Since moving to Canada in 2024, I've been slowly working my way through the country's most iconic eats — and no food feels more quintessentially Canadian than a Tim Hortons donut.
My initiation began with the classic double-double to much success, and continued with surprisingly tasty Ryan's scrambled eggs, a collab with none other than Ryan Reynolds. The 9x9 Wayne Gretzky was an outlier though, as it almost made my teeth fall out.
So, naturally, it was time to take on the real staples: the donuts themselves.
To find out which ones Canadians actually swear by, I asked my colleagues at Narcity and MTL Blog for their unfiltered recs. The consensus? "Sour Cream Glazed all day long," and "You have to try Vanilla Dip — it's one of the OGs!"
Armed with their suggestions, I taste-tested a whopping 11 donuts in one sitting: Apple Fritter, Boston Cream, Old Fashioned Plain, Honey Cruller, Chocolate Dip, Sour Cream Glazed, Vanilla Dip, Honey Dip, Chocolate Glazed, Sugar Loop and Maple Dip.
The Double Chocolate was on my original list, but it was sold out at my nearest store — which honestly speaks volumes. I subbed in the Maple Dip, and added the Sugar Loop after a friendly Tim's employee told me I'd get a discount if I bought more. Say less.
So, after stuffing my face with nearly a dozen donuts, here's my honest ranking from best to worst — no nostalgia, no bias, just pure first-timer feedback.Apple Fritter
The Apple Fritter is top dog for a reason.
There's a reason why the Apple Fritter continues to be the top-selling Tim Hortons donut in Canada.
The outside has a satisfying crispness, coated in a glossy, sweet glaze that gives way to a soft, warm interior. The dough is smooth and velvety, and the apple chunks, paired with just the right touch of cinnamon, bring a cozy, nostalgic flavour that's hard to beat.
It's just a pure delight eating it.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Boston Cream Donut
The Boston Cream is delicious.
The Boston Cream is another Canadian favourite — and it's easy to see why.
It's just straight-up delicious. The chocolate glaze on top adds a light sweetness without being overpowering, while the donut itself is pillowy and soft.
But the real MVP is the Venetian cream filling. It's smooth, not overly rich, and perfectly balanced, the kind of filling that leaves you wanting just one more bite.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Honey Dip Donut
The Honey Dip Donut really surprised me.
Before tasting the Honey Dip, I imagined it like an Old Fashioned Plain with honey on top.
However, when I bit into it, the inside was soft, airy, and moist, making it feel much lighter than I anticipated. The glaze added just a hint of sweetness without going overboard, though I do wish the honey flavour came through a bit more strongly.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Maple Dip Donut
The Honey Dip Donut was really good.
Despite being a last-minute sub, the Maple Dip made a big impact from the bench.
While there was a hint of maple from the icing, I detected more of a coffee taste. It was good, though, and it reminded me of coffee cake.
The soft, fluffy dough was a definite plus.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Honey Cruller
The Honey Kruller is quite lovely, despite its strange appearance.
Because of its unusual shape, I didn't know what to expect before biting into the Honey Cruller, but it didn't disappoint.
The pastry is so light you barely have to sink your teeth into it. The honey flavour was rich but well-balanced, adding sweetness without being overwhelming.
It was surprisingly easy to eat and didn't cross into overly sugary territory, which honey treats sometimes do.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Old Fashioned Plain Donut
The Old Fashioned Plain Donut is so solid.
As far as I'm concerned, this donut is the definition of solid. It's not flashy or overly sweet, but it delivers on taste.
The rough, crackly exterior gives way to a surprisingly soft and tender center. It's easy to eat, satisfying, and feels like a safe, go-to option when you’re not sure what to order.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Chocolate Glazed Donut
It's like eating a chocolate cake.
This one genuinely surprised me. I didn't expect it to be so soft and spongy on the inside.
It reminded me of a chocolate cake or a brownie, but without the heaviness. For a chocolate-based donut, it was relatively light and easy to eat.
The glaze added just the right amount of sweetness, and honestly, I didn't think I’d like it as much as I did. I'd definitely order it again.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Sour Cream Glazed Donut
This wasn't as bad I thought!
I love sour cream in a burrito, but on a donut? I wasn't convinced.
I went in skeptical, but it turned out better than expected. The texture was soft and satisfying, similar to the Honey Cruller, which made it easy to enjoy.
The sour cream left a bit of an aftertaste, but it wasn't overpowering. I probably wouldn't order it again, but it wasn't bad by any means.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Sugar Loop Donut
This was nothing special.
The Maple Dip made a strong impression as a last-minute sub, but the Sugar Loop didn't quite measure up.
It was mid. I'm not big on plain sugar coatings, and this one didn't do much to change my mind. While the texture was nice and soft, the overall flavour was just too bland to stand out.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5
Vanilla Dip Donut
This was very disappointing.
I had high hopes for this one — it looked like it was going to be a treat. But unfortunately, it let me down.
The vanilla glaze was underwhelming and lacked real flavour. I get that vanilla is subtle, but this just didn't bring anything interesting to the table.
The sprinkles were also way too hard, which made the texture less enjoyable.
Rating: 2 out of 5
Chocolate Dip Donut
This donut was stale!
Much like the Vanilla Dip, this one left me frustrated, which was disappointing because it looked promising at first.
The chocolate icing was actually decent, but the donut itself was stale. The dough was hard and dry, like it had been sitting out too long.
It had potential, but the freshness just wasn't there.
Rating: 1 out of 5
After trying 11 of these donuts, I now understand why they are so beloved and woven into the fabric of Canadian culture.
My ranking of Tim Hortons donuts:
- Apple Fritter
- Boston Cream
- Honey Dip
- Maple Dip
- Honey Cruller
- Old Fashioned Plain
- Chocolate Glazed
- Sour Cream Glazed
- Sugar Loop
- Vanilla Dip
- Chocolate Dip
Some will become a regular part of my order at Tim's, while others unfortunately won't.
What should I try next, Canada?
The views expressed in this Opinion article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Narcity Media.
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