I’m back with another Local’s Guide! It’s no secret that I adore living in the beautiful city of Raleigh. I love to eat and donuts have always been a tasty treat ever since I was a kid, so I want to share my favorite Raleigh donut spots with you all. I’ve lived here my entire life and I have loved getting to know where to find the best donut spots in Raleigh, the best Raleigh breakfast spots and cute spots Raleigh has to offer.
If you’re ever in Raleigh and have a hankering for some tasty donuts, don’t miss the best donut spots in Raleigh! (And if you run into me, make sure to say hello and get a donut with me!)
Best Donut Spots in Raleigh
Duck Donuts
Duck Donuts is a popular chain that got its start in the small town of Duck, North Carolina. They specialize in made-to-order cake doughnuts that are best consumed when warm. There are three locations in the Triangle: Cary, Northwest Raleigh, and Durham.
Favorite item on menu: Beach Ball
Photo credit: Follow them on Instagram here!
Rise Biscuits & Donuts
Rise was opened in 2012 as Rise Biscuit Donuts in Durham, NC. It has since franchised, changed its menu and ideology choosing to focus more on their biscuits and righteous chicken rather than donuts. Despite the shifted focus, their shops still carry donuts, fritters, and sweet biscuits. There are additional locations in Southpoint, Carrboro, Morrisville, North Raleigh, Northwest Raleigh/Brier Creek, Holly Springs, and Cameron Village.
Favorite item on menu: Salty Cap’N
Photo credit: Follow them on Instagram here!
Daylight Donuts
Originally a chain from Tulsa, Oklahoma, this Daylight Donuts in North Raleigh has been locally owned and operated in the Triangle since the 1990s. It carries a wide assortment of doughnuts in loads of flavors as well as coffee and a few other delightful confections. This used to be a staple item as a kid for me that we would stop at before school during the week.
Favorite item on menu: Marble
Photo credit: Follow them on Instagram here!
Baker’s Dozen Donuts
The sign out front simply says “Donuts.” It’s a family operated Doughnut Shop with an assortment of yeast raised and cake doughnuts. They also carry bear claws and are known for their tasty apple fritters. There are 3 Baker’s Dozen’s in the Triangle.
Favorite item on menu: Raspberry Jelly-Filled
Photo credit: Follow them on Facebook here!
Tepuy Doughnuts
Specialty is handcrafted gourmet sourdough doughnuts. They offer an assortment of confections, and do daily doughnut drop offs Sunday – Friday after 10am from popular artisanal sourdough doughnuts to Idle Hour. Also allows for custom orders from Tepuy Doughnuts to be picked up at their location.
Favorite item on menu: Churro Donuts
Photo credit: Follow them on Instagram here!
Carolina Glazed Donuts
A local, traditional doughnut shop with an assortment of raised and cake doughnuts as well as some cinnamon bun style doughnuts in fun and cute shapes. Glazed donuts are truly their speciality but have so many other fun options to offer everyone.
Favorite item on menu: Classic Glaze
Photo credit: Follow them on Facebook here!
Burney’s Sweets & More
Started with a dream for something even sweeter than retirement. Quickly, news of Burney’s Sweets & More spread like buttercream icing, and everybody wanted a slice. Featuring not just donuts but also cupcakes, cookies, cakes, pies, and more, there is something sweet for everyone.
Favorite item on menu: Raised Donuts
Photo credit: Follow them on Instagram here!
Layered Croissanterie
A croissant bakery in Downtown Raleigh that makes an assortment of croissants and croissant-inspired pastries. Their menu rotates monthly and usually includes either a croissant-doughnut hybrid or a filled brioche donut.
Favorite item on menu: Glazed Knot
Photo credit: Follow them on Instagram here!
Kitoko Bites
Vegan and Gluten-Free folks, rejoice! Kitoko Bites—which claim to be like a doughnut, but better—offer bite size vegan doughnut holes, with gluten-free options, with an assortment of fun toppings. Their creation is kind of like a unicorn because they can exclude a huge list of allergens. They have at vendor’s booth the Raleigh Farmers Market that’s open Wednesday to Saturday.
Favorite item on menu: Powdered Sugar with Chocolate Drizzle
Photo credit: Follow them on Instagram here!
Heirloom
An Asian-owned and inspired coffee shop that offers food, coffee, tea, and bar menus which include house-made Mochi Donuts in a few flavors that are listed on the website as Gluten-free. Their menu says “our mochi donuts are baked fresh throughout the day for a crisp exterior but chewy mochi center.”
Favorite item on menu: Mochi Donuts
Photo credit: Follow them on Instagram here!
There are so many amazing donut spots in the area but these are some of my favorites in Raleigh that I love to visit. As always, thank y’all for stopping by and reading. I will see y’all back here next time.
