Is there anything better than a warm fluffy donut and a cup of coffee in the morning? If there is, I haven’t found it. But finding a good donut when visiting a new city can be a challenge. Get out of here with that Krispy Kreme garbage and Dunkin Donuts trash (sorry east coasters), and don’t you dare try to sell me on disgusting gas station pastries. If you come to Boise or live in the area, these are the donuts shops you want to frequent for a belly full of sugary happiness.
If you’re curious how we chose our list of the best donuts in Boise click here
DK Donuts
Anyone who grew up in Boise will rightfully rant and rave about DK Donuts. They have been king of donuts in the downtown area for years and have yet to be dethroned. They also opened up a new location in Meridian in 2013.
DK has the widest variety of donuts in Boise. Their donuts are airy and not overly fried. Their jelly-filled are stuffed to the max with jam as they should be. My personal favorite was the bear claw actually shaped like a bear claw. The chocolate donuts have the perfect amount of sweetness.
Dapper Donuts
Dapper Donuts are new to the Boise donut scene, but they made a splash being the only donut shop specializing in mini donuts. There are several arguments for why this is possibly the best donut place in Boise but in my opinion, the top reasons are freshness and their unique flavors.
Every donut is made fresh to order. It’s the only place in town that boasts this. Your donut never spends a second in any sort of glass showcase. This means you can enjoy these heavenly morsels any time of the day (granted they are open).
They have a long list of unique toppings for your mini donuts. Flavors like Cinnamon, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Funnel Cake, Blueberry-Lemon. The list goes on.
These donuts are delightfully sweet, so pace yourself. I would say a dozen mini’s is plenty for two people.
Country Donuts
If you like apple fritters, Country Donuts is about to become your new favorite place. They do a great job on all their donuts, but they make a perfect apple fitter. They are packed with apples, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Plus all their donuts are gigantic. They make the biggest glazed donut I’ve ever seen. It’s the size of a birthday cake. And if you like plenty of frosting on your maple and chocolate bars, Country Donuts has you covered. Country Donuts doesn’t have a wide variety, (chocolate lovers may struggle here), but like an elegant restaurant with only a few items on the menu, they absolutely crush what they do make.
These donuts are so good they sell out quickly. Get here early or don’t bother showing up.
Sweet Sensations
Sweet Sensations is a hidden gem. I have lived in Boise for 10+ years and just discovered this place in my search for the best donut.
The thing that sets apart Sweet Sensations from the rest of the shops is their filled donuts and impressive presentation.
Pick your donut, and Sweet Sensations will actually add the filling of your choice in front of you. They have a filling station with options like raspberry jam, custard, buttercream, and lemon. That means no soggy jelly-filled donuts in this establishment.
Sweet Sensations makes beautiful donuts. Bright, eye-catching colors on frosted donuts. Chocolate glaze with chocolate shavings and a fresh strawberry on top. With donuts like this, it’s almost a shame to cram it into your mouth, but you won’t be able to resist.
As a bonus, they also give you a few free donut holes in your order.
HOW WE CHOSE OUR PICKS FOR BEST DONUTS IN BOISE
You may be wondering how we chose our favorite Boise Donut shops out of the options in town. Here is what you should know:
- We tried donuts from just about every donut shop in the city. ( my wife and I were more than happy to do the research for this list).
- We judged each shop on a few standard staples that every shop should be able to do well; a maple bar, a glazed, chocolate of some kind (my wife’s favorite), and an apple fritter.
- I hate donuts that claim to be healthy. Don’t give me anything gluten-free. I don’t want a bagel or a protein gelatin monstrosity. I want my donut to be loaded with carbs and sugar, the way God intended them to be. Thank you for attending my TED talk.
If your curious to taste what I declare the best donut ever, you’re going to need to travel to Lee’s Donuts in Vancouver.
Chad can be summed up by his idea of a perfect day: Waking up early to watch the sunrise over the mountains, warm cup of coffee in hand then grabbing his camera and fly rod, hitting the trail to explore some uncharted territory followed by cold beers and campfire steaks. Chad is often joined on his adventures by his wife, Tori, and their dog, Kona.