Forget Vanilla And Chocolate - Walmart's Best Bakery Donuts Are An Old-Fashioned Favorite

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Whether you're bringing a box to share with your co-workers, or simply picking up sweet treats for yourself, selecting the right type of donut is a weighty decision. This can be especially true when confronted with the sheer variety on offer at the Walmart's bakery. Our recent worst-to-best ranking of Walmart bakery donuts sampled eight different kinds and concluded vanilla and chocolate had been surpassed by the old-fashioned favorite, Glazed Sour Cream Donuts.

"Now this is a Walmart donut worth raving about," wrote our critic. Tasting Table's review emphasized that these donuts should not be judged by the superficially unimpressive appearance. Despite possessing the denseness one would expect from a cake donut, these sour cream donuts were neither overly concentrated or heavy. "Instead, it practically melted in my mouth when I took a bite," we wrote. "I would almost describe it as creamy, which I was certainly not expecting."

Our correspondent felt that the positive impact the addition of sour cream had upon the donuts was hard to overstate: "It's far richer, with a buttery quality and a tang that a plain cake donut simply can't offer." This flavor profile struck a pleasing balance with the extra sweetness brought by a topping of white icing. 

If you're unfamiliar with the difference between raised and cake donuts, anticipate something more substantial and filling than yeasted donuts, which are made without chemical leavening agents. Sour cream donuts may be considered old-fashioned because leavening agents like baking powder first became available in the 19th century.  Regardless, these old-school confections often inspire feelings of deep nostalgia.

Customer reviews on Walmart's website are overwhelmingly laudatory, with 65% rating them five out of five stars. "I got hooked on these donuts since I first tried them," one fan wrote. "Since then, I've driven to stores miles away to continue buying them." Another advised: "make sure you have someone to share them with or you'll end up eating the entire box by yourself." If you manage to resist doing that, one reviewer offered a further tip: "Fresh donuts are best of course but these are a close second because they are delicious and they keep for a few days longer due to the icing coating. Warm them up for 10 seconds in the microwave to refresh them."

The popular Glazed Sour Cream Donuts may not always be available at your local Walmart, you may need to search to track them down. If all else fails, you can whip up a batch with our old-fashioned sour cream donut recipe. The addition of nutmeg gives the pastries a subtle, cozy vibe perfect for the fall.