Celebrate National Doughnut Day at these seven sweet spots
National Doughnut Day is Friday, June 3, and so we’ve rounded up seven sweet spots to get your fill of everything from blueberry buttermilk doughnuts to ice-cream stuffed puffs and oversized, sprinkle-topped doughnut cakes.
Baker’s Donuts
Get your Snapchat and Instagram pages ready for the photogenic treats that this family-run shop has been serving up in South Sacramento for over 30 years. Baker’s plan to honor the breakfast dessert’s big day with sweet specials, like $1 for doughnuts coated in cereal like Fruity Pebbles and Cap’n Crunch or $2.75 for their fluffy, layered cronuts. Lines are known to get long in the mornings, so arrive early to score inventive and quirky flavors like the bright orange Thai tea, electric purple ube, red velvet, maple espresso or cookie butter. Mon.-Sat. 4 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sun. 4 a.m. to 5 p.m. 5880 Florin Rd. 392-8466. instagram.com
Danny’s Mini Donuts
For over six years, Sacramento native Danny Johnson has been churning out his bite-sized confections inside his Old Sacramento shop. Watch as each tiny treat is made at the front counter, drizzled with chocolate or vanilla sauce, topped with sprinkles, powdered sugar or cinnamon and ready to eat while still warm. Tip: this Friday June 3, Johnson is offering four mini doughnuts of any flavor for $1 to any customers who enter his shop and say, “Happy National Doughnut Day!” Mon.-Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sun. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. 900 Second St. 498-9255. dannysminidonuts.net
Donut Madness
They scare because they care. This unique shop in Arden-Arcade, which opened in October, conjures horror-themed sweets year-round. Peruse the coffin-shaped doughnut case for uncommon pastries like the Jalapeño Hellraiser (a spicy-sweet fritter with pineapple chunks and jalapeño slices), the Children of the Cornflakes (featuring a mix of peanut butter and cornflake cereal), the Cereal Killer topped with Cap'n Crunch, or the Silence of the Hams with maple frosting laced with two bacon slices. The shop also features a prop guillotine for photo-ops and walls lined with masks of infamous villains. Tuesday through Sunday, 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. 2648 Watt Ave. 481-2350. donutmadness.com
Dr. Bob’s Donuts & Doyos
This Roseville doughnut shop is out to prove that doughnuts can be healthy by whipping up sweet treats that are organic, gluten-free and vegan. For National Doughnut Day, Dr. Bob’s has created a special Bananas Foster Doyo (a doughnut-frozen yogurt combo) with cashew cool whip, chocolate mouse and other toppings like fresh fruit, almonds or vegan chocolate chips. Or, stick to classic choices like the CinnaBob (a vanilla doughnut with raisins, bourbon vanilla glaze, cinnamon hazelnuts) and the Acai Berry with coconut cream, acai chia pudding and agave pumpkin seeds. Made from sprouted grains, superfoods and protein powders, these doughnuts were made for guilt-free munching. Fridays 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Saturdays 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sundays 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. 336 Lincoln St. Roseville. 742-5241. drbobsdonuts.com
Java Time Donuts
If the idea of eating a doughnut as big as your head sounds like your idea of fun, look no further than this popular doughnut shop with two locations in Elk Grove. Go for the menu staples in flavors like cherry napoleon, strawberry cream, M&M or Butterfinger, or try more adventurous choices like giant birthday cake doughnuts decorated in whipped cream and colorful sprinkles, or doughnuts cut into shapes like stars and hearts. Java Time is known for decorating its doughnuts like sundaes and regulars swear by the warm, swirled cinnamon rolls or powdered sugar doughnut holes. Hours vary by location. 684-9696. facebook.com
Marie’s Donuts
Sometimes all you need in life is a good old-fashioned glazed doughnut. For traditionalists craving the classic days of Sacramento’s bakery past, head to this walk-up sweet shop in Land Park, which has been whipping up fried breakfast treats since the 1950s. Regulars rave about the blueberry buttermilk doughnuts, signature apple fritter topped with chunks of warm apple and Marie’s version of a doughnut sandwich with a light whipped cream filling. Open overnight and for a total of 16 hours a day, this classic establishment is the perfect way to satisfy your late night—or early morning—sweet tooth. 11 p.m to 3 p.m. daily. 2950 Freeport Blvd. 444-5245. facebook.com
The Parlor
We scream for doughnut ice cream sandwiches at The Parlor in Arden-Arcade. Battle the heat with Gunther’s ice cream-stuffed “puffs” in a smorgasbord of flavors, like the newly unveiled Shorty Got Cakes (strawberry vanilla ice cream with strawberry and shortcake bits), or the popular Midnight in Paris (coffee and Nutella), cradled and pressed between a warm sliced glazed doughnut. Channel your inner Homer Simpson by adding toppings like mini cookies, Fruit Loops, or gummy bears. Sun.-Wed. 12-10 p.m., Thurs.-Sat. 12-11 p.m. 2620 Fair Oaks Blvd. 977-3997 theparloricecream.com
Sweet Dozen
For a little bit of everything, try the rotating menu at this eight-year-old Carmichael doughnut shop, or catch its mobile cart at the midtown farmers’ market on the first and third Saturdays of the month or at the Market at Power Inn on Fridays. Recent flavors have included strawberry shortcake, old fashioned pistachio and blueberry cake. Plus, don’t miss offbeat treats like the crowd favorite doissant (a croissant doughnut that comes with glaze, powdered sugar or crumb toppings and a choice of custard, raspberry or lemon filling), croissant poppers (cinnamon sugar croissant popovers with cream cheese filling), or malasadas (fried Hawaiian-Portuguese squares with unique fillings like pineapple, guava or coconut). 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily. 5207 Madison Ave. 344-2000. sweetdozen.com
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