10 Donut Shops In Ohio Everyone Needs To Experience
Donuts are more than just sweet treats… they’re little circles of joy that can turn any day around.
Ohio has its fair share of spots where these sugary delights are taken to the next level with creative flavors, fresh-baked goodness, and a vibe that feels like home.
Whether you’re a classic glaze fan or chasing wild new toppings, these donut shops serve up bites you’ll be dreaming about long after the last crumb disappears.
1. Donald’s Donuts: A Zanesville Institution Since 1960
Walking into Donald’s feels like stepping back in time to when donuts were made with real butter and patience.
Their blueberry cake donuts sell out almost daily, with locals lining up before dawn to snag a dozen.
Family-owned for three generations, this Zanesville treasure refuses to cut corners. Every donut is hand-cut, fried to golden perfection, and glazed while still warm.
2. Buckeye Donuts: Fueling OSU Students Since 1969
Generations of Ohio State students have pulled all-nighters fueled by Buckeye Donuts’ signature treats.
Open 24/7, this campus landmark serves their namesake peanut butter and chocolate buckeye donuts that perfectly honor Ohio’s favorite candy. Football gamedays create lines that stretch down High Street.
The apple fritters, roughly the size of a small plate, have achieved legendary status among alumni who still make pilgrimages back years after graduation.
3. Resch’s Bakery: Columbus’ Sweet Secret Since 1912
Before Columbus became a foodie destination, Resch’s was perfecting the art of the perfect donut.
Their signature cream sticks, long, airy pastries filled with vanilla custard, have remained unchanged for decades because perfection needs no improvement.
Morning regulars chat over coffee while watching bakers work through glass windows.
The chocolate-iced cake donuts crumble just right between your fingers, leaving that telltale evidence of indulgence that nobody minds wiping away.
4. Destination Donuts: Artisanal Creations Worth The Journey
Chef Heather Morris transforms donuts into edible art at this North Market gem. Flavors rotate with what’s fresh and in season… think blackberry bourbon in summer or spiced apple cider in fall.
Each small-batch creation features local ingredients whenever possible.
The lemon pistachio donut balances tart glaze with nutty crunch, while the maple bacon variety has converted even the most steadfast sweet-savory skeptics.
5. Amy’s Donuts: Where Donuts Meet Imagination
Sprinkles, cereals, candies, and cookies aren’t just toppings at Amy’s, they’re the canvas for donut masterpieces.
Kids press their noses against display cases filled with cotton candy-topped creations and donuts decorated like cartoon characters.
The Columbus location brings the same wild creativity that made their original Colorado shop famous.
Their maple bacon donut doesn’t just feature a strip of bacon. It’s loaded with enough savory goodness to make breakfast jealous.
6. DK Diner: Grandview Heights’ Breakfast Champion
Regulars at DK Diner know to arrive early, once the donuts sell out, that’s it until tomorrow. This unassuming breakfast spot fries up donuts that put fancy pastry shops to shame.
Their sour cream donuts achieve the impossible: crisp exteriors giving way to tender, cake-like interiors.
The apple fritters contain actual chunks of fruit that caramelize during frying, creating pockets of intense flavor that keep loyal customers coming back weekly.
7. Donut Land: Riverside’s Hidden Morning Treasure
Blink and you might miss this unassuming shop tucked between a laundromat and hardware store in Riverside.
Locals deliberately keep Donut Land’s praises quiet, hoping to preserve their morning ritual without tourist crowds. Their honey-dipped donuts achieve that perfect sticky-sweet exterior while remaining pillowy inside.
The blueberry cake variety packs enough fruit to almost count as breakfast, or at least that’s what regulars tell themselves as they order a second.
8. George’s Donuts: The Butler County Sweet Spot
George’s proves that sometimes the best things come in plain packages.
This no-frills shop skips fancy toppings and Instagram-worthy decorations, focusing instead on donut fundamentals done perfectly.
Their glazed donuts emerge warm throughout the morning, creating a sweet aroma that wafts down the block.
Old-timers swear by the cinnamon twists that shatter delicately when bitten, while younger fans line up for the cream-filled long johns that never skimp on filling.
9. Goldie’s Donuts & Bakery: Powell’s Morning Ritual
Saturday mornings in Powell often start with a box from Goldie’s. Their old-fashioned buttermilk donuts have a distinctive tangy note that pairs perfectly with coffee and weekend newspaper reading.
Founded by a former corporate baker who wanted to return to traditional methods, Goldie’s makes everything from scratch daily.
The jelly-filled varieties feature homemade seasonal preserves that change throughout the year, giving regulars something new to discover each visit.
10. Jack Frost Donuts: Cleveland’s Donut Royalty
Clevelanders don’t mind standing in line through snowstorms for Jack Frost’s legendary creations.
Their maple bacon donut, topped with entire strips of perfectly crisp bacon, has developed such a following that they now ship nationwide. The shop’s vintage neon sign has become an Instagram staple.
Their red velvet donuts actually taste like quality cake, not just food coloring, while the classic glazed achieves that perfect balance between sugar and yeast that makes you close your eyes with the first bite.