Mmmm, Doughnuts: The 8 Best Doughnuts in Brooklyn
Dulce de Leche doughnut from Dough
We’re big fans of doughnuts around here, because, well, we have taste buds. And lucky for us we’re living in the midst of a whole doughnut renaissance here. It’s like they’re the new cupcakes or something! (Ugh, please forget that we said that. Nothing is the new cupcake.) You can even get an awesome map of the 35 best doughnuts in the city for less than $10. But besides just living in the Dawn of the Doughnuts, today also marks the first night of Chanukah, a holiday that is all about eating fried things. So while, sure, you could gorge yourself on latkes (and you totally should), don’t forget that eating doughnuts (or sufganiyot in Hebrew) is also a legitimate way to celebrate the festival of lights. Which is why, in honor of the eight nights of Chanukah, we figured we’d fill you in on the eight best doughnuts in Brooklyn. L’chaim.
Dulce de Leche from Dough: So here’s the thing: Dulce de leche literally means “candy milk.” It’s only natural that this doughnut—which manages to be both light as air, and insanely decadent—is perfection. Dough does everything well, really, but this is the doughnut of theirs that we have literally had dreams about.
448 Lafayette Avenue, Bed-Stuy
Earl Grey Tea from Dun-Well: With over 200 flavors to choose from, Dun-Well doesn’t make it easy to pick a favorite. But we did! What can we say, we like a challenge? You know what else we like? When the delicate flavors of bergamot and black tea are perfectly translated into a fried dough delicacy, like they are with Dun-Well’s Earl Grey Tea doughnut. So, so good.
Carrot Cake from Doughnut Plant: This seems like it maybe shouldn’t work, like the flavors of carrot cake would be too heavy in a doughnut. But it does work—really well. Studded with raisins and shreds of carrot and filled with a sweet cream cheese-frosting because it is PERFECT. Yum.
245 Flatbush Avenue, Prospect Heights
Bombolini from Franny’s: Sure, maybe you don’t go to Franny’s for the desserts (you go for the pizza and pastas and, uh, really you should go for everything), but please save room for the bombolini. These perfect little doughnuts have all different fillings depending on the day, but they are all delicious and leave us licking our fingers. And, uh, maybe our plates. Whatever! They’re that good.
348 Flatbush Avenue, Park Slope
Classic Glazed from Peter Pan Doughnuts: This Greenpoint institution has been making some of the best doughnuts in Brooklyn for ages—food trends be damned. And so this is where you go to get the best classic glazed we’ve ever had. Plus, get a doughnut here and you have the added benefit of feeling like you’re stepping back in time to a Brooklyn that doesn’t always feel like it exists anymore. But guess what? It does right here.
727 Manhattan Avenue, Greenpoint
Foie Gras Doughnuts from Do or Dine: Doughnuts might be a trend, but they also are a food that seems somewhat trend averse. Why mess with a classic, you know? Here’s why: The foie gras doughnut at Do or Dine marries two foods that must be bad for you, and transform them into something that’s so bad it’s insanely good for you. Plus, while $11 might be a lot for a doughnut, it’s surprisingly reasonable for foie gras.
Filled Doughnuts at Pies ‘n’ Thighs: You know these folks do fried things right (hello, that chicken), and that goes for doughnuts as well. Flavors very, but they’re all big and sticky and so, so good. We’re pretty partial to the filled ones—especially if that filling is lemon curd—but it’s really all good here. Like the butter pecan flavor. So damned good.
166 S. 4th Street, Williamsburg
Vegan Doughnut (flavors rotate) from Cinnamon Snail Food Truck: Hey, vegans should get to enjoy doughnut-y goodness too, right? Luckily for vegans, Cinnamon Snail has some of the best doughnuts in the city (and some of the best vegan food in general). And at only $2, these doughnuts are a steal—especially considering that some of their doughnut flavor combos in the past have included white chocolate ganache and bourbon. Yeah, you read that right. Who said vegan eating has to feel virtuous? Not us.
