Xbox doughnut review: Creamy goodness with a surprise inside

In what probably isn't a surprise to those that know me, I'm a fan of doughnuts. So when I heard that Krispy Kreme planned to sell an Xbox doughnut, I quickly messaged my boss about doing a review. The Xbox doughnut is available for only a limited time, so I got a box of doughnuts the first day it was available (I swear I wasn't planning a trip to Krispy Kreme anyway).

Krispy Kreme's trailer for the Xbox doughnut was high on humor but low on details. Going in, I didn't know what flavor the doughnut would be. After a brief testing period, here are my thoughts on the Xbox doughnut.

Xbox doughnut: Unboxing

At first glance, the box for the Xbox doughnut looks like any other Krispy Kreme box. It's a bit flimsy and has a clear top so you can see the doughnuts inside. Open it up, however, and you see a special surprise on its outside panel. The Xbox doughnut comes with a code that you can scan for a chance to win an Xbox Series S. On initial entry, you also receive a month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

Note that you can't get hundreds of doughnuts to get Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for life.

Xbox doughnut: Price, availability, and specs

The Xbox doughnut is similar to other treats from Krispy Kreme. It has a filling, so no holes here. It's only 8.5cm (3.35 inches) in diameter, which makes it the perfect size for one-handed use. At 3.5cm (1.38 inches) thick, it's thin enough to eat without a fork or knife. That may seem like a foreign concept to U.S. readers, but some luxury doughnuts in the U.K. are large enough to warrant cutlery.

The Xbox doughnut is only available Aug. 2-22, 2021. It's also only available in the U.K. I doubt it would make its way through customs, so anyone not in the U.K. is probably out of luck. At least people in the U.S. have Moa Pringles.

You don't have to purchase a dozen Xbox doughnuts for the code to get a month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. I got a sharing box with only a single Xbox doughnut in it and still had the code on the box.

Xbox doughnut: Design and features

The Xbox doughnut is emblazoned with a green "X" that old and new Xbox gamers will recognize. The entire top of the doughnut features a green coating, parts of which are covered in white powdered sugar to create the Xbox logo.

There aren't any alternative color options for the Xbox doughnut, so if you're looking for one to match your Xbox Series X or OG Xbox One, you're out of luck.

The base of the Xbox doughnut is yellowish-brown, while the interior is a cake-like light yellow.

When I bit into the Xbox doughnut, I was surprised to taste that it has a chocolate filling. I assumed that it would either have a dyed green filling or have a white filling to stick with the color scheme of the Xbox Series S and the outside of the doughnut. While I was surprised, I wasn't disappointed. The chocolate center of the Xbox doughnut was smooth, avoiding the over-chocotization seen frequently in confectionery treats.

Xbox doughnut: Competition

There aren't a lot of foods that compete directly with the Xbox doughnut. As far as I know, there isn't a Dunkin' PlayStation 5 doughnut or Tim Horton's NVIDIA RTX doughnut (like you could find one of those in stock anyway).

If you don't care about the Xbox branding or the month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate that comes with it, the Xbox doughnut isn't anything special. If you like Krispy Kreme, you'll like the Xbox doughnut. If you prefer a doughnut from Dunkin', the Xbox doughnut isn't going to change your mind. If budget is a factor to you, luxury doughnuts, like those from Doughnotts, are bigger and have more exotic fillings and toppings.

Should you buy the Xbox doughnut?

Who it's for

• People who love doughnuts
• Those who want a free month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
• Chocolate lovers

Who it isn't for

• Anyone on a diet
• People who hate doughnuts
• Those who want clean fingers

The Xbox doughnut is a fun marketing gimmick that's also a tasty treat. I like that it comes with a month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, making it more than just a one-off snack. There aren't any other console-themed doughnuts that I'm aware of, so the Xbox doughnut stands alone as the console confectionary of choice.

If you're in the U.K. and looking for a fun snack, it's worth giving the Xbox doughnut a look. If you're in the U.S., you'll have to settle for Microsoft catering to you in just about every area other than doughnut partnerships.