Glazed bliss

Today it is time to discuss the qualifications of the perfect glazed donut. First of all, we would be talking about a Shipley's glazed donut. Secondly, we will cover the perfect time to eat the donut, the perfect time to box a donut, and the perfect time to handle a donut.

1. The perfect time to eat a donut is when it is of course, still warm. When the donut is sitting on the glazer and it is still dripping, one might be tempted to just scoop it up and eat it. However, you will get your fingers VERY sticky when doing this. I find that the glaze tastes sweeter when the donut is still warm and drippy, and the same goes for the donut holes. The taste of the donut melting in your mouth is worth the stickiness.

2. The perfect time to handle a donut is sometime after the perfect time to eat it and the perfect time to box the donut. If you need to put the donuts in a bag or on a tray, waiting just a few minutes will allow the glaze to dry slightly and though the donut will still be warm, it will not stick to everything, including the bag, napkins and the little tissue things we use. (it is so annoying to get an order for a dozen glazed donuts that are hot off the presses, er, um, I mean glazer, because your hands are covered in icing, and getting them in a bag is very tough. They also squish much more easily) Handling a donut is much easier when the tissue does not stick to them.

3. The perfect time to box a donut is when it is just slightly warm. At this point, the glaze is completely dry and the donut is barely warm, but still malleable, so it is easy to grab three donuts at a time to box them for a half dozen, dozen or two dozen box, and it will fit easily into a box without squishing up because it's too warm and soft, but it isn't so fluffy it won't fit. It's also not so cold it sticks to other donuts as you are picking them up. Boxing a donut when it is really hot means glaze will run off the donut into the box and most likely, out any cracks there are in the boxes.

So for me, glazed bliss occurs approximately five minutes after a glazed donut has been glazed. This time is cut down in colder weather when the drive through window has to be opened.