6 Top Doughnut Shops in the USA

Fifteen years ago I was introduced to my first artisanal doughnut.  Since then, my appreciation grew and I have challenged myself to sample and compare doughnuts during my travels.  In my opinion, the gourmet donut craze has caused some shops to go overboard morphing these classics into a hot mess.  Although not all of my 6 Top Doughnut Shops in the USA produce an “artisanal” product, each shop produces a freshly made high quality donut.

1. New York City – Doughnut Plant

My love for the artisanal doughnut began at New York City’s Doughnut Plant.  Doughnut Plant owner, Mark Israel, is a pioneer.  He was the first to mix fresh fruit and nuts in a doughnut glaze.  Some of his other innovations include creating the first crème brûlée doughnut and engineering the world’s first square doughnut.  The square doughnut guarantees delicious filling in every bite.

A NYC trip is not complete without several visits to the Lower East Side shop.  My favorites include the Peanut Butter and Jam, the Coconut Cream and the Tres Leches Cake doughnut.  The Doughnut Plant tops my list because of their innovative seasonal flavors and use of organic ingredients, when available.  Not only are these delicacies hand-made fresh daily, but they are also free of eggs, trans fat and preservatives.

2. Carolina Beach, NC – Britts Donut Shop

North Carolina’s Britts Donut Shop has been operating for more than 79 years.  The no frills donut shop located on the Carolina Beach boardwalk offers one donut combination.  The light-as-air yeast donut is made fresh and is lightly covered in a classic glaze.  The toughest decision to make at Britts is deciding how many of the delicious treats to order.  The hot off the fryer donuts ranks second on my list.  In my opinion, Britts embodies the classic American donut.  Sadly, Britts is only open during the summer, so it is imperative to take multiple trips to Carolina Beach to enjoy the classic treat.

3. Chicago – Do-Rite Donuts & Coffee

I could not feature a donut list without a nod to Chicago.  Do-Rite Donuts & Coffee tops my list at number three because of its gluten-free and vegan offerings.  My favorite is the Buttermilk Old Fashioned with its crunchy exterior and vanilla bean glaze.  In addition to this classic, the Chicago shop offers drool-worthy and creative creations like Candied Maple Bacon, Blueberry Crumb and Pistachio-Meyer Lemon.  The combination of the Chicago skyline and a Buttermilk Old Fashioned is a recipe for a fabulous day.

4. Seattle – Top Pot Hand-Forged Doughnuts & Coffee

Seattle is one of my favorite foodie destinations.   It has dynamite seafood, See’s Candies, happy hour twice a day and has a great vibe.  Top Pot hand-forged doughnuts are rustic and flawless at the same time.  My favorites include the Old-Fashioned and the Raspberry Bulls-Eye.  Although my last bite of a Top Pot doughnut was four years ago, I can still remember the dense texture and delicious flavors of my two favorites.  The Seattle donut ranks fourth on my list because they are hand-forged, contain zero grams trans fat and offer more than forty different types of doughnut flavors.

5. Honolulu – Leonard’s Bakery

Leonard’s Bakery Malasadas are a Portuguese donut without a hole.  It is deep-fried and covered in either Plain Sugar, Cinnamon Sugar or Li Hing.  The donut is also stuffed with a choice of Custard, Dobash (Chocolate) or Haupia (Coconut).  The bakery also features a flavor of the month like Butter Pecan, Lilikoi and more.  My favorite is the Plain Sugar coated Custard filled.  The made-to-order malasada and its Hawaiian-inspired custards makes Leonard’s Bakery rank number five on my list.  Leonard’s is a Oahu staple and is the perfect afternoon treat after a day of swimming and surfing on Waikiki Beach.

6. Duck, NC – Duck Donuts

Duck Donuts is the fastest growing donut shop in the United States.  Before my experience in Duck, NC, I sampled various donuts at another franchise and I was not impressed.  However, my opinion changed during a Farm Tour of North Eastern North Carolina.

The morning treats are made to order vanilla cake donuts that customers can coat, top and drizzle with delicious ingredients.  Coatings include Cinnamon Sugar, Powdered Sugar, Glaze and Icing in various flavors.  Toppings include Rainbow or Chocolate Sprinkles, Graham Cracker, Chopped Peanuts, Bacon Pieces, Shredded Coconut and Oreos®.  Drizzles include Hot Fudge, Marshmallow, Salted Caramel, Raspberry and Blackberry.  The Chocolate Iced with Rainbow Sprinkles Duck Donut converted me into a fan.

The flagship donut shop ranks sixth on my list because the donuts are made-to-order and can be personalized to create numerous combinations.  The Duck, NC location is a foodie destination when visiting the Outer Banks.

There are many more donut shops that I have not experienced, yet.  Some of these include Portland’s Voodoo Doughnut, Chicago’s Doughnut Vault and Round Rock, Texas, Round Rock Donuts.  What ranks as your favorite doughnut shop in the USA. ?  I would love to hear your recommendations to add to my bucket list.