Donut Reviews, Erie Reader Articles by ME

Chocolate and Vanilla Glazed Donut – The Doughdrop Inn – Erie, PA

The past week is historically significant for many reasons – I was born on July 2nd, the United States’ birthday was July 4th, and a new donut shop emerged in Erie, PA. The Doughdrop Inn caters to the upper west side of Erie. Although there are many great donut options in Erie, (such as Mighty Fine, H & K Do Nut Shop, and Jack Frost) I think the more the merrier. Since opening on July 5th, the Doughdrop Inn can’t keep their donuts on the racks. They sold out Thursday and when I arrived Friday around 8:30AM they were almost sold out again, despite making more donuts than they had the day before. This made my heart happy but made the brains of many Erie residents visiting the donut shop basically implode today. They couldn’t grasp the idea of not getting exactly what they wanted (a full selection) when they wanted it (any time from opening to the shop’s 2PM closing time). They talked back to the nearly empty shelves. One man remarked, “This is no Barbatos,” referring to the restaurant that once resided in the same space and has been out of business for who knows how long. Basically, what I’m getting at is the people of Erie were showing their ass and it wasn’t cute. However, the staff of the Doughdrop Inn was professional, kind, and their smiles did not waiver. Instead of giving a lecture on how to handle your mouth in public and respect people trying to make your city better and offering a SERVICE you that you CHOSE to employ, I’ll stick to reviewing a donut.

I will certainly visit again to try out more of the many from scratch donut varieties that they offer but this review is about the Chocolate Vanilla Glazed Donut. They don’t have official names for the donuts so I’m hoping they change this one to Marble Cake or something. Anyway, names don’t mean anything. The cake cake cake cake is all anyone cares about and this is the best cake you can get. I am still thinking about it and when I will get to have another one. It’s like a bundt cake or a sweet bread but like the best one you have ever had. The cake has a real chocolate taste that is rich and not overwhelming but definitely will give any chocolate lover their fix. The vanilla is a nice balance to the chocolate. The cake is soft and the texture is not spongy or dry. It is perfect. You can tell that it is made from scratch. The glaze isn’t too sweet or thick or thin. It perfectly covers each bite.

I’d highly recommend any of their cake donuts and can’t wait to get back and try their sandwiches. Specifically, I want the Donut Monte Christo breakfast sandwich that is described as a savory, sweet grilled donut with ham, turkey, and Swiss served with a side of homemade raspberry preserves for only $3.29. My fat mouth is watering.

THE BREAKDOWN: Chocolate Vanilla Glazed

Store: The Doughdrop Inn lives here

Address: 1529 W 38th St, Erie, PA 16508

Cost: About $1

What they want to highlight: They make donuts from scratch.

What I thought was the highlight: They make donuts from scratch.

Rating out of 5 stars: 4.2

Would I buy it again?: Yes, for sure.

What could make it better?: If Erie residents would have more chill.

LEAVE A COMMENT about your Doughdrop Inn experience. What’s the best chocolate glazed donut you’ve had? LIKE this post if you like it – it’s basically the easiest thing you can do today.

IMG_0975Outside

IMG_0999Happy customers 🙂

IMG_1014Seating area

IMG_1022

IMG_1024There it is. One of the best cake donuts you’ll have with super chocolate taste and a perfectly balanced vanilla cake offset.

Donut Reviews

Glazed Creme Filled – Beiler’s Doughnuts – Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia, PA

So I have been super lucky and hit some donut hot spots since starting my donut diaries endeavors. Beiler’s Doughnuts (located in the Reading Terminal Market situated in my own personal hedonistic city of Philadelphia) continually tops lists as the #1 donut in Pennsylvania. (Google it.) When I lived in Philly in the early 2000s, Reading Terminal topped my personal list of places to eat. I didn’t know Beiler’s by name. I called it the Amish bakery – but they’re actually Pennsylvania Dutch. They had a small collection of donuts offered and I always chose the powdered cream filled. Delicious. Also, their restaurant had a not-of-this-world chicken and waffles special that is hard to pin down the day it’s offered and a bakery that every single things is way below big city prices and doesn’t offer anything less than the best *fill in the blank* you have ever bought. My favorites are the cheesecake cupcakes and raspberry pie. Any Beiler’s product can change souls and make grown men cry.

Keep in mind when I tried these donuts I had high standards – holding onto my past over-the-top fantastical experiences and now reading from multiple food journalists these are the best donuts IN ALL OF PA. The first donut I tried from the all-donut Beiler’s shop was the Glazed Creme Filled. Maybe I should have gone big and tried the peanut butter and jelly or the key lime donut to have felt the true essence of a number one donut shop. Glazed is glazed and this is DEFINITELY a delicious glazed donut. It’s similar to the cloud-like sweetness of a hot Krispy Kreme glazed but encompasses elevated taste, meaning the ingredients are of a better quality and it didn’t have to be hot to equal Krispy Kreme’s goodness (they gotta be hot from there or else they’re mediocre at best). The creme was not that nasty whipped cream or a grainy sugar – it’s light and fluffy and sweet and smooth. Of the fluff and sweet cream-filled variety, it is probs the best I had. I want to rave and say it’s the best donut I’ve had in Pennsylvania but I’m not sure. It was definitely the best glazed cream filled I have had because usually they aren’t mixed so major 🙂 🙂

THE BREAKDOWN: Glazed Creme Filled

Store: Beiler’s Doughnuts – Visit them virtually here

Address: 51 N 12th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107

Cost: About $1

What they want to highlight: They sell donuts.

What I thought was the highlight: They sell donuts.

Rating out of 5 stars: 4.0 – I mean if I said cream filled and glazed donuts weren’t my favorites/go-tos I’d be lying so a mix is 2 for the price of 1 🙂

Would I buy it again?: Probably, but they have so many kinds I might branch out.

What could make it better?: More frosting like cream – but that is just my sweet tooth – I think the majority of people would say this is the best cream filling they have ever had.

Do you think Beiler’s Doughnuts are the best donuts in Pennsylvania? Are they the best even in Philadelphia? How much do you love Reading Terminal? LEAVE A COMMENT and tell the world about it. Please 🙂

IMG_0838A sign of glory

IMG_0827IMG_0828Filling paradise ❤

IMG_0831Husband ❤ Waiting to check out

IMG_0836Lunch was at The Original Turkey in Reading Terminal. Honestly, I could write a whole blog just about this place’s 4 sandwiches and 4 sides. Phenomenal. And that husband is cuuuuuuuute.

img_0842.jpgIt looks homemade in the best way.

IMG_0843Crispy glaze, soft cream, good filling coverage, and almost croissant textured dough. Love.

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