RI's Best Donuts to Die For

Ann & Michael Martini, GoLocalProv Food Editors

RI's Best Donuts to Die For

This weekend is National Donut Weekend and it got us thinking about Rhode Island's tradition and love of donuts. We’re not alone in it, of course. Donuts are eaten all over the world, from Asia to Africa. It is proof that in a time of culinary  experimentation and extravagance, sometimes the simplest things make us the happiest. The state of Rhode Island has a little more than one million residents and, astonishingly, more than 200 donut shops. A staggering one donut shop for every 5000 residents? Where did this love come from, we wondered. For us, it was childhood trips to the beach--the old way--and stops at Allie's. The combination of tasty treat and beach excitement was tough to beat. These fried confections come in a myriad of shapes and sizes and are both yeast leavened and cake-like. Our mood swings between the lightness of the yeast raised and the nice chew you get from the cake-like. Through the years our travels have taken us to all corners of this beautiful state and what we have found is that even as tastes and diets change, our love of donuts never wavers. Here we have 5 very cool independent shops for you to get your donut on...

Rhode Island's Best Donuts

Allie's Donuts

North Kingstown

The godmother---scratch that--godfather of donut shops. Contrary to popular belief, Allie was not a woman. It was the venerable Frederick Alvin “Allie” Briggs. He began this tradition in 1968 when he converted a sub shop and began rolling out the confections we love. By the mid-1980's he would sell 800 dozen donuts a day during the summer. That's a crazy amount donuts! Today, the business is admirably manned by the Drescher family and they still use the same secret flour from a small company in Wisconsin. These donuts are heavenly. They have exceptional flavor and texture. Go with some of the old-fashioned style here...they will bring you right back to childhood!

3661 Quaker Lane

295-8036

www.facebook.com/AlliesDonuts

Ma's

Middletown

Our next stop is on Aquidneck Island. Ma's Donuts has been serving fresh, hot and tasty donuts since 1993...literally. They are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for all of your donut…uh, needs. Valdimar and Palmira Leite have turned this little spot into a must-try for local donut lovers by providing almost 45 varieties of donuts daily. The creations range from the tame to the outrageous, but they all feature the love. The hand-cut crullers are truly divine as are the jelly sticks. The maple sticks also offered a delicious flavor on our late night visit.

78 West Main Rd

841-5750

www.masdonuts.com

Sip-N-Dip

Bristol

We take our donuts seriously here in Rhode Island. So serious, in fact, that we have a fabulous donut shop located right next to our very cool East Bay bike path. You heard that correctly...exercise and donuts side by side in beautiful Bristol. How cool is that? Sip-N-Dip has that cool, old-school vibe you're looking for in a donut--and killer ice cream-shop. The chocolate frosted donuts were very, very good. They had the right amount of chew to the pastry and the chocolate to donut ratio was right on! Check them out this summer on the bike path or during the 4th of July celebrations.

775 Hope St.

253-7970

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sip-N-Dip
 
 

Donut Bazar

Cranston

One man...many donuts. This little shop, on Reservoir Avenue, is a haven for West Bay residents. The owner mans the kitchen very ably and makes everything fresh daily. When we stopped there were several people ahead of us but the line moved quickly. The donuts themselves were terrific. We tried a honey dipped and a really good cinnamon dusted. The honey dipped was still warm and had a nice crispiness but we were blown away by the cinnamon. It was light and chewy and made you remember why you love these things.

823 Reservoir Ave.

336-6441
 

Payne's Donuts

Block Island

Tucked away on the back side of Block Island is New Harbor and Smuggler's Cove. This area sees more tourists on boats than on foot or bike. To that end, there is the wonderful Payne's Dock. This little area has everything a tired seafarer could need, including awesome donuts. Payne's Donuts is a plain looking spot, but boy those donuts! If you are looking for a ton of toppings, this isn't the place for you. If you crave warm, perfectly crisp, sugar-coated-or plain-donuts, Do Not Pass Go! Get there this summer. We are always amazed at how light they are!

1 Ocean Avenue

image: Jeff T, (on Yelp)

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