Nine Sarasota Doughnuts to Eat Before You Die
Image: Shutterstock
Meaney's Mini Donuts
We dare you not to polish off a whole bag of Meaney’s Mini Donuts in one sitting—these light, almost beignet-like little treats are totally addictive. Best bet: the strawberry cheesecake, featuring cream cheese frosting topped with strawberry jam. 201 Canal Drive, Siesta Key; 382 St. Armands Circle, Sarasota
Gold Star Donuts
If you’ve never experienced Gold Star Donuts before, you can expect a broad selection of classic flavors done just right. Our pick: the huge apple fritters, with their crunchy exterior and soft nuggets of cinnamon-dusted apple inside. We also love the bear claws or the simple, perfect old-fashioned doughnut. 1246 Whitfield Ave., Sarasota
Image: Lauren Jackson
Peachey's Baking Company
Peachey's Baking Company's brick-and-mortar stores have finally arrived—first in The Landings shopping plaza, and now at 999 Cattlemen Road. these fresh, hot yeasted doughnuts may just be the best you've ever had. Peachey's rose to fame thanks to its seasonal food truck that could be spotted around town from October through April, but locals lamented its absence in the summer months. Thankfully, those lonely days are over. We're thrilled. 4800 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota; 999 Cattlemen Road, Unit E, Sarasota, peacheysbakingco.com
Turner Donuts
Turner Donuts in downtown Bradenton has been frying up yeast-raised doughnuts made with potato flour for more than 50 years. They’re not only a local classic—they’re soft and airy, chewy and incredibly tasty. 902 Ninth Ave. W., Bradenton
The Donut Experiment
At The Donut Experiment on Anna Maria Island, fresh, hot cake doughnuts are dunked in the frosting of your choice and crowned with your choice of toppings. 201C Pine Ave., Anna Maria
Yummies Donuts and BBQ
Yummies offers a variety of doughnuts—including traditional Polish paczski for Fat Tuesday—but it's the Sticky Pig that's the star here. A glazed cinnamon roll doughnut is cut in half and filled with salty pulled pork, barbecue sauce and crunchy coleslaw. It's food porn at its most outrageous. P.S. On Fat Tuesday, don't miss Yummies' traditional Polish pączki. 2001 S. Tamiami Trail, Venice
There's a flavor for every palate at Five-O Donut Co.
Image: Courtesy Photo
Five-O Donut Co
Five-O Donut Co. offers a bevy of cake and yeast-raised confections—many with colorful frosting and toppings that are totally Instagrammable. The croissant doughnut, a rounded square creation with a thin, crispy crust on the outside and moist layers inside, is a standout. The flagship store is located at 2241 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota, but there are now multiple locations throughout the area, fiveodonutco.com
Der Dutchman
Der Dutchman’s red velvet doughnut tastes just like red velvet cake, only in ring form. It comes topped with not-too-sweet cream cheese frosting, and although you can opt to order the doughnut without it, why would you? Fear not: if you're not a red velvet fan, a panoply of other flavors is available daily. 3713 Bahia Vista St., Sarasota
Lorretta's Donut Wagon
OK, so you're going to have to wait until the Lorretta's truck returns in December 2026 to get your hands on their pillowy, yeasted, made-on-site doughnuts, with toppings that include classic glaze, strawberry- and chocolate-frosted, toasted coconut and peanut butter crumb, plus apple and blueberry fritters. But we all need something to look forward to, right? instagram.com/lorrettasdonutwagon
Image: Courtesy Photo
Duck Donuts
Duck Donuts has over 100 locations throughout the country, and with good reason, they're always hot and fully customizable. At Waterside Place's Duck Donuts, hot, fresh cake doughnuts are made to your preferences by way of flavored drizzles and toppings. If you’re not feeling creative, never fear: the menu has plenty of combination recommendations called “fan favorites,” like coffee cake, maple bacon and peanut butter. 1580 Lakefront Drive, Sarasota, duckdonuts.com
Clásico
At downtown Sarasota's Clásico Italian Chophouse, the beignets eat more like warm little cakes than airy puffs, soft and tender beneath a last-second drizzle of fresh warm chocolate or caramel (order two without choosing a topping, and you’ll get one chocolate-drizzled and one caramel-drizzled). Order four, say nothing, and you’ll get two of each. You can also get them nude, though that does feel like leaving a little theater on the table. 1341 Main St., Sarasota, (941) 203-5111, clasicosrq.com
