I Tried The 4 Retro Donuts From Tim Hortons & One Was Unforgettably Nostalgic

Tim Hortons is celebrating its 60th anniversary with four retro donuts. The Canadian restaurant is bringing the taste of nostalgia back to its menus for a limited time only and obviously, I had to give them a try.

"Tim Hortons is celebrating its 60th anniversary with Canadians and has an exciting list of plans to commemorate the big milestone – including the return of four retro donuts for a limited time, starting January 10," Tim Hortons said in a press release.

The four donuts that have officially made a return to the Tim Hortons menu are The Dutchie (Beigne Hollandais), Blueberry Fritter (Beignet aux Bleuets), Walnut Crunch (Croquant aux Noix) and the Cinnamon Sugar Twist (Torsade au Sucré à la Cannelle).

Tim Hortons is turning 60! Get ready to join Tims for a year of festivities starting with the return of four retro donuts – the Dutchie, Blueberry Fritter, Cinnamon Sugar Twist and Walnut Crunch. CNW Group/Tim Hortons

The classic donuts date back to the 90s, with one in particular dating back as early as Timmies inception. The Dutchie, a sweet square-shaped treat speckled with raisins, made its first appearance on the Tim Hortons menu back in 1964 but was later taken off in the early 2000s.

I decided to give these retro donuts a taste to see which of the four is the best. I took into consideration both the overall taste and nostalgia factor, leaving the price out considering each donut cost $2.29.

So, which Tim Hortons donut came out on top? Let's dive in.

Blueberry Fritter (Beignet au Bleuets)

Tim Hortons Blueberry Fritter (Beignet aux Bleuets)

Mike Chaar | MTL Blog

I was looking forward to sinking my teeth into this one the most. Whether it was its bulkiness or a generous layer of glaze, the Blueberry Fritter stood out from the pack, but its taste certainly didn't match up to the hype.

Perhaps I was expecting more of a Honey Bun texture. However, the Blueberry Fritter was a bit too thick, and the filling was awfully sweet and had an artificial flavouring to it that took away from the taste test experience. Now, while it wasn't bad by any means, it wouldn't be my first choice, second, or well…my third choice either.

Score: 2/5​

Walnut Crunch (Croquant aux Noix)

Tim Hortons Walnut Crunch (Croquant aux Noix)

Mike Chaar | MTL Blog

This was the donut that made me think of my childhood the most and while I thoroughly enjoyed the Tim Hortons Walnut Crunch donut, I was definitely expecting the taste and texture to live up to its name. Where was the crunch, Tim Hortons? Where?!

I could have done with a handful more walnuts that would've offered up more of a crunch in every bite. Nevertheless, the Walnut Crunch was reminiscent of the chocolate Timbit with a walnut every now and again. As for the texture, this donut was a lot less dense than I expected, which was a pleasant and palatable surprise.

Score: 3.5/5​​

The Dutchie (Beigne Hollandaise)

Tim Hortons The Dutchie (Beigne Hollandaise)

Mike Chaar | MTL Blog

The most retro of the four donuts…the Dutchie. Considering this sweet treat dates back to the days of the very first Tim Hortons, there's a lot of pressure on the Dutchie to come out on top. Now, while it wasn't my favourite of the four, it was certainly a close second.

It was the only donut that I purposefully went in for a second and third bite! The raisins offered a nice chewy texture and the dough was firm yet puffy. Nevertheless, it was a tad too sweet for my liking, which was the only downside to this delicious donut.

Score: 4/5

Cinnamon Sugar Twist (Torsade au Sucré a la Cannelle)

Tim Hortons Cinnamon Sugar Twist (Torsade au Sucré a la Cannelle)

Mike Chaar | MTL Blog

Ah, the Cinnamon Sugar Twist, the most nostalgic of the bunch. Call me a sucker for cinnamon sugar because this one was easily the best. Not only did it take me way back to my childhood, but the donut itself was super decadent.

The dough was soft, airy and fluffy, offering up the perfect texture. Not to mention the cinnamon-to-sugar ratio was brilliant and would go perfectly with coffee or hot chocolate. I'll definitely be grabbing this one again before it's gone.

Score: 5/5​

The celebration doesn't just end at the retro donuts. In celebration of its 60th birthday, Tim Hortons is also introducing new cups, Timbit boxes, a new donut and other packaging changes to reflect the Tims logo circa 1964.

"We're celebrating 60 Years of Keeping it Fresh throughout the year at Tims with a series of experiences for guests that will have a spirit of modern nostalgia – nods to the past but also celebrating the Tims of today and the future," said Hope Bagozzi, Chief Marketing Officer for Tim Hortons.

"We wanted to kick off our 60th anniversary year with a bang and we can't wait to re-introduce Canadians to four retro donuts that were most popular historically among our guests."