Got a full tank of gas and a serious sweet tooth? Hit the road in pursuit of an iconic American treat: the donut (or doughnut, if you prefer yours with extra consonants). Whether you like cake-style or yeast-risen, plain glazed or gourmet, there’s no denying the joy a good donut can bring. Let’s take a road trip from VA to CA to explore some of the country’s best donut shops.

Sugar Shack Donuts, Virginia

Begin in Richmond, VA, home to Allianz Global Assistance and one of the best donut shops in America: Sugar Shack Donuts. This fun and funky little place hand-rolls and hand-cuts its donuts all day long, which results in a delightfully unpredictable flavor rotation. Sugar Shack also doesn’t label its donuts, so you’ll have to listen carefully when the baker lists them for you. You’ll always find the standards, like glazed and chocolate, but if you happen upon a rare flavor, like fresh peach ginger or pineapple serrano, you’ll know it’s your lucky day. The coffee’s really good, too — so fuel up for the long, sweet trip ahead.

Duck Donuts, North Carolina

Duck Donuts began as a beach donut shop in Duck, N.C., a favorite spot for vacationing families. It has since spread all over the southeast United States, including several locations in North Carolina. What makes Duck Donuts special is its made-to-order approach. Begin with a vanilla cake donut, then choose a coating, topping and drizzle. For example: chocolate icing + graham cracker + marshmallow. Or lemon icing + coconut + blackberry. If you’re having a hard time making a decision, you can go with a seasonal flavor combination.

Five Daughters Bakery, Tennessee

This Nashville gem is owned by a couple who, yes, have five daughters. Five Daughters takes the slow approach to making donuts: Its famous 100-layer doughnuts (similar to cronuts) take three days to create before they’re baked, rolled in sugar, filled with cream, and glazed.¹ Other unusual items include vegan donuts and the Paleo Crusher — an almond-flour donut without grains, gluten, dairy or sugar. Yeah, we made a face too, but the flavors sound surprisingly good. Some recent paleo selections included chocolate chip, chocolate sunbutter, blueberries and cream, and caramel peaches and cream.

The Tato-Nut Shop, Mississippi

We hope you put gas in the car, because we’re going to drive allllll the way south to Ocean Springs, Mississippi, home of The TatoNut Shop. Because really, how can you resist a place called the TatoNut Shop? A neon sign in the shop’s window declares that it serves “The Only Real Donuts.” We’ll let you decide if that’s true. Founded in 1960, TatoNut uses potato flour in place of wheat flour in its donuts. You won’t find exotic flavors here, but customers love its light and airy creations. Try the Katrina Pieces, which were created after 2005’s Hurricane Katrina cut off supply chains and staff fried up irregular dough pieces to sell.²

Buttermilk Drop Bakery, Louisiana

When you think of doughnuts in New Orleans, you probably think of beignets — deep-fried pastries dusted with powdered sugar. But have you ever tried the city’s other signature doughnut: the buttermilk drop? GoNola.com aptly describes it as “a rolled up cake donut dunked into glaze icing.”³ McKenzie’s Pastry Shoppe, the bakery that invented them, is gone, but you can still get a delectable version at the Buttermilk Drop Bakery. Try the red velvet flavor as well as the original.

Round Rock Donuts, Texas

They’re fluffy, airy, ooey-gooey… and yellow. But not lemon-flavored, locals quickly explain — egg yolks give Round Rock Donuts their signature color. The donuts have been drawing crowds to the Lone Star Bakery in in Round Rock, Texas (just north of Austin) since 1926.

In addition to the classic glazed, Round Rock has strawberry and maple iced donuts; filled donuts; and cake donuts that are preferred by customers who don’t like super-sweet pastries.
For Texas-sized appetites, there’s Round Rock’s Texas-sized donut: a 2-pound, 18-inch ring that’s equivalent to a dozen regular donuts. Our favorite part? You don’t have to place a special order for the Texas-sized donut. They’re right there waiting for you, so just walk in and grab one.⁴

Whoo’s Donuts, New Mexico

This all-organic bakery in Santa Fe was tagged as one of the best donut shops in America by Thrillist.⁵ One of Whoo’s Donuts’ unique creations is the Blue Corn Lavender donut, the child of a corn muffin and a donut. And that’s not the only flavor inspired by New Mexico’s regional cuisine: you may also find red chile chocolate and toffee, blue corn strawberry jalapeño, or green chile apple fritter.

Welcome Chicken + Donuts, Arizona

Have you been waiting for this list to get weird? Well, here we are: Welcome Chicken + Donuts in Phoenix serves wonderfully unusual flavors you won’t find anywhere else. We’re talking chocolate pudding-filled donuts with a red wine glaze; chocolate cake with mole sugar; and tamarindo lime with peanuts. True to its name, Welcome Chicken + Donuts also serves excellent fried chicken, as well as savory donut sandwiches. We’re tempted by the South by Southwest: a fried egg with cheddar and bacon or sausage, jazzed with jalapeno sauce and Thai yum sauce, on a cake donut.

California Donuts, California

“Doughnuts happen to be LA's most iconic breakfast item,” observes Eater Los Angeles. The city’s home to some of the best donut shops anywhere, including Randy’s Donuts in Inglewood, whose enormous donut-shaped sign has appeared in movies from “Get Shorty” to “Iron Man 2.”⁶ 
But if we have to pick just one, we’ll go with California Donuts. This 24/7 donut shop in Koreatown draws crowds around the clock. Favorite flavors include the panda donut with Oreo ears; the donuts covered with Lucky Charms, Froot Loops or Fruity Pebbles; the matcha green tea; and the toasted coconut.

Did you know that travel insurance can cover road trips? Anytime you’re more than 100 miles away from home, you’re protected by your travel insurance plan from Allianz Global Assistance. Get a quote for your next vacation!

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