Review: Sweetness Reigns Supreme With Krispy Kreme's Churro Doughnut Dots

When it comes to autumn, the food and beverage industry kicks things off well into the dog days of August. I mean, who doesn't like pumpkin-spiced everything to pair with Halloween candy while hanging out at the beach or pool? Krispy Kreme got into the fall fray last month with a seasonal menu, introducing two new flavors — Maple Cheesecake Doughnut and the Café Mocha Doughnut — to join returning favorites Biscoff Cookie Butter Doughnut and the Pumpkin Spice Cake Doughnut. While the newbies aimed to be crowd pleasers, we found them easy to forget. Well, it's September 22, and fall is officially here on the calendar, and Krispy Kreme has one more autumnal offering it hopes fans will harvest: Churro Doughnut Dots, paired with a dulce de leche dipping sauce.

If you're unfamiliar with Krispy Kreme's Doughnut Dots, they were introduced in 2024 and, as you might have guessed, are donut holes — the chain's attempt to take on Dunkin's Munchkins. In 2025's Fall Fair Collection, Krispy Kreme introduced a Caramel Churro Doughnut, and in 2026, it seems the circular doughnut shape is teaming up with last year's flavor.

So, are Churro Doughnut Dots bathed in dulce de leche dipping sauce a slam dunk or a shameful sham? I pondered this exact equation, popped on over to our local Krispy Kreme, and popped a bunch of these Dots into my mouth in search of hopefully sweet answers. Now all can be revealed in this chew and review.

On the first day of their release, I moseyed on over to my local Krispy Kreme doughnut shop in New York City to purchase the new Churro Doughnut Dots with dulce de leche sauce. The Dots were taken to my domicile where they and the dulce de leche sauces were each taste tested individually and then together as designed.

This chew and review is a summation of my own personal tastes and opinions. I also took into consideration my many previous experiences with Krispy Kreme, churros, dulce de leche, and my current experience with this new Dots venture. The ultimate criteria considered for this review were flavor, texture, presentation, smell, familiarity, originality, uniqueness, value, and overall if they are worth your time and your dime.

I picked up my first Dot, and my fingers immediately became inundated with the healthy amount of sugar and cinnamon sprinkled on top. I leaned in for a whiff and it definitely was giving off churros vibes. The Dots had some heft to them, with a dense and hard exterior. I started my taste test with a simple lick, and it revealed a hint of cinnamon, with a hearty amount of sugar. When I took a bite of the Churro Dot, the first thing I noticed was the welcome softness of the interior cake. With subsequent bites, I focused on the combo of how the sprinkled seasonings played with that soft cake, and how the two textures and tastes paired up nicely. They also had the churro taste to match the smell, and were worthy of a nosh by their lonesome.

Next, it was time to focus on the dulce de leche side dip. The cup wasn't particularly huge, and within it, a beautiful, swirled, and ultra-thick brown mass was lying in wait. I tried a spoonful, and it was velvety, rich, and super sweet. I enjoyed it so much, I actually closed my eyes as its sticky goodness slowly made its way through the recesses of my mouth. I figured combining the Dot and the caramel dip would make for a perfect combo, but it turned out to be almost too much of a good thing. The dulce de leche stuck very well to the Dot, and together they brought about a sweetness that bordered on sugar overload.

This was my first encounter with Krispy Kreme Doughnut Dots. They didn't look like the typical circular donut hole I expected. Instead, they appeared like little fritters, and were plump enough that they could even house a creme filling. The cup included eight Churro Dots and they cost a dollar more than buying two full size doughnuts. Not sure how the net weight difference stacks up, but it seems like a fair value.

What you get is a lot of sugary sweetness. While it is my civic food reviewing duty to have as many as possible to render a fair verdict, it was hard for me have more than just a few of these well-seasoned Churro Dots dipped in the luscious Dulce de leche. If you've ever had Krispy Kreme doughnuts before, and especially its limited-run of flavors, this is par for the course. That may be for the better, making this cup very shareable with a friend. However, these are recommended only for those who have the sweetest of sweet tooths.

I think the Churro Dots would have been better served with a dash of salt to break up the sweetness, as it was the headlining ingredient that helped to make Taco Bell's Salted Caramel Churros from earlier this year swoon-worthy. Another issue is the amount of dulce de leche included. After big dips with four of my Dots, there was basically nothing left for the remaining four. Also, to capture the true churro spirit, I wish these Dots were served warm. 

Churro Doughnut Dots will be available for purchase starting September 22 at participating U.S. Krispy Kreme shops. They will be available to order anytime Krispy Kreme is open for business, and will remain on menus for a limited time only through October 4 while supplies last. This new item will not be offered at Krispy Kreme locations in Canada or Puerto Rico. They can be ordered in-store at the counter, kiosk, or drive-thru where available. Advance orders can be placed through Krispy Kreme's app or website for carryout or delivery.

Churro Doughnut Dots are only available in an eight-count order, and include a side dip cup of dulce de la leche. While the price may vary by location, at my Manhattan Krispy Kreme, these Churro Dots retailed for $5.29. The dulce de la leche sauce can also be purchased à la carte, and be enjoyed with any of Krispy Kreme's offerings. I tried it with an Original Glazed Cake, and while this softer doughnut didn't prove to be as sturdy as a recipient do try sauce, it too made for quite the overly sweet treat.

The Churro Doughnut Dots are made up of all kinds of ingredients, and the highlights include enriched wheat flour, vegetable shortening made from palm oil, water, sugar, and less than 2% each of such things as yeast, leavening, soy flour, salt, soy lecithin, wheat gluten, skim milk, and egg yolks. They're coated in the dynamic duo of cinnamon and sugar. The dulce de leche sauce unites the talents of nonfat milk, sugar, corn syrup, soybean oil, whey, water, natural flavors, salt, lactase enzyme, agar, and baking soda. They contain the common allergens soy, milk, egg, and wheat.

An order includes eight Doughnut Dots and one side sauce sauce. That adds up to 430 calories, 20 grams of total fat, 10 grams of saturated fat, 250 milligrams of sodium, 56 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 33 grams of sugar, including 27 grams of added sugar, and 6 grams of protein.