We recently asked members of the BuzzFeed Community to tell us where to get the best doughnuts in the country. Here are their delicious suggestions.
1. The Apple Cider Fritter from Blue Star Donuts, Portland, Oregon
Why you knead it: The Apple Cider Fritter is made from leftover holes from the doughnuts made throughout the day, so you're basically eating a decadent fritter that you can slowly and easily pull apart one bit at a time. Other prized doughnuts include the Crème Brûlée and the Coffee & Coconut Cheesecake doughnut.
Suggested by: Queen Cecillia
2. The Nutella Doughnut from Hurts Donut, Springfield, Missouri
Why you knead it: Uh, hello, a Nutella-filled doughnut dusted with a generous helping of sugar?! Need I explain more? If you're looking for a spicy challenge, Hurts makes their famous "Fire in the Hole" donut holes filled with jalapeño cream cheese and topped with a sriracha glaze. Hurts, don't it?
Suggested by: Hannah Williams
3. The Cafe au Lait Doughnut from Dough, Brooklyn
Why you knead it: If you want your coffee and doughnut together, the Cafe au Laut doughnut is made of roasted coffee beans and is topped with pecan brown sugar with their signature glaze. If you're more into the tea lifestyle, Dough has a chocolate glazed doughnut with a hint of Earl Grey tea.
Suggested by: mistyw480bc5e7d
4. The "Evil Elvis" from Hypnotic Donuts, Dallas
Why you knead it: Amongst the fried chicken doughnut sandwiches and decadent fritters lies the Evil Elvis, a traditional yeast doughnut topped with peanut butter, bacon, bananas, and a honey drizzle. It's enough to put you in a food coma after one bite.
Suggested by: kendraannw
5. The Chocolate Orange Old Fashioned from Stan's, Los Angeles and Chicago
Why you knead it: Starting your day off with a traditional cake doughnut topped with zesty orange and semisweet chocolate sounds like a good plan. If you walk into the Chicago location, you can grab a scoop of traditional gelato to have with your doughnut.
Suggested by: jodig43a583f5c
6. The Bacon Maple Apple Doughnut from Dynamo Donut & Coffee, San Francisco
Why you knead it: Made with fresh apples and thick-cut bacon included IN THE DOUGH, this amazing treat is topped with a maple glaze and crispy diced bacon pieces. With this doughnut, you can feel like fall all year long. Also, if you have a gluten-free friend, there are options for them!
Suggested by: Lindsey Adler
7. The Salted Caramel & Reduced Balsamic Vinegar Doughnut from Sublime Doughnuts, Atlanta
Why you knead it: Out of all the insane doughnuts from their Oreo Burger to a Frosted Croissant, the sweet and tangy Caramel and Balsamic doughnut stands out, because it's so damn unique and will trip out your taste buds. The traditional doughnut is topped with salty caramel and finished off with a tangy balsamic vinegar.
Suggested by: Jessica Probus
8. The Malasada from Leonard's Bakery, Honolulu
Why you knead it: Malasadas are basically doughnuts without the hole taken out of them so they're super crispy on the outside and nice and soft on the inside. They're then either filled with vanilla, chocolate, or fruit, and rolled in sugar. Essentially, they're everything.
Suggested by: Alexis Nedd
9. The Oreo Doughnut from Mojo Donuts, Hollywood, Florida
Why you knead it: Honestly, with doughnuts like Snickers and Shoestring Potatoes and Cranberry Walnut Orange fritters, the Oreo sandwich is rather tame, but it's so damn good. The sandwich is a classic doughnut with homemade cookies and cream filling topped with vanilla icing and crumbled Oreos.
Suggested by: Jessica Misener
10. A traditional cake doughnut from A Baker's Wife, Minneapolis
Why you knead it: This doughnut is a traditional no-frills or experimentation type doughnut, but it's done perfectly. Although the pastry shop offers cookies, cakes, and kolaches, their sugary doughnut is second to none and provides the perfect amount of crunchiness.
Suggested by: Maitland Quitmeyer
11. The Hulk Hogan Fudgie Wudgie from The Cinnamon Snail Food Truck, New York City
Why you knead it: Vegans rejoice! The Cinnamon Snail has a 100% vegan menu, and it might take you a few doughnuts to realize it. They even have gluten-free items. The Fudgie Wudgie is a chocolate-filled, chocolate-frosted, and chocolate-cookie-topped masterpiece. Other unique doughnuts include Raspberry Lavender, Speculoos Cookie Butter, and Mexican Hot Chocolate Twists.
Suggested by: Sarah Willson
12. The Driftwood from Cops & Doughnuts, Clare, Michigan
Why you knead it: Owned 100% by police officers, Cops & Doughnuts has been making treats since 1896. The Driftwood is a driftwood-shaped long john filled with coconut cream and topped with chocolate ganache and toasted coconut. They also have insanely amazing Paczkis, HALF-POUND doughnuts jam-packed with fruit preserves and rolled in powdered sugar.
Suggested by: Martha Youstra
13. The Strawberry Doughnut from The Donut Man, Glendora, California
Why you knead it: The Donut Man only uses in-season produce like strawberries, peaches, and pumpkins for his specialty doughnuts. The strawberry flavor is a regular fresh doughnut stuffed with handpicked berries from THAT MORNING and then drizzled with a generous portion of his homemade glaze. As an added treat he dips the leftover strawberries in chocolate to take home.
Suggested by: Sarah Solar
14. The Purple Goat from Glazed, Charleston, South Carolina
Why you knead it: Everything at Glaze is made by hand, from the dough to the jam. The Purple Goat is a little savory and a little sweet, stuffed with berry goat cheese filling and topped with lavender icing. Your bougie level will quickly go from zero to 60 real quick after ordering this. If you want a challenge, order the Monte Cristo: melted ham and cheese, topped with strawberry jam, sandwiched in between a sliced glazed doughnut.
Suggested by: misscayvee
15. The Brown Butter Hazelnut Crunch from Union Square Donuts, Somerville, Massachusetts
Why you knead it: The Brown Butter Hazelnut Crunch Doughnut is a classic doughnut glazed with buttery smooth sweet icing and topped with crushed hazelnuts and a crispy crunchy crumble. Union Square has locally brewed coffee and taste tests each doughnut over and over to achieve their perfectly unique flavors.
Suggested by: Melissa Ann
16. The Maple Bacon Bar from Varsity Donuts, Manhattan, Kansas
Why you knead it: Uh, LOOK AT IT. The traditional long john is topped with maple icing, then a generous amount of crispy bacon, AND THEN MORE icing. These things are so insane, people line up before the sun rises just to get their hands on them. Their doughnuts are ranked by their extreme flavors from JV to Varsity, and you can even get cream-cheese-filled doughnut holes and Funfetti doughnuts.
Suggested by: sarahp4b2b97c24
17. A traditional Glazed Doughnut from The Amish Baking Company during Bonnaroo, Manchester, Tennessee
Why you knead it: The elusive Amish Baking Company can only be found at a handful of festivals, the most popular being Bonnaroo. These authentic Amish doughnuts are hand-rolled and shaped, deep fried, dunked in icing, and set on polls to dry. Your concept of a glazed doughnut won't ever be the same after trying these.
Suggested by: Joy Martin
18. The Apple Fritter from Randy's Donuts, Los Angeles
Why you knead it: Randy's employees have been operating out of the same doughnut-topped tiny shack for decades, and you can even go through the drive-thru if you're really feeling lazy. Their classic Apple Fritter miraculously creates the perfect balance of soft and crunchy. Each and every corner is a crispy golden-brown bite and you slowly get to the doughy center with every bite.
Suggested by: hannahrenaeb
19. The Texas-Sized Doughnut from Round Rock Donuts, Round Rock, Texas
Why you knead it: This small bakery creates insanely big doughnuts. Just one Texas-sized doughnut takes up the entire traditional dozen-pastry box, and still tastes insanely good. If you know anyone from Texas, their first answer to the best doughnut around is Round Rock Donuts just outside of Austin.
Suggested by Travis Simer
20. The Coconut Glazed Doughnut from The Downyflake, Nantucket, Massachusetts
Why you knead it: Although the Downyflake serves breakfast and lunch, people flock to the restaurant for the doughnuts, especially the Coconut Glazed flavor. Instead of just getting toast with your breakfast, every meal comes with a doughnut. The Coconut Glazed is their homemade cake glazed doughnut sprinkled with a generous helping of fresh coconut flakes.
Suggested by: lizzie518
21. The Cinnamon Caramel Doughnut from Rise 'N Roll Bakery, Fort Wayne, Indiana
Why you knead it: These doughnuts are called "crack doughnuts" by anyone who goes to Rise 'N Roll. Their traditional yeast doughnut is topped with caramel icing and then sent out to swim in a sea of cinnamon sugar until they're perfectly coated. The bakery also has a special doughnut of the week, ranging from peanut butter to chocolate coconut filled.
Suggested by: cheetomosquito
22. Blueberry Crumble Doughnuts from Art City Donuts, Utah Valley, Utah
Why you knead it: Operating out of a tiny food truck, Art City Donuts serves some mean tiny doughnuts. Every day the truck serves a handful of different flavors, ranging from Strawberry Shortcake to Maple Glaze with Coconut Crumbles. Their Blueberry Crumble mini doughnuts are topped with homemade tart and creamy berry icing and buttery crumbles. They're perfect for sharing and have a diehard following.
Suggested by: VixyPants
23. The Frosted Angel Cream Doughnut from Paula's Donuts, Buffalo, New York
Why you knead it: First of all, any doughnut place that caters weddings deserves an A+ already. Paula's claims to use a super secret ingredient that "you won’t find in any of the big chain store donuts," so they have to be amazing. Their Frosted Angel Cream is filled with homemade whipped cream and topped with a layer of fresh icing and glittery sprinkles. You can even order it to be the size of an actual cake.
Suggested by: stevea4d26fd770
24. The Doughnut of the Month from Krumpe's Do-Nuts, Hagerstown, Maryland
Why you knead it: Krumpe's has a brand-new flavor every single month to fit perfectly with the season and holiday celebrated during that time. Part of the appeal is the surprise, the other part being deliciousness and creativity. Their flavors range from September's Caramel Apple Doughnuts filled with fresh apples to October's S'mores Doughnut topped with marshmallow cream, crumbled graham crackers, and chocolate bars.
Suggested by: beths49bbe84da
25. The Maple Bar from The Original House of Donuts, Lakewood, Washington
Why you knead it: Locals have kept this place as their go-to doughnut shop for generations, and can be as old as fifth-generation customers. Their maple bars have been handmade since the 1950s and are topped with fresh maple frosting. They're also known for making any custom doughnut you could ever ask for, ranging from special Seattle Seahawks colors to unique flavors like banana and orange.
Suggested by: laceebriannes
26. Honey Doughnuts and Fried Chicken from Federal Donuts, Philadelphia
Why you knead it: Doughnuts and fried chicken. Need I say more? Federal Donuts prides itself on its homemade doughnuts and quirky flavored fried chicken. With every order of fried chicken you have a choice of having your doughnut naked, seasoned, or full-on glazed.
Suggested by: hillreeves
27. The Spa Doughnut from Little Bigs, Portland, Maine
Why you knead it: Little Bigs is owned by a couple who share a love of sweets. The two create new and noteworthy flavors, one being the Spa Doughnut made with house-made nut and berry granola, Greek yogurt, and drizzled with honey. This doughnut will trick you into thinking you actually made a healthy choice. Many of their doughnuts include the excess doughnut hole as an added bonus of a topping.
Suggested by: Mallory McInnis
28. The Chestnut Glazed Doughnut from The Doughnut Vault, Chicago
Why you knead it: People wait for HOURS just to get their hands on one doughnut. Each location only makes a handful of perfected flavors to make sure each doughnut is flawless, so they've been said to sell out in under an hour some days. Their Chestnut Glazed doughnut has nutty notes to counterbalance the sweetness of their classic icing. Really, any choice is a good choice at the Doughnut Vault.
Suggested by: shuliew
29. The Heavenly Hash Doughnut from Gourdough's, Austin
Why you knead it: All of Gourdough's doughnuts are served with a fork because, I mean, look at them. The Heavenly Hash is made of your kindergarten dreams: "Marshmallow With Chocolate Fudge Icing Topped With Fudge Candy." If this just seems a little too sweet, you can build your own with toppings like jalapeño icing, gummy worms, Oreos, and cake mix.
Suggested by: mpalitos91
30. The Daddy Dearest from Glam Doll Donuts, Minneapolis
Why you knead it: Glam Doll Doughnuts never fails to go full glam with flavors like Peanut Butter & Sriracha and Spiced Mexican Chocolate & Cayenne Pecans. If you're feeling like pregaming your work day, the Daddy Dearest is a SURLY beer cake donut, with SURLY BENDER glaze, topped with bacon and a buttery crumble.
Suggested by: Nicola Murray
31. A Doughnut Ice Cream Sandwich from Peter Pan Donuts, Brooklyn
Why you knead it: Summertime in NYC can be anything but enjoyable when it comes to the heat. The owner of Peter Pan Donuts created the perfect solution by slicing her traditional cake doughnut in half and putting scoops of either vanilla, cookies and cream, or strawberry ice cream in the middle. You can even have it with a red velvet doughnut. So now you can get away with ice cream for breakfast.
Suggested by: danielcolliers
32. The Chipotle Caramel Doughnut from Pink Box Doughnuts, Las Vegas
Why you knead it: Doesn't the name just say "Vegas"? You have to start your day with a Vegas-style doughnut before hitting the Strip. The Chipotle Caramel Doughnut will wake you up with its surprising spice and calm your senses with its sugary sweetness. If you're not feeling up to the challenge, you can nab a chocolate doughnut topped with Cocoa Pebbles.
Suggested by: Alexis9321
33. A piping hot fresh glazed doughnut from Krispy Kreme, Everywhere, 'Merica
Why you knead it: That's right, I said it. Come get me.
Suggested by: sammir408c9b643