National Doughnut Day

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First, let me answer an important question. At least, it’s important if you are A) obsessed with delicious, fried rings of dough doused in glaze, B) a grammar nerd, or C) both (like me). Is it DOUGHNUT or DONUT? Depends on who you ask. Dunkin’ Donuts popularized their version, but the unofficial official answer is:

“The dictionary-approved spelling for the ring-shaped cake made of dough and fried in fat is doughnut. The shortened donut has been around since the late 1800s, but it wasn’t popularized until the late 20th century, when the successful American doughnut chain Dunkin’ Donuts made it ubiquitous. Today, writers outside the U.S. still favor doughnut by a wide margin. Donut appears about a third of the time in published American writing.” –Grammarist

donutDoughnuts are one of the few things that make the people in my house get out of bed early. And put on pants. We love doughnuts. We have also maybe, just a wee bit, become doughnut snobs. We certainly won’t turn down a grocery store or chain offering. Yet for me, if I’m going to indulge in the calories of a fried round of dough, it better be worth it. Sadly (at least for our food budget), my children have started adopting my foodie tendencies and usually choose homemade, handmade, and from-scratch varieties of anything more often than a mass produced version, including doughnuts.

On Doughnut Day, we plan to visit one of our favorite bakeries or doughnut shops to celebrate. The hard part is going to be deciding which one. Perhaps we’ll do a Doughnut Crawl (pub crawl style) instead and visit them all. Though I suppose in order to fit in my jeans the next day, we’ll need to walk from one shop to the next instead of drive. Whether you’re looking for the perfect way to recognize National Doughnut Day or just looking for a delicious treat to start any day of the week, here are my suggestions for must-taste doughnuts in the Cincinnati area.

Holtman’s (Over-the-Rhine, Loveland, and Williamsburg locations) Food Network star Alton Brown himself declared, “If I lived anywhere near this shop, I’d be as big as a cruise ship.” I agree. It’s a good thing a trip to  Holtman’s involves loading three kids in the van, driving into the city, and paying for parking, or I’d be in serious trouble. We have sampled the red velvet, toasted coconut, glazed, double chocolate, and several other Holtman’s handmade, traditional doughnuts, but by far my favorite is the maple bacon yeast. It is light, airy, rich, sweet and salty. A perfect treat.

Stan the Donut Man (West Chester) When I was a kid, my grandparents lived on a farm outside a small town. On really good days, we would drive through town, and my grandpa would stop and get doughnuts from Stan the Donut Man. Little did I know that sometime during my young adulthood, Stan sold his shop in Xenia, Ohio and moved to West Chester, where he now makes the most amazing donuts, just like the ones I remember. While I might love them for nostalgia’s sake, I’m not the only one who thinks they are great. If you want your choice of doughnuts, arrive early–like before 9 AM–before they are sold out.

Silverton Donut Shop (Silverton) This is another doughnut shop that takes me back to childhood. Even though my first visit here was just recently, it has all the things that make it like the shops I remember going to as a kid–the unique aroma of hot oil and sugar in the air, a rich cake doughnut with chocolate icing dripping through the center, and a counter where you can sit on a stool to enjoy your doughnut with some cold milk. Not a day has passed since our visit that my husband hasn’t mentioned their apple fritter. It is handmade, as big as your head, and perfectly delicious.

Bill’s Donut Shop (Centerville) While not really in Cincinnati, Bill’s is close enough and famous enough to warrant the drive. USA Today named Bill’s one of the top 10 doughnut shops in the country. I can see why. At 10:3o on a weekday morning when we visited, their shop was pakced and the bell on the door jingled non-stop with people coming and going. Their selection is extensive–from the usual glazed yeast, iced cake, and blueberry to some unique creations like red velvet, pretzel, and peanut butter cream filled doughnuts. All delicious. It’s a good thing they’re open 24 hours so there’s plenty of opportunity to try them all!

Bonomini Bakery (Northside) This tiny bakery is easy to miss but worth the search. I have driven right by it probably fifty times with no idea of the deliciousness hidden inside. Well, now I do. While I always go for chocolate, one of my children is a conneseuir of the simple glazed doughnut, and Bonomini had one of the best we have ever tasted. It was rich and buttery while also being light and crispy. I’ve heard their Paczki (a traditional Lenten pastry) are to die for too.

Some would argue that the best doughnut is a free one. On National Doughnut Day, you can find a few free doughnuts to help you celebrate.

Tim Hortons–Get a free doughnut with any purchase. Closest locations are in Monroe and Oxford.

Krispy Kreme–A free doughnut with no purchase necessary. While there are no Krispy Kreme stores in Cincinnati, you can stop by one in Dayton (Kettering) or Lexington if you happen to be in the area.

Dunkin’ Donuts–Get a  free doughnut on June 5 with any beverage purchase. Several Cincinnati locations.

Entenmann’s-Visit their website for your chance to win free doughnuts for a year.

Do you have a favorite that was left off the list. Post it in the comments!

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Tara Limoco
Cincinnati has been my home since graduating from college, and thanks to all the friends I have made here, I am happy to now call it home. I am Mom to three teenagers so life is never boring at our house. While we homeschooled for several years, we are slowly aging out of that adventure and into the new territory of dating, driving, college applications and who knows what next! When my mom hat isn't on, I squeeze in a few of my other loves–exploring our city, crafting, reading, kayaking, hiking, gardening, traveling, and teaching people to take good care of their skin through my Mary Kay business. Oh, and of course writing!

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