 A sampler of potato doughnuts fromSpudnuts Coffee Shop inCharlottesville, Virginia, United States | |
| Alternative names | Spudnut |
|---|---|
| Type | Doughnut |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Main ingredients | Potato |
Potato doughnuts, sometimes called aSpudnut, are a type ofdoughnut, typically sweet, made with eithermashed potatoes orpotato starch instead offlour, the most common ingredient used for doughnut dough. Potato doughnuts tend to be lighter than all-flour doughnuts, and are prepared in a similar way as other doughnuts.[1][2] A chain ofSpudnut Shops was established across the United States in the 1930s before declining to a few dozen more recently. Friedube dough is also eaten in East Asia, including the world's most expensive doughnut, the Golden Cristal Ube, which cost $100 each.[3] Much like flour doughnuts, potato doughnuts are often eaten with coffee.
The origin of the potato doughnuts is unknown. Syndicated recipes appeared in American newspapers as early as the 1870s.[4][5] A recipe was published in a 1915 printing of theFive Roses Cook Book in Canada[6][7] and also in 1938 in theGlenna Snow Cook Book.[8] In the late 1930s, Vernon Rudolph began sellingKrispy Kreme doughnuts, using a recipe containing potatoes.[9][10] Achain ofSpudnut Shops was established and spread to more than 500 locations in the United States before being thinned out to around 50 in the mid-2000s.[11][12] The originating company eventually declared bankruptcy, but independent stores remain.[13]
Potato doughnuts share similar ingredients to normal doughnuts, but have all or most of the flour replaced with either mashed potatoes[14] or potato starch.[15]
Potato doughnuts tend to be a light, fluffy variety of doughnut[16] and are usually topped with the same variety of frosting or toppings as other doughnuts.[16] A potato doughnut may be deep-fried inlard to make a variety ofFasnacht.[17]
Potato doughnuts are prepared by mixing instant mix or already prepared mashed potatoes in a bowl with eggs and other ingredients, ranging from baking powder to a small amount of flour. The dough is then shaped and refrigerated before being cooked.[14][16]
Media related toPotato doughnuts at Wikimedia Commons| Sweet |  | ||||
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