We Tried All Four Krispy Kreme Summer Doughnuts. Here’s What We Thought

Published by Jon Self on

The Krispy Kreme Summer Doughnuts deliver sweet seasonal flavors for under $3 each. We tried all four and will share our sweet review.

An open white Krispy Kreme box sitting on a wooden table filled with a colorful variety of Krispy Kreme Summer Doughnuts next to stacked paper bags.

Krispy Kreme’s new Summer Collection has officially arrived, bringing four seasonal doughnuts inspired by classic summertime desserts. After trying all four offerings, our overall takeaway is simple: these are good doughnuts that most sweet-tooth fans will enjoy, but none of them quite reach the memorable heights of some of our favorite limited-time treats. That’s not necessarily a bad thing.

While none of the Krispy Kreme Summer Doughnuts blew us away, they are all solid options that deliver exactly what Krispy Kreme fans expect. Better yet, every doughnut in the collection costs less than $3, making them an affordable indulgence during the summer months.

For comparison, we recently reviewed the GOOOLLL! Doughnut from Voodoo Doughnut at Universal CityWalk Orlando. That spicy, soccer-inspired creation packed a much bigger flavor punch and left a stronger impression overall. However, it also comes at a significantly higher price point. The Krispy Kreme Summer Doughnuts offer a more budget-friendly option for guests simply looking for a sweet treat.

Krispy Kreme Summer Doughnuts Breakdown

Original Glazed Strawberry Cake Doughnut – Price: $2.49

A close-up of a hand holding a pink, glazed strawberry old-fashioned cake doughnut outdoors in front of a bright green sunlit bush.

The most straightforward offering in the lineup is also one of the most enjoyable. The Original Glazed Strawberry Cake Doughnut combines Krispy Kreme’s classic Original Glazed Doughnut with a slice of strawberry-flavored cake placed on top. The combination creates a pleasant contrast between the soft yeast doughnut and the denser cake topping.

The strawberry flavor is noticeable without becoming overwhelming, making this one of the easier doughnuts in the collection to finish. While it doesn’t reinvent the wheel, it successfully delivers exactly what it promises. If you’re looking for a simple summer-themed treat without an overload of toppings or fillings, this may be the safest choice in the lineup.

Lemon Bar Doughnut – Price: $2.79

A hand holding a lemon bar doughnut topped with white icing, shortbread cookie crumbles, and vibrant yellow lemon gel swirls against a green foliage background. - part of Krispy Kreme Summer Doughnuts collection.

The Lemon Bar Doughnut starts with an Original Glazed Doughnut that is dipped in white icing, topped with cookie pieces, finished with a lemon swirl, and coated with sweet powdered topping. Visually, it’s one of the most attractive doughnuts in the collection.

Flavor-wise, the lemon provides a pleasant citrus note that cuts through some of the sweetness. However, we found ourselves wishing the lemon flavor were a bit more intense. The cookie pieces add texture, but they don’t significantly alter the overall experience. It’s enjoyable and easy to recommend, but it never fully captures the bold tangy punch that makes a great lemon dessert memorable. Additionally, this one will be the messiest of the Krispy Kreme Summer Doughnuts

Key Lime Pie Doughnut – Price: $2.79

A hand holding a key lime doughnut dipped in pale green icing and finished with a large dollop of white whipped cream and graham cracker crumbs.

As Florida residents, we take key lime desserts seriously. The Key Lime Pie Doughnut features an unglazed shell doughnut filled with key lime pie Kreme, dipped in bright green icing, and topped with a dollop of frosting and graham-flavored crunch.

This was arguably the most anticipated doughnut of the collection for us. The filling delivers a recognizable key lime flavor, while the graham topping helps evoke the pie inspiration. Unfortunately, the sweetness sometimes overpowers the tartness that makes authentic key lime pie so refreshing. That’s not to say it’s bad. Quite the opposite. It’s a pleasant doughnut that captures the spirit of key lime pie. We simply wanted more of that signature citrus bite.

Cannoli Inspired Doughnut – Price: $2.79

A cross-section view of a cannoli-inspired doughnut being held up, showing a fluffy yeast dough filled with rich chocolate chip cream and topped with chocolate drizzle.

Of the four Krispy Kreme Summer Doughnuts, the Cannoli Inspired Doughnut may be the most surprising. Inspired by the classic Italian dessert, this doughnut features a filling reminiscent of sweet cannoli cream along with chocolate accents and toppings designed to mimic a traditional cannoli experience.

While it doesn’t completely replicate the texture or complexity of a true cannoli, it comes closer than we expected. The filling is rich and creamy, and the chocolate components help balance the sweetness. This ended up being one of our favorite offerings from the collection simply because it felt a little different from the others.

Solid, But Not Great

The Summer Collection isn’t a home run, but it’s a solid lineup that most Krispy Kreme fans will enjoy. Each doughnut successfully captures the essence of its inspiration, even if none of them deliver the kind of bold, unforgettable flavor that turns into an instant classic. The biggest strength of the collection may actually be its affordability. With prices ranging from $2.49 to $2.79, these doughnuts are easy to justify as a quick summer treat.

Would we order them again? Sure! Would we drive across town specifically for them? No! Still, if you’re stopping by Krispy Kreme this summer, the collection is worth trying, especially if you’re looking for a sweet treat that won’t break the bank.

For more theme park dining reviews, visit MSM News every weekday at noon Eastern Time. Additionally, we sometimes post bonus theme park dining reviews. As always, eat like you mean it!

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Jon Self

Jon Self is an avid theme park fan. You can follow him at @pastorjonself on X/ Twitter or Jon.Self.37 at Instagram. He has been writing and editing in the theme park media world for over a decade. He also writes for several "foodie" sites as well as in the faith-based world.