America’s 40 Best Donut Shops

The average American eats 31 donuts per year, according to a 2018 survey from Dawn Foods, a global supplier of bakery ingredients – with over a third of consumers eating donuts at least once a month. 

While America’s obsession with these fried treats is generations old, recent decades have seen a wave of independent and small chain donut shops sweep the nation. Of the 10 billion donuts made in the U.S. annually, the two most ubiquitous chains account for less than half.

To compile a list of the best donut shops in America, 24/7 Tempo consulted articles and rankings on a variety of sites, including Eater, Food & Wine, Thrillist, Time Out, and Tasting Table, as well as numerous local and regional sources, then made a final choice based on editorial discretion. Some of these shops offer virtually nothing but donuts, while others are full-service bakeries or cafés known for the quality of their donuts as well as other foods. Most of the shops here are independent one-unit operations; exceptions are noted as such.

According to Dawn Foods, some 82% of Gen Z and Millennial consumers are interested in trying donuts offering adventurous and novel flavor combinations – and most of the best donut shops in the nation offer some edgy flavors that push the envelope beyond the everyday glazed and cream-filled varieties. From olive oil and black pepper to broccoli cream to strawberry matcha, the varieties at these purveyors are virtually limitless. 

Pinkbox Donuts
> Location: (10 locations in all) Las Vegas and Laughlin, Nevada (near Bullhead City, Lake Havasu, Mojave City, & Kingman AZ), and St. George, UT
> Sample donut: Coco Loco (chocolate-frosted glazed chocolate cake with Cocoa Pebbles