Jam donuts are the afternoon snack many of us crave with a cup of tea. But there is one that is just 27p and will blow you away.08:28, 29 May 2026The jam donut is a classic, sugary treat, and finding the best one that gives you the most bang for your buck is no small feat.‌Although it feels somewhat British, due to its jam filling, the donut actually has its roots in New York, when New York was called New Amsterdam.‌17th-century Dutch settlers made sweetened, deep-fried dough balls called and stuffed the middle with fruits or nuts - hence 'dough' and 'nut'.‌The task of finding the best British supermarket jam donut took me to the aisles of Asda, Sainsbury's, Waitrose and the Co-op.I was looking for the best quality measured against value for money. I wanted a good dough, a generous portion of real jam, and a reasonable sized donut. The winner was perfect, and just 27p.Sainsburys - £1.30‌These had a good bread-y dough, they were chewy (in a good way) and had a solid dose of sugar on the crust. The jam was solid - although it was clear and my personal preference is to see some seeds or at least a whisper of real fruit inside it.The taste was good and at 26p each these were bang in the middle of the others price-wide. As an added bonus - there are 5 donuts per pack.Co-op - £1.15‌These were the most expensive, and for no clear reason. Equally, if you're looking to feed the family there are only four in the pack compared to all of the other contender's five.These were absolutely fine as a donut. However, at 28p each, they did not quite earn their keep. The jam was not to sweet, and fruity and tasted like it may have at least looked at a piece of fruit. The dough had a good flavour, but the serving of jam inside left a lot to be desired.Asda - £1.27‌The jam in these donuts tasted more like melted down sweets than anything made from real fruit. These had a very strong deep-fried flavour, reminiscent of theme-park or fair ground donuts.Asda's donuts were also quite small in comparison to everyone else's but at just 25p each - this makes sense. These may be the ideal donut for a child - but for an adult wanting their sweet treat to taste like a semblance of actual food - it may not quite cut it.These also had powdered sugar on the outside - I found that on all of the donuts this kind of melted into nothing before you could get them home.‌Waitrose - £1.35This was instantly the best donut. These delivered on the crunchy sugar-coated front, it covered every nearby surface and my t-shirt in a layer of the stuff - as it should. These were the only donut with the classic - granulated sugar coating.There was a very healthy dose of jam, which tasted like actual fruit jam with seeds and flavour and a rich red colour. The dough was pillowy and fluffy and not too sweet.Article continues belowThe Waitrose donuts were also easily the largest compared to all of the other bakes and felt like a hearty-full sized snack - just the same size as a donut that you might buy individually. Equally, at 27p each they are also one penny less than the price per donut from the Co-op - and they come in a five-pack.