These Snackable Donut Holes Taste Just Like the Pop-Tarts I Loved as a Kid
Donuts and I go way back. Growing up in St. Louis, donut shops are everywhere. When I was a kid, my grandpa, sister, cousins, and I would go “donut-hunting” on the weekends to pick up fluffy, sweet donuts and chocolate milk. I even worked for a donut shop while I was in college, where I could regularly be seen snacking on glazed donut holes in between waves of customers. So when I heard Deux was adding a couple new flavors to their donut hole lineup this fall, I knew I had to try them.
The fall-centric newcomers are Maple Glaze and Pumpkin Spice. While I got to try both, I was delightfully surprised by how much I loved the Maple Glaze ones. And ironically, I would be less inclined to compare them to one of the maple-frosted donuts I used to serve. Instead, they reminded me of a different nostalgic treat: Frosted Brown Sugar Cinnamon Pop-Tarts. And now that I’ve made that comparison, I frankly don’t want to be without a pack of these donut holes this fall.
Deux Maple Glaze Donut Holes
Deux
$16
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What Are the Deux Maple Glaze Donut Holes?
These maple donut holes are one of two new additions to the brand’s donut lineup. Pumpkin spice is also being offered for the fall (which I should note I did get an opportunity to try and enjoyed those, too. They taste like a warm, cozy spice cake!). But Deux offers other flavors apart from these fall-forward ones, like classic glazed, sprinkle-topped birthday cake, and our team’s favorite: cinnamon sugar.
Like those other flavors, the maple donut holes are made without dairy and are gluten-free and vegan. Plus, they come in packs of four, so they’re perfect to stash in your lunch box as a little snack or post-lunch dessert. Unlike standard donut holes, though, these do need to be kept in your fridge until you’re ready to eat them. But I actually really appreciated that because these donut holes will stay good longer than your standard grocery store or bakery donut holes would.
Why I Love the Deux Maple Glaze Donut Holes
Let me just start by saying that maple is not my fall flavor of choice. Often, I find maple flavorings in treats and drinks way too sickly sweet for my preference. So generally, I avoid them. But when I was sent the maple donut holes from Deux, I figured I might as well try them — and I was shocked by how much I liked them. Unlike some maple flavored-treats, this one didn’t have that saccharine quality I’ve come to expect. Instead, it achieved a Goldilocks level of rich, maple-y sweetness that actually reminded me a lot of brown sugar. That sweetness was balanced nicely with light notes of cinnamon and nutmeg. When I first tried these donut holes, I knew it reminded me of something but I couldn’t think of what. Then it hit me: They taste similar to the Frosted Brown Sugar Cinnamon Pop-Tarts of my childhood.
As a kid, my dad would leave so early for work in the morning that I wasn’t usually awake. But I could always expect there to be a Brown Sugar Cinnamon Pop-Tart broken into four little squares with the crust removed sitting on the coffee table for me to eat for breakfast. I loved this little ritual of ours, and it’s still something I think back on fondly. So, it won’t come as a surprise that Brown Sugar Cinnamon Pop-Tarts are still my favorite flavor. And these donut holes, with their subtle cinnamon and rich maple flavor — remind me so much of my beloved childhood treat.
Whether you have the same nostalgia for those Pop-Tarts or just love maple-flavored goodies, these Maple Glaze Donut Holes from Deux are totally worth trying this fall. And you might as well grab the pumpkin spice ones while you’re at it — ’tis the season!
Buy: Deux Maple Glaze Donut Holes, $16
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