Delicate delights: Drool at Durham's most decadent doughnut destinations

With both nationally-recognized names and hole-in-the-wall hidden gems, Durham is a great place to go to get your donut fix.

Here are five of the best donut shops around the city, compiled with the help of WRAL Voters' Choice Awards and online reviews.

Duck Donuts

What’s better than made-to-order donuts? The first Duck Donuts location arrived in The Triangle in 2007 and has been winning over customers throughout the Triangle ever since. Their full menu can be found online at duckdonuts.com, where you will find the likes of their Bacon in the Sun maple bacon donut, Blueberry Pancake donut, Chocolate Covered Strawberry and more. Duck also offers coffee and ice cream.

Voters’ Choice Awards: Named Second Place for best donuts in the Triangle in 2022

Hours: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily

Address: 5320 McFarland Dr., Suite 140, Durham

Early Bird Donuts

Early birds get the donuts at this Durham spot, which is known for running out of donuts early in the day. Their freshly made croissants are a fan favorite, but fans of sour cream donuts will especially want to set an alarm for a visit to Early Bird. Other items on their menu include made-from-scratch biscuits and breakfast sandwiches.

Voters’ Choice Awards: Named as a Finalist for best donuts in the Triangle 2022

Hours: Monday through Saturday 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and Sunday 7 a.m. to noon

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Don’t let this donut shop’s unassuming, strip mall location fool you; this shop is a hidden gem. The no-frills donut shop makes some of the most fluffy, light donuts around. They also fill up their jelly donuts to order, and online reviews suggest these donuts maintain their freshness well for the next day.

Hours: Open Monday through Friday 6 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Saturday 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., and Sunday 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Address: 5400 S. Miami Blvd., Durham

Monuts

Looking for a shop that gives back? Monuts cooks from scratch, sources from local farmers, and is living-wage certified. This restaurant offers rotating seasonal donut flavors, such as their popular orange pistachio donut. They always have a selection of three to four cake and three to four yeast donuts. Grab one of their specialty lattes and enjoy the goodness.

Hours: Closed Sunday and Monday; Open Tuesday through Friday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Saturday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Best places to get donuts in The Triangle

Nestled in next to a gas station off Wake Forest Highway, don’t overlook Bakers Dozen Donuts. Grab a cup of coffee to go along with their fan-favorite bearclaws, cake donuts and cinnamon buns.

Hours: 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily