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Dreaming of doughnuts: A deep-hearted dedication to that decadent, doughy delight

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They’re the reward for waking up early. They’re the sweet counterpoint to bitter black coffee. They’re eminently affordable but immensely delicious. They’re an all-American favorite with variations from all around the world. They’re doughnuts! Everybody loves ’em. And here’s proof: An essay about why doughnuts are awesome might seem redundant, but you love doughnuts so much you’ll read on anyway.

A selection from Carl's Donuts (Christopher Devargas)

Doughnuts are so delicious, the late, great culinary icon Anthony Bourdain thought children needed to be protected from their siren song. He once called out television chef Rachael Ray for hawking Dunkin’ Donuts. “It’s like endorsing crack for kids,” he told Outside magazine. Sure, we can all agree that kids shouldn’t do drugs. And yet, Bourdain’s comparison made me reach for a jelly-filled.

Doughnuts are magical because they’re simultaneously one thing (doughnuts) and everything (glazed, frosted, chocolate, twist, etc.). You order a dozen, and no two are the same. A doughnut is a blank canvas just waiting to be shaped into endless varieties. The palette is oh so sweet: sugars, creams, jellies, candies, sprinkles and more. Doughnuts meld with pretty much any culinary tradition (see: cronuts, kolaches, churros and green tea doughnuts). And as the new trend for high-end specialty doughnuts (hello, Saint Honoré Doughnuts & Beignets) arrives on the scene, the kaleidoscope of doughnut options turns once again to reveal ever more beautiful creations.

Donut Bar's Grilled Cheese Donut Sandwich (Christopher Devargas)

Doughnuts are democratizing. In a country where income inequality is soaring and big box stores push out the little guys, a regular family can still start a doughnut shop and make a good living. Las Vegas is dotted with moms and pops who wake up before dawn to serve the community. And these small businesses are often immigrant-owned, leaving the doughnut as a rare attainable example of the American Dream.

Doughnuts are a spontaneous joy. It takes real commitment to bake (or heck, even order) a cake. It’s big; it’s generally all one flavor. You need an army of like-minded folks to consume it. Doughnuts can be a group effort, but they’re just as easily a solo expedition. There’s no greater joy than stopping for one en route to work, just because.

Doughnuts are cheap enough to be an anytime snack. Coffee shop prices have skyrocketed, but most doughnut joints seem lost in time, price-wise. Many of the best shops are cash only, but you should be able to get your fix with a fiver.

Doughnuts are joy. My personal favorites are doughnut holes, those miniature universes of goodness that don’t make you feel (as) guilty. You surely have a favorite, too, and I respect your choice. The Weekly staff has had spirited discussions as to the superiority of yeast or cake doughnuts. We can’t agree, because everybody’s right. With doughnuts, we all win.

Shop talk: a guide to the Vegas Valley's many doughnut purveyors

MOM & POPS

Coco Donuts A second-generation pastry mainstay. 10040 W. Cheyenne Ave. #145, 702-562-2626; 7965 S. Rainbow Blvd. #150, 702-998-4448.

A selection from Friendly Donut House (Christopher Devargas)

Dee’s Donuts Get your sweet fix in the Northwest. 6401 N. Durango Drive #150, 702-658-7657.

Donut Hut A delicious doughnut shop run by refugee Sothy Seang, the “Cambodian Rambo.” 3242 E. Desert Inn Road #17, 702-369-1711.

Friendly Donut House Henderson’s go-to spot for classic goodness. Don’t skip the fritter. 856 S. Boulder Highway, 702-568-6196.

Glaze Doughnuts This Southwest spot has been delighting diners since 2015. 6545 S. Fort Apache Road #130, 702-246-2888.

Master Donuts A family-owned midtown favorite. 2300 E. Desert Inn Road #11, 702-796-1790.

Mazzoa Donuts “Be happy, eat donuts” declares an in-store sign. We agree. 5180 Blue Diamond Road, 702-617-0371.

A selection from Ronalds Donuts (Christopher Devargas)

Real Donuts The deliciousness here is addictive. 1811 W. Charleston Blvd. #1, 702-388-9958; 2212 E. Cheyenne Ave. 702-649-6357.

Ronald's Donuts Among other reasons, this Chinatown favorite is beloved for offering vegan doughnuts since before vegan was cool. 4600 Spring Mountain Road, 702-873-1032.

CHAIN FAVES

Dunkin' Donuts Born in 1950 in Quincy, Massachusetts, this mainstay serves more than 50 varieties to more than 3 million customers a day worldwide, by their count. dunkindonuts.com.

Krispy Kreme Famous for its Original Glazed, this popular spot first opened in 1937 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. krispykreme.com.

Carl's Donuts' Pistachio Donut (Christopher Devargas)

Winchell's Donut House The "West Coast's largest donut chain" has more than 170 U.S. locations—including nine in the Vegas Valley. It's open 24/7 and it bears the slogan "Home of the Warm 'n Fresh Donut." winchells.com.

District: Donuts Sliders. Brew. This New Orleans mainstay has its only non-Louisiana shop at Cosmopolitan's Block 16 Urban Food Hall. 702-698-7000.

Pinkbox Doughnuts Fun and whimsical doughnuts—like the Unicorn, Pooh and Flaming Red Head—are the stars at this local chain. Multiple locations, pinkboxdoughnuts.com.

SPECIALTY SHOPS

The Dapper Doughnut This MGM Grand spot specializes in cake doughnuts and offers mini-doughnut catering. 702-715-9663.

Carl's Donuts What began some 55 years ago as a motel doughnut shop in California has become a Vegas-based doughnut factory, retail shop and thriving wholesale business supplying sweets to Valley convenience stores. 3170 E. Sunset Road #F, 702-283-7079.

A selection from Donut Bar (Christopher Devargas)

Divine LV This new North Las Vegas boutique serves up superb doughnuts that taste as good as they look—and that's saying something. 6320 Simmons St. #135, 702-405-7115.

Donut Bar Get there early, because this Downtown shop sells out most days. 124 S. 6th St. #140, 702-550-4646.

Saint Honoré Doughnuts & Beignets A dozen "couture" doughnuts will set you back $55, but it will get you scratch-made delights like the Doughpoléon. 9460 W. Flamingo Road #115, 702-840-3361.

Sweet facts

Americans eat more than 10 billion doughnuts a year. With the population at roughly 327 million, that averages out to 31 doughnuts per person.

The U.S. doughnut industry brings in an estimated $3.6 billion annually.

Divine LV's Sweet Piggy Full and Mini (Christopher Devargas)

The country with the most doughnut shops per capita is Canada.

The city with the most doughnut shops per capita is Boston.

What is a doughnut? Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines doughnut thusly: Doughnut | noun Variation: donut Definition: A small, usually ring-shaped piece of sweet fried dough.

The word "usually" is key to understanding the glory of the doughnut. For the most part, those of us in the U.S. associate doughnuts with that exact definition—small, fried rounds of cake or yeast dough topped or filled with some sort of sugary delight. Is the "cronut," a croissant-doughnut hybrid invented in NYC, a doughnut? Who knows. Is a hot dog a sandwich? The debate rages on.

The oldest doughnut The word "doughnut" didn't show up in texts until 1809, when Washington Irving mentioned it in his History of New York. In 1900, George W. Peck published the story Peck's Bad Boy and His Pa, introducing the world to the alternative spelling of "donut," which has confused folks ever since.

American History As many of the United States native and settling cultures and populations relocated, so did their recipes and traditions for fried dough. For the most part, however, the modern U.S. doughnut can be traced to Dutch olykoeks (oily cakes), which were brought to New Amsterdam (aka Manhattan) during the 18th century. Balls of dough were fried in pork fat until golden brown. The centers, which didn't cook as fast as the outside, were stuffed with fruits, nuts and other fillings that didn't require cooking.

Pink Box's Flaming Redhead (Christopher Devargas)

Then, in 1847, something wonderful happened. Elizabeth Gregory, mother to New England ship captain Hanson Gregory, whipped up some fried dough with cinnamon, nutmeg and lemon zest, with nuts in the center. Legend has it that when Captain Gregory pulled out one of the snacks while cruising the seas, he stuck it on the steering wheel, creating the first-ever doughnut hole. (In a later interview with The Boston Post, he claimed he punched out the hole with the top of a round tin pepper box.) From then on, more or less, doughnuts came in rings.

Their rise in popularity began during World War I, when the Salvation Army sent women laden with doughnuts to homesick soldiers on the front lines. When the troops returned to the States, they wanted more of the sweet treats.

Flavors and styles Based on some not-so-scientific surveys from websites like Ranker and the Things, these are the most popular doughnut flavors in the United States: Glazed, Chocolate glazed, Boston créme, Chocolate long john , Chocolate frosting with sprinkles, Strawberry jelly, Maple, Powdered, Double chocolate, Vanilla frosting with sprinkles, Custard, Sugar, Cinnamon and sugar, Apple fritter, Lemon créme

Tags: Featured, Food
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