When it comes to food, we have a lot to thank the Greeks for. Imagine a life without feta or Greek yoghurt? It doesn’t bear thinking about! When it comes to sweet treats, our current favourite are loukoumades – light doughnut balls traditionally soaked in honey syrup or dusted with cinnamon and powdered sugar.

Today, thanks perhaps to the worldwide doughnut trend, loukoumades are topped with everything from lashings of Nutella and crushed nuts to jam, lemon curd and freeze-dried raspberries. Here are 17 glorious enough to make you board a plane to Athens right now.

1. These glorious glossy mouthfuls

LOUKOUMADES, les beignets grecs To Paradosiako, Naoussa, Paros #greece #visitgreece #paros #naoussa #loukoumades #traveleringreece #dontsnapshoot #fr

A photo posted by Eva H. (@evitsa) on Oct 3, 2016 at 7:01am PDT

2. These honey- and nut-drizzled beauties

#goGREEKorGOHOME #loukoumades #greekdessert #honeynutscarbs #dontcare   A photo posted by Andrea Theodorakos (@cookiegoddess) on Oct 29, 2016 at 4:23pm PDT

3. These ones with honey, cinnamon and walnuts

Greek typical sweet. ” #Loukoumades ” with honey, cinnamon, walnuts! So good hot fresh baked! #AthensInnColors #Appartment #Accomodation #Athens #AthensCity #Greece #VisitAthens #VisitGreece #Hotel #Inn #Retro #Vintage #Decor #food #greekfood #greektaste A photo posted by AthensInnColors (@athensinncolors) on Oct 29, 2016 at 7:14am PDT

4. These sauce-drenched heartbreakers

#tastesfromparadise #loukoumades #nafpliogreece #sweettemptation   A photo posted by Elpida Mchrn (@elpida_mc) on Oct 29, 2016 at 6:04am PDT

5. These magnificent balls that reside in Melbourne (but have a Greek heart)

#tgif #fridayfeels #loukoumades #lokma #donuts already thinking about #dessert #greekfood #greekeats #melbourneeats #eatlocal #nofilter #latergram #greedypeople #nomnomnom #getinvolved #herestotheweekend #melbournefoodie #eater A photo posted by Justine Lau (@jayelau) on Oct 27, 2016 at 6:00pm PDT

6. These tiny treats with chocolate praline, melted Kinder Bueno and white chocolate, with Twix ice cream

A must have Greek dessert (tiny donuts)! I had mine stuffed with chocolate praline, topped with melted bueno and white chocolate, served on the side with twix icecream #loukoumades #moderntwist #dessert #freshlymade #chocolateheaven #athens #greece   A photo posted by Renuka (@ren_ct) on Oct 27, 2016 at 11:37am PDT

7. These stunners who reside in Sydney

Throwback to when I tried my first ever loukoumades with nutella after much internal debate. Two questions: why did I wait so long and why is the weekend so far away!?! #humpday #greekdoughnuts #loukoumades #nutella #throwback #sydneyfoodies #sydneyeats #localeats #foodporn #dessertporn #foodstagram #dessertstagram #instagood #instafood #foodgasm #foodshare #cravings #foodadventures #fooddiaries #onefatsweettooth #sweettreats #whyistheweekendsofaraway #foodieanthem @foodieanthem @jessipca A photo posted by Naomi Chui (@__chuiii101) on Oct 25, 2016 at 9:13pm PDT

8. These sprinkle-topped cuties

#yumyum #loukoumades #bueno #colourful #λουκουμαδες   A photo posted by mims (@mimaki_ps) on Oct 20, 2016 at 12:11pm PDT

9. These ones topped with salted caramel and popcorn or a chocolate drizzle and coconut shavings

Amaze-balls! #loukoumades #amazing #delicious #SaltedCaramel #popcorn #bounty #WelcomeToThornbury #foodie #MelbourneLife #StGerrys #greek #donuts #yum A photo posted by Melissa Macris (@honeybeemacris) on Oct 7, 2016 at 9:39pm PDT

10. These pina colada-flavoured pops

with this unpredictable weather lately, Honey dee loukoumades have created pina colada loukoumades, ….”If you like Pina Coladas, and getting caught in the rain”…… our Pina Colada mix drizzled over fresh donuts, toasted coconut shavings, candied pineapple and a cocktail umbrella. available this weekend only at Birregurra Festival and Art Show www.honeydee.com.au #deesgreekdonuts #pinacolada #pinacoladas #honeydeeloukoumades #loukoumades #donuts #pinacoladadonuts #pinacoladadoughnuts #birregurra #melbourne #foodtruck #sweettooth #streetfood #greeksweets #desserts #handcrafted #createdbyhand A photo posted by honey dee loukoumades (@_honey_dee) on Oct 6, 2016 at 4:26am PDT

11. These lemon-curd-stuffed babies topped with freeze-dried raspberries

And to finish off halo uni loukoumades with lemon curd and topped with freeze dried raspberry @hellenicrep – – #hellenicrepublic #food #dessert #donuts #loukoumades #raspberry #lemoncurd #lemon #freezedried   A photo posted by @little.miss.foodaholic on Oct 30, 2016 at 2:55pm PDT

12. These sesame-seed-speckled sweeties

Tasos has been busy preparing TRULY GREEK loukoumades for Boston. A native touch coming soon to Back Bay #trulygreek #loukoumades #greekhoney #tasostakesover #greco #grecoboston #therealthing #trulyfresh #trulyfast #doughnuts #greekstyle #comingsoon #boston #backbay #newburystreet A photo posted by GRE.CO (@grecoboston) on Sep 29, 2016 at 7:35am PDT

13. And these pistachio and spun-sugar creations

Loukoumades… or Greek doughnuts to you and me #beasbites #blogger #girlwhocooks #foodie #foodblogger #happyblogger #homemade #loukoumades #greek #greekfood #spunsugar #plating #prettyandtasty #pistachio #foodandwine #howisummer #teacherlife #instafood #foodofinsta #instagood #instadaily #instayum #ukblog #ukbloggers #bloggerlife   A photo posted by Beauty (@beas_bites) on Sep 29, 2016 at 8:06am PDT

14. These little balls drowning in chocolate

#foodporn #lifokitchen #loukoumades A photo posted by Babis N. Kortsaris (@food_hooliganism) on Sep 15, 2016 at 9:49am PDT

15. These perfect, crispy loukoumades

Treat your self. #loukoumades #cinnamonhoney #chocolate #rasberry #dessert   A photo posted by Ambrosia On Pako (@ambrosia_on_pako) on Oct 1, 2016 at 5:52pm PDT

16. This inspired Sunday breakfast featuring Nutella-drizzled loukoumades

Lou-kou-ma-des ⠀ ⠀ #loukoumades #agiasos #village #sundaytrip #yummy #sweet #nutella #honey #cinamon #sundaymorning #foodies   A photo posted by ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀PINELOPI APOSTOLELI (@pinelopi_ap) on Oct 30, 2016 at 5:11am PDT

17. And this appropriately-sized portion

#foodporn #loukoumades #delicious

A photo posted by Sarah (@snaphappysara) on Oct 31, 2016 at 6:02am PDT

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