Cake Donut vs. Raised Donut, The Difference And Which Is Better
Cake Donuts vs. Raised Donuts is an age-old debate among donut fanatics: which is better? But before we decide, let’s explain the difference between the two. That is a much easier question to answer.
Deciding which is better is like the debate over the word itself: Is it a donut or a doughnut? I look at it this way: a fried dough ball is a fried dough ball, no matter how you spell it! But historically, the word is a doughnut, and the donut is an Americanized term. Both are considered correct, so go with what you prefer.
Cake Doughnuts vs. Raised Doughnuts
Let’s start this debate by explaining each doughnut style and how to make them.
Raised/Yeast Donuts
Raised donuts, specifically yeast donuts, are made with a proofed yeast dough. They often contain yeast, flour, sugar, eggs, milk or water, and sometimes butter or oil. They tend to be airy, lighter, fluffy, and more bread-like, with air pockets. I think of these as old-fashioned doughnuts. You should check out my recent post on my grandmother’s Old-Fashioned Doughnuts; it’s a great raised donut recipe.Â
Most traditional bakeries make primarily yeast-raised doughnuts. When you visit a Krispy Kreme donut shop, the signature donut is a raised-yeast version. They are usually topped with a glaze, fine sugar, or cinnamon sugar. Glaze flavors include chocolate glaze, maple glaze, or a plain thin glaze. This type of donut is also most commonly filled with cream or fruit fillings. This is where donut holes originated since the centers were cut out to make it easier to cook the doughnut’s center fully. A cake donut hole is more like cake pops.
The one almost hybrid donut is Apple Fritters. They are usually made from yeast dough but have chunks of apple incorporated into the dough and are not rolled out! It’s the best of both worlds.
Cake Donuts
Cake donuts are made with a thick cake-like batter. They do not require proofing time since they do not include yeast among the ingredients. The texture is more dense and crumbly. They are easier to make since they do not take as long to prep.
Cake donuts started being made in the United States in the 1830’s. It seems to coincide with the widespread availability of chemical leaveners, such as baker powder and baking soda. They became popular because they took less time to make when compared to traditional raised-yeast dough.
The cake donut has one significant advantage: it can come in all flavors. Just like when making a cake batter, you can add flavor right into the cake donut batter. Think red velvet, apple cider, or milk chocolate. The raised donut is primarily flavored with the filling or topping.
Cake vs. Raised At-A-Glance
Ingredients:
– Cake Donuts: These are made with a cake-like batter, typically including all-purpose flour, sugar, eggs, milk (or buttermilk), sometimes sour cream, baking powder, and flavorings such as vanilla or spices.
– Raised Donuts: Raised donuts are made with a yeast-raised dough, which includes yeast, flour, sugar, eggs, milk or water, and sometimes butter, vegetable shortening, or oil. It’s considered a sweet dough.
Texture:
– Cake Donuts: They are denser and have a cake-like texture, hence the name. They are often a bit crumbly and have a firmer bite.
– Raised Donuts: These donuts are lighter and more airy due to the action of yeast, which causes the dough to rise. They have a chewier texture compared to cake donuts.
Cooking Method:
– Cake Donuts: They are typically fried in hot oil.
– Raised Donuts: These are also fried, but because they are made with yeast, they require a proofing process before frying.
Appearance:
– Cake Donuts: They often have a smoother surface and a more uniform shape.
– Raised Donuts: These donuts usually have a slightly irregular shape and may have a more pronounced “hole” in the center.
Flavor:
– Cake Donuts: They have a rich, slightly denser flavor compared to raised donuts. Flavor can be added to the batter.
– Raised Donuts: Due to their airy texture, raised donuts may seem lighter in flavor.
Toppings:
– Donuts can be coated or topped with various ingredients like glazes, icing, powdered sugar, sprinkles, or nuts, regardless of the type. The choice of toppings is more about personal preference than the difference between cake and raised donuts.
Types of Raised Donuts
- Jelly Doughnuts
- Glazed Doughnuts
- Long John Doughnuts
- Cinnamon Roll
Types of Cake Donuts
- French Cruller (actually made with a choux dough, which makes it airy)
- Chocolate Donuts
- Buttermilk
- Blueberry
Which Is Better?
Deciding which is better is a personal preference. I like any doughnut or donut; it’s really about the topping for me. It’s kind of like Coke vs. Pepsi; some people like one over the other, but others enjoy them both. I enjoy making raised donuts since it is a family tradition. But when I buy donuts, I lean a bit toward cake donuts.
It is also a regional thing. Certain areas of the country and cities prefer cake donuts, while others are strictly raised donut areas. Popular donut shops like Dunkin’ Donuts and Tim Hortons tend to offer both, while some specialty donut shops specialize in one style.
So, I think we are back to the original statement: fried dough balls are all the same! Cake donut vs. raised donuts you can’t go wrong either way!
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