A Persian, Persian roll or Pershing is a fried sweet roll or doughnut with a spiral shape similar to a cinnamon bun. It may be covered with a sugar glaze, iced or frosted,^[2] or sprinkled with sugar or cinnamon sugar.

In Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, it is credited to have originated at Bennett's Bakery in Port Arthur, where it is served with a sweet, pink icing made of either raspberries or strawberries. Traditional lore is that the Persian was named for U.S. general John "Blackjack" Pershing^[3][4] but the exact date of its inception and circumstances of its creation are no longer known, giving rise to competing claims and stories. Its recipe remains a general secret, with long-running debates on whether the icing contains raspberries or strawberries. Persians are often used as fundraising items to be sold at schools, churches, shopping malls, and other social events.^[5] They may be served "toasted" – sliced in half, heated in a frying pan and iced on both sides.^[4]

Persians are popular in the US states of Wisconsin and Maine.^{[citation needed]} In Camden, Maine, they were historically made with chocolate frosting.^[6] In Lehighton, Pennsylvania, they were served with chocolate or vanilla icing with a dollop of cherry–strawberry glaze.^[7] A version is also sold as a "Pershing Donut" at Titus Bakery in Lebanon, Indiana.^[8]