A glazed doughnut from Krispy Kreme is a sweet treat that many people enjoy. However, doughnuts are often high in carbohydrates, so people with diabetes or those following low-carb diets may wonder about the carb content. This article provides a detailed look at the number of carbohydrates in a Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut.
A Brief Overview of Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are one of the main macronutrients found in food, along with protein and fat. Carbohydrates include sugars, starches, and fiber:
- Sugars: Simple carbohydrates like glucose, fructose, sucrose (table sugar), and lactose (milk sugar).
- Starches: Long chains of glucose molecules found in foods like grains, legumes, and starchy vegetables.
- Fiber: Indigestible carbohydrates like cellulose, inulin, and resistant starch.
When you eat carbohydrates, your body breaks them down into glucose, which serves as a key energy source for your cells. However, eating too many carbs can cause spikes in blood sugar and insulin levels.
That’s why people with diabetes or insulin resistance must monitor their carb intake. Low-carb diets that restrict carb-heavy foods are also popular for weight loss.
Nutrition Information for Krispy Kreme Original Glazed Doughnuts
Krispy Kreme provides complete nutrition information for their menu items on their website. Here are the carb details for one Original Glazed Doughnut (1.9 oz or 54 grams):
- Total carbohydrates: 24 grams
- Dietary fiber: 0 grams
- Sugars: 11 grams
So a single Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut contains 24 grams of total carbohydrates, with no fiber, and 11 grams of sugar.
Breakdown of Carbs in a Glazed Doughnut
Doughnuts contain three main sources of carbohydrates:
- Refined flour: Doughnuts are typically made with enriched, refined wheat flour which contains starch and little fiber.
- Sugar: Granulated white sugar is added to doughnuts for sweetness. Glazes and fillings also contain added sugars.
- Fat: The fat content comes from oil or shortening. A small amount of the fat grams come from carbohydrates.
The combination of refined flour and added sugar contribute the 24 grams of carbs in a glazed Krispy Kreme doughnut.
Refined Flour in Doughnuts
Refined flour is made by milling whole wheat grains to remove the bran and germ, leaving only the starchy endosperm. This turns the whole grains into a finely ground white flour.
Refining the flour gives doughnuts a lighter texture, but removes the fiber, vitamins, and minerals found in whole grains. Refined flour is almost entirely starch, meaning it contains a lot of carbohydrates.
Krispy Kreme does not provide a full breakdown of nutrients. Based on standard nutrition data for glazed doughnuts made with enriched wheat flour, a single doughnut likely contains around 15-20 grams of carbohydrates from refined flour.
Added Sugar in Glazed Doughnuts
Table sugar (sucrose) is added to doughnuts for sweetness. Krispy Kreme’s original glazed doughnuts contain 11 grams of sugar per doughnut.
The ingredient list for their original glazed doughnuts includes: Enriched bleached wheat flour (flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), water, vegetable shortening (contains one or more of the following: palm oil, soybean oil, canola oil, sunflower oil), sugar, dextrose, yeast, salt, soy flour.
The added sugar provides a quick burst of sweetness that balances the richness of the fried dough. Sugar also participates in the Maillard reaction during baking to produce aromatic compounds and browning.
Fat Content and Carbohydrates
Krispy Kreme uses vegetable oil shortening in their doughnuts, which gives them a tender, cake-like texture.
While the predominant macronutrient in oil is fat, a small portion of the fat grams come from the glycerol backbone of the triglycerides found in fats and oils. Glycerol is a carbohydrate.
Based on the nutrition information, a single Krispy Kreme glazed doughnut likely contains around 1-2 grams of carbohydrates from the fat content.
Daily Value Percentages for Carbs
The 24 grams of total carbohydrates in a Krispy Kreme glazed doughnut represents 8% of the Daily Value (DV):
- Total Carbohydrate: 24 grams (8% DV)
- Dietary Fiber: 0 grams (0% DV)
- Sugars 11 grams
The Daily Value recommendations help give context to the nutrient amounts. A food is considered high in a nutrient if it contains 20% or more of the Daily Value. Foods providing less than 5% DV are considered low.
So a single doughnut has a moderate amount of carbs compared to the full daily recommendations. However, most people consume multiple servings of carbohydrates per day, so the carbs in a treat like a doughnut can add up.
Net Carbs in a Glazed Doughnut
There are different ways to calculate net carbs based on diet approach:
Net Carbs for Low-Carb Diets
Low-carb dieters subtract fiber since it is indigestible:
Total carbs – Fiber = Net carbs
For Krispy Kreme original glazed: 24g carbs – 0g fiber = 24g net carbs
Net Carbs for Diabetes
For diabetes management, sugar alcohols and glycerol are also subtracted:
Total carbs – Fiber – Sugar alcohols – Glycerol = Net carbs
Since the doughnut does not contain sugar alcohols or significant glycerol, the calculation would be:
24g carbs – 0g fiber – 0g sugar alcohols – 0g glycerol = 24g net carbs
How Many Carbs Fit Your Diet
The number of net carbs can fit into low-carb and diabetic diets in moderation. Some guidelines:
Low-Carb Diets
- Keto: Under 50 grams daily
- Moderate Low-Carb: 80-130 grams daily
One glazed doughnut would take up about 24 of your 50 allotted grams on keto, making it hard to fit in other carbs. It would fit easier into a moderate low-carb diet.
Diabetes Diet
- Women: 45-60 grams carb per meal
- Men: 60-75 grams per meal
A standard glazed doughnut would account for about one-third of your meal’s carb target if you follow a diabetes diet. Pairing it with a zero-carb coffee, eggs, and bacon could potentially fit it into a diabetic meal plan.
Tips for Reducing Carbs in Doughnuts
There are some ways to reduce the carbs in doughnuts if you want to enjoy them on a low-carb diet:
- Opt for doughnuts made with nut flours or coconut flour instead of refined wheat flour.
- Choose doughnuts with no glaze or icing as these contain extra sugar.
- Request doughnuts with sugar-free sweeteners like stevia or monk fruit extract instead of sugar.
- Look for low-carb doughnut recipes that use alternative keto-friendly ingredients.
- Order a small doughnut hole instead of a large full-size doughnut.
Krispy Kreme also offers some lower-sugar doughnuts options, such as their cinnamon apple filled doughnuts, which contain 15g net carbs.
Should You Eat a Glazed Doughnut on a Low-Carb Diet?
While glazed doughnuts are high in carbs, you can still enjoy them in moderation on a low-carb or diabetic diet.
A standard glazed doughnut has 24 grams net carbs, which can fit into some low-carb meal plans just in smaller amounts. Splitting one with a friend or family member easily cuts the carbs in half.
Pairing a doughnut with very low or zero-carb foods can also help it fit into a low-carb day. For example eating it with bacon and eggs, or enjoying half as a dessert after a bun-less cheeseburger.
Finally, Krispy Kreme offers smaller doughnut holes, which contain around 10 grams net carbs apiece. Enjoying 1-2 doughnut holes can satisfy a sweet craving on occasion while keeping carbs under control.
The Bottom Line
Krispy Kreme’s original glazed doughnuts contain 24 grams of total carbohydrates and 11 grams of sugar per doughnut.
While not low-carb, a glazed doughnut can potentially fit into a low-carb diet in moderation. Ways to reduce carbs include splitting it with someone, pairing with zero-carb foods, or choosing mini doughnut holes.
Overall, glazed doughnuts can be enjoyed as an occasional treat, even on a low-carb diet when portion sizes are controlled and balanced with low-carb choices for the rest of your meals.
