The Best Donut Shops In America Will Have You Catching The Next Red Eye Flight!
Donuts... how would the world survive without these tasty round pastries? Thankfully, we don't have to wonder about that. Instead, we have to decide which donut places around America we should visit. With so many donut shops scattered throughout the nation, which are the best? We're talking about the absolute best, most irresistible donuts that make you think you've died and gone to heaven. Here are the top spots in the country, so read through and plan your next vacation around these amazing donut shops.
Voodoo Doughnut - Portland, Oregon
If you're looking for over 50 donut choices, Portland's Voodoo Doughnut is the place for you. Established in 2003 with its flagship location in Old Town Portland, Oregon, the business now has seven shops across America.
All of their options are highly creative, and that's exactly what people want. You've probably never had a Guava jelly coated with vanilla frosting, coconut flakes, and an umbrella on top, but you'd want one after seeing it.
Five-O Donut Co. - Sarasota, Florida
Located in Sarasota, Florida, this is an arrestingly good donut shop. We didn't just make that up, it's their slogan, but we wanted to share it.
This bakery's name is Five-O Donut Co., and they have some impressive offerings. Their donuts, cakes, and croissants are yeast-raised and gluten-free friendly, and they use local Dakin Dairy Farms products as well as locally-roasted coffee. As far as creativity goes, Five-O Donut Co. might be leading the pack. Just take a gander at the assortment you see here.
Amy's Donuts – Colorado Springs, Colorado
Not many specialized donut shops can say they remain open every day of the year, including major holidays. Amy's Donuts, which first opened in 2013, can say that. It provides its customers with hyper imaginative flavors and the classics.
The original location is in Colorado Springs, Colorado, but there are several more destinations that you could travel to if you aren't close to Colorado. There's one in Tucson, Arizona; Columbus, Ohio; Spokane Valley, Washington; and Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Donut Crazy – New Haven, Connecticut
Folks close to New Haven, Westport, and Stratford, Connecticut, are in luck. The family-owned and operated Donut Crazy opened in 2015. It started as a small coffee shop, but soon transformed into a mecca of wildly creative donuts.
They make over 45 different kinds of donuts every day to feed their loyal customers. The Food Network even named their Cannoli Donut the best donut in the state of Connecticut. That's some seriously high praise for a pastry.
Purvè Donut Stop – Honolulu, Hawaii
Purvè Donut Stop's website says, "Two bartenders trading in their strainers for a fryer." Their names are Nick and Brion, and they love their donuts. This is why they wanted to make a unique donut shop with flavor profiles of Hawaii.
Located in beautiful Honolulu, Hawaii, customers can enjoy a plethora of fresh and creative donuts, seven days a week, from six in the morning to two in the afternoon. After a nice swell, grab yourself a Purvè donut.
General Porpoise Doughnuts – Seattle, Washington
General Porpoise Doughnuts is for every filled-donut lover there out there. This Seattle-based shop makes their treats with fresh eggs and seasonal fillings like curds, custards, jellies, and creams.
General Porpoise Doughnuts is a slick coffee and donut shop that mixes the freshness of Seattle with old school talent and baking styles. Their donuts are must-eats with four different locations in Seattle if you're ever visiting. Remember, it's what's inside that counts.
Fit Donut – Meridian, Idaho
Yes, there are donut shops out there that care about the calories you're counting. In May of 2017, Fit Donut began as a home bakery, and in January 2018, they opened their first storefront in Meridian, Idaho.
Here, you won't need to look far to find tasty but healthy ways to satisfy your sweet tooth. The donuts here taste a little more like cakes, but that doesn't take away from their deliciousness. Fit Donut has flavors like Peanut Butter Snowball Strawberry Cheesecake that are just sensational.
Jack Frost Donuts – Cleveland, Ohio
From six in the morning to eight at night (or until they sell out), Jack Frost Donuts provides the people of Cleveland, Ohio, with the goods. Established in 1937, this business is a part of any local's life in the Cleveland area.
Each batch gets made from scratch and cooked fresh daily, which is one of the reasons why this is one of the top donut shops in America. Jack Frost Donuts caters to weddings, bridal showers, and birthday parties so you can always have a touch of sweetness on hand for any event.
Belle Kitchen – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Belle Kitchen opened in 2015 and quickly became the best donut in Oklahoma, according to BuzzFeed and the Travel Channel. The founders had a passion for bringing gourmet treats to the public and they even make macarons in-house.
The dough they use takes two days to make, which turns into a light, springy texture. That's an insane amount of dedication to the craft when your base product takes several days to become ready. One of their classic flavors, Strawberry Milkshake, is absolutely irresistible.
Federal Donuts – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
People in the City of Brotherly Love have had the pleasure of enjoying the Federal Donuts chain since 2011. Customers crave the "Hot Fresh" donuts that come out of the shops' fryers.
It's important to the folks at Federal Donut to offer affordable donuts with wildly unexpected flavors. Their donuts are twice-fried, and they serve crispy chicken as well. So not only can you have your way with the sweets, but you can enjoy a bite of some of the crispiest poultry in the city.
PVDonuts – Providence, Rhode Island
PVDonuts is a letter play on words, and it stands for Providence Donuts. They play with their words, but don't kid when it comes to their delicious donuts! Their website claims they didn't know what they were doing when first starting in 2016, but it's safe to say they're on the right track now.
One of their unique recipes includes a blueberry muffin top on a brioche donut that has a blueberry jam and cream cheese mousse filling. Wow.
The Donut Experiment – Anna Maria, Florida
Husband and wife duo of Shawn and Cecilia Wampole started The Donut Experiment in 2012 in Anna Maria, Florida. It began as Anna Maria Donuts, but that would soon change.
The couple vacationed in Anna Maria and became dumbfounded when there wasn't a donut shop there. That's what led to them eventually quitting their jobs and moving to Florida. This place is so special because they craft the donuts in front of you, and customers can choose whatever toppings they want.
Royal Bake Shop – Centerville, South Dakota
The concept "less is more" is always a path creative people can go down to find success. The Royal Bake Shop is the home of the original zebra donut, as well as your more classic takes on the pastry.
"Keith and I purchased the Royal Bake Shop and opened it for ourselves on November 1, 1993," The Royal Bake Shop's Facebook reads. "We've been making Zebra Donuts, among other things, for almost 25 years now. We are truly amazed at the following that our little donut shop has and truly grateful!" We might need to visit South Dakota soon...
Gibson's Donuts – Memphis, Tennessee
Gibson's Donuts claims they've been "cranking out the best donuts in America since 1967," and they might be onto something. Their product is light and fluffy like your favorite throw pillow. You can decide between yeast or cake donuts, and a myriad of other choices like fritters and donut holes.
This is one of those places where you have to taste it to believe it. The local favorite is the red velvet cake or the New Orleans buttermilk donut. Oh, and if you want to throw a chicken strip on top of your sweets, then feel free.
Hugs & Donuts – Houston, Texas
Houston, you no longer have a problem. On 19th and Shepherd in the Heights, you can come take your tastebuds on a marvelous adventure when you enter the Hugs and Donuts shop. It's Houston's answer to gourmet donuts!
They carry unique flavors like Lemon Meringue Pie, Devils Food Cake, and Crème Brulee. With over 20 different kinds of donuts to select from every day, you can come back each day of the week until you've had them all!
Banbury Cross Donuts – Salt Lake City, Utah
When you talk about staples of certain cities, Roscoes Chicken and Waffles comes to mind for Los Angeles, and Banbury Cross Donuts should get a mention when you're talking about Salt Lake City, Utah. They have plenty of variety, including cinnamon crumb donuts, chocolate covered, and many more.
"Banbury Cross Donuts opened its doors to Salt Lake City in 1986," their Facebook page says. "Since then, we've proudly served our community with delicious baked goodies. We make our treats using high-quality ingredients."
Cold Hollow Cider Mill – Waterbury Center, Vermont
Cold Hollow Cider Mill found what works and keeps doing it, much to their customers' satisfaction. This place is one of Vermont's most attractive tourist attractions and for good reason. Not only can you get top class cider, but their cider donuts are to die for.
"We make our legendary Cider Donuts - called on of the country's four best donuts by Gourmet Magazine - every day, fresh all day long," their website reports. "All this demand is thanks to our 25-year-old secret recipe."
Sugar Shack Donuts & Coffee – Richmond, Virginia
Sugar Shack Donuts & Coffee gets an A-grade for the effort and care they put into crafting their donuts. They hand roll and hand-cut every donut in small batches throughout the day, and they only use fresh and local ingredients.
With 12 locations and counting, we hope they expand and provide their deliciousness all over the nation. If you're craving an Apple Fritter, this is the donut shop to go to.
Cranky Al's – Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
A duo by the name of Susie and Al decided to open up shop in 2006 in East Tosa to provide the locals with homegrown coffee and donuts. After a while of winning accolades for their tasty cruller, sprinkly dinklies, and Hoytie Toyties, they progressed to pizza.
They say they're the only place on the planet where donuts and pizza live together in harmony. While that's up for debate, there's no questioning whether or not they have some of the best treats in America.
Fifth Wheel Doughnuts – Alpine, Wyoming
Straight from their website, this shop sets the record straight when they write, "Fifth Wheel Doughnuts makes everything 100% from scratch! We take pride in offering artisan doughnuts & baked goods free of artificial ingredients, colors & preservatives!"
Their bakery might be based out of the front lounge of a tattoo parlor, but you shouldn't expect anything less than greatness. Their donuts come packed with tremendous flavors, and make this place one of the best shops in America.
