Two things: (1) they’ve been around since the 1930s, and (2) why would the bakeries in your area be the American Standard? Like I said early on in this thread, America is a big place. There’s precious little, other than Coke and Pepsi, that doesn’t differ from place to place.
That’s why I said upthread most of things being described as American food are really regional foods. That’s what Motorgirl seemed to be saying also.
And why would Krispy Kreme be the American Standard, when for decades it was confined to a small part of the U.S.?
Your previous post, upon a quick reading, seemed to imply that KK doughnuts ar ehte ‘American standard doughnut’. Whether you meant it that way, it’s how it read to me.
Whether KK’s are the American Standard are not, I agree with the previous assessment that they must not be true KK’s if they are dry and cake like. They are yeast doughnuts and are usually very moist and light and melt in your mouth. Yes, they’re sweeter than some other doughnuts but that’s because they’re heavily glazed. There is just something about the texture of the slightly hardened glazed and the soft doughtnut when you bite into it. drools Anyway, unless you’re getting some that are a few days old they shouldn’t be dry.
By the way, the only KK’s I really like are the regular glazed ones. For other types of doughnuts Dunkin Doughnuts is okay. The best doughnuts, if any brand, are the freshly made ones.
I think part of the confusion is that there are two basic types of donuts. Yeast donuts are are the basic Krispy Creme type. Jelly and cream-filled donuts are usually yeast dough, too. Then there are cake donuts, which usually have frosting or powdered sugar on them.
From Wikipedia :
So I guess that marshmallow fluff, not needing to maintain a shape, doesn’t need gelatin. Not sure what the other ingredients are. (Oh, I see that someone else listed them.)
They were a regional chain until fairly recently. I think that Dunkin Donuts had the whole-country franchise for the longest period of time.
Me, I think Krispy Kreme donuts are disgusting.
Marshmallow fluff contains corn syrup, eggs, gum arabic and flavorings, according to the jar in the cupboard.
Breaded Veal Cutlets for me. When I lived in CA they were OK. When I moved to the South, they add greens, mashed potatoes, country gravy. A hell of a lot better than the pap I was served in LA. Iced tea is free. (sweet tea). Best part is, if you want more, it’s free!
(Oh, and pie for dessert. All you want!) 
To the applesauce detractors
That stuff that they sell in the stores is babyfood mush. Its existence is an insult to my intelligence. The only way to get good applesauce is to make it yourself from freshly cut grannysmith apples (The more sour the better) with lots of brown sugar and cinnimon. It should be eaten hot with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. I wouldn;t think of putting it on something else. We have latka every year where they pass around that babyfood mash. No thank you.
I agree with some of the others on Krispy Kreme doughnuts. They are horribly sweet and I will never eat another one in my life.
I am addicted to Chicago style stuffed pizza like heroin.
Peanut butter and maple syrup sandwiches? Thats weird. Peanut butter and honey for sure.
opal cat Atlanta strikes me as a bad place to be a vegetarian.
You are right. Krispy Kreme had a huge IPO a few years ago to raise money to expand like wildfire throughout new markets. They were a regional chain before that confined to only part of the South (I grew up in Louisiana and we didn’t have them for instance). Duncan Donuts is Massachusetts based and has several thousand locations nationwide and has for decades. Combine that with the typical pre-packaged donuts found all over and it is clear that Krispy Kreme style donuts were not the typical American standard. It makes perfect sense if you think about it. The reason made such a big deal about them opening locations is that they are supposed to be a new thing and superior to what was available before.
I was given a box of Krispy Kreme doughnuts as part of a function I went to. At last! I could try these famous doughnuts! Blecccchhh!
Seriously. Waaaaay too sweet and just bleargh. Tim Horton’s doughnuts kick KK butt severely. And they’re better than DD, too.
Heh. I remember from growing up in Montgomery, AL, that Dunkin’ Donuts never could keep a store open for more than a year. Guess the locals preferred KK, since there were two in the city. (But Liger’s were the best.)
Actually, Atlanta is pretty good. It’s rated high on most vegetarian lists of “decent cities to be a vegetarian in”.
My error then. I currently live on the west coast, where vegetarian is worn like a badge of honor.
It really is regional. We were a Krispy Kreme family–my dad’s first job was an entrepeneurial doughnut-delivery service in his neighborhood, and they had strong nostalgic value for him. I like both cake and yeast donuts, but Krispy Kreme is still my favorite. Sickly sweet, vaguely chemical, mushy texture? Deeeelish!
Daniel
I have had my share of Dunkin Donuts, and even went to Tim Horton’s more than once when I was in Canada. Krispy Kreme donuts fresh from the conveyer belt are miles better than either.
We just ate there tonight, for our anniversary. I’ve never been before, but I agree, the salad bar kicks major ass. I didn’t eat much meat, but what I had was very good.
A few years ago a Krispy Kreme opened in Union City. Everyone was going on about how awesome they were, so I stood in the big ass line and watched the assembly line produce a fresh, hot donut just for me.
It sucked.
A proper donut should have a taste beyond just sugar and grease, even before you start adding jelly or chocolate glaze or whatever. Krispy Kremes don’t. What’s worse, if you get a filled bar they don’t use creme or custard, they use some horribly cheap marshmallow filling. Nasty.
I’ve never had a Dunkin’ Donut, so I don’t know how those stack up. Winchell’s is good for a chain, but the best donuts I’ve had are from local shops.
Krispy Kremes are just sugary grease that leaves a coating on your tongue. Gross. I like Dunkin Donuts best, of the chains. The best donuts I ever had, though, were the ones from my junior high school cafeteria at breakfast. Seriously. They kicked ass.