7 of Australia's best doughnut shops

The humble doughnut has been given a makeover and is now the hottest between-meal indulgence going – talk about going full circle! Are these the best doughnut shops in Australian right now? Taste for yourself.

1. Top Dup, Swanbourne, Perth

A foodie photographer’s heaven, Top Dup at seaside Swanbourne serves dazzling doughnuts that come packed with an original punch. Flavours from the Perth purveyor include raw honey and mascarpone with lavender and honeycomb crumble, blood orange curd with sherbet mallow and Mars bar cheesecake – packed full of salted caramel sauce and choc-nougat cheesecake filling, of course.

2. Smalltown, Avalon, Sydney

Smalltown is a Northern Beaches hidden gem, serving up some of the most deliciously soft on the inside, yet crispy on the outside, doughnuts Sydney has ever tasted. Beautifully glazed with the utmost attention to detail, the pastries are studded with the likes of rose petals and crushed peanuts. Weekends are flat-chat here and the flavours change daily but are always slightly unconventional (in the best way possible); think vanilla-rose dusted freeze-dried strawberry and gooey béchamel and rosemary.

3. Nodo Donuts, Newstead, Brisbane

Baked fresh rather than fried, using local eggs and allergy-friendly ingredients, Nodo Donuts are guilty pleasures (gluten-free so obviously a little less guilt, right?). Try a blueberry doughnut with lemon cream cheese and pistachio crumb for something a bit gourmet at this place near the hip heart of Fortitude Valley. Or perhaps a Valrhona chocolate and beetroot doughnut with couverture dark chocolate and cacao nib crumble for something (only slightly) more decadent.

4. All Day Donuts, Brunswick, Melbourne

A simple, little hole in the wall that serves scrumptious holey pockets of dough from cardboard trays. Here you can find your classic chocolate-glazed and the not-so traditional rose crème with milkberry rubble. The Iced VoVo, however, is sensational and a must try. The doughnuts are star, but the Seven Seeds coffee is worth the stop too.

5. Doughboys Doughnuts, Melbourne

Coffee and doughnuts go hand in hand, and Doughboys Doughnuts does it perfectly. It’s recently launched a sweet new concoction in collaboration with Gelato Messina (doughnuts and Messina, is that not the greatest combination on earth?): hazelnut affogato with cinnamon and maple sugar-spiced buttermilk soldier and double shot. The mint slice doughnut is mouth-watering, while the pretzel, hazelnut and walnut brownie is rich and a chocolate-lover’s kryptonite.

6. The Cook and Baker, Bondi Junction, Sydney

For something a little more old-fashioned, the Cook and Baker has you sorted. Filled with cream, jam and speckled with a light dusting of icing sugar, these generously filled bundles of sugar are the ultimate indulgence in downtown Bondi Junction.

7. Parwana Afghan Kitchen, Adelaide

Afghanistan’s version of a doughnut, gulab jamun, is a fluffy, sticky round ball of doughy cake covered with a delectable sugary syrup. At Parwana, just outside Adelaide’s city centre, this fresh and chewy treat is the crowning glory of its traditional Afghan menu. An ideal way to finish a meal or a meal in itself, maybe.