Texas isn’t just famous for BBQ and tacos – it’s also home to some of the most mouthwatering donut shops in the country. From giant, Texas-sized creations to artisanal masterpieces with unique flavors, these bakeries prove that donuts aren’t just breakfast food – they’re an art form. Whether you’re a local or just passing through the Lone Star State, these 15 donut destinations are worth setting your alarm for.
1. Round Rock Donuts, Round Rock
Famous for their signature orange-yellow donuts, this legendary bakery has been serving happy customers since 1926. The secret? A yeast-risen dough that creates an impossibly light texture with just the right amount of chew.
Locals line up early for their famous Texas-sized donut – a massive treat that’s equivalent to about a dozen regular donuts! Perfect for birthdays or just showing off on social media.
While their glazed donuts steal the spotlight, don’t overlook their cinnamon rolls and apple fritters. Cash-only and worth every penny, this iconic spot represents Texas donut history at its finest.
2. Gourdough’s Big Fat Donuts & Coffee, Austin
Redefining what a donut can be, Gourdough’s serves dessert-style creations from a vintage airstream trailer that’s become an Austin landmark. Each donut is made-to-order and served piping hot with outrageous toppings that blur the line between breakfast and dessert.
Try the ‘Mother Clucker’ – a donut topped with fried chicken strips and honey butter – for a true Texas-style sweet-savory experience. Dessert fans can’t resist the ‘Fat Elvis’ with its banana, bacon, and peanut butter toppings.
With portions big enough to share (but so good you won’t want to), Gourdough’s has expanded to multiple locations while maintaining its quirky Austin charm.
3. Voodoo Doughnut, Houston
Portland’s famous pink box has found a welcome home in Houston, bringing its eccentric charm and unconventional flavors to the Bayou City. The shop’s quirky atmosphere matches its creative offerings – where else can you find donuts topped with Fruit Loops or Tang powder?
Lines often stretch around the block, but the wait provides time to contemplate the extensive menu of over 50 varieties. First-timers should try the signature Voodoo Doll – a raised yeast donut filled with raspberry jelly, topped with chocolate frosting, and stabbed with a pretzel stake.
4. Twinkle Donuts, The Colony
A hidden gem in The Colony, Twinkle Donuts has built a devoted following through consistently fresh donuts and friendly service. Family-owned and operated, this unpretentious shop focuses on perfecting classic varieties rather than chasing trends.
Morning visitors are rewarded with donuts still warm from the fryer – the apple fritters are especially magnificent when fresh, with crispy edges giving way to a tender, cinnamon-spiced interior. Their blueberry cake donuts offer the perfect balance of sweetness and tang.
Beyond donuts, their savory kolaches filled with jalapeño sausage provide the ideal counterpoint to sweet treats. Regulars know to arrive early – the best selections often sell out by mid-morning.
5. The Salty Donut, Dallas
Miami’s artisanal donut sensation found a perfect second home in Dallas’s Bishop Arts District. The Salty elevates donuts to gourmet status with locally-sourced ingredients and seasonal rotating flavors that keep customers coming back to discover what’s new.
Their 24-hour brioche dough creates an exceptionally light, buttery base for creations like the Texas-exclusive Dallas Hot Chicken donut – a savory-sweet masterpiece featuring local honey and hot chicken.
Coffee enthusiasts appreciate their thoughtfully sourced espresso program that pairs perfectly with their treats.
6. Texas Donuts, Wichita Falls
Living up to its straightforward name, Texas Donuts delivers exactly what Wichita Falls locals crave – consistently excellent classic donuts without pretension. This family-owned shop opens early at 5 AM to serve shift workers and early risers with fresh-made treats daily.
Their glazed donuts achieve that perfect balance – a light, airy interior with a thin, crackly glaze that shatters just right when you take a bite. Beyond the classics, their cream-filled donuts deserve special mention – never skimping on the filling and always featuring a light, fresh-whipped cream. Cash only and worth keeping small bills on hand for!
7. Grace Donuts, Northlake
Tucked into a suburban strip mall, Grace Donuts proves that extraordinary donuts can come from unassuming places. The Korean-American family behind this Northlake gem brings meticulous attention to detail and consistent quality to every batch.
Their signature item is the cronuts – flaky, layered pastries that combine the best qualities of croissants and donuts. Available in limited quantities each day, these labor-intensive treats develop a cult following among those in the know.
Early birds catch more than just worms here – they also get first pick of the freshly made kolaches with homemade fillings. The owners greet regulars by name and often throw in extra donut holes for children, creating the warm community feeling that chain shops can’t replicate.
8. S H Donuts, Austin
Austinites know that sometimes the best donuts come from the most unassuming places. S H Donuts exemplifies this with their no-frills shop focusing entirely on perfecting the basics – and succeeding brilliantly.
Morning visitors are greeted by the intoxicating aroma of fresh dough hitting hot oil. Their old-fashioned cake donuts have developed a dedicated following for their slightly crisp exterior and tender crumb that isn’t overly sweet. F
amily-owned for over 20 years, they’ve resisted trendy flavors and Instagram bait in favor of consistency and quality. Their apple fritters – massive, craggy creations with perfect cinnamon distribution – are worth setting an alarm for, as they frequently sell out before 9 AM.
9. Donut Licious, Spring
Suburban Spring hit the donut jackpot when Donut Licious opened its doors, bringing creative flavors and exceptional quality to this Houston suburb. The shop strikes the perfect balance between classic offerings and innovative specials that change weekly. Their raised donuts feature an ethereally light texture that practically melts in your mouth.
Weekends bring special treats like their renowned maple bacon bars – topped with real maple glaze and crispy bacon that creates an irresistible sweet-savory combination. Families appreciate their kid-friendly attitude, including free donut holes for children and special holiday-themed creations.
The owners’ commitment to freshness means they make smaller batches throughout the morning rather than one large batch – ensuring every customer gets a fresh-made treat.
10. Detour Doughnuts, Frisco
Elevating donuts to artisanal status, Detour has quickly become Frisco’s go-to spot for special occasion treats and everyday indulgences. The chef-driven concept features seasonal ingredients and unexpected flavor combinations that change regularly.
Their brioche-based donuts serve as canvas for inventive toppings like brown butter glaze with candied pecans or lemon curd with torched meringue. Coffee aficionados appreciate their carefully sourced beans and proper espresso service.
While prices run higher than traditional donut shops, the quality and creativity justify the premium – these are donuts meant to be savored rather than mindlessly consumed.
11. Pop Donuts, Plano
Bringing made-to-order mini donuts to Plano, Pop Donuts created a new category of donut experience where freshness is guaranteed. Customers watch as their tiny treats are fried before their eyes and customized with their choice of toppings and drizzles.
The bite-sized creations come in orders of 6, 12, or 24, encouraging sharing and sampling multiple flavor combinations. Kids especially love watching the donut machine in action as it produces perfect little rings that emerge hot and ready for toppings.
Beyond the novelty factor, the quality stands up to scrutiny – these mini donuts have a remarkable crisp-yet-fluffy texture that’s impossible to achieve with donuts that sit in a display case. Their s’mores topping combination with chocolate, graham cracker, and torched marshmallow proves particularly popular.
12. Duck Donuts, San Antonio
This North Carolina-born chain found a welcoming home in San Antonio, bringing its made-to-order concept to eager Texas donut lovers.
The shop’s vanilla cake donut base comes hot off the fryer, then gets customized with your choice of coating, topping, and drizzle. The warm donuts create the perfect foundation for creative combinations – the maple icing with chopped bacon creates a particularly Texan-approved sweet-savory treat. F
Unlike many donut shops that close by noon, Duck Donuts stays open throughout the day, making afternoon donut cravings easily satisfiable. Their donut sundaes – featuring a warm donut topped with ice cream – offer a decadent twist on the traditional ice cream shop experience.
13. Donut Palace, Kerrville
Serving the Texas Hill Country with exceptional donuts for over two decades, Kerrville’s Donut Palace has achieved local institution status. The shop’s old-school approach focuses on perfecting traditional recipes rather than chasing trends. Their glazed donuts achieve that elusive perfect texture – light and airy with just enough substance to satisfy.
Beyond donuts, their savory breakfast croissants filled with egg, cheese, and sausage or bacon provide substantial fuel for hill country adventures. The friendly staff remembers regulars’ orders and treats newcomers like old friends, embodying small-town Texas hospitality at its finest.
14. Bougie’s Donuts & Coffee, Sunset Valley
Bringing craft donuts to Sunset Valley, Bougie’s combines donut artistry with serious coffee culture. Despite the playful name, there’s nothing pretentious about their approach – just thoughtfully made donuts using quality ingredients.
Their yeast donuts feature a distinctive sourdough base that adds complexity and reduces sweetness, allowing the flavors of their housemade glazes and fillings to shine. The brown butter glaze has converted many visitors into regulars with its nutty, caramelized notes.
Coffee receives equal attention, with beans from local roasters prepared by well-trained baristas.
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