With so many crazy diets going on today, the food industry is creating all sorts of products and restaurants to appeal to different dietary preferences. Holey Donuts has received lots of attention in the media as the first company to offer low fat doughnuts. Once only available online, Holey Donuts has recently opened its first doughnut shop on 7th Avenue South in the lovable West Village neighborhood.
Photo by Katherine Baker
The shop itself is immaculately clean and welcoming, and is well-lit with a jumbo pictorial menu decorating the wall. As you approach the register, instead of seeing pre-made doughnuts for consumption, you’ll notice a variety of toppings and fillings, almost like a frozen yogurt bar. A unique facet of Holey Donuts is that employees fill, glaze and top each doughnut to order, creating a fun and fresh experience for customers.
Photo by Katherine Baker
The menu includes a variety of glazed and filled doughnut, from fruity favorites like Blueberry Crumbcake and decadent-sounding creations like Fudge Crumb Boston Creme, to classics like Chocolate Glazed. Doughnut ring up at just under $4 a pop, making it a somewhat expensive way to satisfy a sweet tooth. Holey Donuts is also a no-cash zone to improve hygiene, so be sure to bring a credit or debit card with you.
Photo by Katherine Baker
The doughnuts themselves do not really taste like doughnuts. The base of each doughnut is thick and has a salty, sourdough bread-like flavor. The texture is light and airy as true doughnuts are, but these are much chewier and lack the pleasant dissolve-on-your-tongue effect that makes regular doughnuts so enjoyable, likely due to the lack of fat. The toppings taste artificial and very sugary, probably as an attempt to mask the flavor that is missing from the base.
Photo by Katherine Baker
Holey Donuts advertises it products as “Guilt Free” and “Low Fat.” Doughnuts range from about 160-300 calories depending on variety. When compared to the Bavarian Krème (270 calories) or French Cruller (220 calories) from Dunkin Donuts, or the classic glazed donut from Krispy Kreme (190 calories), it’s debatable that choosing Holey Donuts is really saving you lots of calories. Also, it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that because the doughnuts are “low fat,” it’s okay to eat more than you would with regular doughnuts, and it’s quite possible to end up consuming even more calories.
Photo by Katherine Baker
While you may not feel guilty about eating something that contains only 160 calories, you may very well regret spending $4 and not satisfying a craving for something decadent. If you are craving dessert, indulge, enjoy every moment, and move on with life. Food should never be labeled as a source of regret or shame, and with a balanced lifestyle there is no such thing as a “good” or “bad” food. If you’re looking for a fun and fresh way to experience a sweet snack, Holey Donuts is a great place to try. But, if you’re craving doughnuts, something real, or something indulgent, it might be wise to seek out one of the innumerable dessert spots that New York City has to offer.
Location: 101 7th Ave S (bet Grove and Bleeker)
Hours of Operation: Mon-Wed 10am-10pm, Thurs-Sat 10am-3am, Sunday 12pm-12am