Krispy Kreme Apple Pie Doughnut Review

Apple pie is one of those flavors that comes with built-in nostalgia. You hear the words and immediately expect warmth, spiced apples, buttery pastry, and that perfect balance between sweet and tart. So when Krispy Kreme announced an “Apple Pie” doughnut as part of their fair-inspired lineup, I was genuinely excited. It sounded like it could be a cozy autumn bite wrapped up in doughnut form.

When I opened the box, I’ll admit the first impression was strong. The topping looked good — a golden brown crumble dusted across the top, giving it that rustic pie-like vibe, and the fluffy Krispy Kreme base underneath looked inviting. It looked like it was going to deliver.

The filling, though, told a different story. Instead of a sweet, spiced apple pie filling, it leaned more into sour and bitter. The apple flavor itself wasn’t bad in theory, but it tasted closer to the kind of jarred filling that hasn’t quite been balanced with enough sugar or cinnamon. Apple pie should hit you with a warming sweetness first, with a gentle tartness layered underneath. Here, it felt inverted — tart and sharp on the tongue, leaving you wishing for more sweetness to round it out. It didn’t ruin the doughnut, but it definitely pulled it out of the “apple pie” comfort zone.

That said, the base doughnut itself did a lot of heavy lifting. Krispy Kreme’s signature yeast dough is soft, fluffy, and sweet, and that contrast helped temper some of the bitterness from the filling. The crunchy topping also added a texture that worked — the little crispy crumbs on top gave a nod to pie crust without being too heavy. In fact, if the doughnut had just been topped and left unfilled, I think it would’ve been a winner. The topping + dough combo worked really well together, but the filling didn’t match.

Bite to bite, it felt uneven. Some bites were just doughnut and topping, and those were actually pretty great — soft, fluffy doughnut with a crunchy, sweet crumble. But as soon as you hit a pocket of the filling, the flavor shifted into that sharp, sour zone, and it threw off the balance. It wasn’t that it was disgusting or unmanageable — it just didn’t taste like apple pie.

For texture, I will say the doughnut was well-made. The fluffy yeast base was light, and the topping gave it contrast. The filling itself was smooth, not chunky, but it also lacked the “cooked apple” texture you’d expect if they really wanted to mimic pie filling. Again, it felt more like an apple-flavored jelly rather than something crafted to taste like pie.

Would I get it again? Honestly, no. The potential was there — it looked good, the concept was solid, and the doughnut itself was decent — but the filling ruined the experience for me. If it were just the doughnut and the crumble topping, I’d be back for more in a heartbeat. But with the current filling, it’s a one-and-done.

Who might like it? If you’re someone who enjoys tart apple flavors and doesn’t mind a sharp filling, this might sit better with you. But if you came in expecting a classic apple pie taste — sweet, spiced, warm, balanced — you’ll be disappointed.

In the end, Krispy Kreme’s Apple Pie doughnut is an example of a great idea with uneven execution. It’s not bad, but it’s not what the name promises either. And with so many other options in their seasonal lineup, I’d skip this one in favor of something that delivers more closely on its promise.

Final Verdict: A decent doughnut with a good topping and fluffy base, but the filling is sour and bitter rather than sweet and spiced. If you want an actual apple pie flavor, you won’t find it here.