I tried the same doughnut at Dunkin', Krispy Kreme, and Tim Hortons. The best one came from a gas-station kiosk.
Whether I skipped breakfast , want something sweet to go with my coffee, or need a tasty pick-me-up while on the go, there's never a bad time for a doughnut.
As a New Yorker with lots of options, I decided to head to three of the most popular doughnut chains — Dunkin', Krispy Kreme, and Tim Hortons — to see which had the best Boston-cream-style doughnut.
Here's how they stacked up.
The version from Dunkin' was my least favorite.Dunkin' is one of the most popular doughnut brands in the United States and has more than 13,200 locations across nearly 40 countries.
The chain was founded in Quincy, Massachusetts, and is now owned by Inspire Brands — the parent company of restaurants like Arby's , Sonic, and Buffalo Wild Wings.
I've had Dunkin's Boston Kreme doughnut before, so I knew what to expect.
I probably won't return for another Boston Kreme doughnut from Dunkin'.Dunkin's Boston Kreme doughnut was a bit heartier than the others I tried and was filled with a relatively thick custard with a pudding-like consistency. The frosting packed a fairly rich chocolate flavor, though the texture was a bit sticky.
The filling was sweet but didn't have much additional flavor. The doughnut also had an artificial aftertaste that resembled Wonder Bread, which I didn't love.
But even as my least favorite of the three options, it was still better than not having a doughnut at all. I usually don't seek out Boston Kreme doughnuts from Dunkin' — and this taste test certainly won't change that.
As a longtime Krispy Kreme fan, I was excited to try the brand's chocolate-iced custard-filled doughnut.The first Krispy Kreme shop opened in 1937 in North Carolina. The brand was originally based in the Southeast until it opened a New York City location in 1996, followed by a California location in 1999.
Although Krispy Kreme now has 357 shops across the country, I've loved the brand since I was in college — before it was even available in the Northeast.
Naturally, I had high expectations when I picked up one of the store's chocolate-iced custard-filled doughnuts.
Krispy Kreme's chocolate-iced custard-filled doughnut wasn't as filling as the other two I tried.Krispy Kreme's take on the Boston cream had chocolate icing that was a shade lighter than the other two doughnuts I tried.
Although the icing had a nice flaky texture that the others lacked, its sweetness masked the chocolate flavor. The custard inside was smooth and only slightly sweet, but it seemed to have the thinnest consistency of the three.
And since Krispy Kreme doughnuts are especially airy, this one felt a bit less substantial than the other two — not quite filling enough to pass for an unhealthy breakfast, even.
However, the doughnut wasn't bad by any stretch. I wouldn't choose it if I was only buying one doughnut at Krispy Kreme, but I wouldn't exclude it if I were getting an assortment of doughnuts .
I stopped by a Tim Hortons kiosk in a gas station.Tim Hortons was founded in Ontario in 1964. Today, there are over 5,500 stores across 13 different countries — but more than 4,000 of those are in Canada .
I've only spent about two weeks of my doughnut-eating life in Canada, so I don't have nearly as much experience with Tim Horton's as I do with Dunkin' or Krispy Kreme.
The location I visited in Brooklyn was just a kiosk inside a gas station.
The next time I'm craving a Boston cream doughnut, I'll be sure to stop by Tim Hortons.Tim Hortons' Boston cream doughnut looked almost identical to the Dunkin' version. Since it came from a gas-station kiosk instead of a proper doughnut shop, I worried it might not be as fresh as the others.
However, it was actually better. The doughnut itself was only mildly sweet, with a slightly spongy texture. The cake was strong enough not to crumble in my hands but delicate enough not to overpower the chocolate or custard flavors.
The frosting was my favorite of the three due to its warm chocolate flavor and nice fudgy texture. The custard tasted yolky and creamy with a slight hint of tanginess, giving it a richness the other doughnuts lacked.
Although none of the doughnuts were bad, Tim Hortons' take on the Boston cream tasted the best to me.
taste test review
