alt=Hanna SeariacThe Utah Dough Show gathers several of the best doughnut bakers in the Beehive State. This year, a shop which has only been open for two months took home the award for crowd favorite doughnut — Spudnik Donuts.
Located inside the Heart & Soul Karaoke in Provo, Spudnik Donuts does doughnuts differently with its special ingredient. Spuds. Yes, spuds as in potatoes. The Deseret News caught up with the shop’s owner, Josh Kunzler, to talk about the store’s doughnuts.
Kunzler said the shop uses a rotating menu featuring six doughnuts on the menu; only one of them remains the same — the crowd favorite doughnut “Little Green Man.”
“Believe me, this doughnut is to die for. It’s pistachio cream icing with three fresh raspberries on top and a drizzle of white chocolate,” Kunzler said. Like all of the shop’s doughnuts, it uses potatoes in the dough. He said potatoes are a useful ingredient because they contribute to the longevity of the doughnut by adding moisture.
That’s not the only way this shop is unique. Instead of opening in the early hours of the morning, the shop opens at 3 p.m. — a decision Kunzler said comes from his upbringing in Oregon. He said while doughnuts are often seen as a breakfast item in Utah, he was used to doughnuts being a dessert in Oregon.
The shop’s interior is space themed. “We love outer space. We love science fiction. We’re kind of weird and obsessive in that way, and that’s just who we are. We love space age,” Kunzler said. He said his family collaborated on the design.
Since its soft opening, the shop has regularly sold out of doughnuts. The store is located in Provo on 56 W. Center Street.
Best doughnuts in Utah
There are several other doughnut shops in Utah which also have great doughnuts. Here are some of the best doughnut shops in Utah.
Banbury Cross Donuts
Where it is: 705 S. 700 East, Salt Lake City, and 330 W. Parrish Lane, Suite 100, Centerville.
What to get: Apple fritter, blueberry icing doughnut, Bavarian cream chocolate doughnut and the maple bar.
What it’s like: This doughnut shop is a cross between a traditional bakery and a more modern gourmet doughnut store. You’ll find the classics here along with some elevated flavors.
Pink Box Donuts
Where it is: 938 E. St. George Blvd., St. George.
What to get: Buttermilk bar, raspberry squeeze, banana pudding and mango tango.
What it’s like: Think a bright pink doughnut shop with doughnuts you can post pictures of to your Instagram because they’re decadent looking.
Lehi Bakery
Where it is: 172 W. Main Street, Lehi.
What to get: Square doughnut (glazed), coconut crunch, strawberry fritter and old fashioned.
What it’s like: It’s your ma and pa store with a unique twist — square doughnuts. It’s a classic bakery that smells like fresh dough and is full of traditional flavors.
Provo Bakery
Where it is: 190 E. 100 North, Provo.
What to get: Apple fritter, glazed doughnut, maple bar and chocolate bar.
What it’s like: It’s a traditional bakery right by historic Center Street with see-through pastry cases and an assortment of freshly baked doughnuts.
Fresh Donuts and Deli
Where it is: 2699 S. State Street, South Salt Lake.
What to get: Blueberry glazed, sugar raised, chocolate frosted and apple fritter.
What it’s like: It has a traditional feel with well-made doughnuts in the flavors people have to come to know and love.
Donut Boy
Where it is: 2194 W. 3500 South, West Valley City.
What to get: Boston cream pie, peach fritter, crumb cake and buttermilk bar.
What it’s like: The store has a diner feel to it and features doughnuts in the traditional flavors, as well as some others with fluffy frosting.
Cowboy Donuts
Where it is: 102 NW State Street, American Fork.
What to get: Glazed, chocolate frosted, old-fashioned and maple bar.
What it’s like: Known for both kolaches and doughnuts, Cowboy Donuts’ storefront has rustic red paint and a good mix of traditional doughnuts with a couple out of the box options.
Schmidt’s Pastry Cottage
Where it is: 1133 W. South Jordan Parkway, South Jordan and 5664 Ss Redwood Road, Taylorsville.
What to get: Bismark, chocolate glazed, old-fashioned and cake doughnuts.
What it’s like: It’s a cute and quaint restaurant where you can stop by for a nice lunch and get a pastry or doughnut afterward.