Nine Sarasota Doughnuts to Eat Before You Die
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Meaney's Mini Donuts
We dare you not to polish off a whole bag of Meaney’s Mini Donuts in one sitting—these light, almost beignet-like little treats are totally addictive. Best bet: the strawberry cheesecake, featuring cream cheese frosting topped with strawberry jam. 201 Canal Drive, Siesta Key; 382 St. Armands Circle, Sarasota
Gold Star Donuts
If you’ve never experienced Gold Star Donuts before, you can expect a broad selection of classic flavors done just right. Our pick: the huge apple fritters, with their crunchy exterior and soft nuggets of cinnamon-dusted apple inside. We also love the bear claws or the simple, perfect old-fashioned doughnut. 1246 Whitfield Ave., Sarasota
A mochi doughnut at Mochinut.
Image: Lauren Jackson
Mochinut
Mochinut makes its doughnuts from mochi flour, a rice flour that is often used as a gluten substitute in baking. The result is a chewy but still light and fluffy confection that's molded into rings of eight connected balls. Offerings change frequently, with flavors like cinnamon sugar and strawberry glazed, but don't sleep on the white chocolate topped with dried strawberries if it's available. 8433 Lockwood Ridge Road, Sarasota
Turner Donuts
Turner Donuts in downtown Bradenton has been frying up yeast-raised doughnuts made with potato flour for more than 50 years. They’re not only a local classic—they’re soft and airy, chewy and incredibly tasty. 902 Ninth Ave. W., Bradenton
The Donut Experiment
At The Donut Experiment on Anna Maria Island, fresh, hot cake doughnuts are dunked in the frosting of your choice and crowned with your choice of toppings. 201C Pine Ave., Anna Maria
Yummies Donuts and BBQ
Yummies offers a variety of doughnuts—including traditional Polish paczski for Fat Tuesday—but it's the Sticky Pig that's the star here. A glazed cinnamon roll doughnut is cut in half and filled with salty pulled pork, barbecue sauce and crunchy coleslaw. It's food porn at its most outrageous. 2001 S. Tamiami Trail, Venice
There's a flavor for every palate at Five-O Donut Co.
Image: Courtesy Photo
Five-O Donut Co
Five-O Donut Co. offers a bevy of cake and yeast-raised confections—many with colorful frosting and toppings that are totally Instagrammable. The croissant doughnut, a rounded square creation with a thin, crispy crust on the outside and moist layers inside, is a standout. The flagship store is located at 2241 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota, but there are now multiple locations throughout the area.
Der Dutchman
Der Dutchman’s red velvet doughnut tastes just like red velvet cake, only in ring form. It comes topped with not-too-sweet cream cheese frosting, and although you can opt to order the doughnut without it, why would you? Fear not: if you're not a red velvet fan, a panoply of other flavors is available daily. 3713 Bahia Vista St., Sarasota
Fresh doughnuts at Peachey's Baking Company
Image: Rod Millington
Peachey's Baking Company
Last on this list but not in our hearts, Peachey's Baking Company (formerly the Amish Baking Company, but still under the same ownership) serves fresh, hot, yeasted doughnuts (and pretzels!) from its mobile food truck every Wednesday from October-April at the Phillippi Farmhouse Market, using recipes that have been passed down through the owners' family. The doughnuts are enormous and pillowy, dripping with vanilla glaze, and they go down real easy. The Peachey's truck also pops up at other local locations and fairs throughout the year. instagram.com/peacheysbakingco for the most up-to-date locations
