Yesterday, I wrote a post lamenting how Krispy Kreme’s Pokémon 30th anniversary doughnut promotion had seemingly sold out before the baking had even started. This was because the pre-ordering system was immediately overwhelmed by fans, and the website did not give any clear information or indication that the doughnuts would become available first-come, first-serve beyond that initial phase. But fortunately, when I woke up this morning, there was indeed a small amount of doughnuts still left to be had. So I frantically put in an order and headed out to my local Krispy Kreme to pick it up.
The store wasn’t that busy when I arrived. One person was having a, um, spirited argument with an employee about why they didn’t have “hot ‘n ready” glazed doughnuts (they were out). There was an older woman who had clearly brought her preteen grandson for a Pokémon doughnut and I got to hear her loudly ask for an extra “poke – ee – ball” doughnut. The preteen in question cheerfully pointed out to me, when I commented on how Squirtle seemed to have sold out, that there was a fresh batch of blue circles in a rack just past the counter. The woman behind the counter seemed a little frazzled with the promotion. A lot of preorders suddenly spat themselves out of a printer just after we came in, and she spilled coffee on her hand when she was filling my order. Hope you’re okay, doughnut lady, and I hope no one bothers you too much over Pokémon doughnuts today.
It did seem like we got some of the last ones available. We noticed the website quickly swapped back to “Sold Out” in the half hour after we left. But we did manage to walk out with a “Pokémon Dozen” as well as a limited edition “Dots Cup Combo” for $29.95. I also got a pumpkin spice coffee, figuring I’d start my annual ritual of reminding myself that I actually hate pumpkin spice a little early this year.
I drove the doughnuts over to Zack’s house and we, along with our partners, gave each flavor a try. The Pokémon dozen includes one each of a Squirtle, Bulbasaur, Charmander, Jigglypuff, and Pikachu doughnut, a bonus second doughnut of one of those five (all the photos show a second Pikachu, but we got a bonus Jigglypuff), two Poké Ball doughnuts, and four regular glazed doughnuts. The “Dots Cup” is a proper hard plastic cup featuring a Pokémon (we got Pikachu) filled with ten doughnut holes that appear to be glazed with some shiny gold…something. Anyway, they’re glazed holes.
Below, please find Zack’s and my thoughts on each doughnut, along with pictures showing what was advertised vs. what we got. I will give Krispy Kreme that the photos actually seemed to represent the doughnuts available pretty well, though depending on how long this promotion lasts, I could see the quality going down over time.
Original Glazed Gold Doughnut Dots, 10-Count
Original glazed & tossed in gold dusting
Reb: We can just call these doughnut holes, you know. I know you don’t want anyone to say “Pokémon holes” but it’s. Fine.
Zack: They were golden. I prefer Dunkin’s munchkins. Cup was cool though.
Poké Ball Doughnut
Sprinkles, vanilla flavored icing, and chocolate icing drizzle
Reb: This generic, unremarkable doughnut may as well have not been in the box. Just give me two more glazed. Sprinkles are a non-feature.
Zack: Donut with sprinkles. Tasty. Good.
Jigglypuff Doughnut
With strawberry flavored buttercreme
Reb: I cannot explain why, but if this had been a filled doughnut with the exact same ingredients I might have liked it better.
Zack: Good, but you need to like strawberry.
Squirtle Doughnut
Cotton-candy-flavored buttercreme
Reb: Not a single thing about the Pokémon Squirtle screams cotton candy to me, but you do you. This was fine.
Zack: Edible, but a bit too sweet for my morning meal.
Charmander Doughnut
Caramel iced with chocolate marshmallow–flavored filling
Reb: We split this between four people and one person (Zack) got all the filling. I couldn’t tell that the top icing was caramel. Just tasted like doughnut.
Zack: Chocolate-filled donuts are fine. This is fine. I don’t want to eat it again, though.
Bulbasaur Doughnut
Vanilla-flavored icing
Reb: I actually kind of liked this one and cannot explain to you why. Spent several minutes trying to guess what flavor it was supposed to be before I realized it was just vanilla.
Zack: Not really sure what this was supposed to taste like beyond warm sugar. Eh.
Pikachu Doughnut
With lemon-flavored kreme [sic]
Reb: The inside filling was like a lemon cream cheese sort of thing? This is the only doughnut of this specialty batch I’d go out of my way to buy on its own. Genuinely pretty good.
Zack: I hate Pikachu. The Elmo of Pokémon. But this is a damn fine donut. I’d order it again.
Glazed Doughnut
Reb: It’s a glazed doughnut, man, what more do you want?
Zack: Weirdly, this is like the second-best one of the bunch. Turns out a glazed donut is still awesome. If it ain’t broke…
Overall, my verdict is this: don’t pay $30 for doughnuts. Go to your local doughnut shop and spend, like, ten bucks, and get a big box of the good stuff instead of emptying your wallet on air and sugar.
Glad I got this sick Pikachu cup though, I guess.
