Devan’s Dozen: Donut Edition
When I was a child, getting a cake donut from the Casey’s General Store in Grant City, Missouri was such a special treat. PHOTO CREDIT - disKCovery
My Directory of the Marvelously Delightful and Most Delicious Metro Donuts
Published June 7, 2024
The universe is flat.
Or at least, that is what we have been told. This is the prevailing belief of the scientific community to this day. And since the scientific community’s wide-held stance of a heavenly body being flat has never, ever, ever been disproven*, it surely should not be challenged.
That being said, there is a growing contingent in that community who abide by the notion that the universe might actually be torus-shaped. That is to say, the universe is shaped like a donut.
This revelation contradicts the long-accepted belief that the universe is expanding. Instead, a donut-shaped universe only appears to be growing. The dynamic flow of space-time through a donut shape merely reflects the parts of the universe that are known back to the universe as it exists today.
If you take a moment to think about it, it actually makes sense. That’s exactly what a good donut does. It reflects. It takes us back. It shows us where we’ve been.
“Donuts. Is there anything they can’t do?”
Appearing to be simple, but deceptively complex, there is no food that overflows with nostalgia in quite the way that donuts do. Without beginning or end, the fried rings of flour and sugar are seemingly eternal, transcending any and all eras.
Practicality would dictate that donuts have holes because it permits them to cook quickly and evenly. While a donut’s center has space for cremes, jellies, custards, puddings, and a litany of fillings; there is no room for your logic here. Donuts supersede reason. They are a dose of true Americana. They are a heap of wistfulness, deep fried in nostalgia, glazed with childlike innocence, and dusted with nothing short of magic.
The greatest donuts in history were made in the kitchen of a woman named Lois Downing in rural northwestern Missouri. You will never convince me otherwise. PHOTO CREDIT - disKCovery
Donuts are to pastries as the DeLorean is to cars. Just one bite and their dynamic flow and culinary geometry can whisk you back through time at the speed of light.
I bite into a cake donut and suddenly, I am 10 years old again, waiting with my dad at the counter of our local Casey’s General Store on the morning of the Worth County Fair.
I reach for a glazed donut out of that yellow box that every Kansas Citian knows too well, and I am reminded of when I first moved to this city, and everything about KC was still so new to me.
I catch a whiff of fryer oil in an old-school donut shop and I remember that unmatched scent of dough and oil from so long ago. The Amish-style donuts, hand-made by a classmate’s grandmother, were a frequent offering at the conclusion of Easter sunrise services. The annual appearance of these warm, oily, glazed confections evoked more anticipation in me than a visit from Santa Claus ever could. Crispy, airy, and fluffy, I am convinced these are the greatest donuts that the world has ever known. Their presence alone was enough to make any place feel holy.
A good donut takes you back to a simpler time, and a simpler place. Beneath the glaze and sprinkles, they conceal a sense of wonderment. Stand in line at any worthwhile donut shop on a Saturday morning, and it is hard to distinguish the adults from the children. There is more than enough excitement to go around! Donuts have a way of reminding us, even for an instant, what it was like to be a kid. Again and again, they take us on a journey through time.
While I may never again know the celestial flawlessness of that Easter donut, it has never stopped me from chasing that flavor in the city I now call home. After a decade of visiting dozens of local donut shops^, it seemed fitting to finally do a Devan’s Dozen for that treat with which the “dozen” is most associated.
As many bakers and purveyors of these confectionary time machines insist on squeezing a thirteenth into their own dozens, I figured it couldn’t hurt for me to follow their lead and recognize an additional small business. Without further ado, these are the 13 best local spots to grab a donut in the Kansas City metro.
Those craving donuts in the northeast corner of the metro, know to go to Slivinskis’ in Kearney. The Apple Fritter (CENTER) and Yum Yum (LEFT) are among their best sellers. PHOTO CREDIT - disKCovery
13. Slivinskis’ Bakery - Est. 2004
178 State Route 92, Kearney, Missouri
For the past twenty years, Slivinskis’ Bakery has been a destination for Northlanders looking to get their donut and fritter fix. Originally began by Doug Slivinski, the shop was sold to Jason Miller in May of last year. “I worked at Hy-Vee for 23 years, and I worked in the bakery for 22. Doug had also worked at Hy-Vee before the bakery and we knew a lot of the same people.” For Miller, a Liberty native, the opportunity just made too much sense to pass up. As he has made Slivinski’s his own, Miller has never felt the need to fix what isn’t broken. “I’ve kept everything. We haven’t changed anything. Everything we make is with all the same ingredients Doug was using.” The famed Apple Fritters and the Yum Yum are still among the most popular options. The Yum Yum is a twist of yeast and chocolate that is fried, glazed, and then topped with a smear of chocolate frosting. “It has cocoa powder in the middle which gives it that extra.” Keeping everything has also included maintaining the customer-service forward focus for which Slivinski’s has always been known. While customers love that experience, and the donuts, Miller says that what defines Slivinski’s is bigger than either of those things. “Kearney loves the small town feel and they have been very supportive. Donuts are donuts. It’s more the community that makes us.”
So, What Do I Get? The Frosted Cake Donuts are crispy, doughy, and well-put together. If you’re a cake donut person, this is a great place for you. The same can be said for the Old Fashioned. The Apple Fritters get all the love and deservedly so, though they are a bit fluffier than most. The power-hitter in this line-up is the aforementioned Yum Yum.
Can I Dine In? YES
Where Else Can I Find Slivinskis’ Donuts? Blondie Brews (Plattsburg) and Hebrews 13:2 Coffee Shop (Lawson)
On the Origin of Donuts
Where, when, and how exactly the donut came to be is hard to say. European, African, Middle Eastern, and Native American cultures all have record of various fried cakes going back hundreds of years. There are accounts of fried balls of dough as far back as Ancient Rome! Most agree that the American donut we know today has roots in the Netherlands. In the early 1700s, Dutch settlers brought olykoek (“oily cakes”) to New Amsterdam (now New York). Back then, they were round fried cakes that lacked the prototypical hole.
It was an American sailor named Hanson Gregory who gave the donut its signature shape around 1850. Malcontent with the undercooked donut centers, Gregory reportedly cut a hole in the center of the dough using the lid of a tin pepper box while at sea. Others say he poked the hole using the spoke of the ship steering wheel. Regardless, the introduction of the hole to the donut marked an important innovation that decreased cook time, eliminated raw doughy centers, and allowed for donuts to be made in any size.
During World War I, female Salvation Army volunteers aimed to boost the morale of frontline soldiers with deliveries of coffee and homemade donuts ^^. Sometimes, they even used soldiers’ helmets to fry the dough over makeshift fires in the trenches! After the war, donuts surged in popularity, due in part to veteran cravings. Over the course of the 20th century, donut shops popped up across the nation. Today, donuts are globally synonymous with American culture. It has been estimated that the average American consumes roughly 31 donuts per year!
While not technically a donut, the fruit-filled Laces (BOTTOM RIGHT) at Hana’s are a top seller. Also pictured are the Glazed Red Velvet (FRONT LEFT), Maple Frosted Old Fashioned (REAR LEFT), and the Peanut Butter Frosted Cake with Chocolate Sprinkles (REAR RIGHT). PHOTO CREDIT - disKCovery
12. Hana’s Donuts - Est. 2012
2131 S. 34th Street, Kansas City, Kansas
Looking through the front window of Hana’s Donuts, it is the bounty of expertly decorated donuts that draws you in. A blinding spectrum of cake donut frosting colors, bear claws, fritters, yeast donuts, bismarcks, and the ever-popular fruit-filled latticed pastries, are enough to stop anyone in their tracks. When I remarked on how beautiful the display was on a recent visit, the man behind the counter bragged, “And it’s every day man. It always looks like this! It’s something.” Something indeed. Owner Hana Simcak puts painstaking care into the look, feel, and taste of everything that she serves, and it shows in the offerings of the Argentine-based shop. Overflowing with donut and pastry options, Hana’s routinely has to stack platters of donuts on top of the case as it lacks the room to showcase their full variety. Pistachio Almond, Orange Zest, Wildberry Old Fashioneds, Wedding Cake, Peanut Butter Frosted, and Blueberry Fritters are just a few of the flavorful, beautiful, unique options that Simcak has to offer. Perhaps most unusual is the wide variety of raspberry offerings. Available as a filling for fruited pastries, as well as a frosting for multiple donut types, the fresh raspberry-injected flavors are a reason many choose Hana’s. A green banner on the door proclaiming, “Come In! We Are Awesome!” seems to have been affirmed in 2022 when Hana’s was one of three Kansas City donut shops to crack the Yelp! Top 100. Earlier this week, Yelp! honored Hana’s by naming them the best donut shop in the state of Kansas! Open until noon most days, Hana’s Donuts has a fiercely loyal following and a wide-reaching distribution that allows many parts of the metro to enjoy Simcak’s inventive creations daily.
So, What Do I Get? While more of a pastry than a donut, the powder sugar-dusted, fruit filled Laces are sure to catch the eye. They are available filled with strawberry, blueberry, pineapple, apple, or raspberry. Speaking of raspberry, if you are a fan, then this is the donut shop for you! The Raspberry Frosted Cake, Raspberry Frosted Old Fashioned, Raspberry Lace, and raspberry-frosted Homer Simpson are all very popular. In general, the Frosted Old Fashioned is such a wonderful choice here! The Red Velvet is classic and the Wedding Cake is a balanced, unique donut that offers hints of almond and lemon. The two best things on the menu though are the Strawberry Cake and the Blueberry Fritter. The Strawberry Cake has a wonderfully bold flavor and is packed with real fruit chunks. The fruit in the Blueberry Fritter is so fresh-tasting. It’s airy, fierce with flavor, and has lovely hints of nutmeg.
Can I Dine In? YES, if you can lay claim to the sole small table with two chairs in the shop.
Where Else Can I Find Hana’s Donuts? Blip Roasters (Multiple Locations), The Windmill KC (Turner), Apogee (Olathe), Splitlog Coffee (Strawberry Hill), and a number of other spots. As one Hana’s employee put it, “She’s everywhere man!”
Above all, Ridgewood Donuts is known for their variety of Bismarcks. On any given morning, 12 - 20 variations can be found! PHOTO CREDIT - disKCovery
11. Ridgewood Donuts & Bakery - Est. 1956
4309 Blue Ridge Boulevard, Kansas City, Missouri
In 2020, John Snyder had moved back to Kansas City and was looking for a chance to work for himself. Purchasing Ridgewood Donuts offered that opportunity. “I never made a donut before I bought the place, but I’m pretty good at it now.” Snyder explained that during those first six months, he spent any moment that he could spare making donuts, getting better at it, and then, experimenting with new ideas as well. “I really like doing things that most people don’t do,” Snyder said. A destination for Bismarcks and cake donuts, the scope of what Ridgewood Donuts has to offer has really exploded in the past couple of years. “We used to do only about four types of Bismarck, I think that I do around twenty now.” Similarly, Snyder added about twenty varieties of cake donuts to the Ridgewood repertoire. He rotates them out seasonally as it makes sense. Last weekend, Ridgewood offered a Strawberry Old Fashioned for Independence’s Strawberry Festival. Soon enough, Key Lime filled Bismarcks will feature. Come fall, pumpkin cake and pumpkin-filled Bismarcks will follow. Although those options don’t linger for long. “By Thanksgiving, I’m out of the pumpkin game.” With such a wide range of flavors and donut types, Snyder has really put his own fingerprints on this classic Kansas City bakery. There are those steady favorites that Ridgewood regulars can always expect, but they also know that there will always be something new and exciting in the glass case. Like fingerprints, no two visits to Ridgewood are ever the same.
So, What Do I Get? Any of the Red Velvet varieties are a must! While I prefer the glazed cake donut, the version topped with cream cheese frosting is a decadent treat. The Glazed Donuts and Donut Holes are exactly what they should be. The Bismarcks really are the star. The Chocolate Iced Banana is a great way to go, but there’s no wrong answers here.
Can I Dine In? NO
Where Else Can I Find Ridgewood Donuts? Nowhere else. Only at Ridgewood Donuts & Bakery.
A Tale of Two Spellings
Doughnut or donut? The truth is nobody is entirely certain how the doughnut got its name. The “dough” portion of the etymology seems quite obvious. The “nut” portion has many theories. Some believe that the use of nuts as an early filling is the source. Some say that early doughnuts resembled a wrinkled walnut after frying and that was the reason. Others seem to agree that nut was a common English term for a small, round cake.
What is known is that the first mention of “doughnuts” in literature was in Washington Irving’s A History of New York (1809). Irving described them as, “… balls of sweetened dough, fried in hog’s fat, and called dough-nuts, or olykoeks, a delicious kind of cake …”
As for the more modern spelling, “donut”, its first appearance came 91 years later in Peck’s Bad Boy and his Pa (1900). The spelling showed up again in the 1920s when the Display Doughnut Machine Corporation utilized the more phonetic version in marketing aimed at immigrants. While both show up interchangeably throughout the 1900s, “donut” began to really take off in the 1950s, when the pastry did. Today, it’s the spelling most likely to be seen on a storefront, menu, or marquis, and is widely accepted as the proper American spelling.
The Oreo Creme donut is a fan favorite that keeps Big Daddys’ faithful flocking to their Raymore and Belton locations. PHOTO CREDIT - disKCovery
10. Big Daddys Donuts ** - Est. 2012
1280 W. Foxwood Drive, Raymore, Missouri
“We opened Big Daddys Donuts from scratch in 2012,” Bill Boos will tell you. Prior to setting up shop in Belton, Boos had no experience making donuts. In fact, his experience was about as far from making donuts as one can get. “I was in the funeral and cemetery business.” And it was through that line of work that he first met Nick Mitchell. Mitchell had owned Flavor Maid Donuts years prior, but some donuts gifted to Boos by Mitchell gave him an idea. Boos recalls that, “We were talking about how we didn’t have any donut shops out our way and thought, ‘well, let’s do something.” Boos bought an old cookie bakery in Belton and then, alongside his wife, learned how to make donuts from Mitchell. “He spent six months with us, showing us how to make donuts the old-fashioned way.” In that time, Boos learned a lot about the precision that goes into making donuts. They opened up Big Daddys and were a success. Around 2016, Boos relocated his store to the current Raymore location. Around the same time, he opened a second location in Belton. In recent years, Boos has retired from the funeral business diverting his entire focus to donuts. Every morning, they make the donuts fresh for both stores at the Raymore location before sending them off to Belton and other carriers. Big Daddys plays a big role in both of these communities as the family-run business continues to make their mark. “Now my daughter Angie works for us. My grandchildren decorate the donuts,” Boos says with pride. He looks forward to the next generation continuing what he began. He enjoys being a part of these towns, getting to know the regulars, and watching the local kids grow up before his eyes. For a part of Kansas City that went years without a local donut shop to call their own, it seems quite clear that Big Daddys is here to stay.
So, What Do I Get? Let’s cut right to the chase. It’s all about the Oreo Creme! The raised bismarck stuffed with Cookies ‘n Creme filling, and then garnished with heavy whip and half an Oreo is divine! The Apple Fritter Bites are a unique treat that is very reminiscent of the Dutch holiday treat Oliebollen. The donut that unfairly flies under the radar, and is just as great as the Oreo Creme, is the Chocolate Drizzled Old Fashioned. The buttery Old Fashioned is perfect as-is but the inspired drizzle of hardened semi-sweet chocolate balances out the flavors and puts this donut over the top. The Bacon Maple is a personal favorite of owner Bill Boos because it, “tastes like a pancake breakfast” and he isn’t wrong.
Can I Dine In? YES
Where Else Can I Find Big Daddys Donuts? Big Daddys Donuts (Belton), Heartland Market (Raymore), Heartland Market (Pleasant Hill), Harmon Tire Company (Raymore), Fuel Expresso (#37 - Lee’s Summit), and Xoom 66 (KCMO).
A decade ago, the Cronut took Manhattan by storm. Here in Kansas City, Fresh Donuts has the best version. PHOTO CREDIT - disKCovery
9. Fresh Donuts ** - Est. 2020
5557 Barry Road, Kansas City, Missouri
When Danny and Joyce Park opened up Fresh Donuts on Barry Road, they felt they had found the right place. After previous stops in Dallas and Oklahoma City where they had owned and operated a donut shop of the same name, they followed I-35 to Kansas City. Danny fell in love with KC. “We love the people, the weather, the trees!” The Parks felt the place was perfect, but their timing could have probably been a little better. “We opened up in January, 2020. It was right before COVID,” Danny recalls. Luckily, the pandemic didn’t stop them. Already tailor-made for carryout business, Fresh Donuts filled a need for local, carryout donuts on Barry Road, and the Parks managed to survive the pandemic. Then, they thrived. Upon moving to Kansas City, Danny Park had noticed something else that was missing. “In Texas, the cronuts were very popular.” The cronut is a hybrid of a croissant and donut that was invented by New York City pastry chef Dominique Ansel in 2013. “I went to Dunkin’, Donut King, Pike’s Place, Ray’s, and none of them had a cronut,” Park explained. Having experience with this particular pastry, Park started small making 15 - 18 per day. Within two months, every single customer that came through the door wanted their cronuts. “I feel like I was the first person to bring cronuts to Kansas City.” The intensive labor and exact calculation that cutting and cooking cronuts requires is enough to keep many away. For Danny and Joyce Park, it is worth it. They are happy to offer cronuts, and a wide variety of pastries, done the right way. Named the best donut shop in Missouri by Yelp! earlier this week, they will try their best to add Kansas to the accolades next year, after opening a second location near Village West a few months back.
So, What Do I Get? There are only a small handful of places regularly serving up Cronuts in Kansas City, but nobody is doing it better than Fresh Donuts. They are airy, fluffy, flaky, buttery, and immaculate. The Cronut Holes might be even better, when available. Speaking of holes, this is a great place to get a sack of Glazed Donut Holes and they also do an amazing Chocolate Double Cake Donut and Frosted Yeast Twist..
Can I Dine In? YES
Where Else Can I Find Fresh Donuts? Fresh Donuts No. 2 (Legends / Piper Plaza)
The Donut Man Always Rings Twice
Two donut shops, both alike in dignity.
In fair Kansas City, where we lay our scene.
Before you scroll any further, let me assure you that you have not miscounted, nor are you seeing double. Yes, there are two entries on this list named “Fluffy Fresh Donuts” and yes, both have been ranked seventh in lieu of there being a number eight. The story of Fluffy Fresh Donuts in Kansas City is, well, let’s say complicated. It is hard to know who or what to believe. Surely, in each account, there is semblance of truth, but the exact story may never be fully known. All I can do then, is share the stories as they have been told to me. Which, if you with patient eyes can attend, what here shall miss, I shall strive to mend.
When it comes to the topic of Kansas City’s two like-named donut shops, Ann Hollinger made one thing exceedingly clear. “Fluffy Fresh is not a franchise!” Hollinger and her husband Jim own and operate the Fluffy Fresh Donuts in Mission, Kansas. A representative from the Stateline location confirmed that, “The Fluffy Fresh in Mission is a separate business with different owners.”
Decades ago, there were multiple stores in a localized Fluffy Fresh chain, but that is no longer the case. As Ann tells it, “Jim’s father [Jobe Hollinger] was making donuts before the war. Right after he returned from World War II, he started [Fluffy Fresh Donuts] up and down Troost.” When asked the specific year, Jim Hollinger reiterated that it was, “right after World War II” which would suggest the mid-to-late 1940s. According to Brenda Landreth, it was actually a little later than that. Brenda and her husband Richard are the owners of the Fluffy Fresh Donuts on Stateline Road in Kansas City, Missouri.
“Fluffy Fresh is not a franchise!”
“In the late 1950s, my father-in-law, Charlie Pike opened a chain of donut shops with his friends. There were four locations, each one owned by four different guys,” Brenda Landreth explained. “The one in Mission is operated by the son of one of the original four partners [Jobe Hollinger].” By contrast, Ann Hollinger claimed that, “Charlie worked for Jobe at his shops.”
Brenda went on to explain that the original Fluffy Fresh location, operated by Charlie Pike, actually was in Mission, Kansas. “Since Fluffy Fresh started in Mission, and there’s the shop in Mission, a lot of people seem to think that [The Fluffy Fresh Donuts in Mission] is the original shop and it isn’t. That one has only been there since the 1980s.” Landreth placed Pike’s first shop at the corner of Johnson Drive and Dearborn Street, about three blocks west of the Hollingers’ current location, in 1959. Whereas, Ann Hollinger placed the original Fluffy Fresh Donuts location, opened by Jobe Hollinger, at 31st and Troost in Kansas City, Missouri about a decade earlier.
While Brenda Landreth made it quite clear that her and Richard do not generally concern themselves with the question of which shop is the “original Fluffy Fresh”, they do take pride in how long they have been a part of the Kansas City community. Brenda loves to share that, “We are the only Fluffy Fresh that has stayed consistently open since 1959. We moved to Stateline in 1971 but have been open this whole time.” Conversely, the Hollingers do seem to vaunt the claim that Jobe Hollinger started the original Fluffy Fresh Donuts.
One place where the two accounts do seem to align, is that, at some point, the Hollinger family took a hiatus from making donuts. “We started up at 51st and Lamar for three years before we moved to Mission thirty-two years ago,” Ann Hollinger said when speaking about the shop in Mission. However, she was quick to point out that, “The original light still hangs in our shop.”
“At one time, every Fluffy Fresh Donuts had that same light in the window” Brenda revealed. “Their sign made it. Ours never did.”
That is just one difference that makes it clear these same-named shops are wholly different entities. While there is minimal crossover in the menus (such as very similar cinnamon twists), the offerings, in general, are largely different in taste, texture, and style. What both share is a commitment to hand-making donuts the old fashioned way. Neither Hollinger or Landreth were clear about how, when, or why the split occurred. What seems most likely is that the shops just grew apart over time.
There were opportunities for the original collection of Fluffy Fresh shops to band together and grow into something larger, but each Fluffy Fresh chose to remain local and independent. “[Ray] Lamar and these guys were all good friends back in the day. There were opportunities to franchise like Lamar[‘s Donuts] did, but that wasn’t for us,” Brenda Landreth explained.
Brenda reiterated that point with something that her husband Richard likes to say. “Keep it small and keep it simple.”
Unfortunately, the story behind Fluffy Fresh Donuts seems to be anything but.
The Cinnamon Twist (BOTTOM), Classic Glazed (TOP CENTER), and Maple Long John (RIGHT) are among the most popular offerings at Mission’s Fluffy Fresh. PHOTO CREDIT - disKCovery
TIE - 7. Fluffy Fresh Donuts - Est. 194_?
5729 Johnson Drive, Mission, Kansas (Since 1982)
At 7:00am on a Saturday morning, it’s pretty typical to see a long line out the door at Fluffy Fresh Donuts in Mission, Kansas. The front of house is fairly small with a long donut counter, a front register, and standing room for less than a dozen people. “It’s just us,” Ann Hollinger explained, “Me and my husband.” In the back, her husband Jim Hollinger makes the donuts in the manner his family has been doing since the Great Depression. Meanwhile, Ann boxes and rings up the orders. Jim’s father Jobe Hollinger opened Fluffy Fresh on Troost in the years after World War II. The red neon light from that first location still hangs in the window. Beyond that, there’s not much that has changed since this location opened in 1982. “We still make the donuts the way Jim’s dad did. By hand, from scratch,” Ann explained. “Jim rolls it out by hand. He cuts it by hand. We make the chocolate by hand.” It’s this intentionality and attention-to-detail that makes the stamped white boxes of donuts so popular. They regularly sell our early, especially on the weekends. Due to the demand, regulars have learned to place their orders for their desired dozens, or the platter-sized “birthday cake” donuts, in advance. However, if you do arrive on a Saturday morning and they seem to be out, just wait for a moment or two before you lose your spot in line. One Fluffy Fresh customer recently explained, “They are usually sold out by 7:30, but on Saturdays they usually make a second batch.” The throwback feel of the shop only adds to the appeal. The recipes, the motif, and even the prices, combined with the donut quality, make Fluffy Fresh seem like a remnant of a time long gone.
So, What Do I Get? If you enjoy a classic Glazed Donut, then look no further. This is as good as they get! The balanced sweetness of the glaze combined with the ideal texture makes this donut hard to beat. The Maple Frosted Longjohn or Chocolate Frosted Longjohn is a strong second choice. They are both doughy and dense with such a pleasing frosting. They also do a nice assortment of Frosted Cake Donuts, and serve up one of Kansas City’s premier Cinnamon Twists.
Can I Dine In? NO
Where Else Can I Find Fluffy Fresh (Mission) Donuts? Only at the location on Johnson Drive, so remember to arrive early and BRING CASH (or a check) as they will not accept cards.
A destination for cake donuts, the Cinnamon Twist at Fluffy Fresh on Stateline is not to be overlooked. PHOTO CREDIT - disKCovery
TIE - 7. Fluffy Fresh Donuts - Est. 1959
10123 State Line Road, Kansas City, Missouri (Since 1971)
“Even during a depression, people will still buy donuts and booze!” Brenda Landreth fondly remembers her late father-in-law Charlie Pike, the founder of Fluffy Fresh Donuts saying this often. That belief played a role in Pike moving Fluffy Fresh Donuts into their current State Line Road location back in 1971. At the time, Kansas prohibited liquor sales on Sundays, and Missouri did not. Pike believed that the patrons of nearby liquor stores would also stop in and buy his donuts. “And they did!” Brenda shared. After Charlie passed in 2015, Richard and Brenda Landreth took over ownership of the shop, but Richard had run his father’s shop for long before that. “I met this cute guy that worked at the donut shop when I was in high school,” Brenda quipped, explaining that Richard has been at Fluffy Fresh, making donuts, for over 50 years. “He’s the only one who makes and fries the donuts.” Staying true to his father’s methods, Richard Landreth takes extra care to get his donuts right. “There’s a lot of things we don’t skimp on because we want to keep them the same way,” Brenda shared. One example she gave was, “We use real cocoa” for the chocolate frosted, chocolate cake donuts. “It makes the frosting more of a milk chocolate. It’s thick and has a fudge-like quality.” Another was calling out, perhaps their most popular offering, the Apple Spice Cake Donut, which uses both fresh canned apples and applesauce in the recipe. This is the type of quality control that has allowed this Fluffy Fresh location to have a large customer base, and to continually stay open since 1959.
So, What Do I Get? The famed Cinnamon Twists live up to the reputation. (I could flip a coin between the two versions of this served by the pair of Fluffy Fresh shops) The popular Apple Spice carries a bold punch of the signature flavor and is delightful. As great as both those are, the Chocolate Frosted Chocolate Cake Donut with Crushed Nuts is perfection. For those familiar with the Chicago staple, this cake donut tastes like an even better version of Portillo’s sheet cake. Crushed nuts, fudge-like frosting, sinfully sweet - this is a sundae kind of love.
Can I Dine In? NO
Where Else Can I Find Fluffy Fresh (Stateline) Donuts? “The only place to buy them is in our shop.” - Brenda Landreth
The Imitation Name
In 2016, President Barack Obama welcomed the 2015 World Series Champion Kansas City Royals to the White House. An admirer of the Royals’ grit, their shut-down bullpen, small ball tactics, “Keep the Line Moving” mentality, and Jarrod Dyson’s mantra “That’s What Speed Do”, the 44th President’s only had one criticism of the team. “These guys are all great players. Can I say though? The nicknames aren’t that creative.” He went on to chide the team about, “You’ve got an offense led by homegrown guys like Alex ‘Gordo’ Gordon, Mike ‘Moose’ Moustakas, Eric ‘Hoz’ Hosmer, World MVP Salvador ‘Salvy’ Perez … You know it’s like Barack ‘Barack’ Obama. … We’re gonna have to work on these.”
After detailing a donut shop called Fresh Donuts, followed by one called Fluffy Fresh Donuts, and another also called Fluffy Fresh Donuts in succession? I’m thinking that President Obama might have been on to something.
When it comes to Holt’s Donuts in Grandview, it’s all about the cake donuts. Pick your frosting from a spectrum of favorites, and you can’t go wrong. PHOTO CREDIT - disKCovery
6. Holt’s Donuts - Est. 1970
1325 Main Street, Grandview, Missouri
The first time I heard about Holt’s Donuts, a social media commenter simply told me, “Get a cake donut, pick your flavor of frosting” but until you stand at the agua-and-white striped counter in Grandview, it is hard to fully understand the recommendation. Familiar favorites like maple, chocolate, and vanilla fill the counter alongside frostings of strawberry, blueberry, and even orange. Unlike other doughnut frostings, these icings are light, airy, and more like a whipped topping that has been injected with a bold burst of fresh flavor. “It’s always been like that,” Rachna Geeta explained about the rainbow of frosting options. “All the icings are made from scratch. It’s been like that since the Holts opened the store.” Named for the people who found it over 50 years ago, Geeta Mehta has owned and operated the shop alongside her daughter Rachna for the past 15 years. “My mom learned it all from the previous owners,” Rachna elaborated. “I think it makes a difference that we make everything from scratch. We do it all house-made. The dough is from scratch. Even our icings are fresh and made here. It’s not sourced from anywhere else.” Six days a week, the shop in the heart of Grandview opens at 5:30am and by 10:00am, they are typically sold out. Those hours, and that insistence on doing things the old fashioned way means that Geeta often gets in at 10:00 or 11:00 the night before opening. Old fashioned may be the best word to describe Holt’s. Everything about it just feels of a different era. The look and feel of the small bakery with the red-painted letters on the front window. The vintage equipment in the throwback of an open kitchen. The way that Holt’s slices and fills the longjohns with your choice of white cream or yellow pudding upon request. Even the antique cash register on the front desk harkens to a time past. Several in Grandview and the surrounding area have grown up with Holt’s over the past 50 years. Here’s hoping the next 50 will be just as memorable and delicious.
So, What Do I Get? As mentioned, it really comes down to two offerings. First of all, there’s the Frosted Longjohns, which can be sliced and filled with your choice of white cream or yellow pudding. What causes Holt’s to sell out so early though are the Cake Donuts. The pure flavor of the white cake donuts is reminiscent of a strawberry shortcake from a turnpike diner. The flavored frostings are lathered on thick but are light and fluffy like a whipped topping. Of the wide variety of flavors, the Orange Frosted Cake Donut is an absolute dream. The Cinnamon Glazed is unlike anything else, with a shell that cracks like a Crème Brulé. If you want a real hack, ask for the Cinnamon Glazed to be smeared with some of the orange cake frosting. It just works!
Can I Dine In? YES, but there’s only one small table in the store for diners.
Where Else Can I Find Holt’s Donuts? On Fridays and Saturdays, you can also find select Holt’s Donuts at Frost Coffee & Tea in Lee’s Summit.
The quantity of quality options at Donut King is unmatched across the metro. In a sea of pastry choices, the Salted Caramel Old Fashioned (LEFT) reigns supreme. PHOTO CREDIT - disKCovery
5. Donut King - Est. 1969
2320 Armour Road, North Kansas City, Missouri
In 1996, John and Lauren Cone purchased Donut King from the previous owner. The couple lacked any experience in the donut business, but saw an opportunity to become entrepreneurs. “When Lauren and John bought it, the owners handed over the recipe book and everything,” Shelby Ellison recently explained. Shelby has worked at Donut King since 2016. After nearly 15 years at the reins of Donut King, the Cones were forced to relocate the business from 39th and Chouteau Trafficway. The relocation into their current North Kansas City location brought with it a real opportunity to grow the business. To aid in that expansion, the Cones brought on Lauren’s sister and brother-in-law, Kristin and Jeff Linder, as partners in the venture. Today, it is Kristin who primarily runs the shop. Where Donut King differs from others on this list is their hours. They do not operate on a sell-out model and stay open until at least 9:00pm every day. Aside from the all-day availability, most know Donut King for their wide array of offerings. “It’s definitely the variety that sets us apart,” Ellison shared. With cake donuts, yeast donuts, cruellers, old fashioned donuts, bismarks, fritters, turnovers, and cronuts on the menu, Donut King claims to regularly serve up 48 types of donut! And that doesn’t even include the variety of cinnamon rolls, danishes, cupcakes, kolaches, brownies, and beverages that can also be found there. Still no matter how big this shop gets, they continue to be a community place. “We have hundreds of regulars that we know by name here,” Ellison said. This is a shop where the relationships are clearly as rich and varied as the fried, tasty treats.
So, What Do I Get? With nearly 50 varieties on any given day, where to even begin? The Lemon-Filled Bismarck is zesty and outstanding. The Yeast or Powdered Sugar Bismarck stuffed with any of their assortment of fruit or cream fillings is a great way to go. The Triple Chocolate Cake with sprinkles and rainbow chips is a chocoholic’s fantasy. The Glazed French Cruellers and flavored Cronuts are strong orders. The Maple Bacon Donut may be the best version in the city. Unlike many who offer a longjohn, Donut King’s version is a yeast donut that is PACKED with shredded bacon. The wide variety of novelty donuts is hard to ignore. However, don’t go to Donut King without trying the award-winning Salted Caramel Old Fashioned! At this Northtown pastry monarchy, the dense, sinfully sweet and salty treat clearly reigns supreme.
Can I Dine In? YES
Where Else Can I Find Donut King Donuts? Only at Donut King.
The Longjohns and Apple Fritters at Vee’s Sweets & Treats are massive in size, but somehow even bigger in flavor. PHOTO CREDIT - disKCovery
4. Vee’s Sweets & Treats Deli - Est. 2008
8005 The Paseo Boulevard, Kansas City, Missouri
Walking into Vee’s Sweets & Treats Deli, the first thing that anyone is sure to notice is the gargantuan size of the pastries. The glass cases are lined with yellow trays of Apple Fritters and Cinnamon Rolls that can easily be mistaken for frisbees. The glazed donuts are larger than the wheel’s on most children’s wagons and the longjohns deserve to be measured in feet, not inches. Knowing I was taken aback by the size on an early visit, Alie Vee Toney nonchalantly told me, “They’re the size they should be.” Originally opening this shop in 2008, the woman Kansas City knows as “Vee” took a break from her bakery in 2019 after the passing of her husband. Aside from that four year hiatus, Vee has been making donuts for a very long time. “I started in the bakery shop in 1967 at age 9. Now I’m 66 years old!” Vee explained that education in baking began at the historic M&M Bakery and Delicatessen. That’s not the only Kansas City donut icon on Vee’s resume. “I also worked for Mr. Lamar for 7 years.” More than a donut shop, Vee’s is a full-service bakery offering cookies, cakes, and sandwiches on house-made bread. The most notable crossover between all Vee’s offerings is her combo which allows customers to get a sandwich, chips, drink, and a cookie or donut all bundled for one low price. And as long as they aren’t sold out, Vee offers her full menu all day long. “We open at six in the morning. You can come get a combo at six in the morning.” This level of flexibility also extends to the forms of payment she accepts. “We accept EBT. We also accept card, cash, cash app. We do it all.” When asked about her favorite menu item or what makes her wares so special, Vee just said, “I love it all because I make it all. I put love in what I do. The product is good because I don’t put anything out there that I wouldn’t eat myself.” That love and passion is tasted in every delectable, and monstrously large, bite.
So, What Do I Get? The giant disc of an Apple Fritter is an obvious place to start. A little denser and flatter than most, the flavors and textures are flawless. It can easily be divided into four to six pieces. The Longjohns and Glazed Donuts are fantastic! What don’t get enough love are the more traditionally-sized offerings. The Blueberry Cake has a pervasive flavor and fragrance that defies any norms for fruited donuts. The Apple Spice is quite nice. The Old Fashioned is simple but wonderful. A nice density and a kiss of vanilla on the back end makes this what dreams are made of. The defining characteristic of any Vee’s treat is that they are bready, sweet, and flavorful without being too sugary.
Can I Dine In? NO
Where Else Can I Find Vee’s Donuts? Only behind the cornflower blue door on The Paseo.
The Man Who Would Be Donut King
Today, the donut scene in Los Angeles is world-renowned. Their rate of one shop for every 4,000 residents is seven times the national average! Of these shops, over 1,500 are owned by Cambodian refugees, or their children. That may seem random but the reason for this has to do with a man named Ted Ngoy, affectionately known by many as “The Donut King” (no relation to the KC shop of the same name).
Ngoy was a Cambodian refugee who emigrated to LA in 1975. While working as a gas station attendant, he was drawn to the lights and smells of a donut shop next door. For Ngoy, it was love at first bite. Reminding him of a treat from back home, Ngoy recognized the business potential donuts had. Taking advantage of a Winchell’s Donut House management program that encouraged immigrants to apply, Ngoy learned all he could about making donuts. Within two years, he had saved up enough to leave Winchell’s and open his own shop, which he named for his wife.
Finding immediate success, Ngoy established more and more “Christy’s Donuts” locations throughout California. As his business grew, Ngoy carved out the same pathway for fellow Cambodian refugees that he had forged for himself. Many of these eventual shop owners trained, learned, and worked at Winchell’s until they could save up the money to purchase a shop from Ngoy. The great irony of LA’s donut scene is that the program Winchell’s developed in order to take their coastal chain national, ended up creating the greatest source of competition for them on the home front.
At his height, Ngoy was a multi-millionaire who owned as many as 50 Christy’s Donuts locations. Ultimately, a gambling addiction led to the downfall of his donut empire. Still, The Donut King’s contributions to the Cambodian-American community, Los Angeles, the donut industry, and even American popular culture ^^^ are still felt today.
The story of the rise and fall of Ted Ngoy and his donut empire is expertly told in the 2020 documentary, The Donut King. At the time of publication, it is streaming on Hulu.
The Cinnamon Bear Claw (LEFT) at Jack’s Donuts is brilliant in its simplicity, but on the gaudier side of things, the Peanut Butter Crispy (RIGHT) is a best-seller. PHOTO CREDIT - disKCovery
3. Jack’s Donuts - Est. 1969
2400 S. Lee’s Summit Road #110, Independence, Missouri
Known for an abundance of top-notch independent donut shops, the donut scene in Southern California is world-famous. Many of the owners of these shops originally trained at Winchell’s. Here in Kansas City, Abdul Hameed followed a similar path. An immigrant from Pakistan, he made donuts for Winchell’s Donut House for nine years. After the chain pulled out of Kansas City completely, Hameed purchased the historic Jack’s Donuts around 2007. Since then, he has been scratch-making donuts for the people of Independence. Hameed makes everything himself with nothing pre-made or out of a box. While Jack’s is likely to sell out of their pastries daily, there is no rhyme or reason to when they do or what goes first. Hameed quipped that, “Each day is different”. Among the most popular offerings are the Apple Fritter, and more notably, their unique twist on it which has been known for generations as the Peanut Butter Crispy. “Jack started that back in the day and we continued it,” Hameed explained. The Crispy takes the Jack’s Apple Fritter and tops it with a generous layer of peanut butter and chopped nuts. Speaking of crispy, many would point out this is a key characteristic that makes all of Jack’s offerings so unique. The donuts are known for the thin almost-crispy shell that gives way to delicious fluffy innards. A terrific variety, combined with friendly service and affordability, continues to make Jack’s a favorite for those around Independence.
So, What Do I Get? There are so many great choices but the Cinnamon Bear Claw is the star of the show. The perfectly-raised and glazed claw is impeccably balanced. The Long Johns are a very close second, and may be the best version of this pastry in town. The Old Fashioned, Strawberry Cake, and Glazed are also strong orders. While this is a great place for an Apple Fritter, consider getting the Peanut Butter Crispy as this option is unique to Jack’s.
Can I Dine In? YES
Where Else Can I Find Jack’s Donuts? Only at Jack’s Donuts.
While the Apple Fritter (BOTTOM LEFT) and Glazed Knot (CENTER) are divine, the Cherry Pinecone (BOTTOM RIGHT) from Yos Donuts is a one-of-a-kind certified winner! PHOTO CREDIT - disKCovery
2. Yos Donuts - Est. 2003
7170 Renner Road, Shawnee, Kansas
It is not uncommon for a regular to walk through the door of Yos Donuts and have their order bagged and in-hand before they’ve even had a chance to place it. Matthew Yos and his family find joy in knowing their customers this well. After all, these are the customers and this is the community that makes their shop possible. Back in 2003, shortly after emigrating from Cambodia, the chance to purchase a recently shut-down donut shop seemed to be a golden opportunity. While Yos had no experience making donuts or running a bakery, he saw the potential and dove in head-first. “We learned it as we go,” Yos recalls. The tutelage of the shop’s previous owners, the shop’s flour vendors, and a few others proved invaluable as they learned the craft on the fly. Inevitably, it became a matter of trial-and-error. “We even gave our donuts to churches [back then] to see what they liked and what they didn’t.” These days, when Sunday rolls around, those same churches often combine to order over 100 dozen. A destination for donuts, pastries, and breakfast burritos, Yos is sold out of their namesake by 8:00 most most mornings. Named to the “Best of Shawnee” for the past five years running, it is clear that Yos Donuts is also among the best of Kansas City.
So, What Do I Get? This is a great place to grab an Original Glazed, an Old Fashioned, a Glazed Cake, or an Apple Fritter. However, the pièce de résistance is the Cherry Pinecone! The yeasty roll with a chippy glaze and real cherry swirled in is a unique and wonderful gem of a donut. Similarly, their fried Cinnamon Rolls are a real treat.
Can I Dine In? YES
Where Else Can I Find Yos Donuts? Unless you’re lucky enough to attend one of the churches that buy from Yos on Sundays, there is only one place to get Yos Donuts.
The famed Honey Dip (BOTTOM LEFT), the Lemon-Glazed Blueberry Cake (CENTER), and the Pineapple Fritter (BOTTOM RIGHT) symbolize the Holy Trinity of Mr. D’s offerings. Does the “D” in fact stand for divine? PHOTO CREDIT - disKCovery
1. Mr. D’s Donut Shop ** - Est. 1975
11222 W. 75th Street, Shawnee Kansas
“I have only ever known him by his Chinese name. Everyone else just called him ‘Mr. D,” explained Johnny Chen when asked about the previous owner of Mr. D’s Donut Shop. Johnny Chen, and his wife Boggie Otgonbayar, took over Mr. D’s after his godfather retired from the store in 2018. In actuality, Chen is the shop’s fourth owner. “The way I’ve heard it, the original owner loved Mister Donut which was very popular here in the United States and in Asia. He couldn’t call it that so he went with ‘Mr. D’s Donuts.” Aside from ownership, it is hard to imagine that much has changed since the shop first opened in 1975. “It’s like a time capsule,” Chen began as he explained that nearly everything in the front of house is original from the 1970s. As far as the offerings go, the Honey Dip (their flagship donut), Old Fashioned, Glazed, and Blueberry Cake are all classic recipes that preceded Chen and Otgonbayar and are still made their original way. “We cut the buttermilk donuts by hand. You don’t see that much anymore.” While Chen understands the importance of Mr. D’s sticking to their roots, he also has displayed a willingness to try new things that help their donuts stay relevant in an ever-growing market. Weekend-only offerings like the piña colada-inspired Pineapple Fritter and the Maple Bacon Longjohn are emblematic of this shift. They quickly sell out on the days offered. Originally from Taiwan and Mongolia respectively, Chen and Otgonbayar have began to incorporate Asian traditions into their menu with the addition of mochi donuts and other flavors. Recently, Mr. D’s collaborated with J. Chang Kitchen on a Taiwanese Chili Crunch Donut. The creation was a maple-glazed raised yeast donut topped with pork floss and drizzled with J. Chang’s famed chili oil. Speaking of collaboration, Mr. D’s has continued to grow as they make their donuts available at a number of locally-owned businesses and coffeeshops throughout the metro. Mr. D’s also opened a second location in Lenexa Public Market in 2021. Those who know what makes Mr. D’s donuts so special know; and the number of those in Kansas City who don’t, is shrinking daily.
So, What Do I Get? GAHHH! SO MANY CHOICES! If you go on a Saturday or Sunday, the Pineapple Fritter, topped with toasted, shredded coconut, and the Maple Bacon Longjohn are both worthy orders. On any day of the week, the Honey Dip and the Apple Fritter are fantastic choices. The one that is sure to stop you in your tracks is the Lemon-Glazed Blueberry Cake which is simply sublime. The Buttermilk Old Fashioned is so dense and marvelous. The Cinnamon Twist is perfection. And I almost forgot about the Double Chocolate! If you are a fan of Mochi Donuts, those are also offered here. There’s a reason this shop tops the list. If you don’t arrive before 8:30am, your mind may be made for you because your first choice might be gone.
Can I Dine In? YES
Where Else Can I Find Mr. D’s Donuts? Cafe Cà Phê (Columbus Park), Chingu Coffee (Westport), Fairway Creamery (Fairway), Filling Station (Multiple Locations), HITIDES Coffee (Crossroads), Mr. D’s Coffee Shop (Lenexa Public Market), Overland Park Farmer’s Market (Saturdays ONLY), Oddly Correct (South Hyde Park) , Roasterie Cafe (Multiple Locations), and Splitlog Coffee (Strawberry Hill)
“One bite. Everyone knows the rules.”
A few months back, when I decided that this was going to finally be the year that I took on the challenge of ranking Kansas City’s donut shops, a plan began to take shape; a wonderful, brilliant, ludicrous, crazy, marvelous plan. As I began to chart out what looked to be a blitz through KC’s donut scene, I knew my friend Jenny would never forgive me if she was not included in those plans. (Her passion for donuts, fritters, and pastries make Homer Simpson’s love affair seem quite mild by comparison.)
So on one fateful Friday morning, I picked Jenny up long before dawn for the whirlwind tour. And if it weren’t for a meddling flour delivery man, no one would have known what we were up to. The knowing glance he gave us at Mr. D’s in Shawnee after seeing us three hours earlier at Holt’s down in Grandview, only confirmed how insane what we were doing really was. Tackling each of these shops El Presidente-style ^^^, we still must have each eaten seven or eight donuts in aggregate that day. When all was said and done, we had covered over 120 miles and visited 16 local donut shops in a matter of seven hours. In the following weeks, we would more than double that total number.
As we re-visited old favorites and tried many places anew, we expected to find a wide variety of donut shops. We knew that each place would have their own nuances, specialties, and signature flavors. We expected that the donuts would come in all shapes, styles, and sizes. But as we visited these places and began to chat with fellow customers, employees, and shop owners, we found something that we did not know we were looking for. For as wonderful as the diversity of locally-made donut options is, the incredible diversity of the people behind these shops is what makes them so special.
“While a donut’s center has space for cremes, jellies, custards, puddings, and a litany of fillings; there is no room for your logic here. Donuts supersede reason. ”
Within these rankings (and a number of wonderful shops that did not make the cut), there are a large number of woman-owned businesses, black-owned businesses, Asian-owned businesses, immigrant-owned businesses, and minority-owned businesses. There are people of all backgrounds and nationalities whose heritage and traditions have guided the way with which they make their wares.
Some of these shops have done things the same way for generations while others are more cutting edge. For some, making donuts and other baked goods is a lifelong pursuit. While for others, the shop represented an entrepreneurial chance at independence, even if they lacked prior experience. These businesses are owned and operated by people of all walks of life and members of every generation. Some of these shops are decades-old while others were born in this decade. Some are multi-generational family affairs while others are recent owners that represent the newest stewards of a longtime brand. Each and every one of these shops is wholly unique, representing both the part of the metro that it calls home and the greater diversity that is ever-present in Kansas City. The joy of supporting local has always began with the people that make these businesses what they are.
“... the incredible diversity of the people behind these shops is what makes them so special.”
And with every donut, longjohn, cruller, and fritter, these marvelous people share a part of themselves, their stories, and their passions with us. Through their skill, we get the opportunity to feel like a kid again. We get the chance to be transported. We get to be overcome with joy by the smells and flavors of a neighborhood donut shop. Every time we sink our teeth into a donut or longjohn, we can know unbridled excitement and wonder.
These fantastical rings of sugar, flour, yeast, and oil reflect back on to us a universe which we have always known. Just one bite is all it ever takes. With all due respect to Billy Howerdel and Maynard James, these are the only perfect circles.
Donuts can be anything that you need them to be. They can represent a great many things. A wonderful treat any time of day, a donut has a way of whisking you to any time or place that you could hope to be. They are culinary vehicles ready to drive us down memory lane. They are the simplest of pleasures, but complex in their decadence.
While many dream of a single ring in a robin’s egg blue box, it will always be a dozen hoops in a white cardboard one for me.
Those Pesky Endnotes I Often Insist Upon
* Insert major eye roll. This is called sarcasm. Scientific theory is a constant path of discovery, subject to change as the community learns new information.
^ disKCovery has always placed an emphasis on Kansas City. Regional and national chains were not considered for these rankings UNLESS their flagship location, headquarters, or original location are in the Kansas City metro. So yes, Lamar’s Donuts was considered, but ultimately did not make the cut.
** For shops with multiple locations, this indicates the original / flagship location.
^^ In fact, it was the Salvation Army who created National Doughnut Day in 1938. Now designated as the first Friday in June (hence the reason for today’s publication), the holiday was originally conceived as a Depression-era fundraiser for the organization that paid homage to the brave women who delivered donuts to soldiers during World War I.
*** One of Ngoy’s greatest contributions is that he introduced the pink cardboard box to American donut lore. Initially, a cost-cutting measure, the pink boxes became the signature of Ngoy’s, and many Cambodian-owned, shops. With the television and film industry being housed in Southern California, donut boxes are often depicted as pink in shows and movies which creates a direct affiliation between donuts and pink boxes worldwide. Today, they are still a common sight on the West Coast, and across America.
^^^ “One bite. Everyone knows the rules.”
Did your favorite local donut shop make the cut? What’s your go-to donut order at your favorite place? Let me hear it in the comments, and Happy National Donut Day!
Much gratitude to my friend Jenny Wilson who joined me on this absolutely insane donut journey! I could not have done it with you.
