Hole in one: Celebrating the doughnut

Oh, the doughnut. Has their ever been a more universally beloved food?

June 7 is National Doughnut Day, a time to celebrate the many forms these tasty treats have taken, from simple fried dough to elaborate concoctions of glaze, candy and fillings.

In this photo, President Barack Obama shares a joke with staff as he picks up an order of doughnuts at a Krispy Kreme donut store in Tampa, Fla, Oct. 25, 2012.

The Cronut

A hybrid of a croissant and a doughnut, this newly-invented pastry has taken the foodie world by storm. Customers eager to get their hands on the pastry have been lining up at 6am to get their hands on one.

This photo shows chef Dominique Ansel making Cronuts at the Dominique Ansel Bakery in New York. Ansel makes only 200 to 250 Cronuts every morning and has been selling out within an hour, June 3, 2013.

Beignets

A fritter often served with fruit or powdered sugar, the beignet is a centerpiece of Louisiana cuisine and is said to be the predecessor to the modern doughnut.

In this photo, waitresses cover beignets with powdered sugar in the kitchen of Cafe du Monde, one of the most popular tourist spots in New Orleans famed for their coffee and beignets.

"Donut" sandwich

Pushing the breakfast envelope, Dunkin' Donuts has recently released the "Glazed Donut Breakfast Sandwich." Not for the faint of heart, the sandwich features slices of bacon and a pepper-fried egg between a sliced, sugar-glazed doughnut.

Cider doughnuts

An autumn tradition in New England, these cake-style doughnuts get their flavor from apple cider, cinnamon and nutmeg and are best served warm with a glass of fresh cider.

Donut cake

Why have a traditional cake when you can have a pile of donuts? This trend has been adopted by bakeries and doughnut shops alike. Krispy Kreme offers particularly elaborate concoctions for any occasion.

Krispy Kreme

And speaking of Krispy Kreme, the company, which began as a single North Carolina shop in 1937, now enjoys a cult-like devotion and has shops throughout the U.S. and Canada.

The shops offer a variety of treats now, but are sill best known for their classic glazed doughnuts.

Voodoo

With three locations in Oregon, these doughnut shops have become famous for their quirky atmosphere and off-beat confections which include the Bacon Maple Bar doughnut, the Voodoo Doll doughnut and The Loop doughnut, with vanilla frosting and Froot Loops cereal.

Foie Gras

Last but not least (certainly not least in calories that is), the Foie Bomb - a donut hole filled with foie gras mousse and served with a honey, fig and balsamic sauce. California's Psycho Donuts is giving these new creations away to celebrate National Doughnut Day.