What food isn't better fried?
Any food can definitely be kicked up a notch when thrown into a deep fryer, like these fried macaroni and cheese balls. For me, when it comes to creating a delicious snack, the oilier the yummier!
That's why when I heard about the tasty treats being cranked out at Portland's famous Voodoo Doughnut, I couldn't stop drooling. I've actually had the privilege of eating these truly bizarre treats, and they are not to be missed.
Doughnuts topped with Cap'n Crunch, maple-glazed bacon, and lavender sprinkles? Those are just a few of the incredible desserts Voodoo is whipping up for its hungry customers.
Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, tourists and locals alike line up for hours just waiting for a chance to take a bite out of one of their totally unique confections.
Scroll through below to see these wild and wacky creations!
Are you as big a doughnut fan as I am? Let us know in the comments.
h/t Fastcodesign.com
Before the Cronut and the rise of the “designer dessert" movement, there was Voodoo Doughnut in Portland, Oregon.
And since 2002, this local gem has been cooking and creating crazy dougnuts unlike any you’ve ever tasted (or seen) in your life.
Named after its signature classic, the “Voodoo Doll” — a raised yeast doughnut filled with raspberry jelly and topped with chocolate frosting and a pretzel stake — the store is the brainchild of longtime friends Kenneth Pogson and Tres Shannon. During an era of overprice desserts, the "Voodoo Doll" will only set you back $1.95.
Though neither Kenneth nor Tres had any experience making doughnuts, the two buddies were still determined to become a success story.
So they traveled down to Los Angeles and, working with doughnut-making masters, developed a line of desserts that combined the classic methods of doughnut-making with their saucy senses of humor and creativity.
They were excited to share their treats with the world, but weren't expecting what happened next.
Voodoo Doughnut wasn't just a hit — the store became a cult classic!
And their ravenous customers? Well, they just couldn't seem to get enough.
"People come and drop to their knees. They say, ‘I’ve driven here eight hours without going to the bathroom to get an apple fritter!'"
Voodoo’s co-founder Tres Shannon shares with fastcodesign. "It’s like, 'God guys. I mean it’s wonderful, but it’s just a fried doughnut! We haven’t really invented anything.'"
So what makes these tasty treats worthy of a mad-dash trip across America?
Because Voodoo Doughnut is whipping up flavor combinations beyond your wildest imagination — like the "Grape-Ade Doughnut," a raised yeast doughnut with vanilla frosting, lavender sprinkles, and quick dusting of their special grape powder.
Bacon really does make everything better, and nobody knows that better than Voodoo Doughnut.
That's why one of their top-sellers is the "Maple Bacon Doughnut." Crafted in minutes, it's their classic doughnut, topped with maple frosting and a few pieces of deliciously caramelized bacon.
But here's where these doughnuts get even stranger.
Featured above is the "Nyquil Doughnut," made with actual Nyquil medicine (they've since had to discontinue the dessert).
Dreamed up as a way to settle the stomaches of late-night partiers, the "Nyquil Doughnut" was unfortunately not a huge seller.
"But we got a lot of notoriety for it. That was one of our first big press successes," Tres tells fastcodesign.
"We always went into the business trying to figure out how to make crazy doughnuts, but lots of those decisions were probably just based on being tired," Tres admits.
"We were so exhausted after working 16 hours, and we’d still have to shop for the next day. So we’d walk through the grocery aisles and say, ‘Why not put cereal on a donut? A donut is a breakfast. Cereal is breakfast. And cereal looks great on a donut.'"
Thus, both the "Captain My Captain" and "Loop" doughnut were born. Both feature yeast doughnuts with frosting and kids' cereal (Cap'n Crunch and Fruit Loops, respectively).
With over 100 different variations, Voodoo’s owners are always looking for their next burst of inspiration — like the”Bubble.” It’s a pink vanilla doughnut with a piece of wrapped bubble gum on top.
“It’s definitely for the masses, for the crowds. With us, a lot of it is just, it has to be appealing to the eye. The ‘Bubble’ doughnut looks great on TV and in magazines.”
Crazier still? Voodoo Doughnut performs actual weddings.
That's right. For a few hundred dollars, couples in love can get married right there in the store itself — and it's all totally legal.
Depending on the price, a Voodoo wedding includes the ceremony and customized wedding doughnuts for you and up to 40 of your closest friends and family. Coffee included.
Don't live in the Portland area? No problem. There may be a Voodoo Doughnut coming to you very soon.
With three locations in Portland itself, a mobile food cart and stores popping up in Denver, Austin, and Taipei, Voodoo has real plans for world domination.
Voodoo Doughnut has been featured on countless TV shows: No Reservations, Bizarre Foods, and Unique Sweets — just to name a few.
They've also been profiled in People and GQ, and they even served up as a special treat for the White House.
But eating is believing — and nothing beats biting into one of these delicious and dreamy doughnuts for yourself.
Are you brave enough to try Voodoo's wacky and bizarre doughnut flavors? Which one looks best to you? Let us know in the comments.
Please SHARE if you love doughnuts as much as we do!
