Donuts go hand in hand with the Big Apple, just like pizza, shopping and New Year celebrations. New York City is full of bakeries serving up fluffy, mouthwatering bites of dessert heaven, sure to give you a sugar rush. Shops seem to pop up on every corner, nailing every aspect of what would make a donut memorable. Whether you want old-fashioned flavors or creative, Instagram-worthy presentations, you’re sure to find a range of sugary ring-shaped treats throughout the city that come in a variety of shapes, sizes and gourmet flavors. Kooky ingredients, international influence, gluten-free status, vegan….donut dreams are realized in the big city.
But where to start? We’ll discuss some familiar shops, like Peter Pan Donut and Pastry Shop, and the Doughnut Plant, which are well-known incredible donut making joints—but with all the NYC options, we hope you’ll discover a new favorite as well. From glazed beauties to sugar-dusted treats, these are our picks for the best donuts in New York City.
Dough, Brooklyn
There’s something to be greatly appreciated about an authentic yeast donut made with precise technique, and Dough Doughnuts in Brooklyn nails the slightly spongy, bready feel that some argue is far superior to a cake variation. Worthy of the attention it receives, you’ll be lured in by the shop’s famous enormous portions and a variety of unique flavors that come from Chef Fany Gerson’s Mexican heritage, including Horchata, Hibiscus and Dulche de Leche—all commonly mentioned among reviews. And be sure to pair with a rich, french press latte or iced coffee.
Doughnut Plant, Lower East Side
If you’re looking for fun flavors, head to the Doughnut Plant for an ever-changing menu of donut flavors. Choose between their classic yeast donut, filled square donuts, cake donuts or smaller round “doughseeds”. You can’t visit without trying the famous creme brulee doughseed, where you’ll be charmed by its crisp shell and creamy vanilla innards, while the Tres Leches, Coconut Cream, Peanut Butter Banana Cream and range of seasonal flavors are also a must.
Underwest Donuts, Hell’s Kitchen
Located inside a car wash in Hell’s Kitchen, this donut shop is known for their maple-waffle and toasty brown-butter-almond flavors with cake-like coffee dunkers. Boasting the perfect blend of crunch and fluffy with a cake crumb, the donuts here pair perfectly with a warm cup of coffee. You can’t go wrong flavors like Jasmine Green Tea, Raspberry Yogurt and Coco Raspberry and its halva donut, which is a unique take on the Middle Eastern dessert.
Du’s Donuts, Williamsburg
Cult-favorite chef Wylie Dufresne returned to his roots with the opening of Du’s Donuts in Williamsburg, which churns out plump, New England-style cake donuts. You’ll be lured in by the colorful glazes and daily rotation of unique flavors such as pomegranate-tahini, ginger matcha and Nutella cherry or can indulge in upgraded classics such as cinnamon apple, chocolate caramel brownie and cherry pie. Looking for something tropical? Sample the brown butter key lime.
Peter Pan Donut & Pastry Shop, Greenpoint
Step back in time at Peter Pan Donut & Pastry Shop in Greenpoint, which reflects when it started serving donuts back in the 1950s with its old-school uniforms and no-frills decor. Visit this shop to enjoy consistently fresh donuts in around 20 different flavors, including the beloved red velvet crumb, toasted coconut and honey dip. Enjoy its old-fashioned ambiance and prices that reflect the throwback atmosphere, where even Tina Fey has declared her love for the joint.
The Donut Pub, Chelsea
Open 24/7, The Donut Pub serves up fresh donuts around the clock. You’ll find a wide variety of flavors to choose from, including the old-fashioned honey-dipped, which is their version of the traditional glazed donut in addition to red velvet and blueberry cake donuts. The iconic mom-and-pop shop also serves palm-size apple fritters and Boston creams covered with chocolate icing, while those looking for something special can try the Fruity Pebble or S’mores Croissant donut. The Donut Pub has phenomenal space to just sit down and enjoy your selections, and the coffee exceeds expectations. So this isn’t a place to just grab and go. Folks behind the counter take time to explain complex flavors, some of which have interesting bases as well, rather than just an average circle of breading. The croissant cannoli variation—no words.
Orwasher’s, Upper East Side
Founded in 1916, Orwasher’s is known for its jelly donuts made from locally sourced fruit, offering the perfect ratio of jam and donut. Fruit lovers can’t go wrong with the sour cherry and black raspberry flavors, which are filled to perfection with caulking tubes. Orwasher’s is more of a bakery than a donut shop, but you simply cannot pick up your freshly baked bread without also grabbing a few chocolate-covered, sugar or jam-filled donuts.
Doughnuttery, Chelsea
Serving delightful donuts in brown paper bags, Doughnuttery in Chelsea is tucked into a corner of the Chelsea Market. They specialize in tiny donuts, which are coated in flavored sugars. Marvel the miniature donuts flipped and fried using a small machine, then watch as employees toss the donuts in different sugars. Try the Purple Pig for a combination of maple, purple potatoes and bacon or the Urban Monkey with coffee, banana and coconut.
The Doughnut Project, West Village
Head to The Doughnut Project in the West Village to find generous portions of yeast donuts in unique flavors. The small batch, hand-crafted donuts boast pop culture-inspired names like Constanza with salted chocolate with buttered pretzel, a Bronx with olive oil and black pepper or a PBJ 2.0 filled with peanut butter whip. Try the Lemon Love Letter with fresh lemon glaze or go for Those Beetz Are Dope with a beet glaze.
Dun-Well Doughnuts, Williamsburg
An all-vegan shop, Dun-Well Doughnuts serves sweet and fluffy donuts in a wide array of flavors, from classic Boston cream to pink lemonade, French toast and maple chocolate pecan. It is considered the best spot for organic vegan donuts with more than 200 rotating flavors in its vintage-inspired shop, where the delectable treats are served on wooden slabs alongside egg creams and Italian sodas. Patrons tend to flip over the peanut butter options, like the PB & J or the one that channels the Reese’s cup (chocolate peanut butter). Get your camera ready, because Dun-Well uses rustic wood platters for serving.
Mike’s Donuts, Bay Ridge
A no-frills mom-and-pop restaurant, Mike’s Donuts has been around for multiple decades, offering around 35 fresh flavors. Indulge in marble twist and glazed jelly or try the apple flavor, which is filled with apple slices. You won’t find crazy concoctions here, instead you’ll discover a collection of classic, perfectly made donuts that are crispy on the outside and soft and flaky on the inside.
Moe’s Doughs, Brooklyn
Affordable and inviting, the donuts at Moe’s Doughs are hard to resist. Try the French cruller or the raspberry-filled donut, while the caramel donut, pistachio, red velvet volcano and strawberry cake donuts will have you coming back for more. If you need something to brighten your day, you can’t go wrong with a key lime pie, colorful rainbow cake donut or an over-the-top decadent caramel cheesecake donut.
Sans Bakery
Even if you are not on a gluten-free diet, Sans Bakery is that place you can visit with a loved one that has to be a bit more restrictive. The good news is, they have incredible cinnamon donuts with bits of crunchy sugar on the exterior. Made with brown rice and garbanzo flour, the taste is light while being nutritionally dense. In addition to the donuts, it’s going to be hard to leave without mocha chocolate chip muffins and cookies.
Senza Gluten Cafe and Bakery
Senza Gluten Cafe and Bakery is an Italian eatery in New York, and every indulgent pasta, bread and pizza is free of wheat/gluten. In addition, the extensive bakery whips up everything from scones, cakes, and, the richest eclair to ever touch your lips. (We are just going to call it a donut, because it’s too good to miss). Dripping with bittersweet chocolate, simple ingredients come together to make the classic, and even those who don’t have an intolerance will find themselves coming back for another one of these babies.
Mah-Ze-Dahr Bakery
Mah-Ze-Dahr Bakery is a culinary gem churning out all kinds of mouthwatering pastries. But the donuts, with their incomprehensible texture, steal the show. Brioche dough is infused with pastry cream for the most interesting yet pleasing mouth feel, then to top it off, the creation is dipped in sugar and ground vanilla bean for a mind-blowing finish. Oh yeah, they put the donut hole on top, because you really don’t want to miss a morsel.
Sugar and Water NYC
Sugar and Water NYC has donuts for nearly every diet, whether you are gluten intolerant or avoiding animal products. The presentation of each delicious circle is more colorful and creative than the average—kids and adults both get excited when approaching the case to select their choice. As with any great shop, there are unique and classic flavors, with ingredients like buttercream, banana, and even Guinness!
The Cinnamon Snail
First, you have to have one of the killer sandwiches or plant burgers at The Cinnamon Snail, before diving into the pastry selection. First of all, donuts are vegan, and even the skeptical are totally shocked to discover this. Vegan food is awesome these days! The fudge-filled donuts will absolutely change your life (or at least your taste buds). Everything at The Cinnamon Snail is truly magical.
The Dough Club
The Dough Club’s Pon De Ring donut has a distinctive shape, which looks like several lightly fused spheres, that ultimately make the circle shape. These are Japanese style mochi donuts. And yes! They have that delightful chewy texture. Green tea and crunchy, fruity cereal are some of the toppings incorporated into the adorably named treats. The aesthetic of the shop is equally precious!
Alimama Tea
Alimama Tea also specialized in a naturally gluten-free mochi donut, but their ginormous cream puffs steal the thunder. With pastry on the outside and a mountain of indulgent flavored, rich cream on the inside, these mammoths have downright delightful flavors, like green tea! So fluffy, so good! The Instagram worthy teas are created with a variety of leaves and flowers, and can even come blended with chia seeds. Alimama is a totally different, but incredible donut experience.
