Donut vs. Bun — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Urooj Arif — Updated on May 9, 2024
A donut is a sweet, deep-fried or baked ring-shaped pastry, often topped with icing or filled with cream, while a bun is a soft, rounded bread roll, filled with savory or sweet ingredients. Both are bakery staples but have distinct textures and flavors.
Difference Between Donut and Bun
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A donut is typically made from a dough that is deep-fried or baked, resulting in a sweet, fluffy pastry. A bun, however, is made from bread dough, which is often baked to yield a denser and softer roll.
Donuts are famous for their ring shape or filled variety, and often feature toppings like icing, sprinkles, or glaze. Buns can also be plain but tend to contain savory or sweet fillings like jam, custard, or meats.
Donuts are more commonly considered a dessert or a treat due to their high sugar content and frosting. Buns, however, are versatile and can be enjoyed as part of a meal, snack, or as a base for burgers or sandwiches.
Donuts have distinct cultural associations with breakfast or snacks, especially in the U.S. where donut shops are popular. Buns have a more international reach, as they are used in a variety of regional cuisines.
While donuts are predominantly purchased fresh from shops specializing in them, buns are often bought from bakeries or supermarkets and can easily be made at home.
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Comparison Chart
Ingredients
Sweet dough, often deep-fried
Bread dough, usually baked
Shape
Ring or filled
Round or oval
Texture
Light, fluffy
Soft, dense
Toppings
Glaze, sprinkles, icing
Plain, seeds, sometimes filled
Common Uses
Dessert or treat
Savory or sweet, meals and snacks
Compare with Definitions
Donut
A breakfast pastry commonly served in cafes.
They offered a wide selection of donuts at the breakfast buffet.
Bun
A small, rounded bread roll.
The burger patty sat perfectly in the freshly baked bun.
Donut
A pastry often used as a treat or snack.
He enjoys donuts as an afternoon snack with coffee.
Bun
A bread roll with sweet or savory fillings.
The bakery offers sweet buns filled with custard.
Donut
A ring-shaped pastry deep-fried and often topped with icing.
He grabbed a chocolate-glazed donut with sprinkles.
Bun
A soft roll used for sandwiches or hot dogs.
She placed the sausages inside hot dog buns.
Donut
A pastry filled with jelly or cream.
She prefers donuts filled with raspberry jam.
Bun
A common bread type in various cuisines.
Dim sum features steamed buns stuffed with pork.
Donut
A popular sweet made from leavened or cake-like dough.
Cake donuts are denser and often coated in cinnamon sugar.
Bun
A small round loaf, sometimes enriched with butter or eggs.
Brioche buns contain extra butter, making them rich and tender.
Donut
Variant of doughnut.
Bun
A bun is a small, sometimes sweet, bread-based item or roll. Though they come in many shapes and sizes, they are most commonly hand-sized or smaller, with a round top and flat bottom.
Donut
A deep-fried piece of dough or batter, commonly made in a toroidal or ellipsoidal shape, and mixed with various sweeteners and flavors, sometimes filled with jelly, custard, or cream.
Bun
A small cake, typically containing dried fruit
A currant bun
Donut
Anything in the shape of a circle or torus.
Bun
A hairstyle in which the hair is drawn back into a tight coil at the back of the head.
Donut
A peel-out or skid-mark in the shape of a donut; a 360-degree skid.
Bun
A person's buttocks.
Donut
(North America) A spare tire, smaller and less durable than a full-sized tire, only intended for temporary use.
Bun
An unsweetened round or oblong roll, used especially to hold a hamburger patty or a hot dog.
Donut
A toroidal cushion typically used by hemorrhoid patients.
Bun
A small sweetened roll, often spiced or containing dried fruit.
Donut
An idiot.
Nice going, you donut!
Bun
A tight roll of hair worn at the back or the top of the head.
Donut
A small ring-shaped friedcake
Bun
A drunken spree.
Bun
A small bread roll, often sweetened or spiced.
Bun
A tight roll of hair worn at the back of the head.
Messy bun
Bun
A cupcake.
Bun
A drunken spree.
Bun
(Internet slang) A newbie.
Bun
A buttock.
Bun
(slang) The vagina.
Bun
A rabbit.
Bun
A squirrel.
Bun
The scut or tail of a hare.
Bun
A dry stalk.
Bun
Marijuana cigarette, joint
Bun
A Korean unit of length equivalent to about 0.3{{nbsp}}cm.
Bun
(transitive) To form (the hair) into a bun.
Bun
To smoke cannabis.
Bun
To shoot.
Bun
Any of a variety of slightly sweetened or plain raised cakes or bisquits, often having a glazing of sugar and milk on the top crust; as, a hot cross bun.
Bun
A type of coiffure in which the hair is gathered into a coil or knot at the top of the head.
Bun
The buttocks.
Bun
Same as blood urea nitrogen; the concentration of nitrogen in blood present in the form of urea; - used as a measure of kidney function.
Bun
Small rounded bread either plain or sweet
Common Curiosities
Do buns come in different shapes?
Buns are usually round or oval but can vary depending on regional styles.
Are donuts always sweet?
Donuts are generally sweet and often have sugary toppings or fillings.
Can buns be used for sweet dishes?
Yes, buns can be used for sweet dishes like jam-filled buns or cinnamon rolls.
Can donuts be filled with savory ingredients?
Savory-filled donuts are less common but sometimes made with cheese or meats.
Are donuts deep-fried or baked?
Donuts are traditionally deep-fried, but some baked versions are available.
How long do donuts and buns stay fresh?
Donuts are best consumed fresh but may last a couple of days, whereas buns typically stay fresh for longer when stored properly.
Do buns often contain dairy?
Some buns are enriched with butter or milk, but others can be dairy-free.
Can buns be used as a meal component?
Buns are versatile and often used for burgers, sandwiches, or hot dogs.
Are there gluten-free donuts and buns?
Yes, gluten-free versions of both donuts and buns are available.
Which pastry is more popular globally, donuts or buns?
Buns are more common worldwide due to their use in various cuisines.
Is a donut healthier than a bun?
Donuts are often higher in sugar and fat than buns, making them less healthy.
What are common toppings for donuts?
Donuts are usually topped with icing, sprinkles, or powdered sugar.
Can I freeze donuts or buns for later use?
Yes, both can be frozen, though it's best to warm them before eating.
Is there a standard size for donuts and buns?
Both come in various sizes based on their intended use.
Do buns contain more fiber than donuts?
Typically, yes, as they contain whole grains or less processed flour.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
