Friday is National Doughnut Day. Some might want to take advantage of the delightful freebie offer at YoYo Donuts, which is handing out one free doughnut -- the ones with the holes in the center, so no Bismarcks, Long Johns or fritters -- starting at 6 a.m. and running while supplies last. Expect a line.
But for those who want to use the day as an excuse to indulge in a non-freebie fashion, here are a few options:
Consider one (or two, or three. . .) of Anne Rucker's sublime brioche doughnuts — filled with Nutella or a vanilla bean cream ($3), or glistening in a brown-butter glaze ($2) — at her just-opened Bogart's Doughnut Co. (pictured, above). Hint: Arrive early; doors open at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 7:30 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. Rucker closes when she sells out, which can be as early as 10:30 a.m.
Or drop in on Glam Doll Donuts for the weekly over-the-top special ($3), a peanut butter-cream filled number with a raspberry glaze and peanut crunch on top.
Or look to Twitter for the whereabouts of the Chef Shack for co-owner Carrie Summer's exquisite, cardamom- and cinnamon-dusted (and organic, so they're good for you, right?) mini-doughnuts. If the truck isn't out on Friday, head to its bricks-and-mortar iteration, which serves dinner starting at 5 p.m.
Or go old-school and drop in on a Baker's Wife's Pastry Shop for a plump, chocolate-iced cake doughnut (54 cents), or to Mel-O-Glaze for a triple-glazed raised doughnut ($1).
Or book it to the Birchwood Cafe for a vegan/gluten-free doughnut ($2.50; this week's flavor is chocolate-banana-chai), or to Hans' Bakery for one of the state's great Bismarcks ($1.69), or to Mojo Monkey Donuts for the unbelievable maple-bacon bars (also known as Long Johns); owner Lisa Clark is making a donation to the Salvation Army -- the originator of National Doughnut Day -- with every doughnut purchase.
I could go on, and on, and on. For a list of my favorite Twin Cities doughnuts, go here.
