Best Donuts In Minnesota
By Linda Cameron
Usually, donut bakeries have a big name chain connection. But Minnesotans prefer the donuts from locally owned bakeries because of the quality, variety and home town appeal. Often, family bakeries have inherited original donut recipes. And neighborhood bakeries that are locally owned and operated have a reputation for the best donuts. Many have received awards in addition to compliments.
Sarah Jane's Bakery Northeast
2853 Johnson St. N.E.
Minneapolis, MN 55418
(612) 789-2827
www.sarahjanesbakery.com
Sarah Jane's donuts are rated among the best for old school freshness and new age originality. If you've never had a paczki, this traditional Polish donut is one of Sarah Jane's creations. The bakery has a generous assortment of raised and cake donuts. The crunch donuts deliciously complement the morning jo. The standard ring donuts, glazed and plain, are rich in buttery flavor. Old fashioned donuts are for the weekend. But given the baker's variety, just what is old fashioned?
A Baker's Wife Pastry Shop
4200 28th Ave. S.
Minneapolis, MN 55406
(612) 729-6898
www.facebook.com/aBakersWife
If you care to glance at this neighborhood bakery's Facebook page, you'll see touches of humor and scads of reviews. You'll also learn more about the donuts here. The donut cakes are worth a field trip to this rustic corner side pastry shop. The cinnamon sugar cake donut merits a baker's dozen for texture and balanced sweetness. If planning a wedding, ask the bakery's owners about wedding-sized donut cakes.
Glam Doll Donuts
2605 Nicollet Ave. S.
Minneapolis, MN 55408
(612) 345-7064
www.glamdolldonuts.com
Don't let the bakery's shocking pink façade drive you to distraction. You must come inside for deliciously outrageous donuts. We're referring to the donut cakes with an evocative medley of descriptions, such as Scream Queen and Daddy Dearest. Equally evocative are the raised donuts, but you'll have to see the menu. While most donuts scream "confection," some Glam Doll beauties pack more substantial trimmings, such as beer icing and bacon crumbs for Daddy Dearest. You can also order hot donut meals, piled with mac and cheese, mozzarella, turkey, marinara, and other rib sticking stuff: rugged instead of sweet. Also, these eats and treats don't carry tony prices.
Related: Best Doughnut Shops In Minnesota
Hanisch Bakery And Coffee Shop
410 West 3rd St.
Red Wing, MN 55066
(651) 388-1589
www.hanischbakery.com
An award winner for its coffee and pastries, Hanisch Bakery has one of the largest donut selections. This bakery turns out donuts every day for every season and many occasions. The specialty cake donuts are made with maple, toffee, white and chocolate coconut, and peanut butter and jelly. The regular donut cakes are moist and flavorful with house made ingredients. If you adore Polish donuts, Hanisch is also where you can get paczkis. Also well loved are the maple and apple fritter raised donuts.
Bloedow Bakery
451 E. Broadway
Winona, MN 55987
(507) 452-3682
www.bloedows.com
Another pastry shop that has received a donut critic's award is Bloedow Bakery. The bakery produces cake donuts and other baked goods, using the traditional recipes passed to new generations. These recipes date back to 1924 and remain unchanged. The bakery has a daily calendar for precision donut making six days per week. The bakery has gone through several ownership transfers. But every owner makes donuts from the original Bloedow recipes.
