What is the name for the small piece removed from the centre of a ring doughnut?

The small piece removed from the centre of a ring doughnut is called a doughnut hole.

The term originally described the piece cut from dough before the remaining ring was fried. Modern doughnut holes are often made separately by depositing small balls of dough into hot oil, so they are not necessarily cut from the centres of ring doughnuts.

Doughnut holes became especially associated with American doughnut shops during the twentieth century. Some chains use distinctive brand names for them, but “doughnut hole” is the general term understood internationally.

A common misconception is that every doughnut hole is literally the centre removed from a doughnut. In commercial production, many are formed as independent pieces, which allows more consistent size and faster cooking.