Crossword Genius

Go ballistic making ring-shaped cake across the pond! (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

donut

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'ring-shaped cake across the pond' is the definition.
(I know this)

'go ballistic' is the wordplay.
'go' becomes 'do' (doing is a kind of going).
'ballistic' becomes 'nut' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'do'+'nut'='DONUT'

'making' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for donut that I've seen before include "something to eat" , "cake in the American way" , "Sugary deep-fried cake" , "ring coming across the Atlantic" , "cake, American-style" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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