Grab a dozen: Tacoma-area bakeries to celebrate National Doughnut Day
Get out your food calendar.
National Zucchini Day is Aug. 8. National Grape Popsicle Day is May 27. National Cold Cuts Day is March 3.
Turkey Neck Soup Day, which I’m sure is celebrated by at least 11 people, is March 30. Why that “holiday” isn’t the day after Thanksgiving, I’m not sure.
Here’s one of few food celebration days I can get behind: National Doughnut Day. It’s celebrated today, and I appreciate that it’s on a Friday, which most weeks is Bring Doughnuts For Your Co-Workers Day at The News Tribune. (Internal rule: Suffer newsroom wrath for cutting doughnuts in half.)
Celebrate with a dozen from one of these local doughnut bakeries.
TACOMA
Connie’s Donuts, 4065 Pacific Ave., Tacoma; 253-474-5059
Must try: Red velvet cake doughnuts are a personal favorite. Try the one topped with the cream cheese frosting. The “krispie” bars are a must. They’re buttermilk bars with fruit fillings. Make mine lemon. This neighborhood hangout is bustling on Saturday mornings.
Dockside Donuts, 1112 Puyallup Ave., Tacoma; 253-572-9638
Must try: The cream-filled coconut bar or the squishy-soft cruller with a tasty glaze. Jam-filled fans will appreciate doughnuts stuffed with extra filling here.
Frank’s Donuts and Muffins, 14117 Pacific Ave. S., Tacoma; 253-535-4699
Must try: A classic cake doughnut with a crunchy exterior or an apple danish. You’ll see plenty of Pacific Lutheran University students cycle through here. A staffer mentioned new owners took over four months ago.
Helen’s Donuts, 5601 E. Portland, Tacoma; 253-472-6491 or on.fb.me/1AGgXW7
Must try: The maple bar coated in chopped, smoky bacon is a nice novelty, but I’m partial to the bakery’s outstanding banana fritters (they also come in apple or blueberry). Crullers are extra squishy here and come with five different icings. This bakery also scoops a dozen ice cream flavors. Two things to love: The bakery is open late, and the counter workers throw in free doughnut holes when you buy a box full.
Kolby’s Donut House, 15012 Pacific Ave. S., Tacoma; 253-537-2089 or facebook.com/KolbysDonutHouse
Must try: The triangle-shaped doughnut filled with a salty-sweet smear of thick peanut butter and a layer of raspberry jam. Also try the coconut filled doughnut, topped with chocolate icing and shredded coconut.
Le Donut, 1317 S. 11th St., Tacoma; 253-627-5877 or facebook.com/ledonuttacoma
Must try: Bacon maple bar, with big, chewy pieces of bacon. The crullers are light and airy, with a shiny sugar glaze. I’m also partial to the fritters, but they go early in the day. This might be the only place in the area where you can buy a dozen with a side order of egg rolls.
Legendary Doughnuts, 2602 Sixth Ave., Tacoma; 253-327-1327 or legendarydoughnuts.com (also a Lake Tapps store)
Must try: The Oprah, a bacon-maple bar or the “doughsant,” a melding of a croissant and a doughnut that is to die for. This novelty doughnut shop (like Portland’s Voodoo Doughnut) has all kinds of funky flavor combinations.
Pao’s, 6919 Sixth Ave., Tacoma; 253-565-4692 or on.fb.me/1J9jqLo (cash only)
Must try: An apple fritter, a yeasty, soft doughnut that’s heavy on the cinnamon and with a shiny glaze. For maple fans, Pao’s had the biggest maple bars of any sampled on a doughnut tour I took back in 2012.
Yummies Donuts and ice Cream, 8042 Pacific Ave., Tacoma; 253-448-2142 or facebook.com/yummiesdonuts
Must try: Raised and glazed, the simplest of doughnuts, is nice and squishy here. The bakery doubles as a scoop shop with eight kinds of ice cream. Yummies is the newest doughnut bakery. It’s been open just about a year.
LAKEWOOD
Original House of Donuts, 9638 Gravelly Lake Drive, Lakewood; 253-588-2647 or thehouseofdonuts.com
Must try: Too many to name, but get the blueberry fritter if it’s available. The doughnut-of-the-month is something to ask about. A recent favorite was the porter doughnut, made with beer from Pacific Brewing and Malting. Also, the Lakewood bakery will give away free doughnuts to the first 1,000 customers today. Here’s another sweet tip: The bakery this month will open a second outpost in downtown Tacoma at 766 St. Helens Ave. (near Tully’s).
PUYALLUP/ORTING
Epic Donuts, 12314 Meridian Ave. E., Puyallup; 253-845-0246 or epicdonutspuyallup.com
Must try: The novelty taco-shaped doughnuts, made every Tuesday, are fun. This bakery specializes in novelty doughnuts in all shapes and sizes. The bakery is open through the evening, It’s within a mile of three frozen yogurt cafes and Sub Zero ice cream, just in case you need a scoop to go with that doughnut.
Happy Donuts, 305 Second St. NE, Puyallup; 253-840-9398
Must try: The bear claw here not only is the biggest I’ve seen in the area, but it also comes with a glossy icing, a sprinkling of nuts and a sticky filling. Get here early on weekends. The lines go out of the door, and the fritters run low by late morning.
Orting Bakery, 212 Washington Ave. S., Orting; 360-893-2288
Must try: Apple fritter with caramel frosting. This bakery also specializes in all kind of baked goods, including pastries, muffins, cookies, pies and cake. Look for seasonal specials.
This story was originally published June 5, 2015 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Grab a dozen: Tacoma-area bakeries to celebrate National Doughnut Day ."