The Dunkin' Donuts white powdered donut is a classic. But I recently discovered that it’s not on the menu anymore. Refusing to believe this, I went on a mission to find a Dunkin' Donuts powdered donut — and I found the only one in NYC.
The white powdered donut from Dunkin' Donuts has always been my favorite. Its confectionary, fluffy texture provides a simple elegance in its taste. It’s not heavy, nor bombarded with artificial colors — it’s just a donut, in its most simple and delicate form.
When I heard the rumor that Dunkin' Donuts doesn’t sell powdered donuts anymore, I was shocked. Why would they take the classic, American donut off the menu? Then that got me thinking…when was the last time I saw a powdered donut as an option on the menu?
The fact that it might not be an option anymore got me worried. It’s not like I go to Dunkin' Donuts every day, but it’s the comfort of having such a traditional item on the menu that makes me a happy customer.
My journey to find a Dunkin' Donuts powdered donut began when I told a coworker about this troubling debacle. She, too, was shocked. It just so happened that she was at LaGuardia Airport when I broke the news to her, and she went straight to the airport’s Dunkin' Donuts to see for herself. Unfortunately, she had no luck. The employee told her they never sold them.
Hmm, now I was really intrigued. So I marched right into the nearest Dunkin' Donuts to see for myself.
Stop number one was interesting. I asked the lady behind the counter if they have any powdered donuts. She replied, “yes!” then turned around and scanned the donut rack. She looked back at me with a deflated look and said, “I guess we don’t have any…but we do have the Bavarian Donut, it’s jelly filled!”
Nope. Not what I'm looking for. The determination to find these bad boys was setting it.
The second location was a quick experience. I walked up to the counter and told the lady I wanted a powdered donut — demanding it, not asking if they have it. She quickly responded to me, without looking at the donut rack behind her, “We don’t sell those.”
“Ever?” I asked.
“No. We never sell them.”
“Have you ever sold them?”
“No. We never sell them.” She failed to hide her annoyance.
“How about powdered Munchkins?”
“No powdered Munchkins.”
Wow, what a buzzkill. At this point, I'm starting to form paranoid thoughts in my head. What if no one sells powdered donuts?! Am I crazy? Was it ever a thing? Did I make that up? Powdered munchkins were definitely a thing. I know it.
Refusing to accept defeat, I head to Dunkin' Donuts stop number three. It’s one of those Dunkin' Donuts/Baskin Robbins hybrids.
“Do you have powdered donuts?” I asked desperately, with a crazed look in my eye.
“Yup!” said the lady behind the counter, without scanning the donut rack behind her.
I blinked at her, assuming she was mistaking my request for the Bavarian Donut with jelly.
“I’m talking about just a plain, powdered donut.”
“Yup! We have it right here!”
She pointed to a basket of powdered donuts labeled “Coconut Donuts.” She saw my confusion.
“Ignore the sign! That shouldn’t be there. These are powdered donuts. I swear!”
I was speechless. The elderly woman in line behind me seemed to sensed my disbelief and entered the conversation.
“Ah, yes. The powdered donut. A classic.” She smiled. “That’s my favorite one.”
The employee was looking at me with increased concern at my reaction to the powdered donut. She explained to me that it doesn’t have a hole in it because it has to support ice cream for the new Dunkin' Donuts Donut Ice Cream Sandwich.
My eyes grew wide and my mouth began to water.
I paid for the donut and had to sit down. I looked at the small, circular pastry that I went on an extravagant manhunt for. I took a bite and all felt right in the world. It's still as sweet and as delicate as ever, providing an unavoidable mess of crumbs on my lap.
Holding the circular pastry in my hand, I felt like I found the only powdered donut in NYC. The mystery is still unsolved about where exactly these can be found, I thought it would be available at all Dunkin' Donuts/Baskin Robins hybrids for the promotion of the new donut ice cream sandwich, but I visited three other locations had no luck.
Regardless, this is definitely the only hole-less powdered donut I've ever seen at Dunkin' Donuts — and it was totally and completely worth the hunt.