Where to Find the Best Donuts in Seattle (20 Shops!)
Last Updated on December 12, 2024 by Kelly
Seattle is known for its coffee, and a cup of coffee requires a good donut! In addition to the classic donut selections, Seattle is known for some regional favorites, such as the Maple Bar. Whether you like cake donuts, filled donuts, fritters, yeast donuts, or twists, there is a donut shop that has something for you! I grew up near Seattle and I’ve personally been to many of these shops. In this post, I’m sharing my list of the best donut shops near Seattle!
The Best Donuts in Seattle
These are my choices for the best donut shops, and they’re ranked in no particular order. I hope this list inspires you to try them all!
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn commissions from qualifying purchases. I was gifted a box of donuts from Voodoo Doughnuts when I helped to promote their grand opening.
1. Voodoo Doughnuts
The newest bakery in town is Voodoo Doughnuts! Their Capitol Hill location just opened at the end of 2024. I attended their media preview event, so I got to see a sneak peak before their grand opening. After I attended the event, I walked around Capitol Hill with the big pink box of donuts, and let me tell you, I have never been stopped so many times in my life! I was approached at least half a dozen times by strangers asking me about the donuts. I can safely tell you, Seattleites are EXCITED to have Voodoo Doughnuts here!
We got a box of the Voodoo Dozen, which contained 13 of their signature donuts. We tried the following donuts: Dirt, Marshall Mathers, Portland Cream, Sprinkle Cake, Raised Glazed, The Homer, Bacon Maple Bar, Grape Ape, Blueberry Cake, Voodoo Doll, Oh Captain My Captain, Chocolate Coconut, and Maple Blazer Blunt. I shared the box with four members of my family, and we all unanimously agreed that the Bacon Maple Bar was the best! I was also pleasantly surprised by the Grape Ape… it tasted like grape soda! I also recommend that you try the Memphis Mafia. We tried that one in Portland, and it’s a banana fritter with chocolate and peanut butter flavors. It was epic!
he donuts were amazing. I’ve been a big fan of Voodoo Doughnuts for years, and I always stop by their Portland location when I’m visiting Oregon. But now that Voodoo Doughnuts is in Seattle, I’m excited to grab them much more frequently!
Pro Tip: There’s no seating inside the Voodoo Doughnut store, but the Starbucks Reserve Roastery is right around the corner. It’s one of our favorite coffee shops in Seattle. We bought some coffee and sat down to enjoy our donuts!
2. Raised Doughnuts
Raised Doughnuts is all about “raising the bar” for eating donuts. They are dedicated to making the best donuts. They begin making their donuts at 2am each morning from fresh ingredients. Every donut is hand cut. They never use preservatives, fillers, or artificial coloring. Their original donuts include maple bars, chocolate bars, plain glazed donuts, mochi sugar donuts, raspberry holes, and apple fritters.
Some of the special donuts they have on their menu at the time of this writing include Caramel Crunch Bar, Vietnamese Coffee, and Chai Mochi. They even have savory donuts, which we have never seen before! Their Everything Bagel Doughnut is an unglazed donut with whipped cream cheese and Everything Bagel mix. Sounds delicious!
Another thing that’s cool about this place? They have donuts for your dog! Grab some of the Pup Nuts to treat your dog. (Especially good for a special occasion like your dog’s birthday!)
| Love donuts? Try taking a donut tasting tour of Seattle! |
3. Doce Donut Co.
One of the newest donut shops in Seattle is Doce Donut Co. The name Doce in Spanish means 12, which is the perfect number of donuts to take home with you! The donuts from Doce Donut Co. are inspired by Latin American flavors. We recently visited this shop and tried the following flavors: Tres Leches, Passion Fruit Creme Brulee, OG, Mexican Hot Chocolate, and the Guava con Queso. My husband and I both liked the Tres Leches the best! The Tres Leches donut is soaked with custard and topped with a torched meringue. The baker told us that because it’s a wet donut, they soak the bottom in dark chocolate to give it more “hold.” This donut was absolute perfection! The meringue was light and sweet, and the tres leches flavor was divine. Our second favorite donut was the OG. The OG is a 24-hour raised brioche donut dipped in a coconut vanilla glaze. This donut might not have looked the most “over the top”, but flavor-wise it was one of our favorites!
We visited the location off of Stone Way in Fremont. Just a heads up there’s only street parking, so give yourself a little time to find a spot. We parked off a neighborhood street up the hill. There’s also no seating at Doce Donut Co., so these donuts are for take-out only.
I got to interview Claudia Monroy, who is the co-owner and founder of Doce Donut Co., about their incredible donuts. Here’s the takeaway:
Me: “What do you think makes your donut creations stand out?”
Claudia Monroy: “What makes our donuts unique is that they are made by hand, fresh every day, using a 24-hour raised brioche dough. It takes over a day for us to make each donut, from start to finish. Our donuts are made by pastry chefs using culinary techniques. This means we make everything from scratch using quality ingredients and do not use pre-mixes or preservatives. Lastly, we have unique flavors inspired in our Latin American Culture as well as American staples too.”
I think that you can really taste the difference that goes into making these donuts!
4. The Flour Box
The Flour Box is one of Seattle’s premier donut shops. This shop is fairly new to the scene. (Opened in 2016.) The head baker, Pamela Vuong, discovered her love of baking while she was a student at the University of Washington and went all-in on following her donut-creating dreams. In 2022, she was elected as a James Beard semifinalist for Outstanding Baker!
The Flour Box makes handfilled brioche donuts and cinnamon rolls. Every item is made from scratch using local and organic ingredients whenever possible. Pamela writes that everything is made from love, and it’s more than evident. This shop has gained a cult following and many repeat customers.
As an example, I’ve seen some of their offerings include a Creme Brulee donut (filled with a Madagascar vanilla bean custard with hand-torched caramelized sugar on top) and a Cold Brew Cream donut (filled with locally roasted Anchorhead coffee and topped with coffee cookie crumble).
I recommend following the shop on Instagram to find out the best time to visit. They often sell-out, so it’s important to get there early. As a small business, the shop is also closed periodically for vacations.
If you’ve been to Pike Place Market before, you’ve probably seen the Daily Dozen Doughnut Co. stand near the entrance. Or, if you’re like us, you smelled the delicious donuts and then began to search for where it was coming from! This donut shop has been a part of Pike Place Market for over 30 years.
The Daily Dozen Doughnut Co. specializes in mini-donuts that are freshly fried and then tossed with a yummy coating. When you order from them, you’ll be handed a bag full of warm, fresh donuts. They typically offer the following flavors: plain, powdered sugar, cinnamon, maple bacon, and frosted with sprinkles.
6. Dahlia Bakery
The Dahlia Bakery is known for their triple coconut cream pies and their donuts. We were lucky to be introduced to this bakery during our Seattle Food Tour several years ago. When we had friends visiting from out of town, we took them to the Dahlia Lounge (unfortunately now closed) for dinner. Of course, we had to order their donuts for dessert! (Thankfully, the Dahlia Bakery is still open!)
The Dahlia Bakery has a variety of donuts, but two types stand out for us. The first is their Dahlia Donuts, which are served warm with vanilla mascarpone and seasonal jam on the side. They remind us of eating delicious beignets in New Orleans! The second is their OH Mochi Donuts, which are a gluten-free rice-based donut that taste like a cross between traditional donuts and the Japanese dessert mochi. If you’re looking for a fusion donut experience, try the OH Mochi Donuts!
7. Dough Joy
Dough Joy started off as a food truck, and now they have locations in Capitol Hill and in West Seattle. All their donuts are vegan and entirely plant-based, so you can feel good about eating one, two, or three of them. (Or more, we’re not judging!) Their donuts are egg free, dairy free, animal free, and free of tree nuts.
Our friends brought over a box of Dough Joy donuts, and we realllllly liked them! The Over the Rainbow donut was one of our favorites!
8. Frost
Frost is located a little north of Seattle in the city of Mill Creek. We’re including this shop because the donuts are delightful, as well as the packaging! Their donuts were voted as Seattle’s Best Doughnut by Seattle Metropolitan Magazine.
In addition to classic donuts, they create “evolved” flavors such as the Caramel Macchiato Bismarck, the Aztec Chocolate, and the Smoky Bacon Maple Bar.
Frost also sells beautiful French macarons and they are open for breakfast and lunch (biscuits & gravy, Mexican tortas, and pancakes). You might especially want to try the Doughnut French Toast (four slices of donut rings soaked in a spiced custard).
9. Good Day Donuts
Good Day Donuts is located in White Center. They have the classic donuts you’d expect (old fashioned, glazed donuts, maple and chocolate bars), as well as daily specials. Some of their specials include French Crullers, Blueberry Cake Donuts, and Fritters. In addition to donuts, they serve up lunch, Florida-style boiled peanuts, and breakfast sandwiches. One of the things we are most intrigued by is the Good Day Donut Burger (bismarck donut bun, spicy pickle relish, cheese). If you’ve always wanted to try a donut burger, head to to Good Day Donuts!
10. 9th and Hennepin
You can typically purchase donuts from 9th and Hennepin at local farmer’s markets or through the owner’s personal kitchen in West Seattle.
There are always at least four kinds of donuts: a raised/filled brioche, a fritter, a cake donut, and a special. The flavors and menu constantly change to reflect the seasons and local produce. Check out their website for the weekly menu.
11. Original Bakery
The Original Bakery was built in 1936 and sells donuts, pastries, danishes, breads, and cookies. The bakery is located in West Seattle near the ferry terminal to Vashon Island. It’s operated by a father and daughter duo.
Each of their donuts are hand cut. They have over a dozen donuts on their regular menu, with some specials on certain days of the week. Head to the Original Bakery and have a Cinnamon Crumb Old-Fashioned, Maple Persian, or an Apple Fritter.
After having a donut, head to Lincoln Park to walk off the sugar high. (We think Lincoln Park has one of Seattle’s best beaches.)
12. Countryside Donuts
(Note: I purchased these acrylic donut stands for a bridal shower. They were perfect for a dessert table!)
Countryside Donuts is located a little north of Seattle in the city of Mountlake Terrace. They sell cake donuts, raised donuts, and apple fritters.
We’re including this shop on our list because they have the best Old Fashioned donuts we have ever tasted. Whenever I get donuts, I almost always go for a chocolate bar or a maple bar. But when I visit Countryside Donuts, I don’t leave without getting a Glazed Old Fashioned. After I ran my last half marathon, that was the treat I chose!
13. Top Pot Doughnuts
Top Pot Doughnuts has numerous locations in the Seattle area. If you’re visiting Seattle, you have to check out their donuts at least once! What we love about Top Pot is that they have so many donuts to choose from. They typically have more than 40 daily offerings! Chances are you will find exactly what you want. Some of the seasonal flavors they are offering as of this writing include a Chai Glazed Old Fashioned, Peppermint Snowdrift, and Pumpkin Cheesecake Bismark. I think they have the best chocolate frosted donut in Seattle!
Some friends of ours recently visited from New York and they said that Top Pot is better than any donuts they’ve had there. I think that’s quite the compliment!
14. The Donut Lab
The Donut Lab is a small business that sells some serious donuts. They specialize in making malasadas, which are a Portuguese-style donut that the owners first tasted in Hawaii.
Their malasadas are filled with all sorts of yummy flavors, like vanilla custard, pina colada, guava, and nutella. Be sure to order online in advance. We have noticed that they often sell out!
15. Dochi
What do you get when a Japanese rice cake (mochi) meets an American fried donut? Dochi! The result is a soft and airy center with a crispy outer layer. You can find Dochi in Seattle’s International District.
Dochi donuts are fun to eat because you can tear the pieces off from the ring and share with others. They are fun and whimsical, and you will surely be a VIP if you bring a box of these to your next meeting or family event!
16. Mighty-O Donuts
Mighty-O Donuts makes truly organic products. They don’t use chemicals or animal products in their donuts. Their donuts are 100% vegan. The company began by selling its donuts at Seattle’s local markets, and then grew into the business it is today with several locations across Seattle. Mighty-O donuts remains dedicated to its mission of creating exceptional donuts while caring for the community and environment. They support the arts with monthly exhibitions of local artists, and they donate regularly to local non-profit organizations. No donuts are ever thrown away.
When you visit Mighty-O Donuts, you’ll notice a wide selection of donuts. They have a wide variety of vanilla cake donuts, chocolate cake donuts, specialty donuts, yeast raised donuts, and Mini O’s.
17. General Porpoise
General Porpoise donuts are truly a treat. Their donuts are filled with a variety of custards, jams, jellies, curds, and creams. These donuts are extremely popular, and they look like a work of art all lined up in a box. At the time of this writing, some selections include Vanilla Custard, Tiramisu Cream, and Chocolate Marshmallow. They have some of the best donuts near Seattle that you will find.
18. Half and Half Doughnut Co.
You can easily visit Half and Half Doughnut Co. when you are in the First Hill or Capitol Hill neighborhoods of Seattle. What we love about Half and Half Doughnut Co. is that they have nine different types of Old Fashioned donuts! Some of these unique flavors include La Canela, Chai, Passionfruit, and Red Velvet. They also usually have several Mini Old Fashioned donuts as well. In addition to Old Fashioneds, you’ll also find fritters, twists, and cronuts.
19. Krispy Kreme
Krispy Kreme is famous for their old-fashioned donuts that melt in your mouth. They have two locations in Seattle, and they’re a very popular donut shop. What makes Krispy Kreme unique from other donut shops is that they often serve their donuts warm. It’s a fun donut shop to visit, because you can look through a glass window while waiting in line and watch the donuts pass through a curtain of glaze on a conveyor belt. We’ve even had employees pass out free warm donuts while we were waiting. Although the old fashioned is their most famous donut, we also recommend the apple fritter. We ordered it fresh off the belt and it was one of our favorite donut bites ever! Krispy Kreme also offers seasonal donuts which can be pretty cute too.
20. Donuts at Pike Place Market
Next to the area where you can see the fish throwing at Pike Place Market, there’s a vendor that sells baked goods and donuts. When we visited, they were selling Texas Donuts. These huge donuts are easily the size of three regular donuts! We ordered a giant chocolate-glazed donut when we visited, but they were also selling Texas Donuts topped with sugar and maple frosting. We thought the donut itself was a bit dry, but the novelty of eating such a large donut made it worth it for us.
Summary
We hope you enjoyed this post on the best donuts near Seattle! We worked hard on researching the different shops and sharing with you the best of the best donuts in the Seattle area. There are many excellent donut shops out there! Lately, one of our favorites is the Tres Leches donut from Doce Donut Co. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: We always strive for content accuracy. Since the time of publishing, travel-related information regarding pricing, schedules, and hours may have changed. Please look up such information directly from each vendor or institution for the most current information.
