Most people know what kind of donuts they like. Some like chocolate, some like vanilla. And the list goes on. But what kind of donuts do popular fast food chains like McDonald’s, Burger King, and Jack in the Box sell?
These brands have mastered the art of creating craveable goods that people want to purchase. So what kind of donut do they sell? Let’s take a look to find out. (Note: This article contains affiliate links.)
The Classics
The kind of donuts that everyone knows and loves are still popular. In fact, the classic donuts offered by these restaurants, which you may have tasted while growing up, are still being sold. These are the kind of traditional donuts that have been around for decades and will never go out of style.
McDonald’s classic caramels, for example, are a customer favorite, and the chain actually increased its purchase of these sweets in 2019. The caramel-covered apple pie rings are always a popular choice, too. Similarly, Burger King’s cinnamon roll and jelly sandwich donuts remain extremely popular. And as for the beloved Oreo, its popularity hasn’t waned despite great competition in the cookie space.
The Modern Classics
These brands, which have modernized the way we think about and consume donuts, are masters of creating craveable sweet treats. So, it shouldn’t be a huge surprise that many of their products remain popular even today.
Take the McFlurry, for example. It might not sound like something new, but this mix of ice cream and frozen fruit has been around since the 70s. Yet, it continues to be served at McDonald’s restaurants today. What makes it so special? The texture is unlike anything you’ve ever tasted before, and it’s creamy without being heavy. It truly is a foodie’s delight. And let’s not forget about the Happy Meal. Though it started as a lunchbox option in the 1950s, this iconic American meal is still a fixture on kids’ menus across the country. McDonald’s knows what its customers want, and it doesn’t stop there.
Jack in the Box also offers a unique take on the dessert, known as the Jack in the Box Cheeseburger. It’s a combination of cheeseburger, fries, and dessert, all in one bite-size package. Customers love this option because it tastes like a cross between a cheeseburger, French fries, and a brownie. It’s a decadent combination that makes the perfect light meal or snack.
The Experimentals
This is where things get a little weird. These brands are doing things differently, and they’re offering upnew desserts that customers have never tasted before. So, the question is: will these products become as popular as the classics? Will consumers flock to try these new creations?
To find out, let’s have a look at what’s trending on TikTok.
TikTok, the video platform that launched in April 2018 and is owned by TikTok, Inc., has dominated the social media world since its inception. It is currently the second most-viewed app globally with over 500 million monthly active users as of September 2020.
One of TikTok’s biggest draws is its innovative and frequently hilarious content. One of the platform’s most popular features is its animated ‘meme’ videos, a type of content that combines elements of art and humor to create an easy-to-share content that often focuses on pop culture. These videos often centre on trending topics and news stories, which users can swipe to discover. These videos are like magic to users, who enjoy seeing ordinary objects or scenes turned into something completely new and exciting. It’s the imperfections that make the video stand out, as everything is exaggerated for comedic effect.
This is what made TikTok such a hit when it first launched. And after seeing this platform achieve such global success, what other dessert-related videos can we expect to see next? Let’s take a quick look at the popular memes and desserts that made the cut.
New York Times Cake Challenge
The New York Times recently hosted its annual cake-baking challenge, and many TikTok users jumped at the opportunity to show off their culinary skills. This year’s theme was ‘New York Times 50 Best Restaurants,’ and users were encouraged to visit one of the best eateries in the city to order a cake and take a photo. The results are below.
While there is some degree of competition in the cake-baking arena, most people were just having fun and wanting to share their triumph with others. It seems that users see this as a chance to show off their unique talents and creative ways of cooking. It’s also a great way to practice their photography skills with culinary-related images, whether they’re adding an artistic touch or experimenting with different flavors and textures. This year’s challenge was a great success, and it gave birth to many new videos and memes.
The Caramel Apple Smash
This year’s Halloween-themed challenge was inspired by the movie, ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas.’ In the movie, Jack Skellington, a skeleton-shaped character who serves as the Mayor of Hallowville in the eponymous story, gathers the town’s finest citizens to help him fight off against an invading army of zombies. One of Jack’s many tricks is to transform zombies into goldenseal and greenlip musketeers which he then smashes with delicious caramel apples. This led to the creation of the Caramel Apple Smash. It’s not entirely clear what the inspiration for this video is, but it could be the festive season, as the music is quite merry. Whatever the case may be, this is one unique way of fighting off those late-night snack cravings by smashing some classic candy with your hands. The video has almost 30 million views on TikTok, and it’s one of the platform’s most popular and most viewed memes to date.
Macarooni
This Japanese dessert, also known as ‘Japanese macaroons,’ are small, dry, meringue-based sweets which are encased in a crisp, chewy outer layer. They can be dusted with powdered sugar to make them look like American apple pies. This Japanese dessert was first created in the 19th century as a cheap and efficient way to encapsulate food such as fruit, chocolate, and cream. It originally gained popularity in Japan due to its resemblance to the American dessert, the jelly roll. As the culinary world began to discover macarooni, it became a popular choice for desserts at the end of meals. It also made an appearance in one of the most exciting episodes of ‘Masterchef.’ The Japanese macarooni has been a part of the culinary landscape ever since. The resemblance to the jelly roll was not lost on anyone, and it continues to spark interest in this uniquely sweet treat even today.
Fruit Cocktail
This year, the New York Times’ annual cake-baking challenge also included a cocktail competition. This led to the creation of the Fruit Cocktail. It might seem odd to mix fruit and dessert, but this video shows that anything can happen when you’re not restricted by traditional ideas. This cake is made entirely out of fruit, and it was inspired by the drink, ‘fruit cocktail,’ which is made up of various fruits such as apples, pears, and grapes in fresh or canned form. This video shows how to make the most of seasonal produce and give it a new twist through cooking. This particular video is pretty self-explanatory, but it never hurts to be thorough.
These desserts may not be for everyone, but they’re definitely unique and interesting. And even if you don’t like them, you have to admit that they’re a great conversation starter. Most importantly, these desserts prove that traditional ideas of what a dessert should be don’t have to die — as long as you have the creativity and desire to experiment.