1. Long's Bakery in Indianapolis
Long's is the first place on my list because it probably is the most well-known. It has been around for awhile, and it has made it to quite a few "Best donuts in the Mid-West/Indiana" lists. Yes, those lists are a thing, and yes, I've spent too much time looking at them. Long's is just down the road from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and is a CASH ONLY establishment. It's crazy to think that a bakery would have lines at all hours of the day, but Long's does. I've been several times and have stood in those lines. This place has a lot of baked goods to offer besides donuts, but most people are there for the donuts. In my visits, I sampled mostly cake donuts, all of which have been delightful. If I had to pick a favorite, I'd go with the Applesauce Donut, but I'm a sucker for anything apple.
2. Rise'n Roll Bakery (3 Locations)
Rise'n Roll was a revelation when I first discovered it in Fort Wayne. The Fort Wayne store is not their main store, but it is the only one I've been to and the closest one to me. The store has Amish food, specializing in jams/jellies, other canned goods, meat, and cheese, and bakery items. They also can do meals there as well, with simple breakfast items and lunch sandwiches. The main draw for me is their Cinnamon Caramel Donut, affectionately known as the Amish Crack donut. These beauties are covered in a caramel glaze, but then are covered in powdered sugar after that, so when you take a bite it just melts in your mouth. These donuts are truly a dream, and it's no wonder they were voted to be the official donut for National Donut Day in 2018. If you go on that day (June 5th), and they do what they did last year, you'll get one FOR FREE.
3. Deluxe Donuts in Anderson
Deluxe Donuts has, in my humble opinion, some of the best cake donuts I've ever had. This place has been serving delicious donuts for quite some time based on the decor of the place, and they are open 24 hours! This huge, seeing as how many local donuts stores will close in the early afternoon or when they sell out. Not here! I've enjoyed every kind of donut I've had from this place, and have especially enjoyed seasonal flavors like peach and pumpkin. My favorite from here would have to be the Dutch Crunch Donut. It's hard to describe, so you'll have to go try one for yourself.
4. Jack's Donuts (Multiple Locations)
More and more of these places have popped up around Northern Indianapolis over the last couple years, which has been great to see. This local chain serves up anything from a classic chocolate glazed to maple bacon donuts or donuts with cereal on them. I wouldn't say these are as good as some of the others on this list, but I haven't had a bad donut from there yet. I appreciate Jack's because they stay open later than most local places and have good seating areas to hang out and visit.
5. Mary Lou Donuts in Lafayette
It was by chance that I happened upon this gem while out disc golfing in Lafayette. I immediately fell in love with both the donuts here and how much I had to pay for them. These are fairly cheap donuts, but be warned this is a CASH ONLY store. This place tends to garner lines as well, though the couple times I have been in the afternoon I have not encountered a line. My favorite from here is the Apple Fritter, which is large and packed with cinnamon and apples. The blueberry cake donut was a close second.
6. Titus Bakery (2 locations)
I was lucky enough to be able to try Titus Bakery this winter, and I was not disappointed. This is another place that sells a wide variety of baked goods, so it's definitely worth a visit even if you're not a donut person (but let's be real...if you're already this far into this blog you ARE a donut person). They have quite a few types of donuts here too, so I'm eager to go back and try more. Their most popular donut is the Pershing, a donut with maple icing and cinnamon on the inside. I can attest, that is a GOOD donut.
7. Poppy's Xtreme Donuts in Marion
The donut store took off a couple years ago in my town after Marion's other donut store closed. It has been expanding its business ever since and now has a second location along with many other venues that sell their donuts. The draw here is their yeast donuts, especially their filled donuts. Even though I'm more of a cake donut guy, I enjoy their Peanut Butter Fluff filled donut and their Blueberry filled donut. They do have a small selection of cake donuts here, but they aren't as special as their yeast donuts.
8. Quack Daddy Donuts in Pendleton
This store is located right in the small downtown of Pendleton, and was quite busy when I stopped in. The reviews for the place are glowing, and it seems like many people are delighted in a donut store that lets you customize your own donut. They pump out fresh (mini) cake donuts quite often during the day, and you are able to pick toppings and frostings for your donuts. Toppings range from peanut butter drizzle to cereal to bacon, which reminds me a lot of toppings at Jack's donuts. This store is a lot like the chain Peace, Love, and Little Donuts in Ohio, which is high praise. One thing that sets this place apart from Jack's and PLLD is that they will serve you milk in a frosted mug, which many people seem to enjoy.
9. Tom's Donuts in Fort Wayne
I usually end up at Rise'n Roll when I'm looking for a donut in Fort Wayne, but Tom's made a Buzzfeed list for best donuts in Indiana, so I've ventured there twice and left satisfied both times. It's a pretty nondescript building, but the donuts are amazing and cheap. I bought 3 donuts there for less than $2, so that's saying something. Once I came in and there were a lot of regulars in there drinking coffee and socializing, and I couldn't help but smile. My favorite donut from here was the Apple Spice donut.
10. Dan's Variety Bakery in Kokomo
To close out my list, I go with another place whose donuts I have yet to taste. Here's the deal: I've gone twice and they've been sold out both times. Normally that would be upsetting, but both times I've come an hour or so before their closing hour (noon). Dan's, more affectionately known as Dirty Dan's, is unique is that they open at 1am. Who would want donuts that late? It turns out that a lot of people do. Reviews on Tripadvisor and Yelp declare that there are frequently lines out the door when they open, and many friends of mine who went to nearby colleges said they loved going on donut runs to Dan's at 1am. I'm conflicted on whether I want to have a late night and get fresh donuts, or if I should wake up early and get them around 8am.
(Note: I did not include any orchards for their apple cider donuts, though if you like the sound of that, check out Tuttle Orchard, Apple of His Eye Orchard, and Deer Creek Orchard)
Honorable Mention: Heyerly's in Ossian: I was reminded about this one after posting this, but I don't think it beats out any of the 10 I listed. The place smells great and has a variety of baked goods (even homemade pasta!), and had a pretty good applesauce donut. I also remember buying cookies and enjoying those as well.
If you like donuts, you may notice there are some notable ones missing. I either haven't been there yet, haven't heard about it yet, or it may be just okay. Here are some examples of that last reason...
-Square Donuts (multiple locations): fun concept, but donuts are just okay
-Concannon's (Muncie): the store impressed me, the cake donuts notsomuch (they are better known for yeast donuts)
-Taylor's (Indianapolis): good, not great
-GADCO (Indianapolis): expensive craft donuts, and though the ones I had were good, the were out of the one I really wanted (french toast donut)
-Wabash Donut Shoppe(Wabash)- good apple fritters, but they either closed or moved away
-Rocket 88 Donuts (Indianapolis)- closed, and they were expensive (though pretty decent)
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