11 Maryland Neighborhood Donut Spots With Loyal Lines
Maryland’s donuts belong to small counters and family kitchens, not big chains. The best ones come from storefronts with fading signs, markets that smell of fresh fry oil, and beach stands already crowded before the day heats up.
At some spots the trays are full before sunrise; at others the first batches roll out closer to mid-morning, still warm and soft. What ties them together is a kind of patience, recipes passed down, techniques that don’t bend to trends.
I’ve tasted them along highways and docks, and they stay in memory. Here are the shops that keep Maryland loyal.
1. Krumpe’s Do-Nuts, Hagerstown
It’s not on Main Street, and you don’t stumble into it. You walk down a back alley after dark and follow the neon sign like it’s guiding you home.
The yeast donuts here are warm, pillowy, and often eaten straight from the box in the car. Their chocolate glaze and peanut butter–filled options are staples.
Krumpe’s opens late evening and runs overnight, a holdover from its start in 1934. Regulars know: if you’re there at midnight, you’re doing it right.
2. Fractured Prune, Ocean City
Each donut here is fried to order, which means you’re standing near a fryer in your flip-flops, watching glazes drip like lava.
The options skew wild, think maple bacon, mocha, or banana cream pie. Toppings and glazes are mixed and matched by the customer.
The first Fractured Prune opened in 1976, and though it’s now a franchise, Ocean City is still home turf. I always recommend letting the staff build you a combo if you’re overwhelmed. They know what works.
3. Laurel Tavern Donuts, Laurel
At first glance, it looks like a convenience store from the ‘70s, the kind with a humming soda cooler and handwritten specials in dry-erase marker.
But this family-run shop is a town favorite, especially for their vanilla cream, blueberry cake, and classic sour cream donuts.
There’s no website, no social media presence. Just locals who show up early and leave with a dozen. That says more than a million Instagram followers ever could.
4. Donut Shack, Severna Park
Blink and you’ll miss it, tucked beside a car repair shop, with a retro sign that looks unchanged since 1974. The charm is accidental, and all the better for it.
The apple fritters here are heavy in the best way, golden brown with crisp edges and a chewy middle. Regulars swear by the glazed twists and powdered jelly donuts too.
They usually sell out before noon, especially on weekends. I’ve learned to arrive early and not even bother asking for the last fritter — it’s gone.
5. Sandy Pony Donuts, Annapolis
There’s a whiff of hot oil and cinnamon in the air before you even reach the counter. The vibe is playful, with surfboards on the walls and an ocean breeze never far off.
Donuts are made fresh to order, and the “Pony Party” dozen lets you try their fun flavors: French toast, Dirty Banana, Cookies & Cream.
Sandy Pony began on Chincoteague Island and made its way up the coast. I like that they’re still small, still playful, and not trying to be the next big thing.
6. Diablo Doughnuts, Baltimore
Diablo Doughnuts in Baltimore is not your average donut shop. With its edgy name and artistic flair, it attracts a crowd that’s as bold as its flavors.
But the donuts themselves are no joke. Flavors like Unicorn Farts (fruity pebbles), Captain Chesapeake (Old Bay caramel), and classic maple bacon show surprising finesse.
Started by a Baltimore chef who just wanted to make wild donuts from scratch, Diablo’s now found a loyal following in a city that doesn’t hand out loyalty easily.
7. Carlson’s Donuts, Severn
The sign is plain, the building is plain, and somehow that makes the warm glow of the donut case feel earned. Carlson’s is a no-frills, cash-only joint that’s been doing its thing quietly for decades.
The sour cream donuts are rich and deeply satisfying, and their glazed twists always seem to melt faster than I expect. No wild toppings, no cereal crumbs. Just clean, focused baking.
I stop here on quiet mornings. The regulars know each other’s orders. There’s something restful about that kind of place.
8. Arundel Donuts, Glen Burnie
If you grew up nearby, there’s a good chance this was your childhood donut shop. It still smells like sugar and coffee grounds, and the parking lot fills early with locals in no hurry.
Their honey-dipped and chocolate glazed are the headliners, but the blueberry cake is a sleeper hit.
It’s been around since the 1970s and mostly unchanged, which is the charm. You can taste the consistency.
9. Beiler’s Doughnuts, Germantown (Dutch Market)
The line snakes through the indoor Amish market, and the smell of frying dough competes with smoked meats and pickles. There’s something chaotic and wonderful about it.
Beiler’s is known for its pillowy yeast dough and that glossy, generous frosting. Flavors range from salted caramel to key lime to peanut butter crème.
Amish-owned and rooted in Pennsylvania tradition, their expansion hasn’t dulled the craft. I always get one for now, one for later, and one that never makes it home.
10. Glazed & Confuzed Donuts, McHenry / Deep Creek
The name sounds like a joke, but the donuts are serious. In the Deep Creek Lake area, this spot has quietly become a favorite among weekenders and locals who don’t mind driving for breakfast.
Think thick, indulgent rings topped with crushed candy bars, bacon, or maple glaze so rich it could double as icing. It’s unapologetic, a little chaotic, and oddly comforting.
I like that the staff treats every donut like it matters. Even the most outrageous ones are made with care.
11. Donut Connection, Waldorf
This is one of those rare chain offshoots that actually delivers something memorable. Donut Connection in Waldorf feels like a holdover from the ‘90s, with a layout that hasn’t changed in decades and coffee that tastes better than it should.
They keep the case stocked with everything from jelly-filled to seasonal specials, but I come for the chocolate cake donut: dense, moist, and best slightly warm.
The place isn’t flashy, but it holds onto regulars for a reason. Good donuts, no performance. That’s enough for me.