Miami is known for lots of wonderful food groups, namely pastelitos, fresh fish, and anything found in a Cuban kitchen, really. Doughnuts, not so much. But guess what? Over the past few years, quality doughnut shops have been popping up all over town and there are craft offerings, as well as vegan, gluten free, and of course, the good old fashioned glazed favorite we all know and love. From South Miami to South Beach, here are our picks:
The Salty Donut - Artisanal Donut Shoppe & Coffee Bar
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Courtesy of The Salty Donut
This family-owned doughnut shop in Wynwood is not your average dessert place and that’s a good thing. Doughnut flavors here change seasonally and all of the family’s yeast-raised doughnuts use a 24-hour brioche recipe (think butter, flaky bread and more butter). The Salty Donut serves cake doughnuts too, which are crunchy on the outside, and moist on the inside. The shop serves Intelligentsia coffee to pair with the sweet treats.
Bunnie Cakes
Going 10 years strong now, Bunnie Cakes was opened by a vegan mom of four kids (two of her kids are allergic to dairy). Mariana Cortez saw a need for vegan sweets, started baking out of her own kitchen and the rest is history. Grab your vegan cupcakes, cookies, cakes and, yes, doughnuts here. Gluten-free pastries are available, too. You can also get your caffeine fix here. Lattes and cappuccinos are made with almond milk instead of cow’s milk, of course.
GoBistro
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Courtesy of GoBistro
If you’re a sucker for a doughnut tower, GoBistro — also in Wynwood — is a go-to and probably the last place you’d expect to find this delicacy. But lo and behold, this Japanese spot known for its ramen and sushi makes a near perfect doughnut. Smothered in sweetened condensed milk (there’s also a brunch version that’s swimming in Fruity Pebbles), their doughnut tower is guaranteed to cause a food coma you won’t ever want to come out of.
Honeybee Doughnuts
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Honeybee Doughnuts
If you’ve never been to Honeybee, it’s about time you head to South Miami. Inspired by countless hours in the kitchen with her European grandmother, Karen Muirhead has brought some of that Euro flair to the Magic City. Enter this small shop and indulge your craziest doughnut fantasies on daily basis. Flavors range from sea salt caramel to raspberry coulis to s’mores to apple pie. Honeybee Doughnuts' beautifully decorated doughnuts also make for a great gift.
Mojo Donuts & Fried Chicken
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Mojo Donuts & Fried Chicken
With locations in both Miami and Pembroke Pines, Mojo offers the perfect pairing in two area codes and aren’t we lucky. This award-winning shop regularly sells out and it’s no wonder; each doughnut here is its own extravagant work of art. A a dozen of their gourmet doughnuts will put you back $27, but it’s worth every penny. If you’re choosing flavors a la carte, go for the cinnamon sugar with dulce de leche cronut — you won’t be disappointed, but you will be stuffed.
Happy Place Donuts
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Courtesy of Happy Place Donuts
There’s no happier place than a doughnut shop and Happy Place calls it like it is. From the team behind the famous Sugar Factory, Happy Place is South Beach’s answer for everything hot, fluffy and sweet. The Espanola Way location is a massive 4,000-square-foot doughnut wonderland with finger-licking flavors inspired by Italian street food. If you think you’ve heard it all, think again. In addition to doughnuts, you can get homemade Pop-Tarts, gelato, and coffee at Happy Place. The shop even has its own line of mojitos made to match each flavorful doughnut. Try the red velvet, rainbow, black & white Boston Cream or the monkey bread. You can even take it one step further with a savory doughnut sandwich or an ice cream sandwich on a glazed doughnut. The possibilities are here are endless.