IL’s Best Doughnut Found Here: New Ranking

The doughnut has been part of American culture since Dutch settlers introduced “olykoeks” — oily cakes — in the 17th century, but not all are created equally in the Prairie State.

For the best doughnut in the state, you’ll want to head to Downstate Donuts in Chicago. That’s according to the digital food and drink news site TastingTable, which put together a list that highlights The Best Donut Shop In Each State.

TastingTable praised the doughnut shop's use of potatoes instead of flour to create unique and tasty treats.

"This means they're naturally gluten-free (and especially fluffy). The shop also likes to play around with flavors, sometimes testing them out at farmer's markets," the publication wrote.

To arrive at its choices, TastingTable said it reviewed Reddit posts, local and national publications discussing doughnuts, and first-hand reviews regarding the taste of different pastries.

Doughnuts have come a long way since olykoeks, which were essentially solid balls of fried dough, often filled with nuts or fruit. Captain Hanson Gregory is credited with introducing the iconic ring shape after punching a hole in the center of the dough, which made for even cooking.

The mass production of doughnuts began in the 1920s after Adolph Levi, an enterprising Russian immigrant, invented the “Wonderful Almost Human Automatic Donut Machine,” which churned out the treats at an impressive rate.

The “Doughnut Girls” — Salvation Army volunteers who served frontline troops in World War I and World War II — solidified the popularity of doughnuts as a comfort food.