Donut fever!! Vancouver has a great local artisan donut scene! The Donut is no longer the quick-to-go snack at breakfast, it’s been transformed from a humble snack to a sophisticated dessert. You can bring donuts for dessert after dinner, for high tea or for a picnic. You can now enjoy them any time of the day. Vancouver has many great donut options. Unlike the typical mass-produced donuts, the artisan varieties are produced in small batches, with higher quality and local ingredients. These donuts are rich and flavourful.
This focus on quality and unique flavours has spurred a donut renaissance in Vancouver. Most stores have seasonal donuts, unique flavours and interesting combinations.
Beyond the Glaze: Explore Artisan Creations
From classic glazed and rich chocolate fudge to unique creations like lavender honey and maple bacon, the doughnut scene in bc offers a flavour for every craving. Each bite is a perfect blend of creativity and indulgence, made fresh daily to delight your taste buds. Some popular flavours:
Lemon Meringue: This is a creamy lemon and refreshing lemon-flavoured donut. The citrus note cuts through the sweetness of the donut and is balanced out with the creamy meringue.
Earl Grey– Fragrant donut, with subtle tea flavour.
Maple Bacon– blend of salty and sweet, with real bacon pieces.
Match Green Tea-It has a fresh grassy flavour with a blend of bitter and sweet. its earthy taste is unique and delicious.
Lavender– this is a floral flavour that is fragrant and yummy. It has elements of perfume with herbal undertones that are aromatic.
Churro is a popular dessert with a cinnamon and sugar-crunchy texture. It has a spicy and warm taste. The crispy texture, with the sugar coating and soft inside, is very delicious.
Peanut butter and Jelly is a classic combo with creamy peanut icing and tart jelly often topped with crunchy toasted peanuts. It is often a crowd favourite.
What is unique about the Vancouver Donut Scene:
- Quality local ingredients– Focus on local quality ingredients
- Creative– focused on innovative flavours and unique combinations.
- Community -foster a sense of community and create neighbourhood meeting spots for people to enjoy a nice snack with coffee.
- Sustainability– there is a focus on sustainable practices and sourcing good ingredients that are eco-friendly.
Top Donut Shops: A Sweet Adventure Awaits
Doughnut Love: Neighborhood Sweet Spot
Doughnut love is a hidden gem of Coquitlam. This is a great neighbourhood find in Coquitlam, that serves up handcrafted donuts. Super friendly service and great coffee to pair with these yummy doughnuts. They have some unique flavours and it changes every month. They use good ingredients. Once you walk into this shop, you see the freshly made doughnuts being churned out and an array of different doughnuts to choose from.
These donuts are truly exceptional, crafted with outstanding quality. The texture is perfect, and the sweetness is just right—never overwhelming. The icing is delicate, often featuring a light, subtle coating. They also cater to diverse preferences with vegan and gluten-friendly options made using almond milk and almond flour. Plus, their strong, flavorful coffee pairs beautifully with the sweetness of the donuts, making it a perfect treat.
Their Best flavours :
Cookie Dough: very popular and a great combination. It is an old-fashioned donut topped with cookie dough.
Butter Pecan: a favourite! It is a yeast donut topped with delectable chopped nuts, chocolate and caramel. It has a sweet and salty flavour.
Browned Butter Banana Cake– just delish! Great cake donut with real banana flavour coated with a salty sweet browned butter glaze.
Tart Lemon Old Fashion – super delicious donut. The texture of the crunchy donut and tart lemon glaze is a great combo.
Benefits:
- Good size
- Great old fashion
- Delish yeast brioche
- Vegan or gluten free options
- Great service and friendly staff
- Good strong coffee
- Light icing
- Different donuts every month
Lucky’s Doughnuts: Where Every Doughnut is a Sweet Win!
These are a Vancouver favourite! You will often see lucky’s with parallel 49 coffee.
When you walk into luckys you will see an array of doughnuts. Luckys has many different flavours and have something for eveything one.
Their Best Flavours:
Peanut Butter and Jelly: This unique square doughnut stands out with its generous size, filled with jam and topped with a creamy peanut butter glaze and chopped peanuts for the perfect sweet-and-savoury bite.
Salted Caramel Old Fashioned: This is a crunch cake-like doughnut, sour cream old fashioned and dipped in caramel and sprinkled with maldon salt.
Apple Bacon Fritter: This is a yummy combo, with a sweet and salty mix of apples, smoky bacon and a glaze.
French Cruller: It is a traditional French choux pastry ring fried and crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside and dipped in a light vanilla glaze.
Benefits:
- Creative flavours
- Variety of classic and speciality donuts
- Unique seasonal flavours
- Consistent in quality
Honey Doughnuts and Goodies: Indulge in Sweetness
This shop is found in Deep Cove. It has a cozy and welcoming interior. While the donuts look simple they are super delicious. The original is the best one. It had a crunchy exterior and a soft and buttery inside. Once you have one you cant stop eating them.
Benefits:
- Located in a great area
- local charming atmosphere
- best original-tasting donut
Sweet Talk: Port Moody’s Most Irresistible Doughnuts
New donut store in Port Moody! Become a local neighbourhood favourite. They have unique flavours and use artisanal techniques. They offer custom orders and will cater to the customer. They focus on local flavours and unique seasonal ingredients.
Their best flavours:
Biscoff Cheesecake: This is a very delish doughnut! It is pillowy soft dipped in a vanilla creamy glaze and rolled in biscoff crumble cookies and topped with a cream cheese whip.
Miso Salted Caramel Old Fashioned: is a delightful treat with a satisfyingly crunchy texture, coated in a sweet miso salted glaze and topped with chocolate balls for an irresistible finish.
Creme Brulee: A sweet treat with a fiery cane sugar crust and custard filings, this is a very decadent doughnut.
Raspberry Stuffie: This is a popular classic covered in sugar and filled with raspberry jelly.
Benefits:
- Custom flavours
- Unique combinations ( miso salted caramel old fashioned, Match white Chocolate, Biscoff Cookie)
- Good strong coffee options
- Breakfast sandwiches
Mello: Where Every Bite Feels Like a Sweet Escape
There are great brioche donuts stuffed with delish flavours. They not only taste great but look good too. The dough is light and fluffy. They are almost like a dessert and visually beautiful.
Benefits:
- superior quality
- innovative flavours
- artistic presentation
- customization
Mochido: A Sweet Fusion of Mochi and Donuts
These are some delicious Mochi doughnuts. They are unique in flavour and texture. The are light and chewy. They have a light glaze with unique asian flavours. They offer a delightful twist on traditional donuts.
Benefits:
- Chewy texture
- Asian flavours
- Gluten free options
- Visual appeal
Doughnuts that are overrated
- Lees Doughnuts– they are a Vancouver classic. They are soft and pillowy. If you are looking for your standard tasty doughnut then Lees is a good pick. These donuts are a good price but are an upgraded version of Tim Hortons. Not as good as they are rated. They are not worth the long lineups.
- Tim hortons– while a classic these donuts seem average. They are cheap and affordable but not as interesting or delicious.
- Cartems -While the unique flavors and large doughnuts are a standout, the dough itself might not be to everyone’s taste. However, they offer a great selection of vegan options, catering to diverse preferences.
Ranking the Best Donut Shops: A Sweet Comparison
1. Doughnut Love- unique combinations
2. Sweet Talk: Pillowy soft delicious donuts
3 . Luckys Donuts– great upgraded classics
4. Mello- light and fluffy and not too sweet
5. Mochido – unique chewy texture and flavours
