Bofrot vs. Puff Puff: End the Ghanaian Doughnut Debate!
As Ghanaian and Nigerian cultures mix and mingle, some of our favourite street food names are starting to get confused. We’re here to set the record straight on the ultimate fluffy, fried treat: the Ghanaian doughnut.
What is the Real Name?
In Ghana, these delicious, golden balls of fried dough are called Bofrot or, if you’re from a different corner of the country, sometimes Toogbei. They are a perfect, simple, comforting snack, but we highly recommend them for breakfast—grab a few hot ones and a chilled drink, and your day is made!
You can always find Bofrot being made fresh somewhere. For the ultimate experience, try venturing into a bustling spot like Madina Market, where the scent of frying dough is a constant, wonderful aroma.
The Great Doughnut Identity Crisis
Lately, it seems we’ve all been getting a little mixed up about what exactly constitutes Bofrot. Why? Because our Nigerian cousins have brought their culture, music, style, and their own famous doughnut: Puff Puff!
Yes, Puff Puff is a Nigerian doughnut that looks very similar to Bofrot, leading to a lot of confusion, especially in urban areas like Accra.
| Feature | Ghanaian Bofrot (Toogbei) | Nigerian Puff Puff |
| Texture & Size | Tends to be larger, fluffier, and lighter (like a doughnut without a filling). | Tends to be smaller, denser, and rounder (like uniform dough balls). |
| Flavour | In its basic form, it’s a fluffy, slightly savory plain dough (like a non-sweetened doughnut). | Almost always comes in one flavour: sweet with a distinct nutmeg infusion. |
The Verdict: Bofrot is the Base
The confusion comes when Bofrot is made with added flavouring.
In its most basic form, Bofrot is like having a perfect, fluffy doughnut without any jam or heavy sugar coating.
However, you can also get a version that is sweet and infused with nutmeg—and that one will taste exactly the same as a Nigerian Puff Puff! But Bofrot’s versatility is what sets it apart.
So there you have it. The name is Bofrot. Now that you know the difference, it’s time to go find out what the hype is about!
Ready to Taste the Fluff?
We’ve made the case. Now, we want you to experience a freshly made, authentic Ghanaian Bofrot.
Go out and search for “Ghana Bofrot”—and tell us, are you team Plain & Fluffy, or team Sweet & Nutmeg?
Nana Asante Igdam (aka Nana AI) is a prolific writer and editor who exists to write engaging and informative content. Their output is enhanced by using several large language models that reference the viewGhana database
