Could doughnuts be the most international food of all time?

Is there a doughnut from every country of the world? Maybe not – but it’s got to be close. The fact is, every one loves these yeasty, sweet, fried treats, and each cuisine has a different take on them. So let’s go round the world, one doughnut at a time.

Italy: Bombolini
These Tuscan delights are filled with cream or custard. They’re sweet, light and buttery, and utterly more-ish.

South Asia/Middle East: Jalebi
Brittle and very sweet, these delicacies are popular with street vendors.

Israel: Suganiya
These Israeli Hannukah treats are the best of both worlds: a jam-filled doughnut glazed with vanilla syrup.

Turkey: Tulumba
Similar to a Mexican churro, these long doughnuts are dipped in a sugar syrup before eating.

Mexico: Churro
Porqueno los dos? Churros are dipped in both cinnamon sugar and hot chocolate.

Korea: An
These yeasty snacks are filled with a sweet red bean paste and, because they’re Korean, often stamped with a cute, kitschy design.

Greece: Loukomades
These sweet fritters are dipped in powdered sugar and best enjoyed hot, hot, hot.

South Africa: Koeksisters
Ah, doughnut holes. Once the under-appreciated, tossed-aside interiors of our favourite snack, now respected in their own right. These South African treats are doughnut holes dunked in spiced syrup and rolled in coconut flakes.

France/New Orleans, US: Beignets
A crispy exterior with a light dough, these are covered in powdered sugar and best served with coffee.

Mexico: Bunuelos
Cinnamon-sugar dusted discs that are fried to crisp, bubbly perfection.

India: Gulab jamun
Fried at a low temp in ghee, these goodies are then soaked in rosewater or cardamom syrup. Insanely sweet!

Naples, Italy: Struffoli
These bite-sized spheres of joy are often covered in sprinkles or powdered sugar, and served at Christmas.

Germany: Berliner
Dense but not cakey, berliners are filled with plum butter or rosehip jam and covered in sugar.

India: Sel roti
With a crispy exterior, these are characterised by their size (large!) and reddish brown colour. You’ll find them at festivals.