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

Chocolate Potato Chip Ring Donut Review – Giant Eagle Bakery – Erie, PA

Today I decided to go with a business I knew would be open – Giant Eagle in Yorktown Plaza. Grocery store donuts get a bad rap but their bakeries are where we go for our birthday cakes and breads, so why be shy about their donuts?

Looking in the case there was an impressive spread of regular donut staples, but one stood out from the crowd – the Chocolate Potato Chip Ring. The chocolate potato chip trend intrigues snackers – and rightfully so – providing the sweet and salty fix blah, blah. I paired the donut with a glass of fancy milk that was given to us as a gift (strange to write that) so I’m not sure where it was purchased. The dough is a raised ring without a lot of sugar, so if a floury, non-sweet dough is to your taste then you will love it. The chocolate was the only flavor in the donut and it was run-of -the-mill chocolate, but I will never (rarely) diss chocolate, so comparatively it was the donut’s best feature. Then the *highlight* of the donut!!#$%@*+! ***POTATO CHIPS*** !!#$%@*+! So glamorous. Innovative. It looks like a brown bag lunch was smashed at the bottom of a bookbag and those teeny bags of chips mostly full of air busted open and settled on a slightly melted chocolate surface. Then, you ate it anyway cause you hungry. The chips added crunch, which brings excitement to any donut but did not add flavor or help fill my growing belly.

THE BREAKDOWN: Chocolate Potato Chip Ring

Store: Giant Eagle Click to see a chain store website 🙂

Address: 2501 W. 12th St., Erie, PA 16505

Cost: $.89

What they want to highlight: It’s “unique” and has chips.

What I thought was the highlight: More like a dim light but the chocolate.

Rating out of 5 stars: 2.5 – will satisfy you in a donut fit but not for long.

Would I buy it again?: Maybe if there were only this, a jelly filled and/or plain cakes to choose from.

What could make it better?: If Giant Eagle didn’t half commit to the trend. This is a case of more is more. Put some sea salt on top and a caramel filling to make a Sea Salt Caramel Chocolate Potato Chip Ring. I’d buy that again 🙂

What do you think? Over the potato chip trend? Want more? Want it to be more better? Give small town America the sweet and salty it deserves? Love/hate grocery store donuts? Leave a comment below 🙂

IMG_0254*Mostly* full spread at Giant Eagle Yorktown. Now thinking *I should have got a long john.*

IMG_0255Don’t the chips look like a mistake?!? Also, ignore the calorie count. There’s no room for something like that here.

IMG_0259When I brought her home ❤

My gifted fancy milk (on the left…in case you weren’t sure). Featured right – one of the best couples I know – Milk and Donut.