Flavors Tried: Vanilla, Chocolate, and Strawberry
Price: $3.29 for 3 mini donuts
Nutrition (for 3 mini donuts): 190 Calories, 13g Fat, 21 Carbs (1g Sugar & 4g Fiber), 10g Protein
I didn’t know anything about Drumroll Donuts going into this review, but when I saw them in the refrigerated section at Target, they tempted me enough to give them a shot. I haven’t had great experience with other protein donuts before, but my hope was that maybe this time would be different.
Drumroll currently sells these in vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry- the classic flavors. These come in a pack of three mini donuts, and while they are technically a protein snack, the appeal of these donuts is that they are fully plant-based and grain-free.
At 190 calories and 10g of protein, this isn’t the most incredible protein-to-calorie ratio out there, but for a plant-based option, it’s pretty standard. Most plant-based snacks struggle to get that ratio right without tasting like earth, so if these can deliver on solid flavor, then I’m okay with a lower amount of protein overall.
Flavor Review: Vanilla
When you unwrap these donuts, they look like awesome little frosted donuts. With three in a pack and them being a respectable size, there was a lot to look forward to. But as we know, looks can be deceiving in the protein world.
The interior of the vanilla donut is much more like carrot cake or zucchini bread than a traditional fluffy donut. Looking at the ingredients, they achieve this soft texture by using pumpkin puree.
As someone who has baked with pumpkin puree many times to add moisture to healthy recipes, I respect the trick, because it works wonders for soft texture. However, it does alter the taste (and the look).
You definitely don’t get a plain vanilla donut flavor here. Instead, you get a moist, chewy bite that screams “carrot cake,” especially since these are refrigerated and you’re likely eating them cold.
Now, that’s not necessarily a bad thing; it doesn’t taste earthy, it doesn’t taste like protein powder, and most importantly, I couldn’t taste any artificial sweetener. That is a huge win for a protein snack.
Overall, I actually really enjoyed these, they’re just not exactly what you might expect from a “vanilla donut.”
Flavor Review: Chocolate
For me, the chocolate is definitely better than the vanilla. I mean, on looks alone, these easily pass the test.
The rich cocoa flavor does a much better job of masking that pumpkin base, so I don’t get quite that same “carrot cake” experience I got from the vanilla. That unique base flavor still comes through a little bit, but these eat way more like authentic chocolate donuts.
These remind me a ton of the pre-packaged chocolate mini donuts you’d grab on a road trip, with the only difference being the cold temperature from the fridge.
If you’re craving a chocolate donut, this will scratch that itch much better than the vanilla version.
Flavor Review: Strawberry
After trying both vanilla and chocolate, countless people told me that I had to try the strawberry, because it’s far and away Drumroll’s best flavor.
I don’t know why I had such a difficult time hunting it down, but after a few months, I finally found strawberry in the refrigerator section of my local Kroger.
I was punched in the face with a strong strawberry scent when I opened this package, and the strawberry flavor is nice and fresh.
But to my surprise, this flavor tastes noticeably more artificial than the others. Maybe chocolate and vanilla just mask it better, but the plant-based undertones come through in this one, and the artificial aftertaste lingers.
It’s still an overall enjoyable experience between the crackly icing and soft interior, but that allulose + erythritol is really coming through in this one.
If I’m buying Drumroll donuts again, I won’t be opting for the strawberry flavor.
Final Thoughts: Drumroll Protein Donuts
Overall, I really enjoy these Drumroll Donuts, but I would enjoy them significantly more if they were simply rebranded as “Cake Bites.”
If the vanilla flavor were sold as “Carrot Cake Bites,” it would be an absolute slam-dunk review from me. They don’t quite fit the bill as a traditional vanilla donut, but they are delicious in their own right. The chocolate version comes much closer to the real thing and will definitely satisfy those donut cravings, especially for the vegans out there who are starving for decent options.
Strawberry seems to be their most popular flavor, but that one just didn’t do it for me. The strawberry flavor is great, but the artificial nature seems to come through much more with that one.
Still, if you’re plant-based, I’d say these are 100% worth a try.
