The doughnut seems like a fairly simple food as it is just a fried ring of dough. However, there is a lot of room for tweaks and nearly endless variations of glazes and toppings.
Doughnut shops and bakeries across the country have put their own spin on the classic sweet treat. Some prefer to pile them high with sugary toppings, while others serve mini doughnuts in a cup and cover them with whipped cream. Others inject bacon and cheddar cheese into the middle of the pastry.
Whatever the formula is, successful doughnut shops can go from just any other store to a unique and cherished part of the community. 24/7 Wall St. reviewed several rankings of the best doughnut shops by state to determine the overall best doughnut shop in every state.
The doughnut shops representing each state were as varied as the states themselves. Some, like Virginia’s Sugar Shack, have expanded to many locations across the state after years of popularity.
Other shops, like Back Door Donuts in Massachusetts, have just a single location where sweet-toothed residents can go to get the best breakfast treat their state has to offer.
Doughnut shops can sometimes take on the identity of the state they represent. Olsen Bake Shop in Nebraska offers a quintessential Midwest doughnut shop experience with the standard donut varieties like glazed, chocolate, and sprinkles at a reasonable price.
In Texas, where everything is bigger, Gourdough’s goes big on the toppings and options for customers. You can get doughnut burgers and doughnut sandwiches like Country Clucker and the Boss Hog, just to name a few.
In order to determine the best doughnut shop in every state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed existing lists of the best doughnut shops by state. Shops were ranked based on how many times they appeared on various lists. All shops on this list were ranked as the best doughnut shop in their respective state multiple times. In the case of a tie, the shop’s Yelp rating was used as a tiebreaker.
Click here to see the best doughnut shop in every state.
1. Alabama
> Best doughnut shop: The Heavenly Donut Co.
> City: Birmingham
> Specialty flavor: Cookie Butter
> Number of locations: 3 (2 food trucks)
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2. Alaska
> Best doughnut shop: Dino’s Donuts
> City: Anchorage
> Specialty flavor: Smiley Faces
> Number of locations: 1
3. Arizona
> Best doughnut shop: Young Donuts
> City: Tucson
> Specialty flavor: Tiger Tail
> Number of locations: 1
4. Arkansas
> Best doughnut shop: Mark’s Do-Nut Shop
> City: North Little Rock
> Specialty flavor: Coconut
> Number of locations: 1
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5. California
> Best doughnut shop: BJ Cinnamon
> City: Folsom
> Specialty flavor: Glazed cinnamon crumb croissant donut
> Number of locations: 1
6. Colorado
> Best doughnut shop: Glazed and Confused
> City: Aurora
> Specialty flavor: Obi Wan Cannoli
> Number of locations: 1
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7. Connecticut
> Best doughnut shop: Dottie’s Diner
> City: Woodbury
> Specialty flavor: Vanilla Dipped
> Number of locations: 1
8. Delaware
> Best doughnut shop: Gooey Donuts
> City: Milton
> Specialty flavor: Baby Ruth
> Number of locations: 1
9. Florida
> Best doughnut shop: Mojo Donuts
> City: Pembroke Pines
> Specialty flavor: Death by Chocolate
> Number of locations: 2
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10. Georgia
> Best doughnut shop: Sublime Doughnuts
> City: Atlanta
> Specialty flavor: A-town cream
> Number of locations: 2
11. Hawaii
> Best doughnut shop: Leonard’s Bakery
> City: Honolulu
> Specialty flavor: Malasadas
> Number of locations: 3 (1 food truck)
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12. Idaho
> Best doughnut shop: Guru Donuts
> City: Boise
> Specialty flavor: The Girl Scout
> Number of locations: 3
13. Illinois
> Best doughnut shop: Doughnut Vault
> City: Chicago
> Specialty flavor: Pina Colada
> Number of locations: 2
14. Indiana
> Best doughnut shop: Long’s Bakery
> City: Indianapolis
> Specialty flavor: Caramel iced nut
> Number of locations: 2
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15. Iowa
> Best doughnut shop: Mahalo’s Coffee
> City: West Des Moines
> Specialty flavor: Bacon Sunrise
> Number of locations: 1
16. Kansas
> Best doughnut shop: The Donut Whole
> City: Wichita
> Specialty flavor: Fluffernutter
> Number of locations: 1
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17. Kentucky
> Best doughnut shop: Nord’s Bakery
> City: Louisville
> Specialty flavor: Cream-filled Long Johns
> Number of locations: 1
18. Louisiana
> Best doughnut shop: DISTRICT: Donuts. Sliders. Brew.
> City: New Orleans
> Specialty flavor: Monte Cristo Croquenut
> Number of locations: 5
19. Maine
> Best doughnut shop: The Holy Donut
> City: Portland
> Specialty flavor: Bacon cheddar filled
> Number of locations: 1
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20. Maryland
> Best doughnut shop: The Fractured Prune
> City: Ocean City
> Specialty flavor: Blackberry cobbler
> Number of locations: 11
21. Massachusetts
> Best doughnut shop: Back Door Donuts
> City: Oak Bluffs
> Specialty flavor: Butternut Crunch
> Number of locations: 1
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22. Michigan
> Best doughnut shop: Sweetwater’s Donut Mill
> City: Kalamazoo
> Specialty flavor: S’mores
> Number of locations: 3
23. Minnesota
> Best doughnut shop: Glam Doll Donuts
> City: Minneapolis
> Specialty flavor: Blackberry Hennessy icing & Blackberry Jam
> Number of locations: 2
24. Mississippi
> Best doughnut shop: The Tatonut Shop
> City: Ocean Springs
> Specialty flavor: Lemon filled
> Number of locations: 1
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25. Missouri
> Best doughnut shop: The Donut Stop
> City: St. Louis
> Specialty flavor: Devil’s food cake donut
> Number of locations: 2
26. Montana
> Best doughnut shop: Granny’s Gourmet Donuts
> City: Bozeman
> Specialty flavor: Coconut lime
> Number of locations: 1
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27. Nebraska
> Best doughnut shop: Olsen Bake Shop
> City: Omaha
> Specialty flavor: Sprinkles
> Number of locations: 1
28. Nevada
> Best doughnut shop: Pink Box Doughnuts
> City: Las Vegas
> Specialty flavor: CroDough
> Number of locations: 3
29. New Hampshire
> Best doughnut shop: Muriel’s Donuts
> City: Lebanon
> Specialty flavor: Jelly sticks
> Number of locations: 1
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30. New Jersey
> Best doughnut shop: Uncle Dood’s Donuts
> City: Toms River
> Specialty flavor: Peanut Butter Icing & Oreo Crumble
> Number of locations: 1
31. New Mexico
> Best doughnut shop: Rebel Donut
> City: Albuquerque
> Specialty flavor: Red Chile Chocolate Bacon
> Number of locations: 2
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32. New York
> Best doughnut shop: Dough
> City: New York City
> Specialty flavor: Hibiscus
> Number of locations: 4
33. North Carolina
> Best doughnut shop: Wake n Bake
> City: Wilmington
> Specialty flavor: Ghost Pepper-infused chocolate, candied Jalapeno, chocolate cherry filling
> Number of locations: 2
34. North Dakota
> Best doughnut shop: Sandy’s Donuts
> City: Fargo
> Specialty flavor: Dirt & Worms (Oreo & Gummy Worms)
> Number of locations: 2
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35. Ohio
> Best doughnut shop: Bill’s Donut Shop
> City: Centerville
> Specialty flavor: Pretzel Donut
> Number of locations: 1
36. Oklahoma
> Best doughnut shop: Polar Donuts
> City: Oklahoma City
> Specialty flavor: Apple fritters
> Number of locations: 1
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37. Oregon
> Best doughnut shop: Voodoo Doughnuts
> City: Portland
> Specialty flavor: Voodoo Doll
> Number of locations: 4
38. Pennsylvania
> Best doughnut shop: Federal Donuts
> City: Philadelphia
> Specialty flavor: Peanut Butter Malt
> Number of locations: 6
39. Rhode Island
> Best doughnut shop: Allie’s Donuts
> City: North Kingstown
> Specialty flavor: Coconut Jelly Stick
> Number of locations: 1
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40. South Carolina
> Best doughnut shop: Glazed Gourmet Doughnuts
> City: Charleston
> Specialty flavor: Lemon Meringue Pie
> Number of locations: 1
41. South Dakota
> Best doughnut shop: Jerry’s Cakes and Donuts
> City: Rapid City
> Specialty flavor: Filled Long John
> Number of locations: 1
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42. Tennessee
> Best doughnut shop: Five Daughters Bakery
> City: Franklin
> Specialty flavor: King Kong (Maple Bacon)
> Number of locations: 6
43. Texas
> Best doughnut shop: Gourdough’s
> City: Austin
> Specialty flavor: Fat Elvis (Grilled bananas & bacon with peanut butter icing and honey)
> Number of locations: 3
44. Utah
> Best doughnut shop: Create Donuts
> City: Sandy
> Specialty flavor: Andes Mint
> Number of locations: 1
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45. Vermont
> Best doughnut shop: Mrs. Murphy’s Donuts
> City: Manchester
> Specialty flavor: Cider Cake
> Number of locations: 1
46. Virginia
> Best doughnut shop: Sugar Shack Donuts
> City: Various Locations
> Specialty flavor: Fresh Peach Ginger
> Number of locations: 10
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47. Washington
> Best doughnut shop: Daddy’s Donuts
> City: Kenmore
> Specialty flavor: Funky Monkey (milk chocolate & peanut butter drizzle with bananas)
> Number of locations: 1
48. West Virginia
> Best doughnut shop: JR’s Donut Castle
> City: Parkersburg
> Specialty flavor: Cookies and Cream
> Number of locations: 1
49. Wisconsin
> Best doughnut shop: Manderfield’s Home Bakery
> City: Menasha
> Specialty flavor: Turtle with Caramel, chocolate, and pecans
> Number of locations: 3
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50. Wyoming
> Best doughnut shop: Cowboy Donuts
> City: Alpine
> Specialty flavor: M&Ms
> Number of locations: 1
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