Bear's paw and doughnut: what differentiates them and when are they the same
The Danish-style baked bear's paw is made with a buttery dough, while the doughnut is a fermented dough that is fried.
The question of whether a bear's paw is a doughnut has a yes and no answer. To find out, it's helpful to first know what a bear's paw is.
Danish-style baked bear claws are made with milk, yeast, flour, sugar, butter or shortening, and egg. The dough resembles that of a tart, resulting in a delicate, buttery, layered pastry.
Doughnuts, on the other hand, are made with fermented dough, with or without yeast, which is rolled out and cut into circles with a hole in the center. They are not baked, but fried in hot oil.
The original Sacramento bear claws, and those made in a similar way today, are not doughnuts. But some doughnut shops sell claws that resemble them: if they're fried, fluffy, and glazed, they're doughnuts, even if they're filled or sprinkled with flaked almonds.
Those who prefer Danish-style claw would be better off looking for it in a bakery than a donut shop.
