Which type of doughnut is made from choux pastry and has a twisted shape?

A French cruller is a light, ring-shaped doughnut made from choux pastry and formed with a fluted or twisted-looking surface.

Unlike yeast-raised doughnuts, choux pastry contains a high proportion of water and eggs. Steam expands inside the dough during frying, producing the cruller’s airy, delicate interior. The dough is usually piped through a star-shaped nozzle, which creates its ridges.

The name can cause confusion because “cruller” also refers to several other fried pastries. Traditional European and Pennsylvania Dutch crullers may be twisted or looped from rolled dough, while the French cruller is specifically the choux-based ring. Its name likely reflects the French pastry technique rather than a definitively French origin.

French crullers are commonly glazed, though some are served with cinnamon sugar or plain. They are also related in technique to Germany’s Spritzkuchen, another fried choux pastry.