donuts

Monday Munchies: Bakers Dozen Donuts- Raleigh, NC

October 6, 2014

As part of my Monday Munchies series, I will feature a different eatery for a review on the first and third Monday of every month. Hope you enjoy!

____________________

I’ve been trying to think of fun, simple ways of changing things up for the wedding, so I’ve been thinking we can ditch the cake and just enjoy some other sweets. Maybe pies? Maybe cookies? Maybe Donuts?

Man, I love donuts! So it comes as no surprise that I turned to Yelp to track down some great donuts while we were in Raleigh.

Reviews turned us to Baker’s Dozen Donuts. So we headed over there one morning to satisfy our donut cravings.

As we pulled into a shopping center and up to the simple storefront that is identified with a large sign simply stating “DONUTS”, I saw someone walking out with large boxes of donuts. A sure sign that people love donuts from here.

They have 2 kinds of donuts- a yeast donut and a cake donut. Both equally good. I didn’t find their donuts to be very large which was refreshing as I’ve been to shops were donuts are so big you can barely finish them. These were a manageable size so we were able to get a few to share.

Flavors include classics like glazed twists, French Crullers, and Boston cream. Donuts are covered in the perfect amount of glaze and sprinkles. They even fill the donuts to order. I swear you just don’t get that kinda of service and quality at a lot of places.

We shared 3 donuts (about $1 each) plus an apple fritter ($1.50). I had read good things about the buttermilk donut we got that, as well as a sugar coated one, and a pumpkin donut.

The yeast based sugary donut was light and fluffy, while the cake donuts were denser, as to be expected. The pumpkin reminded me of a pumpkin muffin with it’s pleasant pumpkin flavor. The buttermilk was my favorite as it was really light, evenly glazed, and had a interesting tangy flavor from the buttermilk.

I’m already missing these donuts. And that fritter… OMG that fritter.

The apple fritter was the best fritter that I’ve ever had. It was about the size of the palm of your hand. Well, maybe a bit bigger than that, but it again was a good size for a treat. The flavor was very sweet and apple-y. It was definitely not suggy from the sugary glaze as it has a nice crunch it. And yet it was still light as the texture of the fitter was very airy.

The shop has minimal decor with some cute pictures and fake flower arrangements, which is just fine since I think that most people just run into get donuts and go. We ate some of each of our donuts there and finished them up later.

Just hop into the shop and get yourself some donuts and you won’t be disappointed. I promise!!

Baker’s Dozen Donuts

1307 Buck Jones Road

Raleigh, NC 27606

919.377.1221

9.19-23: Raleigh long weekend recap

September 24, 2014

{Friday}

{Saturday}

{Sunday}

{Monday}

Price’s Birthday!!!!

{Tuesday}

Monday Munchies: Skaneateles Bakery- Skaneateles, NY

September 1, 2014

Okay, I took the summer off from my Monday Munchies post because the summer is always super crazy and I just didn’t want to half ass these fun posts. I wanted to share some great places while writing thoughtful, helpful posts about them. So I’m back! Enjoy!!

Whenever we head back to Price’s hometown for a visit I go to Skaneateles Bakery for some breakfast goodies. I love to walk down there so I feel like I’m off setting the donuts that I’m about to consume. All about balance people.

But really my mile walk down there and back is hardly enough to put a dent into the calories for the pastries I get. I just go there and act like a kid in a candy store and go ‘ohh, I’ll take a half dozen donuts!… and a scone!… and a rice krispies treat!… and a cinnamon roll!… and a bacon egg and cheese!” As I walk down the counter I see more and more things I want so I just keep going ‘and’ as I add more and more things to my order.

Trays, platters, and pedestals display a fun selection of baked goods that range from scones ($1.90), muffins, and cinamon rolls ($2.50). Price loves rice krispie treats ($2.50) so I always get him one of their massive ones to enjoy later on in the day.

Their Bacon Egg and Cheese is elevated from your typical B.E.C as its made with Applewood Smoked Bacon, Cheddar Cheese, and Ciabatta. ($5.65) The cheese is melty and the bacon has a nice smoke flavor to round out the sandwich. The bread does a great job of soaking up the bacon grease and cheese too. Overall it’s a large sandwich so we end up splitting it as we are also enjoying a donut or two.

I love that you can watch them make their cake donuts from their front window. I love to watch the donuts happily floating in the oil in the machine before they get dropped off into the big catch basin for them to get topped. I always get a half dozen ($4.50) so I can get some variety in the box. They make a typical old-fashioned, powdered, glazed, cinnamon & sugar, as well as, glazed with cinnamon & sugar, chocolate-glazed, chocolate-glazed with rainbow sprinkles, and coconut.

They are light and airy with plenty air pockets under that slightly crunchy fried exterior. The donuts are topped with fresh toppings and are the perfect size for you to have easily have 2-3 of these hot from the fryer babies.

Sprinkles make everything better.

To round out a recent trip to the Bakery we enjoyed snacking on on of their home made raspberry poptarts. They make their poptarts with pie crust and their home made raspberry jam. It’s great for breakfast but also great to satisfy an afternoon sweet tooth craving. No matter when you enjoy it you’ll find that the homemade jam is the best filling for it.

The Skaneateles Bakery is a real treasure as it serves locals and area visitors with great breakfast and lunch pastries, sandwiches, and drinks. Be sure to stop by and have a fresh cake donut for me.

Skaneateles Bakery

19 Jordan St

Skaneateles, NY 13152

(315) 685-3538

Monday Munchies: Union Square Donuts- Somerville, MA

May 5, 2014

I love donuts.

I mean, who doesn’t?!?

Doughnuts or Donuts… I like them equally as much!

And I love donuts from Union Square Donuts in Somerville, MA, a suburb just north of Boston. It’s a small shop that sells donuts and fresh brewed coffee. I don’t think things need to be more complicated than that.

They are famous for creating large flavorful, soft, airy, and unique donuts. They were even included in Thillist’s list of 21 Best Donut Shops in America that came out just last month. Their yeast and cake donuts are equally as good as their sweet and savory donuts, which will set you back $3 for regular ones and $3.50 for the premium ones.

I mean just check these babies out!

Mouth watering!!!

Maple Bacon

This is a must get donut here. This is a great combination of salty and sweet. The maple glaze is offset with the cripsy, crunchy bacon. It can be a bit messy to eat but I won’t tell if you lean over the sink and eat it. Or if you hold your plate up to your face and then lick it later. I swear I won’t tell. ($3.50)

Sea-Salted Bourbon Caramel

This is my favorite donut. It’s massive and intensely flavorful. The donut itself is very light as it’s dough is full if airy pockets. The caramel glaze is sweet and the bourbon in there adds a lot of flavor. But the sweetness is also balanced with the sea-salt. Be careful, it’s really sticky, but I don’t think that is a bad thing, just give your fingers a good lick once your done! ($3.00)

Bacon Cheddar Sage

They have savory donuts! Both are crazy good but I love the Bacon Cheddar Sage. I love the bacon and the cheddar combo but the herby flavor from the sage is so good.($3.50)

Boston Cream

I’ve lived in Boston for over 10 years and have never had Boston Cream Pie from Omini Parker House, which is directly across from my office. FOR SHAME! But that doesn’t mean I don’t know a good Boston Creme Pie Donut when I devoure it. This crispy ried donut is jam packed full of a vanilla bean cream and then topped off it a velvety chocolate glaze. The vanilla cream is packed full of vanilla bean caviar so the vanilla flavor shines through against the chocolate. Yum! ($3.50)

Brioche Cinnamon Roll

This was the first time they were serving these guys. I just happened to be there when they brought out the first tray. I have to admit it felt a little special to be there to get to try one of the first ones ever sold.

Price commented on how this reminded him of Baklava because of the cinnamon and honey combination of flavors. The honey glaze is super sweet but really enjoyable as it’s sweetness is slightly cut back from the cinnamon that is swirled through the bun. ($5.00)

I mean… come on! I can’t even get over how good everything is here!! Besides the ones showcased above, hey have flavors like Brown Butter Hazelnut Crunch, Vanilla Bean, Birthday Cake with Sprinkles, and Strawberry.

I have a love affair with the donuts at Union Square Donuts. I just can’t resist. And yet I don’t think Price minds when I give in and come home with a big box of donuts. ha!

I at least try to plan ahead by getting there soon after they open since they have been known to sell out in as little as 90 minutes. And missing out on getting one of these donuts would make me sad. They are only opened Thursday & Friday from 7 AM – 1 PM and on Saturday & Sunday: 8 AM – 3 PM. Even if you are just half awake after a night of drinking just stumble over there for a donut and coffee to perk yourself up!