North American Deep-fried Desserts

Although archaeologists had found some petrified remains of fried cakes with holes in the center, it is still unclear how could the early Native Americans prepare these delicious fried dough desserts that we know today as doughnuts. In the past, d... READ MORE

These squares of deep-fried pastry dough are sprinkled with powdered sugar and are traditionally served hot. The dish hails from France, and French settlers brought it to the Acadia region of Canada in the 17th century. Many of the Acadians later ... READ MORE

A quintessential part of every American street fair is a crispy funnel cake. The unique name is derived from the method of preparation in which the batter, made with eggs, sugar, milk, and baking soda, is poured through a funnel directly into the ... READ MORE

Timbits are bite-sized doughnut holes made from leftover doughnut dough, fried in vegetable oil and available in a number of varieties such as yeast, cake, apple fritter, honey dip, old fashion plain, chocolate glazed, blueberry, strawberry, lemon... READ MORE

Fried ice cream is a decadent treat made by coating a scoop of ice cream in crumbled cookies or cornflakes, then deep-frying it for a short period of time until golden-brown in color on the exterior. The scoop of ice cream should ideally be frozen... READ MORE

The unusual New Yorker creation known as a Cronut is a hybrid between a croissant and a doughnut, characterized by its soft and creamy interior, and flaky layers of pastry on the exterior. These treats are fried in oil, filled with cream, rolled i... READ MORE

Malasadas are traditional Portuguese yeast-leavened doughnuts made from eggs, flour, sugar, and milk. They are sometimes coated with cinnamon or granulated sugar. The original Portuguese malasadas don't have any holes or fillings, but the variatio... READ MORE

Beaver tails are sweet, flat, and thin Canadian pastries made from whole wheat flour. The dough is hand-stretched and shaped to look like a beaver's tail - unsurprisingly, one of Canada's national symbols. The shaped dough is fried (a technique re... READ MORE

Apple cider doughnuts are a type of doughnut popular on the East Coast of the United States, particularly in New England. As the name implies, they are made with a dough containing apple cider and are often coated in cinnamon, nutmeg, and sugar. A... READ MORE

Sopapillas, a beloved icon of New Mexican cuisine, are golden, puffed pillows of fried dough that capture the essence of the region’s rich cultural tapestry—blending Native American, Spanish, and Mexican culinary traditions into one ir... READ MORE

Persian is a Canadian pastry roll characterized by an oval shape and a layer of pink icing that can be made with either strawberries or raspberries. These yeast-risen, fried cinnamon rolls originated at Bennett's Bakery in the city of Thunder Bay.... READ MORE

Maple bar is an unusual American doughnut originating from the West coast and usually associated with California. The doughnut is rectangular in shape and topped with a maple glaze. Inside, it can be left as it is or filled with cream or custard. ... READ MORE

Fried pies are a traditional, hand-held dessert found throughout the American South and Midwest, consisting of small turnovers filled with sweet or savory fillings, sealed in pastry, and deep-fried to golden perfection. Crispy on the outside and w... READ MORE

The Rhode Island doughboy is typically a large, flattened square of pizza dough that is deep-fried until golden brown, then dusted with a hefty dose of powdered sugar. It's always served piping hot. Some say that the taste of melting sugar against... READ MORE

Goolab jamoon (also spelled gulab jamun) is a festive Trini treat that was developed under the influence of Indian cuisine. Milky and sweet, these fritters consist of milk, flour, ghee, water, and ground cardamom. Fried until golden brown... READ MORE

Calas is a specialty of New Orleans consisting of deep-fried rice balls that are smothered in powdered sugar. The dough – made with boiled rice, yeast, eggs, sugar, and flour - is dense and chewy, while the center is creamy. These fritters a... READ MORE

At the 2006 State Fair of Texas, a computer analyst named Abel Gonzales Jr. created a bizarre dessert called fried Coke, consisting of deep-fried, Coca-Cola flavored batter that is topped with whipped cream, Coke syrup, cinnamon sugar, and a singl... READ MORE

West Virginia hot dog pastry takes its title from its hot dog–like shape—an oblong, split pastry that resembles a bun, filled or topped with sweet frosting. Found primarily in southern West Virginia, especially in old-school bakeries a... READ MORE

During stormy and rainy weather, many Chamorros prepare buñelos månglo, a comforting dessert consisting of fried dough that is sprinkled with sugar. Also known as typhoon donuts, the dough is made by combining flour, sugar, coconut mi... READ MORE

These traditional Chamorro snacks are also known as banana donuts, made with mashed ripe bananas, flour, sugar, and baking powder. The dough is then dropped into hot oil and fried until both sides of the fritters develop a golden-brown co... READ MORE

Buñelos dago is a delicious Chamorro treat that is associated with Christmastime in Guam. These fried donuts are prepared with a variety of yams, which are harvested during the festive Christmas season. Grated yams are typically mixed with ... READ MORE