We love a great doughnut as much as anyone, but sometimes you have to step outside the glazed zone for your sweet, doughy fix (yes, even on National Doughnut Day). Here are a few delicious alternatives.
Cream puffs
Who doesn’t love airy pâte à choux dough filled with luscious layers of cream? Our dessert dreams are filled with memories of the Paris Brest at Chez Billy/Chez Billy Sud, which incorporates hazelnuts (lucky for home bakers, we have the recipe). Another tasty version: the Chantilly petit fours available from Arno’s Pastry (1900 Reston Metro Plaza, Reston, VA).
Churros
Try the cactus-ribbed branches of fried dough sprinkled with cinnamon-sugar–a popular sweet snack in Spain and elsewhere. We’re partial to the Estadio‘s version, with warm, dark chocolate sauce for dipping (1520 14th St., NW).
Flakies
These light, butter-laminated croissants go beautifully with coffee, or on their own. Find them at Buttercream Bakeshop (1250 Ninth St., NW), offered with a cream filling du-jour.
Beignets
We’re addicted to these Southern fritters, dusted with powdered sugar–especially the airy trio of beignets from Bayou Bakery (901 Pennsylvania Ave., SE; 1515 N Courthouse Rd., Arlington).
Zeppole
These delicate Italian pastries are often filled with a dollop of sweet cream. Sample the zeppole with Bavarian cream and seasonal fruit available at Graffiato (707 Sixth St., NW), or The Partisan‘s lemon-ricotta zeppole, served with lemon curd and cream (709 D St., NW).
Donut Brews
Some days, especially Fridays, call for drinking dessert. A quick fix: Evil Twin Brewing Company Imperial Donut Break, available at Connecticut Avenue Wine & Liquor, among other locations (1529 Connecticut Ave., NW).
Hayley is an Associate Editor at Washingtonian Weddings. Previously she was the the Style Editor at The Local Palate, a Southern food culture magazine based out of Charleston, South Carolina. You can follow her on instagram @wandertaste.
