Glaze Donuts

Whether it’s full to bursting with vanilla custard, iced delicately with strawberry sprinkles or served fresh from the deep-fat fryer, we do love a doughnut. But not as much as Glaze, Riyadh’s self-proclaimed doughnut boutique, which pumps out batch after “artisan” batch from its blush-pink branch. Alongside the usual suspects (we’re looking at you, iced ring) more daring snack-seekers can chomp down on a Parker House, with its dark chocolate ganache and fulsome custard filling. Or try the Frosty, a triple tropical threat which combines coconut dough with a coconut glaze and – you guessed it – toasted coconut shavings.

According to staff, the firm favourite among regulars is the Nutella option, and we can see why. Sugary spoonfuls of chocolate spread descend deep into the doughnut’s core, topped off with a mallowy whisp and a sprinkling of shredded phyllo dough. Inventive options include the Homer – an ode to the D’oh-uttering, doughnut-loving Simpsons dad – which hides rainbow layers of brioche beneath a simple strawberry surface, with a flamboyant sprinkling of glitter thrown in for good measure.

If you’re not into dense dough, opt for the light and airy Lotus Bomb, which sees choux-like French cruller dough held together by a thick slathering of spread and an added biscuit on top. Nothing here is done in half measures.

On our visit, Glaze’s pastel-coloured tables were unoccupied, with a steady flow heading out to delivery. Yet ordering from home means missing out on the coffee menu, the live baking action – and what could be better than a fresh Frosty straight from the fryer?