Hypnotic Donuts’ Evil Elvis doughnut is a glazed doughnut topped with peanut butter, bananas, bacon and honey. (Tashika Varma / The Daily Campus)

Doughnuts are the new cupcakes, or so the saying goes. All over the country, doughnut shops have been making a comeback and have become more popular than ever.

While many are content to get their donuts from places like Krispy Kreme, Dallas has several alternatives for SMU students who are looking for some more exciting and interesting options.

Here are some of the best:

Hypnotic Donuts

Over past White Rock, Hypnotic Donuts is certainly a bit of a trek, but their doughnuts make it a trip worth taking.

Their “Evil Elvis” doughnut which is glazed and topped with peanut butter, bananas, bacon and honey is easily one of their best.

Based on the classic “Elvis” sandwich, the salty smokey flavor of the bacon goes perfectly with the sweet fruity flavor of the banana and the nuttiness of the peanut butter.

The honey drizzled on top ties the doughnut together perfectly.

Perhaps their most unique doughnut is the “Mexico” doughnut, which is glazed and topped with vanilla frosting, fresh jalapenos and tabasco sauce.

The sweetness of the frosting actually works surprisingly well with the tartness of the tabasco, and the spiciness adds a powerful kick.

If you’re not in the mood for doughnut, Hypnotic’s chicken biscuits are without question among the best in Dallas.

The chicken is marinated for 24 hours before it’s fried crispy and stuffed in a fluffy fresh baked biscuit.

Mustang Donuts

The convenience of walking across the street for fresh, tasty classic doughnuts is part of what makes Mustang Donuts so popular with SMU students.

While lacking the uniqueness of the donuts served at Hypnotic, Mustang Donuts does the classics better than anyone.

The Key Lime doughnut is a truly exceptional example. Creamy tangy and zesty, it does exactly what a good citrus filled donut should do.

Their crispy and tender apple fritter has been famous in Dallas for years, and their plain glazed doughnut even outclass the ones at Krispy Kreme.

One of the downsides of Mustang Donuts is that they only accept cash, but their doughnut are very affordable. There is also a daily trivia question that if answered correctly wins you a free donut.

Pookie’s Donuts

Right next to Love Field airport, Pookie’s donuts are incredibly creative, unique and tasty.

Some of their highlights include doughnuts topped with cereal like Fruity Pebbles or Fruit Loops, but their real highlights are the “Bar of Bacon” and “Cherry Cordial.” They even have a red velvet cake doughnut.

The “Bar of Bacon” is a maple-iced long john doughnut topped with a thick cut slice of crispy melt in your mouth doughnut.

Their bacon is much thicker and crispier than at Hypnotic, which makes this classic combination of maple and bacon a truly amazing doughnut.

Their Cherry Cordial is a more traditional glazed doughnut with icing, but the flavors of the icing are what stand out. It’s a beautiful base of a pink cherry flavored icing, striped with two shades of chocolate icing on top of that, and the flavors are exactly that of a cherry cordial.

The prices at Pookie’s are also very reasonable, as each doughnut costs less than two dollars, and if you mention you’re from SMU, you’ll get a free donut with your purchase. 

Pookie’s Donuts’ Red Velvet Cake donut is topped with cream cheese frosting and red velvet crumbs. (Christopher Saul / The Daily Campus)