Best Doughnuts in Toronto

[morgasm]

Hi chowhounders, Can you please tell me where the best donuts in Toronto are. Im sick of driving to krispy kreme in mississauga. And please don't say coffee time or Tim Hortons, YUCK. What is up with the junk some places in town sell??? Does nobody give a lick about quality. It's the exact same thing with pizza here. Sorry for complaining. I'm hurtin for some greasy donuts and some greasy pizza. Thanks People.

[ylsf]

Was in Kensington today and stopped by Sanagan's. Picked up one of Rachelle's Dough donuts... Cinnamon "Ghost" Crunch. Was a spicy doughnut, I guess, the "ghost" was referring to ghost pepper? My first bite I was like "weird"... but, it actually grew on me and I liked the heat.

[kwass]

If anyone is interested in watching, apparently, Emma's Country Kitchen will be a competitor on Donut Showdown premiering April 2nd on Food network Canada!

[prima]

This month's (March 2013) Saveur focuses on the World's Best Donuts, plus 28 recipes. In newstands now.
http://blogs.laweekly.com/squidink/20...

[julesrules]

And I just got a deep fryer! How convenient :)

[prima]

Please take some pics, and post on Home Cooking! :-)

[Brain of J]

What brand may I ask?

[julesrules]

The deep fryer was a hand-me-down, it's aTfal EZ clean, no idea how old it is but the design is basically the same as the current one.

[magic]

I'm going to NYC in the fall. Needless to say, Doughnut Plant will be my top priority. Never been.

[kwass]

Can't wait to hear about your experience!! You lucky duck you!!

[magic]

Will for sure let you know. :)

[kwass]

Did you say the Fall? I was thinking Spring. Can you go any sooner? Lol!!

[magic]

Every day is killin' me :-(

[kwass]

I bet!!

[afong56]

if you go, skip the original location and go to the new-ish one on w23rd st in chelsea--good seating, basically the same selection and good coffee/espresso. . .imho, the cake donuts are the best. . .back in 2009 i might have stumped for their yeast donuts and their cinnamon buns as well, but now i stick to their blackout and tres leches cake donuts. . .

[magic]

Hmm, good to know.

I'm more into cake donuts than yeast so the blackout has been on my mind, for I don't know.... years. Ok, for sure cnnamon bun too!

Will for sure check out W23d! Nice. Thanks so much. All great recs.

[GoodGravy]

For old school doughnuts in NYC, check out Lords Bakery near the Flatbush Ave. stop on the 2&5 train in Brooklyn. They sell an actual baker's dozen. Get there in the morning.

Then cross the street for Jamaican beef patties at Angel Flake.

[magic]

I will most certainly try. Thank you! Jotted down....

[ylsf]

Yeah, heard about this show from someone else but couldn't find a website/page for it when I looked before.

[Brain of J]

Who remembers Margaret's cream filled donuts from their high school cafeteria days? Talk about a sweet treat! Are they still found anywhere? (Not that the quality was anything to write home about. Just a nostalgia thing for me).

[magic]

I sure do.

Theirs and Primrose's donuts ruled.

I'd take a raspberry filled cake donut from Primose over these pricey haute creations any day of the week and twice on Sundays.

[afong56]

haha, primrose definitely evokes memories of childhood--there was something comforting about their chemical and preservative laden, shelf-stable, highly-processed sugars, carb and fat bombs that signaled the 'completeness' of a high-school lunch. . .the classic glazed (with its decidedly dry crumb juxtaposed by the slimy, almost wet glaze) or the creme-filled chocolate glazed donut were the poisons of choice, with the occasional raisin twist thrown in.

does anyone remember the bear claws that used to be sold at the kitchen table, circa 1980s?

[magic]

Sigh, I miss Primrose. I miss Margaret's.

I miss old school donuts. No one in Toronto seems to bother making those anymore, even though it's what most people seem to demand.

[kwass]

Magic, go to Venezia. As I mentioned to prima yesterday, they're definitely serving "old style", "mom and pop style", doughnuts.

[magic]

Ok, will for sure go. It's been written down!

[magic]

Apologies for resurrecting this huge thread.

kwass, are there 2 locations of Venezia?? Which one should I go to?

Also, was this the place that had the french toast?

[kwass]

Venezia IS the place that has the French toast. I've been to both locations, and although both carry the french toast, the location just south of Dundas has better french toast, and more of it...lol. The location North of Dupont is a much smaller place, with not as much yummy goodness :)

[magic]

Thank you so much.

Hope to go soon! :)

[kwass]

Can't wait to hear all about it!!

[magic]

Oh for sure, will do kwass :)

[kwass]

:)

[julesrules]

I don't but you have revived memories of some donut fundraiser, I think we would buy 6 packs through school of glazed donut...s mid 80s time frame... anyone?

[magic]

Donut fundraisers! Yes!

Pure grade school. 1986-89 for sure.

[julesrules]

I don't remember the donuts being all that good, or fresh?

[kwass]

Julesrules, are you referring to Venezia or Primrose?

[julesrules]

I don't know the brand - whatever they were selling at the donut fundraisers. And maybe they were good simple yeast donuts, I was more into cake donuts at the time so I may not have appreciated them.

[magic]

The fundraisers were mainly Margaret's as I seem to recall.

[magic]

I agree with Brain of J in that Margaret's is more of a nostalgia thing. They actually weren't bad for a processed product. Great? No.

Primrose on the other hand made wonderful cake donuts. Even for it being a mass produced product. I'd definitely take them over what is being pushed these days.

But perhaps that is just me.

I think I'm talking more about the spirit of those donuts. Keeping them simple and grounded and cheap. That is missing these days.

[prima]

I remember some donut fundraisers circa 1988, but our school sold jumbo sugar twists, roughly the size of 3 regular donuts, rather than 6 packs of regular donuts.

[mnajji]

Have now had Glory Hole - I think the "Beer" flavour, along with some raspberry eclairs - and Rachelle - coconut flavour served at Emma's Country Kitchen - doughnuts, as well as some other bakeries that I am probably forgetting about.

Hands down, my favourite is still the basic custard doughnut Nakamura bakery in J-Town up in Markham.

The actual dough is not as bland as at Glory Hole and the filling is light, fluffy and without the sugar-or-chemical-induced burn.

http://www.jtown.ca/English/nakamura/e.html

Also, I understand the Chanukkah-only doughnuts that Haymishe Bagel Shop on Bathurst are worth getting there at 8 am to get your hands on, according to a friend's mom who is quite gifted in the baking arts.

http://www.yelp.ca/biz/haymishe-bagel...

[julesrules]

I actually quite enjoyed a channunkkah donut I got at What a Bagel last year, nice jelly donut fix. This time of year we can look forward to Zeppoles! I tried Longo's last year due to convenience, not bad, but the cream filling was slightly artificial (not horrible but not 100% cream...). Going to try Alimento this year.

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/694794

[barneyvernon]

The zeppoles at Rustic Bakery are far, far better than Longo's. Also, the was a serious fire at Haymische Bakery last month. Did they re-open?

[magic]

Oh I'm fairly positive it's still very much closed.

[kwass]

Mnajji, what did you think about Emma's Doughnuts? I've only recently discovered them, and I think that they're fantastic. A little dense/heavy, but really great!!

[mnajji]

Haha, even before fully reading your sentence I started thinking, "Well, they were a LOT denser and a LOT more generously portioned..." but you beat me to it!

Yes, so very dense, much bigger and with much simpler toppings - coconut shavings in my case (was the last they had, otherwise would have gone for some icing/custard).

Given all that, at $3 a pop they are much better value than Glory Hole (I don't know why I keep ripping on them, I'm sorry).

But still not as good as $2 for the Nakamura ones :-)

[kwass]

Haven't tried the doughnuts from Nakamura, but I love Emma's. I'm not a coconut fan, so I haven't tried those, but the maple bacon and the cinnamon sugar are unbelievable. The thing I like about the maple bacon is that she doesn't skimp on the bacon, it's quite plentiful, and in addition to that, the bacon is thick. You can tell that it's fresh-cut, not packaged.

As for Haymishe, if they do re-open in the near future, and I'm hoping that they will, you really do have to try the Chanukkah doughnuts. They're really wonderful!

[mnajji]

Damn, those sound good. Yeah, coconut is not my thing either, but what could I do.

Yeah, I wish Haymishe all the best and I hope they come out of this fire thing okay! Never got their donuts but used to go their for their bagels and other baked goods (it's very far from my house so I stopped) and the owner or the owner's wife was really charismatic and friendly. She gave me a free loaf once! They really know how to invest in repeat busienss.

[kwass]

They were great to their customers!

[bobon]

Glory Hole Doughnuts in Parkdale is fantastic-- try the Banana Creme Pie one

[kwass]

Where have you been? We've only been talking about Glory Hole for the last year. And they actually just discontinued the banana cream pie.

[TorontoJo]

If anyone is crossing the border into New York in the near future, I can highly recommend the chocolate glazed custard doughnut at Di Camillo bakery. It was my perfect custard doughnut. Lots of real, creamy custard (no odd fake/chemical flavour) in a yeast doughnut that had a crisp shell and tender interior. Just enough real chocolate glaze for sweetness. $1.10 with tax. I'd take one of these over a dozen of the "gourmet" doughnuts that Toronto seems to be riddled with right now.

A few locations in Niagara Falls, Buffalo and Lewiston. Several other flavours, but I can't imagine wanting anything else, personally. :) I went to the Lewiston location.

http://www.dicamillobakery.com/info.html

[morgasm]

After almost 6 years it appears things have turned around on the doughnut and pizza front. My dreams have come true. Toronto has grown up a lot. Although i'm not crazy about the current doughnut places that have become popular, at least people are trying. I wish the focus was more on the perfect yeasted dough rather than gimmicky toppings but I can't complain too much. Good to see my thread still alive and kicking.

[afong56]

eating at the feasting room last year was a good sign that toronto's dining scene is starting to come of age. . .we already were world class in so many areas of cuisine, but a lot of the gaps are finally beginning to be filled.

[pakmode]

It's true, haha I read my first post back from 2008.

At the same time, maybe it's nostalgia, but I still remember good, fresh made doughnuts being more plentiful in the 80s/90s then I do now. Sure there are boutique places in the city that have opened up charging $3/per....but back then you could get good donuts anywhere. Even at Tim Horton's which made them in-house.

Doughnuts are a big part of our Ontarion coffee culture, and good ones should be more ubiqituous then a few boutique batchmade places.

For the record, my top 3 in SW-Ontario are still:
1. San Remo for the apple fritter.
2. Global Donuts and Deli in Sarnia.
3. Zehr's.

[kwass]

+1 San Remo's and Zehr's.

We've had this discussion before, but it's funny...you can't beat a good Zehr's doughnut.

[ylsf]

Darn, why didn't I know about this place in Sarnia before my last two road trips to Detroit :) Will have to remember this for the next time I am through.

Re: Jelly Modern, I am glad that the details are now "official" .. The lady had mentioned they signed the lease and it was an old pizza place so I figured out where it was... but, I decided to let them announce it :)

I really hope they pull it off and execute it well. I see a huge opportunity for them if they do it right.

[kwass]

I see a huge opportunity for them as well! So let's keep our fingers crossed!!

[Ediblethoughts]

How can there be Zehr's everywhere in Ontario but not in Toronto? I don't think I'll be able to try these any time soon...

[pakmode]

Ediblethoughts - I've found the ones at Loblaws- Maple Leaf Gardens to be just as good. The apple fritter and chocolate ones are pretty much the same as Zehr's.

ylsf - If you can get to a Global doughnuts right after they've made a batch, it's unbelievable. They make their donuts twice a day. So don't be afraid to ask for the freshest.
Tim Horton's has killed off most of the competition in SW-Ontario, but this is one of the last survivors. Make sure you go to 1603 London Line location, right beside the Sarnia Mosque.
Also, if you ever swing by Chatham, there is a place I went to once called Maple City Bakery that was pretty good as well.

[ylsf]

Reminder. Jelly Modern Doughnut demo/sample is happening today at CB2 . Queen and Spadina. From 2 to 5 but obviously will be first come first served/while quantities last type of thing. :)

[justsayn]

Thanks as always for the alert!

[kwass]

It doesn't look like I'm going to be able to make it :( So, you're going to have to give us all of the yummy details tonight.

[ylsf]

I know I am late with the report, but, not too much too say this time around.. I was hoping some of you would have made it down to hear your opinions. Anyway, the donut they did this time around was a bit different. Was "topped" with a filling instead of filled with one (They don't really do too many filled donuts from what I understand).

Picture here: (crappy cell phone pic)...
https://www.dropbox.com/s/1tlij3nb463...
These are their smaller size doughnuts... They sell these in their store as well. It is a good way to be able to try a few different types without having to eat like 3 or 4 big doughnuts . :) I enjoyed the donut still different than what I am used to with the "icing" type filling on top.

I don't know if they want me sharing this, but, they mentioned that they are planning to open on College, in the 300 range block. Sounds like they are aiming for the spring, hopefully they don't run into too much red tape.

She mentioned that on Valentine's day in Calgary they made like 5000 donuts! The head baker was there again and he was assembling/decorating donuts at crazy speeds. Impressive.

This place might not be the "holy grail" that doughnut lovers are waiting for (I haven't been to the big USA spots so don't know how it compares) but definitely think it will be a good addition to the Toronto doughnut scene

[kwass]

I tried to make it down but couldn't. I've been talking to them on twitter though and was told that they are in fact planning to open in the Spring. I can't wait!!

If they're opening in the 300's, that would be College and what?

[justsayn]

That would be west of Spadina near the computer stores. Top of Kensington Market.

[kwass]

oooh...great location!! :) :)

[pakmode]

That's a good location. I wish them well.

[Ediblethoughts]

That icing looks very gooey and tasty (like Cinnabon's except maybe not so hydrogenated/made-for-masses?)?

[thecupcakegal]

http://www.thegridto.com/blog-post/fo...

Looks like its an official go! Can't wait to try when they open!

[kwass]

Wow!! Thank you for that cupcakegal. So exciting!!

[ylsf]

So the Jelly Modern Donuts event will be at CB2 at Queen/Bathurst on Monday (Feb 18th). Not sure what time though, if I find out more details I will post. Monday is Family Day so I imagine it will be during the day.

[kwass]

Yes. Please let us know if you find out anything. I'd love to go to that!

[justsayn]

Thanks!

[ylsf]

K, it is from 2pm to 5pm officially but I would recommend getting there for the first part of it, and secondly to double check their twitter the day of. Last time they flew in from Calgary the day of and their flight was delayed which pushed back the demo time. The chef and the one owner that was here last time were very friendly. Definitely make your suggestions to them on location, what you think the TO market needs,etc.
Probably a similar format to last night, not a real "formal" demo last time. Oh, and keep an eye out on their twitter in case they do another contest this time around.

[kwass]

Darn...I was hoping it would be earlier in the day, but I'm going to try and make it. And thanks for your suggestions. I'm going to definitely follow them on twitter.

[kwass]

Just went on their website. Do those doughnuts ever look yummy!!

[justsayn]

Kwass, have you made it to The Saint for brunch yet? I went back for brunch after having such a great dinner. I was so happy to hear how greatly the brunch music improved because the food and coffee were all delicious!

The cinnamon sugar donut hole starter came with an espresso chocolate sauce. The donuts are a totally different texture than typical. Hard to describe as they seemed to be some type of batter that was kind of elasticy under the crisp shell. The centre was almost like a pliable dim sum item I once ate. Can't put my finger on it. Anyway, they hit the spot and the sauce was really great!

[kwass]

Haven't been yet, but it's #1 on my list!! Now that they open @ 10 (I'm an early bird), it will be easier for me to make it for Brunch.

[TorontoTuna]

I've been in contact with one of the owners and they took up my suggestion to try their hand at Spudnuts. If they do it right, the rest of the Toronto donut purveyors are in trouble.

[kwass]

I've never had spudnuts. But, if I'm correct, they're doughnuts made from potatoes, right? Why are they so good?

[TorontoTuna]

If a Martian landed in your front yard and you offered him a Martini, how would you reply when he asked you what it tasted like? Once you bite into a Spudnut, you'll get it.

[kwass]

Noted. Can you @ least describe the texture? Is it moist, light, dense? Is it closer to a cake doughnut or a yeast doughnut? There must be some way that you can describe them.

[TorontoTuna]

More like a yeast donut, not much heavier. Think sweet and savoury. The aroma of a hot Spudnut is beyond belief. There's some good recipes on the net, but with mashed spuds, not the potato starch ones.

[kwass]

Sounds so yummy! Thanks TT! Hope they'll be making them, because I can't wait to try them!

I've heard that they'll be opening up in April. Any idea where?

[Ediblethoughts]

Probably not the best donut in Toronto but the chocolate dip at Summerhill Market is quite pleasant.

[teegee1]

Making a good donut should not be rocket science. Some of these 'gourmet' bakeries are making it like it is. Differently flavoured doughs, baked or fried and then decorated. Voila. Should even the most extravagant cost more than $1.50, NO, but if someone is willing to pay $3 for a doughnut....shame on them. Too bad the major supermarkets are no longer making them on-site. Too much trouble and too much mess. That's why they outsource them, like Tims pretty much does does. I wish I could still find the Primrose donuts that used to be sold in some supermarkets. These were the donuts that Ma and Pa restaurants sold in the 60's and 70's before donut shops lined every corner.

[Ediblethoughts]

I keep remembering how in the 80s, there were donuts everywhere and I wasn't even a little interested. It's not until the fresh ones were so hard to find that I got interested. And now, it's just waaay too much of a challenge to find them. Tim Horton's are awful but I wonder if some of the other donut/coffee shows might be better...

[kwass]

Just had a maple bacon doughnut from Emma's Country Kitchen and I have to say that it was fantastic. One of the best doughnuts I've ever had. It wasn't a light doughnut. It was a bit dense, and it wasn't too sweet, although it could have been because of the glaze, and finally the bacon was to die for. Perfect combination of flavours. Puts Rachelle's Maple Bacon doughnuts to shame. You guys have to try them. I also tried the beignets, which were also awesome. Hot out of the fryer and they melted in my mouth. They had a caramel filling, which I wasn't crazy about, so next time I would order them without the filling. This place is a must try for doughnut lovers!!!!!

[kwass]

I also got a cinnamon sugar doughnut from Emma's, which I just tried now, and OMG, it was unbelievable! I'm telling you, Emma's makes some of the best doughnuts in this city!!

I'm actually going to start a new thread, since this one is way too long! So, I'll see you all in the new thread :)

[ylsf]

Sorry for the super last minute notice but today at around 3 15pm (was suppose to be 2pm but plane is late) Jelly Modern Doughnuts from Calgary will be doing a decorating demo at Williams Sonoma in the Eaton Centre . They tweeted that they will have plenty of doughnuts, I don't know if that translates into "free" doughnuts but I will be there regardless :)

[magic]

Please report back! Cool that they are here. I plan on going when next in Calgary.

[kwass]

Darn it! I wish I had known earlier :(

Are they planning on opening a shop here? Is that why they're coming?

[ylsf]

Yeah, they are scouting out locations. They plan to open one in 2013. They sound like they are very open to suggestions. I had a chance to talk to one of the owners and to the head baker. I have to say the samples were pretty tasty (and plentiful.. but I had just one). I got a chance to try some of their other varieties that they flew in from Calgary too and they were quiet good with some interesting flavour combination (the orange one in particular had very "fresh" flavours). They will be back for another event at CB2 in February (he furniture/lifestyle store on Queen). I think it is Feb 18th if I remember correctly. They said it will be a similar type of demo. I will post up here when I find out more details.

Oh, and the head baker said about 80% of their doughnuts are yeast and 20% cake style. The ones they had were not a typical "ring" style. They were more of a "disc" style.

Based on my discussion with the owner/chef this place seems to have figured out how to better keep supplies more consistent. I follow another donut place on twitter (GH) and she is always running out and I don't understand why they just don't plan to make batches all day long and keep the supply there (doesn't seem like they are starting the 2nd/3rd batches at the right time, etc).

[kwass]

Wow! Sounds awesome! It'll be nice to have another quality donut shop in Toronto.

I also follow GH on twitter, and I too can't understand how she's always running out. It's not a very good way to do business.

[TorontoTuna]

"Hello. I am one of the owners of Jelly. Thank you so much for this wonderful idea. I will pass this on to our chef and we will really try to do this." 'This' being putting Spudnuts on the menu. As per her recent email, they plan to open here in April. If none of you have ever tasted a Spudnut...get ready for a lifechanger.

[prima]

I tried a couple different Jelly Modern donuts in Calgary last summer. The shop is cute. I thought the donuts were ok at best. Some similar flavours to the trendy donuts we've already got (maple bacon, etc), some innovative flavours. The actual donut itself, underneath the glaze/frosting, was very ordinary. I've had tastier national chain donuts.

I preferred the much cheaper old school donuts I bought at Red Deer's Gasoline Alley's Donut Mill.

While I appreciate a fresh, well-made, indie, innovative donut, I generally prefer fresh, old school Mom & Pop donut shop-style donuts to a high concept donut.

Sometimes I get the feeling some of the innovative donut shops haven't mastered the art of the basic donut before they jump into the innovative frostings and fillings, and start selling their product.

[kwass]

You know who sells mom and pop style doughnuts? Venezia's on Ossington. I just had a chocolate sprinkle doughnut, which was so simple, but sooo good!!

[prima]

I've tried quite a few of the Portuguese sweets at Venezia, but hadn't tried any donuts. Thanks for the heads up. :-)

[kwass]

Get there early though to ensure that they're fresh.

[ylsf]

Unfortunately they aren't available anymore but I am keeping this in mind for next year's Hanukkah. Just was reading some old articles I had clipped in the Star and came across this one that I thought people would be interested in:

http://www.thestar.com/living/food/ar...

[kwass]

Did you hear that Le Gourmand is selling made-to-order beignets now? But only on the weekends. Unfortunately, I'm never there on the weekend, only during the week. Looks like I might have to make a special trip.

[Chester Eleganté]

justpete, I brought this thread back just for you. If you're a fan of crullers, the best doughnut in town is the Portuguese cinnamon cruller (well, my description of it anyway) at Seara Bakery on Keele. It is the cruller refined, with the insides soft and egg-y and pull-y and none of the gumminess, the outside has just the right amount of soft crunch, and a proper balance of cinnamon sugar all over.

Also, the Elmvale Bakery chocolate glazed cream filled is done well, but it's their eclair that really shines.

[kwass]

OMG! Sounds delicious! They just opened a Seara Bakery in Vaughan. Do all of the locations carry the same products?

[Chester Eleganté]

Ya, they should all carry the same products. It's prolly their version of the malasada, but I'll check next time I go in. Also try the rissois that Magic's always going on about. He loves the chicken and I'm partial to the salt cod especially.

[kwass]

Thanks Chester!

[kwass]

Chester, tell me more about the rissois. I've never heard of rissois before, so I looked it up and it says that they're always filled with shrimp. But obviously, that's not the case. In addition to the chicken and salt cod, what else comprises the filling?

[Chester Eleganté]

Well shrimp is prolly the most popular but there can be other fillings. Seara also makes beef ones along with the shrimp. They composition varies, some are more flour like and some are more like potatoes and eggs. But they're all good. The ones at the Portuguese place in St Lawrence are popular as well.

Here's a thread where he speaks of them, more towards the bottom: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/711555

[magic]

I mentioned that like 2 years ago on another thread!!

Jeez you have a good memory.

Seara Bakery rules.

[kwass]

I'm going to try the cruellers and the malasadas this weekend. So, I will report back! And thank you Elegante for explaining what rissois are.

[Chester Eleganté]

I tried them on your rec, that's why. Recalled you mentioning them several times. kwass, the crullers and malasadas should be the same thing. Try going earlier for fresher products.

[magic]

I did. Glad you liked, even if it was a different variety. As long as you found joy.

I still love the chicken and beef ones.

Great baked goods.

(and yes, that Portuguese place in SLM does make great chicken rissois)

[Chester Eleganté]

Oh, they were all good, but my chicken one was on the dry side. White meat and all that, y'know?

kwass - there are many variations on the malasada, so it looks like this is theirs. It's still a doughnut ball of sorts sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar.

[magic]

Oh that's too bad, I never found them dry. Quite the opposite actually.

Some hot sauce might solve that issue. Grace hot sauce and rissois. Now there's a match made in heaven.

[kwass]

Ok. Good to know. Thanks Chester

[kwass]

Will do!! Are you sure they're the same thing though? Because your description of the crueller sounds different than the description of a malasadas, which is described as a deep fried yeast dough ball sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar (I looked it up).

[kwass]

Well, I tried the crullers today, as well as the malasadas. The crullers were exactly as you described them...eggy on the inside and crispy on the outside...quite yummy. I also tried the malasada, which was delish as well...not your typical doughnut, but very good all the same!!

[Chester Eleganté]

Ok you're right, the larger denser flat yeast one is the malasada, and the 'cruller' that they call small malasadas are sonhos, aka dreams in Portuguese. You can find both mentioned here in this compendium:
http://sweets.seriouseats.com/2012/02...

This time when I tried the sonhos, they were too wet/eggy in comparison. Still good though. Did you try any rissois?

Epi's raised jelly has improved for me, a deeper golden on the outside, just right inside, and less jam so it no longer overwhelms it.

[Chester Eleganté]

pic

[kwass]

I love Epi's donuts. But I prefer the plain donuts to the filled donuts.

And no, I didn't try the rissois, but they are definitely on my list. In your opinion Chester, do you find the malasadas to be more like a cinnamon sugar danish than a donut?

BTW, great picture of the sonhos!

[Chester Eleganté]

Ya I rather it have less jam so I could just get the plain.

Right, the way they are shaped and textured is less like a doughnut, maybe a danish as you suggest. So it was a bit odd at first, but it grew on me. Thanks.

[Ediblethoughts]

Exactly. Overwhelmingly too much raspberry filling. Otherwise very tasty. I like rapberry donuts too so I always buy them and always think... should use half of this on toast..

[kwass]

Funny!

[Ediblethoughts]

So silly question: Elmvale Bakery is in... Elmvale, right? (I've never actually heard of Elmvale before I just googled that bakery...)

[Chester Eleganté]

Yaa...it's real far.

[julesrules]

And you want to get there early to get the donuts :) However, it could be part of a road trip to Mad Michael's BBQ towards Midland!
I am official over Rachel's donuts as sold at Sam James PATH, sadly. I've gone back and forth a bit on this, but the second cruller I got tasted too much of the fryer and was also slighly cold, making me suspicious it wasn't fresh but perhaps frozen. And today I got another chocolate donut. It was taller than I remember, but also had a very chewy texture, making me wonder if she is still experimenting with her recipes. But I find the product inconsistent and in the end not worth the $3.

[kwass]

I've been over Rachel's for a while now. Welcome to the club :)

[ylsf]

New place has opened on the Danforth...

http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/pla...

Doesn't look that great to me (as commenters have mentioned)... If anyone tries it (maybe a more plain one would be decent?) please report back.

[magic]

Yugh. These don't look that nice.

[justsayn]

Could be a record...

[kwass]

I agree with Magic. They don't look very appealing!

[magic]

A wrapped Kinder surprise on a donut? Is this suppose to make it taste good??! Or simply be a precictable gimmicK? A gimmick that doesn't even make sense.

And yes, sign me up for GD pretzels on a donut.

Friggin gross.

[kwass]

We're completely on the same page Magic!!

[magic]

Yay!! : )

[kwass]

;)

[Crispier Crouton]

I don't think any other page exists in this case.

[ylsf]

What was funny was the comment on BlogTO that this place could be a "front"...

What gets me is two whole strips of bacon (that don't look like they are candied at all) on that one donut!

[Yongeman]

Haha...me too, ylsf. I wanted to plop a sunny-side-up egg on it.

[pakmode]

The comments on BlogTO made me laugh as well. Too funny..

I have been by this Planet Donut location a few times, as it's directly across from Madina Mosque (and a few doors down from Makkah Restaurant). I honestly thought it was another in a litany of restaurant attempts by the local Gujrati/Indian/Bengali/Pakistani population. So I never gave credence to it.

That location is cursed. It has been every type of restaurant under the sun the past few years. Chester Fried Chicken, Shawarma, Samosa/Fried Food place, Indian takeout, Cheap Pizza shop. You name it - it's been it.
Guess we can now add Doughnut Shop to that list.
Anyways, I will try it out and not cast judgement until then.
But it does look kind of ghetto and this 'gourmet' doughnut shop is a few blocks east of where it would be justified charging these prices.

[magic]

Drove by Planet Donut today.

Seemed all closed up.

[julesrules]

Yes I live in the area and it hasn't seemed open recently. But I'm not exactly knocking down the door.

[magic]

Yeah, nor would I.

[kwass]

Haven't tried them yet, but apparently Emma's Country Kitchen is now serving doughnuts on the weekend. Also, apparently le Gourmand is going to start serving doughnuts.

[ylsf]

Vanilla Cruellers on special today at Glory Hole (November 8th) - http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid... Looks interesting for $2

Between last night and today I had 3 mini donuts from Paulettes. They were at What On the Table last night. I really want to like their donuts but I found them all overly sweet. They had a blueberry balsamic, candy apple and banana coconut I think...

[kwass]

My favourite @ Paulette's are the "original" which are just plain simple cake doughnuts...absolutely delish, and the Pumpkin doughnut, which is out of this world. Unfortunately, however, it's seasonal.

ylsf, maybe you should give the "original" a try, if you find the other doughnuts too sweet.

[ylsf]

Will keep that in mind for next time. Usually when they do these events it seems like they bring out the super sweet flavours. I had one of their donut holes at the last The Stop event (who am I kidding, I had a few) before they opened up their location and I did enjoy those much better (just spiced holes, no glaze).

[kwass]

The holes sound like their "original" flavour. It has a nice spiced flavour, and not sweet at all. If you like simple, IMO it's one of the best doughnuts out there.

[ylsf]

Had a chocolate glazed donut from Hey Bakery on Roncy (I wont' spell it out because I don't know how to :) ) ... It was very DENSE, not light/airy at all. Not my preferred style. Was $3.50 total.

[ylsf]

Tonight is "battle doughnut" at 86d (The Drake Monday nights):

http://www.thedrakehotel.ca/happening...

The battle for the crispy creamy crown begins tonight. Watch the doughboys from Glory Hole Doughnuts, Dough by Rachelle, the Sweet Escape + Paulette's + more battle for the best of this all-American treat - the Ultimate Donut.

[kwass]

Who do you think will win? My vote goes to Paulette.

[jlunar]

.... dammit. I'm sick and not downtown!! I would have gone to this...

[pakmode]

This seems pretty cool. Anybody going?

[ylsf]

I didn't go but curious to hear about how it went if anyone did go. The only 86D challenge I went to was the prosciutto one. Bought food/drink at the drake but got to sample all of the prosciutto for free. Based on twitter it looks like full size donuts so not sure how it is all working out tonight.

[jlunar]

Oof. Whole donuts!? I mean, I sort of understand, but how to eat it all...!?

[ylsf]

Good call kwass : As posted on twitter, the winner --http://twitter.com/Paulettesorig/stat...

Thought originally they were whole donuts based on Glory Holes post but looking at these ones I am not sure anymore, hard to tell the scale.

Was Paulette's the only cake donuts?

[kwass]

Wow! I'm not surprised. Paulette's rocks. For those of you who haven't tried her donuts yet, run, don't walk.

And to answer your question, given who was in the competition, I think Paulette's were the only cake donuts.

[julesrules]

They didn't do much for me :)
I got 6 flavours, all the encased in glaze types. My feeling is that with all the glaze the freshness & fryer goodness of the donut is moot. I will go back to try the sugar types and donut holes next time.
Thought the flavours were just okay. Banana Coconut Cream Pie was my surprise favourite but they should drop "cream pie" from the name because that sets up a false expectation of creaminess. But the banana flavour was there, unlike the pumpkin pie which just tasted of spice. The peppermint patty just made me want a plain chocolate glaze - they could do a good job of that with the good quality chocolate they are using but the addition of mint oil was just meh for me. Another fave was the maple walnut 5-spice, but again, I think a plain maple glaze would be great.

[Yongeman]

Interesting post on Glory Hole's FB this morning in response to a "Did you win?" question:
'Glory Hole Doughnuts Naw.....we were all allowed to bring people to the event...Paulette's crew out numbered everyone elses crew...oh well'

Not exactly an even playing field, I suppose...or sour grapes??

[kwass]

Sounds like sour grapes to me

[ylsf]

They all "tweeted" out that they were going to be there too... I can totally see fans showing up of each person. Regardless, not exactly like they could do a blind taste test as anyone who ate a Paulettes would know right away it was theirs.

I am more curious who won out between Rachelle's and Glory Hole. I forget in the past if they announced the runner's up.

[pakmode]

I couldn't make it out, but dammit I wish I did.

[LemonLauren]

I went to the 86d Doughnut Battle at the Drake.

As an 86d regular it was kind of crazy because the Drake double-booked and had a corporate event in the Lounge space until 8:!5, at which time the bakers/86ders (foodie hipsters and blogger types) also descended in to the space.

They finally brought out the plated doughnuts by 9pm I think?

Paulette's - wild blueberry balsamic
I don't like cake donuts but mercy, I loved these. The jam-blueberry part was so tart with the added balsamic but the cake sweetness evened it out. I'd go back for these even after being previously dissappointed with Paulette's

Glory Hole - butter and toast
Also pretty exciting - the whipped buter topping with the barely sweet crumbled toast was really nice and the yeast doughnut was fluffy and yummy. Not full-sized fyi.

Dough - maple bacon
These were like mini-eclairs. Predictable that Rachelle would make these, and they are yummy. I love tasting the real maple syrup in them, not too sweet. But also, nothing we haven't seen/tasted for a while now.

Sweet Escapes - pumpkin pie eclairs
These were great! The topping had a nice pumpkin spice flavour and the eclair part inside had a smooth pumpkin-y texture that I really liked. I have always thought Michelle makes some the city's most under-rated sweets but hey, she's a friend.

Bestellen - bear claws with whisky icing
These were the least consistent of the night (yes, I tried more than one). Some were not properly risen and others were burnt. They tasted like they had potential though!

[ylsf]

Made it to San Remo this afternoon. Unfortunately they were sold out of the apple fritters that people talk about so highly so I went for a lemon filled donut. It was pretty tasty! Definitely a good deal at 99 cents with tax. I also had a veal sandwich there which was pretty good for $6.00 but I was surprised the porchetta sandwich was priced at $7.99!

[petek]

You gotta go to San Remo real eary to snag those delicious fritters,like as soon as they open.
So worth it if you can swing it..

[Yongeman]

I usually call and reserve a dozen. They do bake lots of them, but they're delicious and do tend to evaporate.

[kwass]

I'm always there by 9 am @ the latest and I've never had a problem. To echo everyone else, get there early. If you can't call ahead and place an order. They'll hold the order for you until you get there.

[ylsf]

Fancy Franks (a new "hot dog" place on College) is awaiting a conveyor style doughnut machine to be delivered (held up at customs). Mention of it in this BlogTO write up about them:
http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/fan...

[kwass]

How exciting!!

[ylsf]

I was in St. Catharines last night and passed by the Zehr's in the Penn Centre so I decided to stop in to check out the "doughnut" options before a movie. They had a pretty good selection. They all said "baked fresh twice daily". I ended up getting an Apple Fritter . Enjoyed it, and cheap at 90 cents. The other donuts looked good and I saw the "croissant donut" that people mentioned here too.

[kwass]

Surprisingly, Zehr's really does make really decent apple fritters.

[pakmode]

Good stuff ylsf. Next time you'll have to try the crossant donut lol.

[autopi]

recently had some very fine doughnuts at pangaea -- lightly citrus, ricotta filling, went very well with what the orange cardamom "shake" served in a tall glass next to the doughnuts. at $8 for the dessert, it's actually a better deal than the new dedicated doughnut places.

[julesrules]

Did you go for dessert only, or did you have dinner too?

[autopi]

dinner, too; fish and some oysters. nicely done (would have appreciated some more detail on the oysters, as in which was which), but the doughnuts were the best part of the meal for sure.

[julesrules]

Yeah, Toronto Life featured a lot of fancy-restaurant-dessert donuts that sounded great. But a $3 donut is much more my speed than a $100 dinner. I have had donut dessert at Rodney's By Bay (just okay - desserts are not their forte) and somewhere on Queen West we went after dinner elsewhere (those were pretty good but I can't remember the restaurant). The Pangea ones sound great and you're right, $8 for a great composed dessert is quite reasonable.

[kwass]

I went to Paulette's today and I must say that in my opinion, between Glory Hole, Rachelle's and Paulette's, Paulette's wins hands down. Her doughnuts are simple but faultless. They are a cake doughnut, as opposed to a yeast doughnut. Crispy on the outside, and soft on the inside. Each doughnut was 6 or 7 bites of pure deliciousness. I tried the original, which was just a plain cake doughnut, the Nutmeg and Sugar, and the Pumpkin, and they were all divine. Even if I tried, I wouldn't be able to come up with one negative thing to say about any of them.

One of the biggest difference between Paulette's doughnuts and Glory Hole, is that Glory Hole doughnuts are over the top. As I've said previously, something that every doughnut lover should try once, but not something you could eat regularly. Whereas, Paulette's makes a doughnut that you could eat every day (if so inclined). As for Rachelle's, in my opinion, her doughnuts don't compare to either of these.

[ylsf]

Rachelle's donuts will now be at Sam James Harbord and PATH locations on Thursdays starting tomorrow.

(and still on the weekends at SJ Harbord). Found out from Rachelle that Sanagans Meat Locker is currently just carrying the Maple Bacon ones.

[justsayn]

And still Beast back door starting at 8. Tomorrow's backdoor flavours are maple bacon, double chocolate, apple fritter, pumpkin pie and berry glazed.

[ylsf]

yeah, I missed the obvious one :)

[justsayn]

No worries...just that I did a double taking wondering if she closed beast in favour of SJ. I have a shopping list for the morning ; )

[julesrules]

I am SO GRATEFUL for this tip... finally some fancy yeast donuts I can get at!
Stopped by SJ in the PATH today and will probably make it a weekly treat. I got the brown butter glazed. Very nice yeast donut and the glaze has the stated (delish) flavour + the sugar rush ya look for in a donut.. The shop is a little out of my way so I hadn't been a regular but I will be going more often - it's a coffee/donut win/win and Sam is working hard there.

[ylsf]

Some of you seem like you would do really well at a "doughnut eating" competition :) Gloryhole is considering doing one. Here is a fb link where she says to e-mail her if you are interested:

http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php...

[Main334]

I would love to take part in a doughnut eating contest. Just not gloryholes doughnuts

[ylsf]

I bought a Rachelle "pumpkin pie" donut at TUM yesterday and had it for breakfast this morning. Was pretty tasty even the day after (stored it in the fridge, took it out 10 minutes before eating). Only issue was that the icing came off against the bag. Would have been nice to have a better container for takeout.

[jlunar]

Did you see The Homer? Perfectly-coloured sprinkles on a black currant icing. I liked the pumpkin pie one better, but couldn’t resist snagging one – it was too awesome not to buy.

http://www.foodpr0n.com/2012/10/01/si...

Also, I had the same issue with my icing on the pumpkin as you did, but it didn't stop me from scraping it all off. It was boozy-good.

[hungryabbey]

was i missing something? i didnt find any of the doughnuts that good..
the bacon didnt have enough smokey bacon savoury flavour, the homer was good but the doughnut itself was lacking some flavour (maybe more nutmeg), the pumpkin pie didnt have any spice, it tasted like canned pumpkin rather than pumpkin pie. I was so disappointed because I am obsessed with yeast doughnuts- All of my friends agreed they were just meh.

[jlunar]

I still like Little Nicky's donuts better - just the style and freshness can't be beat for me.

I just really liked The Homer as a look/concept, but the taste of the pumpkin pie one better - maybe just the icing on that one, really. The best donut I had from Dough Toronto was her apple & herb (I forget - thyme? rosemary?) fritter, but the one at TUMwas only okay.

[TorontoTips]

For me, I just haven't loved the 'boutique' donuts I've tried, and the price is just silly. Coffee and donuts are high-margin items to begin with, no need to go crazy.
Apple fritters and yeast-raised donuts, I LOVE San Remo, as mentioned, and for cake donuts?
This will raise some eyebrows, I know, but for the cherry-cake crullers, walnut crullers, and chocolate-glazed cake donuts, I keep ending up at... wait for it... Coffee Time!
Still often made fresh and in-store, but sadly a hugely inconsistent product from store-to-store, depending on the specific franchisee, but Coffee Time just annihilates Timmys and anywhere else I've tried for the cake-style donuts. And some stores make a darn good real-cream-filled eclair too :-)

[petek]

I'm gonna have to agree with you there TT.Big Coffee Time fan here(the coffee is way better than Tims as well)I was devastated when my local(Eg & Or Parkway) C.T closed it's doors :(

[Brain of J]

I noticed the CT at Yonge and Lawrence closed recently too. It was a real mainstay at that corner.

[d. hatlem]

I agree w/ the anti-'boutique' donut schtick here. I'll enjoy one every now and then, just like I will a Boston Creme or Maple donut at Tim's every then and again. But it ain't the same. What we need, however, are not more Coffee Times. Chains aren't the answer, even if CT can whip off a donut every so often that hits the spot. Good old ma and pa donut shops that sell a ton of of donuts, lots of variety, but predictable, not exactly trying the next bacon basil angry or Martha Oprah donut thing.

[kwass]

And I love the boutique donut craze. I just hope more places serving "gourmet donuts" open soon.

[justsayn]

Baker's Dozen on King W had the very best crullers on earth so I am open to trying CT. I don't think I have ever had a donut from them. Which location(s) are you saying is so good and made in-store?

Thanks!

[magic]

I haven't been in many years but the CT at Vic Park/Sheppard always had good, fresh donuts. Not sure if it still the same there.

It was the only CT I've ever seen with very good donuts.

Every other CT I've ever tried has been just terrible.

[kwass]

Just had Little Nicky's doughnuts. Hot out of the fryer. OMG! They are unbeatable. Why doesn't this place get more buzz?

[magic]

Unless you live or work downtown its location is SUPREMELY inconvenient. Feel like paying $6 parking for some donuts? I suspect most people don't.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE their donuts, but to me they are essentially the same as Tiny Toms - but bigger. So, while great, they are something already well known to many and not totally novel or new. Maybe that contributes to their lower visibility??

Again, big fan through.

[kwass]

You're probably right. But it's a shame because people are really missing out! What beats a donut hot out of the fryer!

[magic]

Agreed!!

[ylsf]

For me it has to do with the time they are open. Usually when I am in the area they are closed :(

[jlunar]

Love their donuts. With a capp. They're my fave. Don't bother with the other sugar flavours unless you go often enough. Plain sugar/cinnamon is awesome.

[kwass]

Agreed!

[kwass]

Now we all have to try the doughnuts from Stack and return with a comparison report.

[jlunar]

Stack's were crunchier - more fried, I assume. They were okay, but I preferred Little Nicky's for sure.

[kwass]

Thanks for the report jlunar. Good to know.

[jlunar]

YEP YEP. Here's a photo:

Stack: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jlunar/8007327758/in/photostream
Nicky's: http://www.foodpr0n.com/2011/06/03/li...

And what I wrote on Nicky's:
"A 1/2 dozen donuts, fresh from the machine, from Little Nicky’s Coffee (375 Queen Street West, Toronto). Dusted with sugar and cinnamon, this is a nice treat paired with a cappuccino. These are the only two things I’ve ever ordered from here and I don’t plan on changing that any time soon. There’s something about taking an hour in the morning – reading the paper, doing the crossword, or sketching – accompanied by caffeine and these sugared treats."

[kwass]

Great pictures. Especially the 1st one. Makes me want to go back and get some more.

If ever you do want to branch out, in addition to the doughnuts that I bought this morning, I also bought a piece of banana bread, and it was the best banana bread I've ever had. It was much more like banana cake than it was bread. It was ridiculously fresh and it had this crispy sugary crust on the top. It was like no banana bread/cake I've ever tried before. A definite must-try for anyone who's interested.

[peppermint pate]

Yes, yes and yes! See my post from last week's "best thing you ate today" (7 from the bottom...) - http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/865072

[ylsf]

For anyone doing Nuit Blanche this year and wanting a donut fix, I saw a tweet by Thor (on Bathurst south of King) that they will have Glory Holes donuts starting at 7pm until they sell out.

[ylsf]

On Saturday I went to the open house at the Food Terminal so decided to stop by Dimpflmeier Bakery and picked up two donuts. One cream filled and one strawberry jam filled for a friend.

http://dimpflmeierbakery.com/

Well, turns out she had the same idea and she picked up 2 donuts from Sam James (Rachelle's donuts) - one brown sugar and one apple fritter. We ended up splitting the Rachelle's donuts so I got to try half of each. First time I had those flavours and enjoyed both. I ended up having the Dimpflmeier donut for dinner (yeah, my whole dinner, was so stuffed from the day at the terminal). It was pretty good but there was hardly any filling in it. I asked me friend and she said that her strawberry one wasn't very filled either. Cost was around $1.39 or so.

I see Dennigers's has their plum filled donut on sale this week (until October 2). Was 99 cents on sale vs. around $1.29 or so normally. Anyone tried their donuts?

[kwass]

I went on Sunday, and had one of her apple fritters. And I must admit that they were almost as good as the fritters @ San Remo's.

[Yongeman]

Ha ha! How much was the fritter, kwass?

[kwass]

If I remember correctly it was $3. I bought 2 fritters and a doughnut, and the total came to just under $10 (I'm assuming there was tax).

I've had her apricot fritter from Beast, and it was good but not mind-blowing, so I was pleasantly surprised @ just how good the apple fritters were.

[Yongeman]

Was this apple fritter about the same size as the San Remo ones? If you buy a dozen of San Remo fritters it's, I think, $6.99! That's less than 60 cents each!

[kwass]

They were about the same size as San Remo's. But, there's definitely more value in buying the fritter's from San Remo's. If, however, you can't make it out there, and you're only buying 1 or 2, this is a nice option to have.

[ylsf]

I think at Sam James there is tax "extra" on the donuts where the pricing at the backdoor "includes" tax, so, cheaper to go to the Backdoor.

[kwass]

I'm pretty sure there was tax, because I think it came to $9.73 or some weird number like that.

[kwass]

Went back to San James today for Rachelle's apple fritters, and they weren't nearly as good as they were last week. Upsets me that they aren't consistently good.

Next week I try Paulette's. Will let everyone know how they were.

[jlunar]

Had Rachelle's fritter at the TUM party last night and it was only okay. A previous fritter (different flavour combo) was awesome. Sad on the consistency too.

[julesrules]

I had a Rachelle apple fritter from San James today. The best thing about it was the texture, just a little chewy/crisp on the outside, very light on the inside. A subtle improvement over a typical donut shop apple fritter. However, there was not nearly enough apple and nothing special about the flavour otherwise. And at $5.60 for a small coffee and donut, probably not worth it to me again. I hope they mix up the flavours available at the PATH location a bit because I only have the chocolate left to try!

[kwass]

I agree with you about the texture, the crispiness on the outside in contrast to the softness on the inside is what made me say in an earlier post that they were almost comparable to San Remo's.

[ylsf]

Rachelle's donuts will now be at Sanagans Meat Locker (in Kensington) on Saturday morning. Not sure if just "maple bacon" as mentioned in the tweet or a variety of flavours. From twitter:
--------
@sanagans meat locker + maple-bacon #donuts together at last... Everything is right with the world! Starting this Saturday morning.
----------

[kwass]

They're also going to be @ 298 Harbord Street, Saturdays and Sundays

[ylsf]

What is located at 298 Harbord? I know that St. James at 297 is serving them. Was that a typo in your message or is there another place beside St. James? (297 harbord was mentioned already earlier in this thread).

[kwass]

Sorry...my mistake. You're right, it's 297 Harbord. And I forgot that it was mentioned earlier in the thread...oops!!

[ylsf]

I made my own mistake. I said "St. James" instead of Sam James for some reason!

[themiguel]

Does Rachelle still sell them out of Beast on Thursdays?

[kwass]

Yes. She does.

[ylsf]

For those Krispy Kreme fans, you can get a free donuts by "talking like a pirate" today (September 19th) for Pirate day. Or, if you dress up in a FULL pirate outfit you can get a dozen :

http://forums.redflagdeals.com/free-d...

[air621]

Since writing about Epi Breads, I've tried both Glory Hole and Paulette's. I found GH to be way too sweet. I just wasn't crazy about them, as I was hoping I would be. They don't stand up to my measuring stick, The Doughnut Plant in NYC. However, I tried Paulette's a few weeks ago. I bought 4 different donuts for the family to try. I got cinnamon latte, chocolate pretzel, vanilla bean nutmeg and coconut banana cream pie. They also gave us a couple maple sugar donut holes. The unanimous favourites were the cinnamon latte and the banana cream pie. As well, the straight up maple sugar dots were great. I went back on the weekend and grabbed 2 cinnamon and 2 banana. I think they're the best donuts in the city. The glaze on that cinnamon latte donut is superb.
I also tried the coffee and it tasted just slightly better than Tim Horton's. I won't make that mistake again

[kwass]

Thanks for the report. Paulette's is next on my list.

[thecupcakegal]

My measuring stick is also Doughnut Plant as well! (I still have dreams about theirs). What's weird is that I had the complete opposite reaction to GH and Paulette's. TO be fair, I generally am more of a fan of yeast and not cake doughnuts.

GH: I had the Butter & Toast - absolutely lovely. My bestie had the beer one (limited ed) and she only thought it was ok.

Paulettes: Had the Balsamic and the Yuzu. Liked the Yuzu but thought the Balsamic wasn't worth all the hype. Also, did not really like their fried chicken. Dunno if that may have affected my doughnut judgment!

**Also tried STACK's - I work in the area at a particular tea store chain ;) and they brought in a box of them free for us - the smores kind. Pretty dang amazing, especially when they were super fresh. Not blow your mind a la Tiny Toms, but hey, this was a lot closer!

[kwass]

I would love to try Doughnut Plant. The next time someone I know goes to NYC, I'm going to make them bring me back a dozen.

I wasn't a giant fan of GH @ first either, but they grow on you. As I've mentioned in previous posts, the Banana Cream @ GH is off the hook!!

As for Paulette's, I'm a fan of the plain and the pumpkin (which they only have @ Thanksgiving).

I've heard about the d-nuts @ Stack. They're on my list to try.

You also have to try the doughnuts from Emma's Country Kitchen (sorry if I'm repeating myself). The maple-bacon are sooooo good!!

[wahoooob]

Umm yay doughnuts! I posted a separate thread on general recs', and then saw this: are any of these places near downtown (Eaton Center/Sun Life building)?

[ylsf]

Rachelle's donuts are going to be carried on the weekends only at Sam James on Harbord (297 Harbord) according to her twitter. Starting this Saturday. I wonder how quickly they will sell out.

[kwass]

Wow! Good to know. I'd love to give her donuts another try.

[Main334]

That's a little surprising seeing that paulette's carry's sam james coffee and sam stocks delica's pastries

[kwass]

I just tweeted Rachelle to find out what time she'll be delivering the donuts. I'll let you all know once I hear back from her...not you though ylsf, since you're already following her on twitter (lol)

[kwass]

Just found out that they're delivered by 9 am both Saturday and Sunday. Apparently, they sell out quickly. I Didn't get a chance to go today, but I'm going to swing by next weekend.

[kwass]

Thanks so much for letting us know ylsf!

[jlunar]

You guys are hilarious - I could only breeze through the dialogue up there. Warning: I'm not a connoisseur, but here are my thoughts:

- DoughTO's (Rachelle) fritter (I had a lemon/herby one) was really quite tasty. Would get again. May do so tomorrow! Gotta verify if it is still as tasty as last time. QA and all that.
- STACK's are small and fried. Cake donuts, if I'm not mistaken.
- I really like Little Nicky's donuts. Better than Tiny Tom's some how.
- GHole's are only okay - nice, but $$$. No stand-outs for me.
- PEC donuts (TorontoJo mentioned) are cakey and tasty. Worth repeat eats.

I have yet to try Paulette's and I thought The Depanneur had another girl doing donuts for them too...

[kwass]

-I agree with you jlunar that Little Nicky's donuts are really good, and yes, although the same as Tiny Tom's, way better
-As I mentioned earlier, I also think that GHole was just okay, and not worth the $$
-Still have to try Stack's
-And wasn't a fan of Rachelle's donuts...I didn't think they had the "wow" factor, which is what I was expecting. I think that San Remo's Fritters are, without a doubt, superior to hers

[Yongeman]

Re: San Remo's apple fritters--It's really out of the way for me to go and get them, but at $7.00 for a DOZEN of these tasty treats which are being discussed in the same conversation as the $3.00 'boutique' doughnuts, it's well worth the trip to South Etobicoke.

[kwass]

It's out of the way for me too. But every once in a while, I make the trip. And it IS definitely worth the trip.

[jlunar]

must. make. trip.

[kwass]

You'll be glad you did!

[ylsf]

Looks like this post is being used to talk about "southern ontario" donut spots. I was passing by Paris ontario and tried the apple fritter for a second time at Brown Dog Caffe (they have other locations including in Waterdown). Picture was posted above.

On my way back to the car I noticed "Paris Bakery" and went in to see what they had... And I noticed donuts, so I figured I would give them a go since they said they were made in house.

Coconut cream and Maple Bacon. They had a variety of donuts including apple fritters as well.

I wasn't a fan of the Maple Bacon topping.. Too sweet. I have had various maple bacon donuts before but just didn't like the bacon or the maple on this one for some reason (not candied enough bacon, but, the frosting was too sweet). The Coconut Cream donut was good though and I am curious about all of the other flavours (they had a cinnamon twist, etc). Looked like they were mainly yeast donuts (I guess with the exception of the fritter based on how those are made normally). They were only $1 each too which sure beats $4 for a donut in Toronto. Having said that, taste wise, I did prefer the Ghole and Rachelle's donuts taste wise.

[callitasicit]

I don't remember if I weighed in here but I still love Krispy Kreme's doughnuts.

[magic]

As do I.

[Full tummy]

But only the signature glazed.

[callitasicit]

I think I am alone in thinking that the glazed creme filled ones are the best.

[GoodGravy]

KK vanilla cream filled are the best sugar bombs ever. Goes great w/ unsweetened coffee.

[kwass]

I can't help but agree with you all!!

[justsayn]

Rachelle's donut flavours tomorrow (thurs) morning beginning at 8am are:
Bacon maple
Double chocolate
Cherry pie
Apple fritter
Brown butter glaze

They go fast and will probably be completely gone by 9am. Silly I know but if you ask anyone in my office, these donuts are worth the inconvenience!

[magic]

This fancy donuts craze is great and all but also profoundly boring. They all revolve around RAISED donuts. Very happy there are these young hardworking upstarts helping to revive donuts, but.....

Where are the cake donuts?!?!?! That's what I want.

Everyone and their sister makes raised donuts with maple and bacon. Yawn.

Give me a simple, old fashioned cake donut with white icing and colourful sprinkles for chrissake.

[justsayn]

That isnt true about Rachelle's donuts. The fritter is cake based as are the double chocolate and brown butter. She does a mix of both.

[magic]

Well that's good then! But the fritter is cake based?? I'm not sure if I've ever seen a fritter that wasn't raised. In any case......

I stand by my comment.

Most seem to be focused almost entirely on elaborate albeit creative raised donuts or basic cake "template" donuts but with different toppings, drizzles or glazes.

I would like to see old school cake donuts and chocolate cake donuts with simple glazes and old fashioned toppings. Coffee shop donuts if you will. But good.

That market is absolutely being largely ignored in this craze.

[justsayn]

It's expensive to set up shop and just sell "normal" donuts so it is impossible to sell at the expected Horton's price. Therefore bakers need to re-invent and get fancy in order to create a buzz for traffic and create a relatively simple item for which we can trick ourselves into paying $3.50.

A simple cake donut with powered cinnamon sugar is awesome but most won't pay dollars for it!

Isn't Little Nicky's making simple cake donuts?

[magic]

Little Nicky's makes very nice cake donuts but they are of the Tiny Toms variety. Which, don't get me wrong, I love - but I am talking about something different.

I just want a GD chocolate glazed donut man. If it's good, I'll pay what I have to for it. If it's not good, I won't.

It can be done. It's just not being done. I don't believe the economics of it is the reason. They aren't sexy. But so friggin what?! It's what a lot of us love.

They don't all have to be basic, they can be creative too (Doughnut Plant, etc.). My point is that I needs to see some cake donuts in the mix.

Until then, I go to the US to get my fix. Jack Frost in Cleveland here I come!

[kwass]

You know who else makes cake donuts, in the vein of little nicky's and tiny tom's...Uncle Betty

[magic]

And Stack, just up the street from Uncle Betty's.

[kwass]

Yes. I actually just saw that on Blog To. Have you tried them?

[magic]

Not yet, no :)

[kwass]

Well whoever gets there 1st, will have to report back!

[magic]

For sure!!

[ThoughtForFood]

Apple Fritters never have yeast and are always cake/batter based. Look up a recipe, you will be hard pressed to find one with yeast.

[magic]

Every fritter I've ever eaten or seen has had yeast and are raised. They are airy and chewy. They are not cake donuts.

[ThoughtForFood]

What you are eating is an apple donut. Not an apple fritter. You have been misinformed. A fritter does not involve yeast, its batter based. Any apple fritter that has the look of a mass of fried batter with apple chunks in it is most likely a real apple fritter and not a yeasted dough based donut. There is a reason for the ugly shape, it's because it is impossible to form batter. I don't know where you get your fritters from but your taste buds may be playing tricks on you or they have their "fritters" mislabeled. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fritter

[magic]

Also, why aren't donuteers (ha!) only filling raised donuts?!?!

Cake donuts are GREAT filled!!!

Ever had a raspberry jam filled cake donut?!

Heaven.

[justsayn]

Did anybody have Rachelle's cherry pie donut this morn? Was it cake or raised?

[kwass]

Was the fritter cake based? It didn't seem so.

[justsayn]

It's a batter, not yeast, not true cake. I was just wanting to point out that it is not a repurposed yeast raised donut that magic was hating on.

[magic]

I'm not hating on anything. I like raised donuts! But I also like cake donuts.

I hate the fact that cake donuts are inarguably being overlooked at the moment and the focus is on spectacle over comfort. That's all.

[kwass]

That makes sense that they're made from a batter, because they didn't taste like a cake donut.

[autopi]

aren't the donuts at paulette's cake donuts? next time you're in new york, check out doughnut plant; they have plenty of fancy cake donuts.

http://doughnutplant.com

[magic]

They are cake donuts yes. And although I've never tried them they seem to be a standard cake donut but with fancier glazes and such. Which is cool! But I'm talking about something different. Where are the chocolate cake/iced donuts? Where are the cherry cake donuts? Where are the basic glazed donuts? Where are the filled cake donuts? Etc etc.

As it stands now there is almost no one focusing on it in Toronto.

I will def be checking out Doughnut Plant at some point yes.

[kwass]

I'm with you on the cake donuts magic...love them!!! And you're right...hard to find!

[magic]

Thank you kwass!! :)

[justsayn]

Most of us can surely agree they are great and hard to find!! But unfortuntely there is a reason for that.

[magic]

The reason is that Toronto is too fancypants sometimes. And I say that with love! I'm born and raised here and I even I can see that. We love grace over quality sometimes.

You go to the US, and you see cake donuts far more than you see them here.

I think it's a Toronto thing. Maybe even a Canadian thing.

I have hope that will change though.

[pakmode]

Lol. Interesting conversation going on here.

We all have our vices and magic's is cake donuts lol. :)

magic - the best I've had in Ontario are at Global Doughnuts in Sarnia. It's a local chain that is only down to a few stores in that area now.

They do some decent cake doughnuts, obviously plain, glazed, chocolate - but other ones that I particularly enjoy like cherry and orange flavoured. When those are fresh they are unbelievable. They literally melt in your mouth.

[magic]

Yeah I'm apparently an advocate for cake donuts. I can live with that :)

That's a great rec, thanks! I do get out in that direction every now and then so I will for sure stop in at some point. Thanks pakmode. Done!

[Yongeman]

I had 2 fritters when I was in Sarnia last week...one honey, one walnut. Both delicious.

[Main334bag]

Yeast donuts out sell cake donuts 3:1 in both Canada and the U.S.

Magic,it is not possible to fill a cake donut

[magic]

Umm, who cares?

Does that mean they should be unavailable? Also, where did you find such an insane statistic?

Also, if it's not possible to fill a cake donut how is it that I have eaten many?

When I was a was a wee brat I'm pretty sure Primrose Donuts on Bermondsey in Scarborough (are they even around anymore?) made them and sold them packaged en masse.

So don't tell me it can't be done. It has been done.

[Main334bag]

where have you had a filled cake donut?

[magic]

Well, as I said above, Primrose Donuts used to make them. They were a large donut provider in Scarborough along the lines of Annette's (but much better), but like 25 years ago. I'm not sure they operate anymore.

I've also had them at Jack Frost Donuts in Cleveland. They are exquisite.

I'm sure they're available at many more places too, so I'm not sure why you would say it is not possible to make them. That was odd.

[Main334bag]

Interesting Jack Frost's menu online makes no mention of filled cake donuts.

Cake donuts have a texture just as the name implies, like cake. Cake absorbs liquids and semiliquids used as donut fillings. The cake would become saturated with it. Yeast donuts on the other hand, that are normally filled, resist saturation, making them idea for filling.

Perhaps you are cofused about the difference btw a cake and raised yeast donut;)

[magic]

Click here and tell me one more time that cake donuts don't exist:

http://doughnutplant.com/menu/

[magic]

As a total aside Doughnut Plant's website seems to suck now. It used to be so good! What a mess it has become.

Again, that's an aside.

[Main334bag]

I can admit when I'm wrong and I guess I'm wrong. Still I'm a little shocked

[magic]

Nevertheless.

Welcome to Chowhound!

;)

[food face]

Snap Magic. Good link. Good info. You really stand by your stuff.

[pakmode]

Good stuff Yongeman!

I forgot about walnut! That's a good flavour too.

magic - for the record, I think they bring out fresh batches at 7AM and 4PM. Could always google them and call to make sure.

[magic]

Next time I am out that way I will for sure. Awesome!

[pakmode]

magic - The only other rec I can remember is Saunders Bakery in Georgetown. They make cake donuts but sell out early - as an fyi, they also use lard/animal products in a few of their products as well.

[magic]

Yes, I've heard of Saunders but given that they sell out early I'm not sure if I'm up for making that trek. But thanks pakmode, I appreciate it.

I tried Claudia's on Browns Line and was unimpressed to say the least.

[kwfoodiewannabe]

Pakmode... I am a regular Zehr's shopper here in K-dub (but not a real donut aficionado)
I have never had a Zehr's donut, but I find most of their baked goods "just ok" (supermarket quality?)
What donut do I want to try?
Also, Re: apple fritters, the best locally are in St. Jacobs, IMO, if you can handle the crowd of tourists...

[magic]

Those St. Jacobs apple fritters are outstanding. Anyone within driving distance should try them.

[pakmode]

In terms of the 'apple fritters' that are sold at St. Jacobs - I find they are actually more of a Dutch apple pancake then a doughnut. It's deep fried pancake batter, served with maple syrup - and they're good, but a different style to the traditional Ontario apple fritters we know of. If you like that style - I would heartily recommend you try out Brown Dog Coffee Shoppe . They make a very good version of this as well, fresh to order. Website: http://www.browndogcoffeeshoppe.com/l...

The Paris location is actually beautiful as it overlooks the Grand River- would beat the snot out of any cafe view in Toronto.

In terms of Zehr's - every location is unique. Most of their baked goods are now brought in from Toronto (baked by the mega-bakeries that the Weston's own, which makes financial sense since Zehr's is a Loblaws subsidiary) . They obviously suck compared to yesteryear when pretty much everything was baked in-house.

Their doughnuts are still prepared in-house though. My favourites are apple fritter, chocolate dip, and chocolate covered or glazed croissant doughnuts. Those are diabetes in a box though.

[magic]

Agreed about the St. Jacobs fritters. They are not fritters in the traditional sense we are used to, they are their own thing entirely. And they're delicious!

[magic]

It's too bad Loblaws/Zahrs makes crappy, or at least crappier than before, donuts. Every time I go out west I enjoy Safeway's raised donuts, which are fabulous. So it CAN be done in big grocery chains. Are you listening Loblaws? Probably not.

[kwfoodiewannabe]

Thanks for the tip!
I'm heading to Zehr's after work to try one.

[kwass]

The apple fritters @ Zehrs are off the hook!

[julesrules]

Croissant donuts???

[pakmode]

Yea, don't ask lol :)
I think they lightly fry croissants instead of baking them, then dip them in glaze and cover some in chocolate. They are literally liquid sugar. But amazing....

[magic]

They have those at MLG Loblaws too. Probably Queen/Bathurst Loblaws too I'm guessing, as it's nealy identical to MLG location.

[kwass]

They don't have the Zehr's Donuts @ the Queen and Bathurst location. @ least I didn't see them the last time I was there.

[magic]

Ok, I just know they for sure have croissant donut at MLG.

I didn't look to see whether they had the same donut selection at the Queen St. location. Or at least I can't remember.

Maybe I should try this treat! I thought they looked very good but was reluctant due to my subpar donut experience at MLG.

[kwass]

To be honest with you, I didn't even see donuts @ the Queen Street location. Only cupcakes...lots and lots of cupcakes.

[magic]

Yeah they might not have had any. I honestly can't remember.

But for sure MLG!

[kwass]

Yes. I've seen them @ MLG.

[pakmode]

I haven't seen donuts at the Queen and Bathurst Loblaws location - but given your bad experience with the MLG store maybe let me try one of the croissant donuts first. If it's not like the Zehr's one, it's going to suck, and you'll be 0 for 2 at Loblaws. Friends don't let friends go 0 for 2. Alot of the Zehr's don't make them anymore either - haven't seen them in Bolton or Barrie the times I visited there.

[magic]

You rock, I appreciate that!!

[ylsf]

Adding a pic of the Brown Dog Fritter here. I was passing by Paris on the weekend and took a detour to grab one... They are basically a slice of apple with the donut batter around it/fried. It is different then an apple fritter you have at places like Tim Hortons or even other fritters I have had. Delicious though:

[pakmode]

Yea, they're essentially Dutch Apple Pancakes - same as the ones served at St. Jacob's Market.

[GoodGravy]

Cake donuts are the best for dunking in coffee. Reason enough they should be more widely available.

[magic]

Right?!!

[justsayn]

Well done everyone! The demand is clear! So let's hope the donut gods have been reading along and we will get some awesome cake donuts soon!

Walnut fritters and chocolate walnut fritters are often cake based differently than apple fritters are batter based.

The old Bakers Dozen at Techumseth and King used to have an absolutely amazing walnut/chocolate version that came out hot from the fryer at 4pm! I would give anything to have those again. The chocolate was incredible!

[kwass]

Here's to the donut gods!! Time to get busy!!

[pakmode]

I know that feeling....and unfortunately, the closest place to recreate that feeling is 300 kilometres away from Tecumseh and King on London Line in Sarnia. The things literally dissolve in your mouth.

[TorontoJo]

If you're ever on Gerrard East, stop in at Grinder coffee shop and ask for one of the donuts they bring in from Schroedter's Market in Prince Edward County. It's a simple cake donut with cinnamon sugar. They are soooo good. Small and simple, but done really well. The market flash freezes them for Grinder's and they pick up 70 dozen at a time.

[kwass]

Hey magic, did you read the article in the Star today about doughnuts? Apparently, Paulette's doughnuts are cake donuts. They're not simple, or old fashioned, but they are cake doughnuts.

[magic]

Haha, thanks Kwass. I know, yes. I make it my business to know things like this.

In fact I think there was a bit of discussion on that on this thread :)

Just read the article.... thx!

[kwass]

Magic, I love that "you make it your business to know things like this" :)

[magic]

lol, it's true!

[JennaBean]

I tried one of the banana ones this weekend. After two bites I tossed the $3 doughnut in the trash. It tasted like artificial banana flavouring. It was seriously gross. I'm not a big doughnut person but this was just icky!

[teegee1]

Some bakers can't just improve on a classic donut. Instead, they try to gourmetize it. Save that when baking cakes. A donut...deep fried flavoured dough with a variety of fillings or glazes. No need for a Cordon Bleau baking degree. Large and fresh and priced at about a buck. That's it.

[kwass]

Was it from Paulette's JennaBean? If so, I've never had the banana donuts, only the plain, the pumpkin, and the sugar donuts, all of which were fantastic!

But if what you're saying is true, and I'm sure it is, there's nothing worse than artificial banana flavour.

[julesrules]

Oddly the banana cream pie (which should be renamed banana coconut IMO, nothing creamy about it) was my favourite. But it probably did use some kind of extract/flavouring as it would be hard to get much banana flavour into the scant amount of glaze otherwise.
But I'm no great fan of Paulette's, although I should go back and try the fresh plain ones.

[kwass]

The plain ones are really good!! If you're a fan of cake donuts, they're worth trying!

[pakmode]

Just to update this thread.

If you read my past posts, there's no doubt I label Zehr's (a subsidiary of Loblaws) as the most consistent anywhere in southern Ontario. (though their apple fritters are a close second to San Remo)

I was pleasantly surprised that the new Loblaws in Maple Leaf Gardens sells doughnuts as well. And I think they use the same batter/recipe as Zehr's. I tried one yesterday and they were pretty damn good. They had many varieties with all sorts of toppings as well to mimic smores, or turtles, and the gourmet doughnut craze. Priced at $1.29 each this will be my new go-to place when I'm craving a Zehr's doughnut.

[kwass]

I was there a couple of weeks ago and they're definitely the same doughnuts that you would find @ Zehr's, which is so exciting since you can only find Zehr's outside of Toronto.

[julesrules]

Based on our mutual like of the 7-11 donuts I will have to check these out. But let's face it, I probably would have anyway.

[kwass]

You're funny!!

[pakmode]

I think if we started a Doughnut's Anonymous support group - we''d have a full house lol. I've tried to cut back to once or twice a month as a treat only for health reasons. At the end of the day it is fried dough haha.

[kwass]

Fried dough from heaven!!

[julesrules]

Out of curiosity, have you checked out Elmvale Bakery's donuts? Not sure if that counts as Southern Ontario ;)

[pakmode]

No I haven't. If I'm up north I'll definitely try it out.

[julesrules]

You know that a trend (or two) has jumped the shark when 7/11 has sea salt caramel donuts.
That said, I finally succumbed to the advertising and tried their glazed donut, hoping they were aiming for a Krispy Kreme copycat, being a fan of that style. It was similar & pretty tasty. Not quite as yeasty or over the top sweet as KK, which is not a bad thing. Very fresh, soft and pillowy at 7:30 am anyway. Way better than TH and something I will get again when the craving strikes.

[kwass]

I hate to admit it, but I recently tried the donuts @ 7/11 as well, and I was surprised @ just how good they were!

[julesrules]

The plain glazed or the caramel sea salt? I'm pretty sure the latter has to be bad, right? But I may have to try it anyway, purely for research purposes.

[kwass]

I tried the plain glazed. I didn't even see the caramel sea salt.

[julesrules]

They don't look that great tbh. I had a feeling the glazed donuts would be good, glad I'm not the only one who likes them :)

[kwass]

You're definitely not alone!!

[TorontoTips]

Anyone know of any donut joints that ARE crappy coffee shops?

I would love to find a REAL 'donut shop' that still cared enough to make a variety of great donuts, as opposed to a trendy, over-priced joint selling tiny bits of fried dough and sugar with an exotic name for $15.

[pakmode]

Try Claudia's on Browns Line/QEW.

[jlunar]

Not sure if the donuts are great, but there's Donut Factory on Queen East and Pape:

The Donut Factory (101 Pape Avenue, Toronto) makes and fries their donuts on-site. At least, that was the nugget of information I read online that prompted me to enter a place I scurried past almost daily. With a mix of anticipation and trepidation, I stepped into this shop and went back in time.

Donuts, coffee, and candies (and toiletries!) are on offer. Trying to verify the “fried on-site” claim, I peered into the back kitchens and spied large mixers and equipment that looked like it would have been used to fry donuts every morning. Sorry folks, didn’t have the gumption to chit-chat. The donuts? Well, they’re donuts. But obtained with adventure.

There's a shot of the interior: http://www.foodpr0n.com/2011/03/09/to... It's super old-school. With a "smoking" room and old timey clientele.

[Food Tourist]

Donut Factory scares the beejeebers out of me. (All the hard-core Leslieville ungentrified hang out there.) But your post has given me the courage I need for next time...

[jlunar]

Aaaadventure!~!! hehehheheh...

[Big_Shooter_28]

I know it's not Toronto but, Hollywood Donuts in Ajax make a really great donut and it is a truly crappy coffee shop. (it's at Westney and Kingston Rd)

[julesrules]

I really do love the beef bacon donuts from Caplansky's truck at Queen and Dalhousie, weekday lunch hours. They are fried to order and come with maple syrup. They are cake donuts and I detect a little nutmeg and/or cinnamon a la TH old-fashioned, but so much better. Could only be improved by actual bacon ;)

[afong56]

both are not in the gta, but. . .
hank's pastries in port perry does great jam filled donuts, and other decent donuts.
as for apple fritters, there's kawartha wholesale bakery in lindsay, on. they do the old fashioned big fritters with actual chunks of apple

[JesseJensen]

If going to cottage country, Bredins Bakery on the Main Street in Uxbridge (Brock Road) is an old fashioned bakery out of the 60's. Chocolate dip doughtnut and jelly are just like some of us remember from that era. Delish!

[Crispier Crouton]

Sticky Rice Sesame doughnuts at the Korean bakery inside the Galleria supermarket at yonge and steeles. Take 'em home and heat them up and enjoy.

[air621]

My son and I often 'donut hunt', we seek out places that make donuts (that aren't crappy coffee shops) to see who makes the best. So far, Epi Breads are the clear winners. They're donuts are filled, either with pastry cream or raspberry filling. They're pretty awesome.
That being said, and I apologize for talking about another city's food, but I agree with the other. If there was a place like the Doughnut Plant on the Lower East Side in Toronto, they would sell a thousand donuts a day. I fricking love that place. Last trip to NYC, my wife and I ate 5 of them before hoping on the place back home.

[kwass]

I agree with you 100% about the Donuts from Epi. Here are 2 more places to add to your list:
Glory Hole Donuts @ Thor Espresso Bar
Apple Fritters from San Remo Bakery

[Yongeman]

Oh man, I totally agree with you two about the doughnuts from Epi and the apple fritters from San Remo. I am dying to try the Glory Hole varieties. Any hints on where to find them, other than ordering?

[pinstripeprincess]

http://www.gloryholedoughnuts.com/loc...

they are krispy kreme-esque but a bit drier and somewhat less sweet.

[Yongeman]

Thanks psp. So only 2 locations so far...and one of those (Burger Bar on Augusta) only on Saturdays? That's not a lot of distribution yet. The site indicates that their retail location is 'coming soon'. Hope so.
Also, your description doesn't really make me want to go out of my way for them. Or do you see that as a positive, psp?

[pinstripeprincess]

i prefer less sweet. i should have mentioned that with the drier, i think that might be purposeful design. a lot of them have fillings or other soft toppings that end up soaking into the donut so they hold their structure much better by having a drier donut. i only really noticed that with the chicken n' waffles one because that one is glaze, fried chicken bits and waffle shards.

i actually quite like that they are krispy kreme-esque because i don't like cake style donuts. i like mine quite airy and light, which these are... well if not filled.

[justsayn]

Personally I much prefer Bakelabs donuts over G-hole. Drake normally has tasty donuts on the weekend as well.

[kwass]

Where can one fine Bakelabs donuts?

[justsayn]

There are only two spots I know of - Depanneur on College and Coffee and Clothes on Dundas - the former having the larger inventory. G-Hole donuts are decorated and novel while Bakelab donuts rely on awesome flavours and combinations.

I believe Dep only has them on the weekends and you need to go early - not sure about C&C.

[Manybears]

'Coffee and Clothes' a.k.a. 'Lost and Found' at 1255 Dundas St. W, I think?

[justsayn]

LOL - yes thats it! Poorly signed place. Thanks for clarifying.

[kwass]

And where on College is Depanneur?

[justsayn]

http://www.google.ca/#sclient=psy-ab&...

[justsayn]

Apple Fritters from San Remo Bakery !! Amazingly consistent for years and years!

[KhaoSanRoad]

heres another candidate at gabardine: http://bit.ly/rBtX38

[TorontoJo]

How was the stout caramel? I'm intrigued. The creme anglaise on the other hand looks frighteningly yellow. I hope that's just from the photo. :)

[KhaoSanRoad]

sorry, have not been. just wanted to let others know of the option :/

[ylsf]

Are you planning a Thai inspired donut soon? I am glad you are keep us updated on Toronto's donut scene :) Making me really hungry to try some with that last pic!

[KhaoSanRoad]

ha! yeah, if we ever get time to pull our brunch together, donuts will be on it.

[Food Tourist]

Tamarind donuts would rock my world.

[pinstripeprincess]

seems like i should just be posting my twitter feed here.

[KhaoSanRoad]

found another one: maple bacon donuts made fresh for sunday brunch at beast (but go early as they tend to run out)

[justsayn]

it is a good doughnut but the entrees were a let down!

[plug]

Anyone been to the doughnut factory on Queen?

[magic]

The Donut Factory has been chatted about on this thread. Reviews are lukewarm:

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/761894

[ylsf]

Had this donut from their "Po" branded truck brand at the Food Truck Eats. Thought it was tasty.. I haven't been the restaurant yet.

[The Chowhound Team]

Folks, if you've tried Glory Hole Donuts, please do post your opinions about them. If you want to discuss the virtues of the name, that discussion would be better suited to a thread on the Not About Food board.

Thanks!

[julesrules]

I'm going to vote nobody starts that thread. I suspect there are a lot of nice but perhaps older/more sheltered people on chowhound who will find this info TMI and the thread will eventually be removed anyway. I'm enjoying the humour but it's not really topical/appropriate for the board at large IMHO.

[mrdtp]

Glory Hole at Thor.
Went early this morning and scored a Coconut Cream.
Pillowly soft, filled with creamy coconut cream & flakes, topped with a mound of fresh whipped cream & chocolate sprinkle.
$3.25 included FREE cappucinno to celebrate 1st anniversary of Thor.
Went back an hour later to grab another for Brown Eyes and they were sold out down to a couple of varieties.
Dolce de Leche & Hazelnuts will be the treat for tonite.
If it can sit in the kitchen and elude me for a few more hours.
Here's hoping for a permanent Glory Hole location.

[GoodGravy]

Coconut cream you say? I love the coconut cream doughnuts from Doughnut Plant so I'll have to swing by Thor tomorrow morning and hopefully score one. I hope they're as good as my doughnut/coffee combo from Joe in GCT.

[justsayn]

They are pretty darn good....

[justsayn]

Here's hoping for a permanent Glory Hole location.....

....and if so, here's hoping they change their name!

[KhaoSanRoad]

personally i like that you can find a Glory Hole at coffee shops and bars through out TO.

[GoodGravy]

I like the name. It's an inside joke to GTA players and a little naughty to other people. To some it's a lot naughty, but at least it catches your attention and sticks in your mind. I can't wait to read the reviews. "I went to the Glory Hole and stuffed my mouth with creamy goodness."

[justsayn]

There are a million names that "catches your attention and sticks in your mind" without being so fringe and risky and disturbing to some. But if you can't control your hormones, you call it Glory Hole Donuts.

[foodyDudey]

Just to set the record straight, it didn't offend me. I just find it tasteless and not the slightlest bit humorous, even though I'm about the last to complain about something offensive. Glad to see I'm not the only one who thinks there were better choices.

[GoodGravy]

My hormones are under control. So's my sense of humor and my realization that a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. But if you're more offended by the name than the product than I'm glad I won't have to stand behind you to buy a donut or 6. Just sayin'.

[justsayn]

GG - it wasnt your hormones I was speaking of. It was the person who laughed at the idea and then actually went ahead and named his/her company. I would have laughed too, but it wouldn't have made the short list.

I am not offended by it for the record. I tried two flavours that were shared with me and I would have bought it myself and will in the future. I would however be offended to see it up in lights like Tim Hortons.

Standing behind me won't get in your way. lol lol

At that price - 6 would certainly add up!

[GoodGravy]

Glad we got that resolved. Let's go eat donuts and suggest new names like brown starfish or Thor's cream filled balls.

[justsayn]

And at that price - 6 would certainly add up!

[magic]

Damn dude that sounds good. Exactly the kind of donut Toronto needs.

[themiguel]

Would love a head to head comparison with NYC's the Doughnut Plant. If they are even three-quarters as good as that I am ordering some ASAP!

[justsayn]

Never been to Doughnut Plant but my impression of Glory is that there is definitely room for improvement with the batter. For me, I expect the novelty of these doughnuts will wear off but of course it is too early to really know that.....

[themiguel]

I am tired of the cupcake obsession - there is definitely a market out there for some outstanding doughnuts that don't come from an ex-hockey player.

[justsayn]

They have been predicting "gourmet" doughuts in Toronto for well over a year now - the city is definitely ready!

IMO someone just needs to start with fresh doughnuts and they are 3/4 there!

Just give me donuts that have the quality and taste of San Remo fritters and you can have the over-stuffed, over-glazed Glorys.

[Pincus]

I'm going to get there when they open next weekend, optimism made me drop by Saturday afternoon, but realism made me not be too disappointed when they were sold out.

[KhaoSanRoad]

has anyone tried these yet?
http://www.gloryholedoughnuts.com/

available at thor, 416snackbar & burgerbar so far...

[foodyDudey]

I'm not eating any doughnut that is called "glory hole". Are you aware of what that slang term means?

[magic]

I absolutely would.

The name is hysterical.

The donuts look good! Will have to check them out. Thanks KhaoSanRoad!

[Food Tourist]

Yeah it's a risqué double-entendre name but at least they deliver, and the minimum order is 6 (not 6 dozen)!

More damage done by the movie American Pie which changed the innocence of apple pie forever.

[GoodGravy]

Anyone that's played Grand Theft Auto will be familiar with Glory Hole's commercials.

As for doughnuts, I've been bringing a dozen of the "can't get 'em here" doughnuts from Dunkin Donuts whenever I drive up. My in-laws love them and keep wondering why they can't get chocolate cream or bavarian cream doughnuts from TH.

[justsayn]

I think its an ignorant name also. I will try the donut but I will still give them an F for marketing.

Like Fat Bastards Burrito. I know older people who live out there who detest the name and the sign. They won't eat there because of it.

There is a certain maturity that dictates how far to go with a name in order to stand out and in my opinion these guys are immature for Toronto. But again, its just my opinion as a marketer, I will try the donuts.

[julesrules]

Unfortunately the link is blocked by my workplace filter. And now I look like a porn surfer. Who has to work with the IT guys who manage our internet proxy. Great.

[Pincus]

Thanks for sharing, I'll see if I can snag some this Saturday at Bathurst...

[Otonabee]

The Brickworks on Saturdays has a booth that sells fresh (made there!) beignets that they sprinkle with either cinnamon sugar or icing sugar. So good when paired with coffee from the Merchants of Green Coffee!

[justsayn]

Had an awesome peach filled donut today at The Drake!! They can sometimes be greasy, but this batch is perfection!

[kwass]

OMG...that sounds so delicious! I just recently heard that the Drake makes donuts. Are they made every day or just on the weekends?

[justsayn]

It REALLY was good! I only go on the weekends - sorry.

[TorontoTuna]

Best doughnuts I've ever had were spudnuts, which are still sold in the States and are making a big comeback. Made with potato flour, these beautys are lighter and have an amazing texture and taste. If any Chowhounder knows of a place in southern Ontario that still makes these, I'd sure like to know.

[Malcolm Ruthven]

The only place I know of in Canada that makes Spudnuts is Crazy Cakes in Lethbridge, Alberta, not exactly close to southern Ontario. There's more information about Spudnuts at http://spudnutinfo.com .

-----
Crazy Cakes
1102 5 Ave S, Lethbridge, AB T1J 2R5, CA

[acd123]

Best ever are the floaters at Wychwood on Saturday mornings. Crazy addictive. They're fried in coconut oil.

[kwass]

What is Wychwood...and can you tell us more about them?

[tochowchick]

Wychwood Barns Farmer's Market....

Open every Saturday 8 am to noon
Wychwood Barns, 601 Christie St. (at St. Clair)

Lots of mentions on this board...

[kwass]

Cool...Thanks! One more question though, what are floaters?

[acd123]

Those tiny tom type donuts that float down a conveyor type system, like the ones I used to get at the ex when I was a kid. Except these are a much higher end version. And much much better than the tiny toms.

[kwass]

Little Nicky's @ Queen and Peter sell those as well. They are made to order so they're always hot and extremely delicious!

[jlunar]

Love them at Little Nicky's...

[Jocko B]

This may be out of the way for some, but Grandad's Donuts in Hamilton (James North @ Burlington St) has restored the glory that was once Tim Horton. They are Canadian style made fresh on site - Boston Cream is ridiculous and Vanilla Dip is as big as your head. Their coffee beats Hortons as well. A Grandad's donut and a nice coffee chaser on a rainy day will make you weep for the Tim Horton's you remember from your childhood. Be thankful if it is not near your house, because it can do some damage if you ate these all the time.

-----
Grandad's Donuts
211 George St, Dunnville, ON N1A2T5, CA

[heathercheryl]

I was enlightned yesterday about Tim Horton's donuts...they bring them in frozen and spread the toppings on before bringing them out to the racks. This is to keep them standard all the same in every store. What happened to making them onsite...doesn't anyone do this anymore?

[TexSquared]

They haven't been made onsite in years. They're made in Oakville, frozen, then shipped nationwide.

If you want fresh and made onsite go to Krispy Kreme in Mississauga.

[ylsf]

Just for the record, Tim Horton's doesn't have a production facility in Oakville anymore. The converted their warehouses into offices years ago. I think they maybe par-bake the donuts in Cambridge or somewhere now. I am pretty sure they don't have any local warehousing either but a huge multi story warehouse out Cambridge way.

[pakmode]

Actually out of Brantford. They used to have partial ownership in Maidstone Bakeries, but divested out of it earlier this year. You can see the facility off the 403 in Brantford.

[ylsf]

Ah great, thanks for correcting me :) Maybe it was a coffee roasting facilty or something else at the other location I was thinking.

[julesrules]

Another sorta-donut - the Cinnie Mini from Altitude Bakery on Queen East (Leslieville). These taste like yellow cake donuts, but kind of muffin shaped and covered with cinnamon sugar. I'm pretty (but not 100%) sure they are fried rather than baked. I've had a lot of things from this bakery that were disappointingly "off" in some way, but I LOVE the cinnie mini, as does everyone else at the parties where they have been served.

[julesrules]

Not a donut but perhaps a reasonable substitute - the vanilla cream-filled brioche from Brick St. Bakery. I was trying to avoid the Tim Horton's Boston Cremes my co-worker brought in and musing about crappy commerical custard fillings in general (a pet peeve). So I headed over to the PATH Brick St. I'm not totally crazy about a lot of their sweets or pastries but this hit the spot.

[justtasteit]

I read the entries here so far with a heavy heart ... I've eaten at most of these places and was disappointed. I dispaired of finding a good doughnut around here ... until now! There's a new barbeque place on Roncesvalles called Barque. I could go on and on about the amazing food there (and it IS really, really good) but I want to mention the beignets.

Ok, not doughnuts per se but oh my god, these are doughy, sweet fried goodness. The beignets are a good size (about 2 " square) and there are 4 or 5 to an order -- sorry I don't remember, I went into an orgasmic haze while eating ... They are puffy and light but substantial enough to give them substance. They are dusted with cinnamon and sugar. Hot from the kitchen, they do not disappoint. They are served with an orange dipping sauce on the size that I could have lived without -- only because it was a bit bitter. I think they need to work on the sauce a bit.

These are heaven -- definitely check them out. There have been lineups at this place every night of the week since they opened. Good luck to them and hats off for finally bringing Toronto an excellent serving of delicious, fried dough!

[pakmode]

Thought I'd update my go-to list:

In the GTA:

1. San Remo - Royal York/QEW. Hands down the best apple fritters in Southern Ontario. Haven't had their other doughnuts, but after trying an apple fritter the other month, I'm addicted. They seem like they are literally double or triple dipped in glaze.

Their other baked goods, breads and pastries are also excellent.

2. Claudia's Donuts - Brown's Line/QEW.

3. Port Union Bakery.

Honourable mention: The best thing to closely resemble a doughnut without being a doughtnut is the 'Cinnamon Ring' from Select Bakery on Donlands/O'Connor. That thing is seriously amazing. It's like a baklava meets a doughnut. Tastes way better then any Raisin Dutchie out there.

Mini-doughnuts: Little Nicky's. Plain and simple.

Near GTA: Saunder's bakery in Rockwood -halfway between Guelph and Brampton. I just found out though that some of their doughnuts use lard as an ingredient so they're not vegetarian.

SW-Ontario: Zehr's Markets. It's a Loblaws chain, but they still make their own doughnuts in-store, and for the most part are pretty good. Each store is different, and there's some comfort in that. Can never go wrong with their apple fritters or chocolate dips.

Sarnia: Global Donuts. London Line/402. They bake twice a day, and if you happen to be there after they've been freshly baked, you will have died and gone to doughnut heaven. I have never experienced that number of doughnuts that good, that fresh. Cherry blosson, raisin dutchie, etc etc...

[Yongeman]

pakmode, you really ought to give the doughnuts at Epi Bread a try. Only Saturdays (not sure about Fridays and Sundays). It's by no means a doughnut shop, but they are very tasty.

-----
Epi Breads
1526 Bayview Ave, Toronto, ON M4G, CA

[pakmode]

I will definitely try them out soon, thanks Yongeman.

[kwass]

They make their donuts Saturday AND Sunday...and you're right...they are the best donuts ever!!! If you can get them when they're just out of the fryer, you will be lucky enough to be snacking on a little piece of heaven. I get them every single Sunday...haven't missed a week in months.

[Yongeman]

Can't say I blame you, kwass. Which variety is your favourite?

[kwass]

My favourite is the plain, although I like to indulge in the apple cinnamon when they have them, which isn't very often.

[Yongeman]

That's funny...I've only had the raspberry and creme anglaise, both of which are fantastic. I'll have to try the apple cinnamon.

[magic]

Are any of Epi's cake donuts? Or all they all raised yeast donuts? I'm curious.

[Yongeman]

They're yeast doughnuts, magic. I love cake doughnuts too, and I'd usually choose them, but these yeast doughnuts are superb.

[magic]

Thanks Yongeman, I will most certainly be trying them. Cake donuts are my favourite, but these sound special. Look forward to trying them!

[kwass]

The apple cinnamon donuts are really good. They use fresh apples in the filling and cook them down with cinnamon. The donuts are then dusted with cinnamon/sugar

[minto]

I have to say that Epi Bread is my all time favorite for doughnuts.
Love the custard filling one.

[kwass]

Best donuts in Toronto can be found At Epi Breads on Bayview, and Venizia Bakery on Ossington!! Both of these places make unbelievable donuts!!!! If I've posted this already, please forgive me!

-----
Epi Breads
1526 Bayview Ave, Toronto, ON M4G, CA

[mlukan]

Ive been to Venizia on ossington for their donuts via chowhound recommendation. They do not fry fresh everyday. The one I got had to of been days old. I can't in my right mind force myself to go back after that. Much of their baked goods sit there for longer than I think they should.

[kwass]

It's so interesting to hear of your experience there. I go there all the time, and have had nothing but fresh donuts.

[kwass]

I always go first thing in the morning. I wonder if that makes a difference.

[Manybears]

I'm glad I'm not the only one that's had this experience there.

[magic]

Blog.to featured a vegan taco place in Kensington Market called Hot Beans.

The article mentions a Coconut Lime donut made fresh there that looks yummy.

Anyone tried it?

http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/hot...

[pakmode]

I went and tried Hot Beans this weekend.

Extremely disappointed.

For $2 apiece I expect a 'destination doughnut' worthy of wowing the masses, but I was so underwhelmed.

The best part was definitely the frosting. Could taste the lime juice, and it accented the toasted coconut well.

However the actual doughnut itself was pretty bad. Perhaps it was an off day - but the cake doughtnut's exterior did not have the crisp or crunch you would expect from frying. It tasted really spongey.

Anyways, will not go back for the doughnuts - but maybe for the tacos/burritos.

[magic]

Hmm, interesting. Thanks for the report pakmode. Appreciated.

[battenberg]

I tried these "best" doughnuts as well and I was also dissapointed. The dough was too heavy, the lime was over powering.....................the search continues.
Perhaps another drive to the Elmvale Bakery is in order.

[b.craftie]

Went just for the doughnut and Loved It ! I went midday and there were a few dozen waiting to be frosted. The one I had was still a bit warm - very fresh. It was crispy, a bit chewy, and soft [almost custardy] in the centre. The lime was a welcome note in the pleasantly sugary icing and mild coconut provided a slight crunch. Whenever I describe it my mouth waters. Frankly the $2 price tag is the only thing that keeps me from going back more often, which is probably a good thing.

[battenberg]

If you heading out of Toronto Elmvale bakery has amazing doughnuts..............follow the line up

[smartygirl]

not exactly a doughnut, but the sonhos at alcoa have me addicted. they're deep-fried choux-type pastry with cinnamon sugar. yum.

-----
Alcoa Bakery
1147 Davenport Rd, Toronto, ON M6G, CA

[millygirl]

So disappointed last week. Went to Hoof, esp for the damned donuts only to find they only do them on weekends. Almost cried. Truthfully. Very sad.

Instead I had my fix at The Brickworks Saturday market. Just hot outta the fryer. Not quite like Hoof but still good. More like a little apple fritter. Actually very yummy!

[peppermint pate]

Argh, I missed the market this weekend. Who was frying them up there? Was it just a one-off?

[millygirl]

Hey peppermint pate, I unfortunately did not catch the name of these particular vendors but I have noticed them in the past. They are the table situated right beside the crepe guy. They only serve waffles and donuts from what I can gather. Very yummy. Had ours rolled in cinnimon sugar. The apple was nice and gooey, just how I like it.

It was very cold out though. I had thought they were moving indoors this past weekend but were told it's been delayed. Might not happen now until sometime in December. So if you go, dress warm. Unless of course we are lucky to have a day like today :) Although it was nice. They even had a huge fire pit going.