Eat’em Up! 8 Sweet Donut Shops in NYC

Everywhere you look these days, there's a new spot selling these sweet treats. (Perfect for tiny hands.) Check out our picks, from classic to cutting-edge.

By Michelle McIvor Cohen May 11, 2015

When we were young, grabbing a donut usually meant a trip to the nearest Krispy Kreme at a local strip mall. Fortunately for our kids, today’s donut runs hold a lot more appeal: artisanal bakeries in NYC have taken fried dough to a whole new level. Some focus on candy-covered and brunch-food inspired varieties. others insist on using entirely local ingredients. Prepare to drool as you click through our favorite NYC fry factories.

Doughnut Plant

It’s hard to believe that this famous NYC chain was once a tiny bakery located in the basement of a Lower East Side tenement building. Owner Mark Isreal started Doughnut Plant in 1994 with a family recipe. He spent the first few years delivering donuts around town on his bicycle. Today there are four locations, in the Lower East Side, Park Slope, Long Island City and Chelsea. Recently, Mark has gone international, opening up nine locations in Tokyo with the help of partner Jun Goto. Go to town on the Tres Leches and Blackout filled cake donuts or try the world’s first creme brulee donut. The kids will love the shop’s mini treats called Doughseeds, which feature creative glaze and filling combinations.

Doughnut Plant (four locations in NYC)
Online: doughnutplant.com

photo: Michael N. via Yelp

What’s your favorite New York doughnut spot? Tell us in the comments below!

— Michelle Cohen