14 South Carolina Donut Shops That Locals Say Are Worth Every Sticky Finger
In South Carolina, they know how to do donuts right.
Scattered across the state, from mountain towns to coastal islands, you’ll find shops where locals line up before sunrise, where recipes have been passed down for decades, and where the smell of fresh glaze pulls you in from the parking lot.
These aren’t big-box chains with frozen dough and generic menus.
I’m talking about family-owned spots, small regional brands, and hidden counters where donuts are made by hand, filled to order, and gone before lunchtime.
Sticky fingers are a badge of honor here, proof that you found the real thing.
This is your guide to the donut shops South Carolinians actually talk about, the ones they drive out of their way for, and the places they keep coming back to long after the sugar rush fades.
1. Sunny’s Donuts – Gaffney
Tucked beside an unassuming stretch of South Granard Street, Sunny’s Donuts is the kind of place where the neon “Open” sign feels like a promise.
Inside 720 S Granard St, Gaffney, SC 29341, trays of from-scratch donuts are lined up before dawn, made from family recipes that locals have sworn by for years.
People drive in off I-85 just for a box of warm glazed rings, oversized apple fritters, and that cinnamon-sugar raspberry jelly that’s been called the best donut in South Carolina.
Regulars chat over coffee at 6 a.m., truck doors slam, and boxes disappear by the dozen.
It’s simple, old-school, and exactly the kind of spot where sticky fingers are part of the experience.
2. Big Apple Donuts & Cafe – Mauldin
Big Apple Donuts & Cafe looks like a friendly neighborhood café, but step through the door at 219 W Butler Rd, Mauldin, SC 29662, and the sweet smell of yeast dough and coffee tells you this is something more serious.
Family-owned and proudly hands-on, they hand-make gourmet donuts in small batches, filling them to order with custards, jams, or rich creams.
There’s a full coffee and latte bar, plus breakfast sandwiches and even a Philly cheesesteak if you somehow walk in not craving sugar.
Locals talk about the apple-cider style rings and seasonal flavors that sell out long before lunch.
It’s the kind of place where you walk in intending to buy “just one” and leave with a dozen.
3. Lickin’ Good Donuts – Simpsonville
On a busy stretch of Northeast Main, Lickin’ Good Donuts still feels like a mom-and-pop shop where everyone’s on a first-name basis.
You’ll find it at 926 NE Main St, Suite G, Simpsonville, SC 29681, its cases stacked with fresh yeast and Cambodian-style cake donuts.
Apple fritters larger than your hand, pillowy donut holes, and chocolate-filled rings are the local legends here, often compared favorably to Krispy Kreme by die-hard fans.
The shop is small, spotless, and efficient – donuts fly off the racks as quickly as the staff can glaze them.
Show up late and you’ll learn the hard way that the best flavors vanish first, leaving you planning your next early-morning visit.
4. Scout’s Doughnuts – Greenville
Scout’s Doughnuts feels like the cool neighborhood bakery someone dreamed up on Pinterest and then actually built.
Their original shop sits at 1700 E North St, Greenville, SC 29607, with a second outpost downtown.
Inside, you’ll find flaky cronuts, whimsical seasonal flavors like “Not Your Mama’s Apple Pie,” and classic glazed rings that somehow still steal the show.
Coffee flows from a sleek bar, and there are even gluten-free options that regulars swear taste just as indulgent as the originals.
The vibe is relaxed but busy: parents juggling boxes for soccer practice, office workers grabbing catering orders, and college kids debating which flavor to try next.
One visit and you’ll understand why locals talk about Scout’s like it’s a friend.
5. Chickenbutt Donuts – Chapin
With a name you can’t help but repeat, Chickenbutt Donuts leans into fun without sacrificing serious donut craft.
This family-owned shop at 2130 Dutch Fork Rd, Suite B, Chapin, SC 29036, is proudly known as “The Official Donut of Lake Murray,” and people absolutely treat it that way.
The magic here is customization: pick your warm base donut, then pile on glazes, toppings, and drizzles until it looks like a sugar-coated science experiment.
Kids huddle at the counter planning creations, while regulars order their usual combinations with barely a glance at the menu.
It’s bright, buzzing, and just the right amount of messy – exactly how a small-town donut shop should feel.
6. Duck Donuts – Columbia
In Columbia, Duck Donuts manages to feel both like a well-run chain and a beloved neighborhood ritual.
The Columbia shop at 702 Cross Hill Rd, Ste 100B, Columbia, SC 29205, sits near a busy shopping center, but the donuts are anything but generic.
Here, nothing waits in a case: donuts are fried to order, then dressed up with your choice of icing, toppings, and drizzle – think maple bacon, peanut butter, or cinnamon sugar.
The open kitchen lets you watch each ring get dunked, coated, and handed over still warm.
Families linger over boxes at the outdoor tables, while students pop in for coffee and a single donut “to go” that somehow turns into four.
7. DonutMakes – Summerville
DonutMakes started as a food truck roaming the Charleston area, and it still has that scrappy, joyful energy inside its brick-and-mortar shop at 205 Grandview Dr, Unit H, Summerville, SC 29483.
Their mission is simple: classic donuts, done really well, in an atmosphere that feels like a smile.
Glazed rings, chocolate-iced, old-fashioneds, and simple powdered or cinnamon twists dominate the menu, alongside easygoing breakfast sandwiches and coffee.
Locals love the fact that the owners are usually behind the counter, chatting with regulars and remembering favorite orders.
It’s the sort of place where you swing by “just for a quick box,” only to find yourself lingering in the parking lot, eating one before you even make it to the car door.
8. The Dear Donut – Lugoff
The Dear Donut feels like a tiny love letter to anyone who believes breakfast should be sweet, warm, and a little over the top.
You’ll find it tucked into a plaza at 728 Dewitt Dr, Unit E, Lugoff, SC 29078, its pastel boxes stacked high behind the counter.
After a brief closure, new owners revived the shop with the same focus on soft, generously filled donuts and creative flavors that locals had fallen for in the first place.
Expect pillowy brioche-style rings piped with custard or jam, fun cereals sprinkled over icing, and seasonal creations that show up on social media first, then promptly sell out.
It’s the kind of spot that makes Lugoff feel like it’s hiding a secret dessert lab.
9. MoMo Donuts – Rock Hill
MoMo Donuts proves that a strip-mall storefront can hide serious donut artistry.
At 636 Crown Pointe Ln, Ste 101, Rock Hill, SC 29730, trays of golden rings, blueberry cake donuts, and famously hefty apple fritters come out fresh all morning long.
The shop is bright and cheerful, with families debating flavors at the glass case and regulars grabbing to-go boxes on their way to work.
MoMo’s donuts are known for being light yet satisfyingly rich, with glazes that actually taste like what they’re supposed to be – strawberry tastes like real berries, not candy.
Social media locals describe it as “dangerously good,” and once you’ve bitten into a still-warm fritter, you’ll understand exactly what they mean.
10. Murray’s Donuts – Sumter
Murray’s Donuts is the kind of place that keeps a town grounded.
Located in University Center at 627 Bultman Dr, Sumter, SC 29150, this family-run shop has been turning out old-fashioned, from-scratch donuts for years.
The donuts are simple and honest: thick glazed rings, chocolate-topped classics, and cinnamon twists that taste like they were pulled straight from a childhood memory.
Locals talk about grabbing a dozen before work or swinging through the drive-through after church, and an area newspaper recently called it one of South Carolina’s best-kept secrets.
There’s nothing fancy about the décor, but that’s exactly the point – the magic is in the fryer, not on the walls.
11. EN Donuts – North Augusta
If you’re the kind of person who likes options with your sugar rush, EN Donuts is your spot.
Sitting at 1692 Knox Ave, North Augusta, SC 29841, this shop makes its donuts from scratch every day and has the energy of a place that takes that seriously.
Hand-cut yeast donuts, cake varieties, and fun specials share the case with breakfast sandwiches, coffee drinks, and even boba milk tea.
EN Donuts was named a 2025 “Best of South Carolina” regional winner, and you can taste why in each airy bite.
It’s the kind of place where you show up for a donut and leave with a full breakfast and plans to come back next weekend.
12. Parlor Doughnuts – Pawleys Island
Parlor Doughnuts in Pawleys Island feels tailor-made for vacation mornings when flip-flops and sugar are the only plans you need.
The shop at 11359 Ocean Hwy, Pawleys Island, SC 29585, is part of a small national brand known for its creative, layered donuts and generous toppings.
Inside, you’ll find towering rings in flavors like maple bacon, campfire s’mores, or coconut cream, plus gluten-free offerings made to order for those who need them.
People wander in straight from beach rentals, sandy-haired kids pointing at the glass case while grown-ups try to pretend they’re going to share.
Coffee, juices, and milkshakes round things out, making this a full-on breakfast treat stop rather than just a quick donut run.
13. Annie’s Hot Donuts – Mount Pleasant
Annie’s Hot Donuts does exactly what the name promises: serves donuts hot, fresh, and just a little bit addictive.
You’ll spot it at 1247 Ben Sawyer Blvd, Mt Pleasant, SC 29464, not far from the road that leads straight to Sullivan’s Island.
Here, you can build your own creations – choosing glazes, toppings, and drizzles – while kids press their noses to the glass and try to decide between sprinkles or cereal.
The shop also pours cappuccinos, lattes, and seasonal specialty coffees, turning it into a morning hangout rather than just a grab-and-go stop.
On weekend mornings, the line snakes out the door, and more than one local will tell you that a beach day doesn’t really start until you’ve had an Annie’s donut in hand.
14. The Purple Cow – Hilton Head Island
The Purple Cow feels like a tiny walk-up secret tucked among the trees of Hilton Head.
Operating as a from-scratch bakery with a strong donut game, it serves locals and visitors from a small window at 32 Office Park Rd, #109, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928.
Their “award-winning donuts” come in all kinds of varieties, including vegan and gluten-free options baked first each day to minimize cross-contamination.
Coffee from a Savannah roaster, rotating pastry specials, and a breezy little outdoor seating area make it easy to linger instead of rushing back to the beach.
Pre-orders are encouraged for big boxes, but if you’re just wandering by in the morning, following the smell of sugar and yeast will get you there just fine.