When it dawned on me that I was intolerant to lactose, giving up dessert was one of the hardest things to come to terms with. Don’t get me wrong, the staples were tough – milk, yoghurt, butter, cheese – but what no one tells you is that these everyday items are hidden in just about every fun food you can think of (biscuits, ice cream, chocolate, cake).
So when news came that cult donut shop, Doughnut Time offers a vegan-friendly range, I was Chief Wiggling with excitement to get knee-deep in cinnamon sugar.
Being hand-dipped, artisan donuts, Doughnut Time are constantly experimenting and changing their menu, bringing out a new ring every Saturday. I was lucky enough to get my fingers into two vegan-approved donuts last week: Blue Ivy (filled with blueberry jam and dusted with cinnamon sugar) and Vegan Fox (dark chocolate glaze sprinkled with pistachios and freeze-dried strawberries).
The verdict? If the names aren’t enough to seduce you, the flavour certainly will. Blue Ivy and Vegan Fox tasted just like their buttery, milky counterparts but flatulence free.
If dairy’s not your problem, they also offer donuts for the gluten-intolerant. This week you’ll find Melon Degeneres – sour watermelon and cream glaze, sherbet topped with mini choc chips – and The Mugatu – cream glaze topped with pecan and white chocolate pieces.
Yet catering for dietary requirements is not what they’re known for; producing a diverse collection of doughy, dairy rings every week is. Past clever creations include Stifler’s mum, a donut filled with apple pie; and Ya Bacon Me Crazy, maple glazed topped with crispy bacon; while this week brings the Ferrero No Share, dark-chocolate glaze, roasted hazelnuts and a Ferrero Rocher; and the Cookie Monster with a marshmallow and cookie filling and Oreo topping.
After opening the first store in Brisbane just over a year ago, Doughnut Time has spread its sweet tooth Australia-wide. With fourteen locations across Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and the Gold Coast, and one in the works at Bondi, you’re never more than a doughy ring toss away.
If you’re vegan, coeliac or lactose intolerant, we’ve found some allergy-friendly desserts so you can have your cake and eat it too:
- Soft serve: Good Times Artisan Ice Cream
- Gelato: Gelato Blue and Gelato Messina
- Donuts: Noshu
- Chocolate: Pana Chocolate
…or better yet, make your own with this gluten and dairy free nutella donut recipe.
