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{{Short description|Deep-fried pastry like a doughnut}}
{{Redirect|Krüller|Author & Punisher album|Krüller (album)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2014}}
{{Infobox food
| name             = Cruller
| image            = Cinnamon twist.jpg
| caption          = Iced "cinnamon twist" cruller
| alternative_name = Twister
| type             = [[Pastry]]/[[Doughnut]]
}}

A '''cruller''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|r|ʌ|l|ər}}) is a deep-fried [[pastry]] popular in parts of Europe and North America. In Europe it is typically either made of a string of [[dough]] that is folded over and twisted twice to create its signature shape or is formed from a rectangle of dough with a cut in the center allowing it to be pulled over and through itself to produce distinctive twists in the sides of the pastry. In North America, it is typically a form of cake [[doughnut]] made in a small loaf or simple stick shape or, in the case of the "[[Cruller#French cruller|French cruller]]", extruded in a ring from [[choux pastry]]. 

Crullers are typically topped with [[cinnamon sugar]], dipped in plain [[icing (food)|icing]], or served plain.

== History ==
[[File:klenater.jpg|thumb|left|A handmade Danish ''[[klejner|klejne]]'', a traditional cruller shape, rectangular with two twisted sides]]

The name ''cruller'' comes from the early 19th-century Dutch {{lang|nl|kruller}}, from {{lang|nl|krullen}} 'to curl'. In northern Germany they are known as {{lang|de|hirschhörner}} ('deer horns'). In Scandinavia, these types of crullers are common at Christmas.  They are traditionally baked on [[New Year's Eve]] as a family project, with the children doing the labor-intensive shaping and the grown-ups handling the [[deep frying]].{{citation needed|date=October 2016}} In Danish they are known as ''[[klejner]]'' and in Swedish as ''klenäter'', both names deriving from [[Low German]]. 

In the United States, crullers were introduced in the late 18th and early 19th centuries by [[Pennsylvania Dutch]] settlers, and became popular in regions with large German populations.<ref name="Midwestern Crullers">{{cite web|url=http://www.gojefferson.com/banner/opinion/foust/cruller/index.html|author=John Foust|title=Midwestern Crullers|work=www.gojefferson.com|access-date=24 June 2017}}</ref> The [[Milwaukee]]-style cruller, for example, is a loaf-shaped [[Glaze (cooking)|glazed]] cake doughnut with a crunchy exterior.<ref name="where" /><ref name="wuwm">{{cite news |last1=Nowakowski |first1=Audrey |title=Cruller Or Kruller? However You Spell It, It's A Milwaukee Doughnut Staple |url=https://www.wuwm.com/arts-culture/2019-02-22/cruller-or-kruller-however-you-spell-it-its-a-milwaukee-doughnut-staple |access-date=11 December 2024 |work=WUWM 89.7 FM - Milwaukee's NPR |date=22 February 2019 |language=en}}</ref>

The term "Chinese cruller" is occasionally applied to the [[youtiao]] ({{zh|s=油条}}), a similar-looking fried dough food eaten in East and Southeast Asia.<ref name="Midwestern Crullers"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thespruce.com/traditional-chinese-breakfast-694158|title=If You Want a New Breakfast Idea, Then Go Chinese!|publisher=The Spruce|author=Rhonda Parkinson|date=May 3, 2017|access-date=24 June 2017}}</ref> The term cruller is also associated with the mahua ({{zh|s=麻花}}),<ref>"crullers". Youdao dictionary. Accessed August 1, 2013.</ref> a type of twisted fried dough much denser and sweeter than youtiao.

The "Aberdeen crulla" is a traditional Scottish pastry made in the same way as the rectangular, plaited cruller of New England.<ref>F. Marian McNiell, "The Scots Kitchen",</ref> It is first attested in [[Edinburgh]] in 1829 and is thought to copied from the 'cruller' of the United States according to the Scottish National Dictionary (1931–1976).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/crulla |title=Crulla ''n.'' |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2004 |website=Dictionary of the Scots Language – Dictionar o the Scots Leid |publisher=Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. |access-date=15 November 2018}}</ref> Distinct from this, the "yum-yum" is a commonly available treat in the United Kingdom, which resembles a straightened French cruller coated in thin glacé icing.{{clear}}

==French cruller==
{{Infobox food
| name = French cruller
| image = File:French-Cruller-Donut.jpg
| caption = A light and airy French cruller
| alternate_name = ''Spritzkuchen''<br />Chouxnut
| type = [[Pastry]]/[[Doughnut]]
}}

A '''French cruller''' is a light airy, fluted, ring-shaped [[Glaze (cooking)|glazed]] doughnut extruded from [[choux pastry]].<ref name="kids">{{Cite book |last=Smith |first=Patti |url=https://archive.org/details/justkids00smit/page/111 |title=Just Kids |publisher=Ecco |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-06-621131-2 |location=New York, New York |page=[https://archive.org/details/justkids00smit/page/111 111] |url-access=registration}}</ref> The name likely refers to the use of the French choux dough, with the actual origin of the pastry being German or Dutch, and was popularized in the United States by [[Dunkin' Donuts]].<ref name="where">{{Cite web |date=2024-05-01 |title=What Are Cruller Donuts (And Where Do They Come From)? |url=https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/cruller-donuts-where-come-161559266.html |access-date=2024-12-11 |website=Yahoo Life |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Galarza |first=Daniela |date=2015-05-28 |title=Everything You Need to Know About the Great American Doughnut |url=https://www.eater.com/2015/5/28/8672939/doughnut-guide-cake-yeast-cruller-donut-history |access-date=2024-12-11 |website=Eater |language=en}}</ref> When filled, they are often referred to as a '''chouxnut'''.<ref name="chouxnuts">{{cite web |last1=Gregory |first1=Zola |title=Chouxnuts Give Crullers a Glazed Glow Up |url=https://tastecooking.com/chouxnuts-give-crullers-a-glazed-glow-up/ |website=TASTE |access-date=11 December 2024 |date=13 July 2022}}</ref>

The French cruller is similar to the German ''[[:de:Spritzkuchen|Spritzkuchen]]'' ({{Translation|extruded cake|literal=yes}}), which is traditionally made from choux pastry that is [[Pastry bag|piped]] onto [[Parchment paper|parchment]] and then deep fried. It dates back to 18th century [[Nuremberg]],<ref name="sincerus">{{Cite book |last=Sincerus |first=Alexius |title=Der wolbestanden Becker |publisher=Husum Verlagsgesellschaft |year=1713 |isbn=978-3-89876-230-4 |edition=6th |location=Husum |publication-date=2013 |pages=75 |language=de}}</ref> but became associated with Eberswalde in the 19th century.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Schlaak |first=Marina |title=Zeitzeichen, Eberswalde – Geschichte und Geschichten |publisher=Stadtverwaltung Eberswalde |year=2003 |isbn=3-9805947-3-4 |location=Eberswalde |language=de}}</ref> It is said to have originated as part of carnival celebrations that take place before [[Lent]] to use up supplies of animal fats so they would not spoil and go to waste.<ref name="hassani">{{cite book |last=Hassani |first=Nadia |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=93hWz3yOoj0C&pg=PA130 |title=Spoonfuls of Germany: Culinary Delights of the German Regions in 170 Recipes |year=2004 |isbn=9780781810579}}</ref>

==Availability==
Crullers are most commonly found in Canada, [[New England]], the [[Mid-Atlantic states|Mid-Atlantic]] and North Central states of the United States; they are also common in California.{{cn|date=January 2024}} The German origin is probably why traditional crullers can be found more easily in the [[Midwestern United States|Midwest]], where many [[German American|German immigrants]] settled.<ref name="Midwestern Crullers" /> Some family-owned bakeries still call them "krullers."

In 2003, the [[Dunkin' Donuts]] chain of doughnut shops stopped carrying traditional crullers, claiming that the hand-shaped rectangular treats were too labor-intensive, and couldn't be simulated with new machines for mixing doughnut batter. 
In its place some, of the chain’s franchises offered a simplified, machine-made rectangular version called a "cake stick".<ref name="dd">{{Cite web|url=http://www.dunkindonuts.com/content/dunkindonuts/en/menu/donuts.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120201111043/http://www.dunkindonuts.com/content/dunkindonuts/en/menu/donuts.html|url-status=dead|title=Dunkin' Donuts Product List|archive-date=1 February 2012}}</ref>
As of 2003, the company still sold "French crullers",<ref name="Twisted">Joseph P. Kahn, [http://archive.boston.com/ae/food/articles/2003/10/25/with_progress_a_cruel_twist/ "With Progress, a Cruel Twist"], ''[[Boston Globe]]'', 25 October 2003.</ref> which can be formed by a kind of extruding nozzle<ref>{{cite patent |country=US |number=3396677 |status=patent |title=Shaped doughnut cutting device |pubdate=Aug 13, 1968 |gdate= |fdate=Jun 3, 1966 |pridate=Jun 3, 1966 |inventor=Adams Floyd N, Cooper Victor D, Sommers John E |assign1= Dca Food Ind|assign2= |class= |url=http://www.google.com/patents/US3396677}}</ref> similar to the way choux pastry is piped.

French crullers have been gaining popularity in the UK, Australia, and the USA, with specific mentions of Cardabelle in the UK, Moon Cruller in Australia, and Deli Provision in the USA. In the southeastern U.S., French crullers are a fresh-baked everyday bakery item at many donut shops and grocery stores.{{cn|date=January 2024}} In 1973, the French cruller became available in [[Mister Donut]] stores in Japan.<ref name="misdo_jp">{{cite web |title=History of Mister Donut |url=http://www.misterdonut.jp/museum/history/index.html |access-date=February 12, 2016 |publisher=misterdonut.jp |language=ja}}</ref>

[[Tim Hortons]]<ref name="tm">[http://www.timhortons.com/ca/en/menu/donuts.php Tim Hortons Snacks & Baked Goods]</ref> and [[Honey Dew Donuts]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.honeydewdonuts.com/menu/item/French-Cruller|title=French Cruller &#124; Honey Dew Donuts|website=www.honeydewdonuts.com|access-date=17 December 2019|archive-date=17 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217214900/https://www.honeydewdonuts.com/menu/item/French-Cruller|url-status=dead}}</ref> sell only the French cruller, not crullers. [[Krispy Kreme]]<ref name="kk">{{cite web|url=http://www.krispykreme.com/menu/Doughnuts/Glazed-Cruller|title=Glazed Cruller|work=krispykreme.com|access-date=19 June 2015}}</ref> sell a similar doughnut the company refers to as a cruller, but is a molded/formed cake doughnut.

==See also==
*{{portal-inline|Food}}
*[[List of doughnut varieties]]
*[[List of German desserts]]
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Angel wings]], another twisted deep-fried dough
* [[Berliner (pastry)]], another doughnut popular in Germany
* [[Churros]], a fried choux pastry originating in Spain and Portugal
* [[Fasnacht (pastry)]], another Shrove Tuesday related doughnut
* [[Fritter]], another donut-like pastry
* [[King cake]]
* [[Koeksister]], a twisted doughnut popular in South Africa
* [[Long John (doughnut)]], the common American rectangular doughnut, made from a yeast dough
* [[Maejap-gwa]], a ribbon-shaped [[Korean cuisine|Korean pastry]] 
* [[Oliebol]], the basic Dutch doughnut
* [[Pilipit]], a similar fried twisted doughnut from the Philippines
* [[Twisted doughnut]]
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{wikt-inline}}

{{Pastries}}
{{Doughnut}}

[[Category:Carnival foods]]
[[Category:American doughnuts]]
[[Category:German-American cuisine]]
[[Category:Canadian doughnuts]]
[[Category:German pastries]]