Charlotte’s Must-Try Doughnuts

Nearly every part of Crown Town has a bake shop frying sugary rounds that defy willpower—here’s where to go to get your fix in Charlotte.

by Joanne Spataro

If Charlotte could flick on a “Hot Now” sign, then the city’s doughnut scene would keep the neon Krispy Kreme-inspired indicator eternally lit. Be choosy at Duck Donuts’ made-to-order frosting and toppings conveyor belt, or celebrate a special occasion with a doughnut-tiered cake from Suárez Bakery (the stack of three 7-inch doughnuts serves six to eight). Whatever your craving, there’s a doughnut for that.

Suarez Bakery

Park Road Shopping Center’s Suárez Bakery is known for its doughnut-tiered wonder: the Texas Doughnut Cake. Three Texas Doughnuts measuring 7 inches across are held together with vanilla cream for a party pastry to remember.

Photo courtesy of Rise Biscuits Donuts

Your Mom's Donuts

Make your Saturday morning with a stop at one of the Your Mom’s Donuts locations in either Matthews, Park Road Shopping Center or Monroe. These square—yes, square—treats come in flavors such as salted caramel or milk and dark chocolate ganache.

Duck Donuts

Pop into Duck Donuts in Dilworth early for a made-to-order or seasonally inspired round. This addictive eatery, which began as a single shop in Duck, North Carolina, and has grown into a much-loved chain, also dresses doughnuts as sundaes and breakfast sandwiches.

Photo courtesy of Suarez Bakery

SUGAR

With rotating flavors ranging from basic vanilla glaze to Southern banana pudding, the award-winning delights at SUGAR are worth a trip to one of their locations in Ballantyne, Uptown or Waxhaw. Their handmade gourmet doughnuts are rolled, cut and fried in small batches throughout the morning.

Photo courtesy of Sugar Handmade Gourmet Donuts

MJ Donuts

In Pineville, old-school MJ Donuts serves craveable classics: double chocolate cake, buttermilk with sprinkles and cinnamon crumb, plus doughnut holes and apple fritters. Specialties like blueberry cake doughnuts only sweeten the pot.

Reigning Doughnuts

It's fitting that Jamie Brown and Jeff Tonidandel named their doughnut shop Reigning Doughnuts. With Growlers Pourhouse, Crepe Cellar Kitchen and Pub, Haberdish and Reigning Doughnuts all in a row, the couple rules NoDa's main strip. Located behind Growlers, the 11-by-8-foot shop used to be used for storage, but now it houses a doughnut vending machine and a regular menu of freshly baked cake doughnuts. In addition to standards like chocolate and powdered sugar, look for a featured daily flavor, a signature sprinkle mix and Counter Culture organic coffee.