Top Untraditional Donuts In Houston

If you’re craving something sweet for breakfast, look no further than one of Houston’s many delicious donut shops. Or use it to satisfy a sweet tooth in the afternoon, many of these cafes are open until lunch or later. Not sure you should have just donuts for lunch? With the selection of gourmet donuts crafted by top chefs and bakers, the entrees created with donuts will give you a balanced meal with a side of glazed delight. The next time you want something unique and delicious, head to one of these great donut shops in Houston.

Glazed The Doughnut Cafe
1333 Old Spanish Trail
Houston, TX 77054
(281) 402-1868
www.eatglazed.com

Ever thought your donuts weren’t enough like dessert? You won’t be able to say that about the confections from Glazed, which includes flavors like creme brulee (complete with caramelized sugar topping), salted caramel snickers (with a full Snickers bar inside) and Samoa, topped with toasted coconut, caramel and chocolate ganache to remind you of your favorite Girl Scout cookie. Family owned and operated, the owner spent years traveling the country and sampling donuts to perfect his own technique. Make sure to swing by and try some – but don’t worry about getting up early. The cafe’s open 24/7.d

Shipley Donuts
3410 Ella Blvd.
Houston, TX 77018
(713) 682-4343
www.shipleydonuts.com 

While you may see numerous Shipleys around town, the location on Ella is the original donut shop in town, dating to 1936 when the original Mr. Shipley was selling a dozen donuts for a nickel. Houston fully embraced the restaurant and they have locations around the metro area now. As they grew over the years, their menu did too, with new flavors, fillings and extras adding on over the years. If you can’t decide what flavor to eat, try an assortment of donut holes, with multiple flavors per bag.

Hugs & Donuts
1901 N. Shepherd, Suite 4
Houston, TX 77008
(713) 485-6443
www.hugsanddonuts.com

Are you a fan of the breakfast sandwich but think it could use more sugar? The masterminds behind Hugs & Donuts agree – you can order an egg, bacon and cheese breakfast sandwich with donut replacing the bread. In addition to some of the more traditional donut flavors and other breakfast pastries, you can feast upon a mixed berry filled with vanilla bean frosting donut, or a blueberry cake with lemon glazed donut. Like coffee but hate having to drink it? Check out their mocha latte cake donut to get your coffee and donut flavors in one bite.

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River Oaks Donuts
3601 Westheimer
Houston, TX 77027
(713) 961-9458
www.riveroaksdonuts.com

Of course one of the fanciest areas in town would have some fancy donuts around. Check out the glazed and iced donuts in chocolate, vanilla, and fruit flavors, as well as the white iced donuts topped with fun children’s breakfast cereals on the weekends. If you’re wanting something a little more savory, try the maple donut with bacon and jalapeno on top for a salty, meaty kick. Their claim to fame is the huge selection of donut holes, many of them filled with flavorings like nutella, raspberry, or cappuccino. Their donut hole menu is longer than the regular one! No one will go home hungry after a visit to River Oaks.

Pena’s Donut Heaven And Grill
11601 Shadow Creek Pkwy.
Pearland, TX 77584
(713) 340-3231
www.penasdonutheaven.com

Love the taste of donuts but don’t want to have your pastry be too vegetarian? Grab a donut covered in bacon instead of sprinkles from Pena’s Donut Heaven and Grill in Pearland. Their wide array of donuts is complimented by a full menu of burgers, sandwiches and southern delicacies. Can’t decide? Have a delicious specialty burger for lunch with a donut for dessert.

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Gillian Kruse is a freelance writer living in Houston. She graduated from Rice University with a great love for all performing and visual arts. She enjoys writing about arts and cultural events, especially little-known ones, to help Houstonians learn about what’s going on in their city. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.