft, moist, and dense, and while it doesn't taste a lot like pumpkin, the nutmeg really stands out in this one. The glaze is thick but is still subtle and adds to an already moist, crumbly bite.

Irene Jiang/Business Insider

It's soft, moist, and dense, and while it doesn't taste a lot like pumpkin, the nutmeg really stands out in this one. The glaze is thick but is still subtle and adds to an already moist, crumbly bite.

Dunkin's version of the pumpkin cake donut is larger, denser, and more colorful than Krispy Kreme's.

Irene Jiang/Business Insider

It's slightly drier but still quite moist. However, it has a very artificial, even plasticky pumpkin flavor. The spices are also less fragrant.

Irene Jiang/Business Insider

Krispy Kreme brought back two limited-edition donuts this year, one of which is the pumpkin glazed donut.

Irene Jiang/Business Insider

It really just tastes like a classic Krispy Kreme glazed donut with a hint of fall flavor. It's soft and the glaze is delicate, and the nutmeg and clove are subtle but present.

Irene Jiang/Business Insider

It really just tastes like a classic Krispy Kreme glazed donut with a hint of fall flavor. It's soft and the glaze is delicate, and the nutmeg and clove are subtle but present.

Krispy Kreme's pumpkin cheesecake donut is like the pumpkin glazed, only it has cheesecake filling injected into it.

Irene Jiang/Business Insider

It's a revelation. It brings all the delicacy of the glazed donut and punches it up with a tangy, hearty, slightly salty cream cheese filling.

Irene Jiang/Business Insider

The new Krispy Kreme donut this year is the pumpkin spice cinnamon roll donut: a pumpkin donut dusted with pumpkin spice sugar and topped with swirls of cinnamon and cream cheese frosting.

Irene Jiang/Business Insider

The new Krispy Kreme donut this year is the pumpkin spice cinnamon roll donut: a pumpkin donut dusted with pumpkin spice sugar and topped with swirls of cinnamon and cream cheese frosting.

It's absolutely delicious. The pumpkin spice is very subtle in this one, but the soft, fluffy texture combined with crunchy bits of sugar is extremely satisfying.

Irene Jiang/Business Insider

Dunkin's counterpart is the apple cider donut, which is an apple-flavored cake donut tossed in cinnamon sugar.

Irene Jiang/Business Insider

It's nice and sweet with a vaguely Apple Jack-like flavor, but doesn't bring the same harmony of flavor and texture that its Krispy Kreme counterpart does.

Irene Jiang/Business Insider

Dunkin's donuts are dense and colorful, and in a tight spot, they do the job. They're widely available, and they'll be here all fall.

Irene Jiang/Business Insider

But Krispy Kreme's very limited-time pumpkin spice donut collection is even more tantalizing — not just because they'll be here for such a short amount of time, but also because they're simply that much better.

Irene Jiang/Business Insider

But Krispy Kreme's very limited-time pumpkin spice donut collection is even more tantalizing — not just because they'll be here for such a short amount of time, but also because they're simply that much better.

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I compared Dunkin' and Krispy Kreme's pumpkin spice donuts, and Krispy Kreme annihilated Dunkin'

Since the nearest Krispy Kreme is an hour away, I asked Krispy Kreme to send me a box of their four pumpkin spice donut flavors.

I also went to the nearest Dunkin' to retrieve several of their classic fall donuts.

I started with Krispy Kreme's ever-growing pumpkin spice donut collection.

Krispy Kreme's first-ever pumpkin spice donut was the pumpkin spice cake donut, which has been on its menu for years and is usually available throughout the fall season.

It's soft, moist, and dense, and while it doesn't taste a lot like pumpkin, the nutmeg really stands out in this one. The glaze is thick but is still subtle and adds to an already moist, crumbly bite.

Dunkin's version of the pumpkin cake donut is larger, denser, and more colorful than Krispy Kreme's.

It's slightly drier but still quite moist. However, it has a very artificial, even plasticky pumpkin flavor. The spices are also less fragrant.

Krispy Kreme brought back two limited-edition donuts this year, one of which is the pumpkin glazed donut.

It really just tastes like a classic Krispy Kreme glazed donut with a hint of fall flavor. It's soft and the glaze is delicate, and the nutmeg and clove are subtle but present.

Krispy Kreme's pumpkin cheesecake donut is like the pumpkin glazed, only it has cheesecake filling injected into it.

It's a revelation. It brings all the delicacy of the glazed donut and punches it up with a tangy, hearty, slightly salty cream cheese filling.

The new Krispy Kreme donut this year is the pumpkin spice cinnamon roll donut: a pumpkin donut dusted with pumpkin spice sugar and topped with swirls of cinnamon and cream cheese frosting.

It's absolutely delicious. The pumpkin spice is very subtle in this one, but the soft, fluffy texture combined with crunchy bits of sugar is extremely satisfying.

Dunkin's counterpart is the apple cider donut, which is an apple-flavored cake donut tossed in cinnamon sugar.

It's nice and sweet with a vaguely Apple Jack-like flavor, but doesn't bring the same harmony of flavor and texture that its Krispy Kreme counterpart does.

Dunkin's donuts are dense and colorful, and in a tight spot, they do the job. They're widely available, and they'll be here all fall.

But Krispy Kreme's very limited-time pumpkin spice donut collection is even more tantalizing — not just because they'll be here for such a short amount of time, but also because they're simply that much better.