A Dozen Doughnut Places to Try Around B.C. for National Doughnut Day

Homer Simpson has his beloved pink-iced doughnut with sprinkles from Lard Lad. Canadians can always find apple fritters and maple doughnuts at Tim Hortons. And anyone who has ever been to Playland has definitely sampled some piping-hot mini doughnuts—and had their hands and face coated with cinnamon sugar as a result. But where else can a doughnut-loving British Columbian get these mouthwatering, diet-defying treats? Just in time for National Doughnut Day on June 6, we present a dozen of the best places to get doughnuts in B.C.

Vancouver: Lee’s Donuts

Don’t be discouraged by the (inevitable) long line at Lee’s Donuts in the Granville Island Public Market. This mom-and-pop shop has been in business since 1979, making doughnuts from scratch that are always worth the wait. Most popular is the classic honey dip, which usually sells out by early afternoon. The company now has locations throughout the Lower Mainland, including one in the domestic departures terminal at YVR.

North Vancouver: Cream Pony

Head to Cream Pony on the North Shore to indulge in Southern fried chicken, cornbread and deep-friend pickles, followed by handmade doughnuts. The hottest doughnut options are the Jelly Bomb—filled with raspberry jam and known to sell out in just a few hours—and the dipped-in-vanilla Pink Pony.

West Vancouver: Goldie’s Donuts & Bakery

Each delectable doughnut at Goldie’s Donuts & Bakery in Horseshoe Bay is the result of a slow fermentation process that takes 24 hours. The end result? An incredible texture and fluffiness that tastes exactly like more.

New Westminster: Yum Gourmet Donuts

The flavours change weekly at Yum Gourmet Donuts in New West, but the crème brûlée is in such high demand that it tends to reappear every other week. Most popular of all is the Big Ass Apple Fritter, which remains on the menu each day and usually sells out by early afternoon. And if a single made-from-scratch doughnut just isn’t enough to satisfy your sweet tooth, then check out the selection of doughnut cakes.

Port Moody: Holy Mochi Donuts

What do you get when you add a mochi twist to the sweet art of making doughnuts? Holy Mochi Donuts. Crafted in small batches from glutinous rice flour, each flower-shaped doughnut is perfectly chewy and fluffy—and gluten-free. The flavours change monthly.

Squamish: Fox & Oak

This coffee shop and bakehouse in downtown Squamish specializes in naturally leavened doughnuts. The bestselling flavour is mango passionfruit—on the busiest days, it sells out by 4 p.m. Other options that hit the sweet spot include the cinnamon sugar cake doughnut, the maple walnut brioche doughnut and the gluten-friendly raspberry and black sesame doughnut.

Victoria: Yonni’s Doughnuts

If you don’t have time to head to the Yonni’s Doughnuts bakery on Discovery Street, you can also stop by one of the company’s four Discovery Coffee locations to find handcrafted doughnuts such as the cinnamon sugar ring, the chocolate cruller, the raspberry jam filled or the classic vanilla glaze. Most beloved is the maple apple fritter—it usually sells out by noon each day at every location. Assorted vegan doughnuts are also available.

BONUS Victoria: Esquimalt Bake Shop

For more than 30 years, the Esquimalt Bake Shop has been making mouthwatering breads, buns, muffins, cookies, squares and, of course, doughnuts. Yummy choices include the classic glazed, the Boston cream and the raspberry jam. Most popular of all is the apple fritter, which often sells out quickly, especially on Fridays and Saturdays.

Nanaimo: Milk Jam Donuts

The London fog croissant doughnut from Milk Jam Donuts on Commercial Street features a laminated croissant-style dough that’s topped with an earl grey glaze and filled with vanilla pastry cream. On the busiest days, it can sell out in under an hour. But lots of other scrumptious choices fill the menu, too.

Galiano Island: Oxeye

It’s worth taking the ferry to Galiano Island just to try the doughnuts at Oxeye, especially the honey cruller and the sourdough berliner filled with seasonal jams and curds. Tuesdays and Saturdays are doughnut days at the cafe—but don’t dilly-dally, because they often sell out by 10 a.m. in summertime, or by midday during shoulder seasons. Oxeye also dishes up leisurely brunches and lunches, including sandwiches, salads and pastas.

Kelowna: 350° Bakehouse and Cafe

From its new location on Spall Road, 350° Bakehouse and Cafe now churns out as many as 1,400 made-from-scratch doughnuts each day—and they’re usually all gone by 2 p.m. It can be tough to choose just one from all the tasty flavours, but most popular are the cronuts and the apple fritters.

Kamloops: Mountainside Donuts

Stop by this roadside stand on Thursday, Friday or Saturday to pick up farm-fresh eggs from the owners’ backyard hens and old-fashioned glazed doughnuts made with love. On Saturdays only, you can also find delicious sourdough doughnuts.