A Luther Burger uses what food in place of a hamburger bun?

A Luther Burger uses glazed doughnuts in place of a hamburger bun.

The sandwich is also called a doughnut burger or donut burger. It generally consists of a beef patty or cheeseburger placed between one or more glazed doughnuts, creating a deliberately sweet-and-salty combination. Bacon is a common addition in many versions, but it is not required for the defining idea.

The burger’s origin is disputed. One story connects its name to musician Luther Vandross, while another points to Mulligan’s, a bar in Decatur, Georgia, where doughnuts were reportedly substituted after the kitchen ran out of hamburger buns. The name also gained wider attention through a 2006 episode of the animated series The Boondocks.

State fairs helped popularize variations, including versions made with Krispy Kreme doughnuts, cheese, and bacon. Some were promoted as novelty foods because of their high calorie counts. The Indiana State Fair sold a doughnut burger in 2010, while other fairs created regional versions with different cheeses and toppings.

The main mix-up is confusing the Luther Burger with a burger served alongside doughnuts. In the defining preparation, the glazed doughnuts are the bun itself; tortillas, rye bread, and waffles describe other sandwich formats, not the standard Luther Burger.