Product Review: Kinnikinnick Foods Gluten Free Soft Donuts

Product: Kinnikinnick Foods Gluten Free Soft Donuts – $6.59+

It’s National Donut Day.  No really…it is national donut day!  Mmmm…donuts…

I have a soft spot in my life (and stomach…poke, poke)…for donuts.  And they aren’t something that I get to have very often.  Sure, my local bakery, Annie May’s Sweet Cafe, offers them (and sometimes donut holes) in a variety of flavors, every Saturday (and they go FAST.  Like…FAST!), I don’t always treat myself to one.  I am tomorrow…because…they have my favorite flavor…BLUEBERRY!

But I am digressing…as always.  The point is…it is a rare thing for me to get a donut.  Because, let’s face it, there aren’t a lot of places where you can easily get a gluten-free donut.  Fresh.  Hot out of the oven or fryer or whatever.

That being said, not too long ago, a rep for Kinnikinnick Foods contacted me about sending me a couple of their products to try.  As I am a food blogger, I never, ever turn this down.  When the box arrived, I was beyond elated to find a box of Kinnikinnick Foods Gluten Free Vanilla Wafers and Kinnikinnick Foods NEW Gluten Free Soft Donuts with Vanilla Icing.  I put the cookies in my pantry and the donuts in my freezer, waiting for the perfect opportunity to break them out.

Hello!!  I’m lucky I was working my way through gluten-free bagels, because that meant I had these in my freezer when National Donut Day rolled around.  So, whereas prior to finding out it was National Donut Day, I was planning on opening the one pint of Ben & Jerry’s Vegan Ice Cream that I can safely eat (Chunky Monkey)…that soon became “Let’s have donuts for dessert.”

Hey, everyone at work got donuts provided by the boss from a local bakery.  I got a banana.  Yes…she brought me a banana.  I love bananas and all…but…IT. IS. NATIONAL. DONUT. DAY.  Sometimes you just take matters into your own hands…and freezer. (For the record, Annie May’s had donuts today…I just didn’t have time to drive over there).

So, after devouring dinner tonight (because I knew donuts were happening), I pulled the box out of the freezer and tore into it.  I was so excited.  DONUTS.  ON NATIONAL DONUT DAY!  Don’t mock me.  When you’re a Celiac, it’s the little things in life.

But, my excitement waned slightly (very slightly) when I pulled out the sealed package of six (6) donuts.  Because, in my head I expected this giant box to contain six amazing, Dunkin’ Donuts or Krispy Kreme-sized donuts.  But…these donuts were small.  Like…three bites…amuse-bouche small.  I was a little let down.  I just expected…DONUTS…not donuts.  But…you know…it was a minor thing.  I removed a donut for my roommate and myself and tore off a packet of the vanilla icing that was included in the box.  These are super easy to prepare…microwave from frozen for about 20-30 seconds (my microwave in older than God, so I had to do 30 seconds), then drizzle with the icing pack.  Then…cram into mouth and devour.  I handed my roommate hers and she wasted no time, going on about how soft it was, how it wasn’t dense or heavy…and she licked the icing off her plate.  No joke.  Licked it.

So, the Kinnickinnik Foods Gluten Free Soft Donuts are…just as advertised.  Soft.  They aren’t quite as light as a yeast donut would be, but they don’t have the heft and density of a cake donut.  They are a perfect medium between the two popular types of donuts.  The icing…is soft of like the icing that you’d drizzle over a warm toaster strudel…and added a nice sweet glaze to the donut as well.  I lifted the little donut and took a bite…

Usually when I settle in to try a new gluten-free product…I’m like…

…and sometimes I’m surprised…and sometimes I’m disappointed. As for these…

Oh…these were definitely good.  They sort of have the flavor of a funnel cake.  No joke.  Lighter than that fried dough treat, these donuts are a sweet treat that I would have savored more, had it not disappeared within three bites.  I’ll stop ragging on the size to say…YES…these are amazing.  They have a fantastic flavor, texture, and sweetness to it.  I felt like I was eating a donut…and you can’t even tell they are frozen.  It’s donut voodoo, I’m sure.  No disgusted face.  I ate this faster than I probably should have.  I was tempted to go fix up the remaining four, but restrained myself.  It wasn’t easy…because these easily left me wanting MORE.

So, let’s take a look at what ingredients go into Kinnikinnick Foods Gluten Free Soft Donuts, shall we?  These donuts are made from water, white rice flour, potato starch, tapioca starch, fuctose, non-hydrogenated palm oil shortening (palm oil, modified palm oil), egg whites, cellulose powder, tapioca syrup, psyllium fiber, cellulose, yeast, glycerin, salt, pure vanilla extract, enzymes, Icing (icing sugar (sugar, corn starch), water, glucose, xantham gum, sodium citrate, natural flavor, salt, locust bean gum, natural color (titanium dioxide), citric acid)).  These Soft Donuts are gluten free, dairy free, nut free, soy free, and cholesterol free.  And…they are soft, light, and fluffy donuts…with a glaze!!

As far as nutrition goes, the small Kinnikinnick Foods Gluten Free Soft Donuts with Vanilla Icing aren’t bad…I don’t think…for the size of these donuts.  A serving size is one (1) donut (45 grams), and there are six (6) servings per box.  One donut will provide you with 130 calories, 4 grams fat, 1.5 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 150 mg sodium, 23 grams carbohydrates, 2 grams fiber, 8 grams sugars, and 1 gram protein.  Not filling, but also not too high in sugar either.  I was impressed, before opening the box, with the 130 calorie count, but, these donuts are about 3-4 bites…so the 130 calories is sort of right in line with the higher calorie count a regular (and normal-size) donut would hand you.  Yeah…pastries are calorie bombs, I get that.  But…NATIONAL DONUT DAY. It was totally on.  And I am not ashamed and I regret nothing.

I haven’t had a lot of Kinnikinnick Foods products, but I’m definitely open to trying more.  These donuts are just the tip of the iceberg, I’m sure.  And, don’t let my disappointment in the size fool you…these were actually really good.  I’ve seen other versions of Kinnikinnick Foods Gluten Free Donuts (and other snacks) in regular grocery stores, so I may investigate a few more.

National Donut Day or not…these are definitely worth a taste.  So stock your freezer and be prepared to be wowed by the flavor.  Not the size…but the flavor.  And I guess, when it comes to gluten-free treats, that’s all that really matters.  Treat yourself.  And enjoy.