Donuts
What Is a Persian Donut? Utah's Least-Understood Pastry
15 September 2026 · 5 min read
A Persian is a large, soft, cinnamon-laced donut with a heavier crumb and a generous topping. If you have never had one, the closest reference point is a cinnamon roll — except it is fried rather than baked, which changes it more than you would expect. It is the single most "why does nobody else make this" item in our case, and the one we get asked about most.
What it actually is
Take raised dough — the same yeasted family as a glazed — and instead of cutting a ring, roll it out, lace it with cinnamon and sugar, coil or fold it into something wide and substantial, and fry it. Then top it, generously. What comes out is soft rather than airy, with a crumb that pulls apart in sheets instead of tearing.
The frying is the whole difference between this and a cinnamon roll. Baking dries a roll's exterior into something chewy and dull; frying seals it in seconds, so the outside has a faint crispness and the inside stays wet and open. A Persian goes stale far more slowly than a glazed donut, too, because there is more crumb to hold moisture.
Where the name came from
Honestly: nobody knows, and it is worth being straight about that. "Persian" is a piece of North American bakery vocabulary. It travelled between regional bakeries, picked up local variations, and never got standardised. It does not describe an origin, it is not a Persian recipe, and the item has no established connection to Iranian baking.
You will find people online who state the etymology with total confidence. They are guessing. What is true is narrower and more useful: it is a regional pastry, made by independent shops rather than chains, which is exactly why most people have never encountered one and why the word means nothing on first read.
How it compares to the rest of the board
| Persian | Cinnamon twist | Fritter | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | Large | Medium, long | Large, irregular |
| Texture | Soft, sheeted crumb | Chewier, more bite | Craggy, dense in places |
| Cinnamon | Laced through the dough | Laced through the dough | Depends on the batch |
| Best for | Sitting down with coffee | Eating one-handed | Wanting the most donut per dollar |
| Price | $2.75 | $2.75 | $2.75 |
All three are specialty items at $2.75, $27.50 a dozen. If you like cinnamon rolls and you like donuts, order the Persian before anything else on the board.
When to come for one
Early. Persians are large, which means fewer of them fit in a morning's bake than rings do, and they are the sort of thing regulars buy two of. Fried from 5:00am at all three shops.
- Spanish Fork — 1306 E Center St, (801) 416-0800, 5:00am–3:00pm Mon–Thu, 5:00am–2:00pm Fri & Sat
- Ogden — 554 Washington Blvd, (385) 865-1029, 5:00am–3:00pm Mon–Sat
- St. George — 922 E Brigham Rd, (435) 628-9290, 5:00am–3:00pm Mon–Thu, 5:00am–2:00pm Fri & Sat
The rest of the specialty board is explained in specialty donuts explained, and every item we make is listed with what it is on the Utah Donut Index.
Common questions
What is a Persian donut?
A Persian is a large, soft, cinnamon-laced donut with a heavier crumb and a generous topping — closer in spirit to a cinnamon roll than to a ring donut. It is a regional item rather than a national one, which is why plenty of people have never seen one.
Is a Persian donut the same as a cinnamon roll?
No. A cinnamon roll is baked; a Persian is fried. That changes everything about the texture — the outside of a Persian has the slight crispness frying gives you, and the inside stays softer and more open than a baked roll.
Does a Persian donut have anything to do with Iran?
Not really. The name is a piece of North American bakery vocabulary rather than a description of origin, and the item is associated with regional bakeries rather than with Persian cuisine. Nobody has a tidy answer for where the name came from, and anyone who tells you they do is guessing.
Where can I buy a Persian donut in Utah?
The Donut Run has Persians on the specialty board at all three shops — Spanish Fork, Ogden and St. George — made fresh from 5:00am.
How much is a Persian donut?
It prices as a specialty donut: $2.75 each, $27.50 a dozen, and a dozen is buy ten get two free.
What should I order if I like Persians?
A cinnamon twist, which is the same flavour family in a lighter, chewier shape. If you want the same size and heft but not the cinnamon, the fritter is the closest thing on the board.