The 10 Best Donuts in Salt Lake City

Though SLC isn’t quite as donut-centric as cities like Portland, Los Angeles, or even Boston, there is still a great diversity of fried dough treats to be found here! So when that donut craving hits (and it will), you’ll be in good hands at one of the fabulous donut shops below. Because life is too short to eat bad (or even mediocre) donuts, we’ve rounded up the best donuts in Salt Lake City just for you.

Disclaimer: this donut guide features our favorite donuts in the Salt Lake Valley specifically. Sorry Lehi Bakery (best glazed donuts), Chevron in Kamas (fritters that will bring you to your knees), and many others that we love so much!

10. Donut Boy

Looking for variety? Head to Donut Boy in West Valley City, where they’ve got a donut to satisfy every craving! First up, we’re obsessed with their strawberry cheesecake donut. It tastes just like it sounds: a slice of strawberry cheesecake in donut form. We also really enjoy their Nutella donut, which is (literally) finger-licking good. Plus, its got an Oreo on top—two desserts in one! Donut Boy has two types of maple bars—one with traditional maple glaze frosting and another with creamy maple frosting. Both are delicious but we’re partial to the creamy one. Itching for something more tart and tangy? Grab their glazed jelly or key lime pie donut. This shop truly serves up some of the best donuts in Salt Lake City.

9. Darla’s Donuts

Darla’s Donuts is a must when searching for the best donuts in Salt Lake City. We love that they create awesome classics without skimping on creativity. Their West Valley City shop is minimal and unassuming, but don’t let that discourage you—their donuts pack a punch! As for recommendations? The jelly donut is divine. It’s sweet and tangy at the same time. Their sprinkle donut is one of the best sprinkle donuts around. It’s simple but incredibly flavorful. A couple of other suggestions because we can’t help ourselves: peanut butter chocolate (think Reese’s in a donut!) and blueberry crumb. For the widest variety of donuts and to maybe catch a glimpse of the talented Darla herself, stop in on a weekday. 

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8. Beaumont Bakery & Cafe

Beaumont Bakery & Cafe only offers one donut but it’s okay because they make that one donut really, really well! Technically speaking, this donut is actually a cruller, so it’s a little different than your average raised or cake donut but we think it’s just as tasty—maybe even better in some ways. Imagine layers of light, buttery dough on the inside with a crunchy, fried exterior, twisted and finished with a delicate sugary glaze. It’s incredible—definitely one of the best donuts in Salt Lake City. These donuts are on the smaller side, so it’s smart to have a second one on hand. We’re pretty sure you’re going to want another as soon as you finish the first.

7. Parson’s Bakery

Parson’s Bakery is tucked away in a shopping square in Bountiful, just 15 minutes from downtown SLC, but don’t overlook this seemingly run-of-the-mill bakery. They serve some of the best donuts in Salt Lake City, and in particular some of our very favorite chocolate cake donuts ever. The chocolate cake donut with chocolate frosting is the best way to go. It’s got a devilish decadence with the double chocolate combo, plus a pronounced buttery aftertaste in every single bite.

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6. Mrs. Backer’s Pastry Shop

If you are a lover of old-fashioned donuts, Mrs. Backer’s Pastry Shop is the place for you! Crunchy on the outside, with melt-in-your-mouth insides, these donuts are light but full of flavor at the same time. You can’t go wrong with any of the old-fashioned options here. We also love their Fudge Bear donut, a raised chocolate donut, which is rare to find in most donut shops. Don’t forget their adorable little buttermilk donuts—a bit tangy, sweet, and ultra-delicate. The donut offerings change each day, so we recommend calling ahead if you’re looking for something specific. One bite is all it takes to be convinced that this cute, quirky bakery deserves a spot on our guide to the best donuts in Salt Lake City.

5. Daylight Donuts

Daylight Donuts might seem like a quiet, modest donut shop, but this Murray bakery is quite popular with locals. The donuts here are stellar, particularly the maple and strawberry glazed old-fashioned. Crispy and crusty on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside, and always full of flavor. The fruity pebbles cake donut is also amazing, featuring a strong cereal flavor profile, just the way we like it. Our other favorites at Daylight Donuts include their jelly-filled glazed donut and their sugar donut. To be honest, you could probably close your eyes and make a selection and not be disappointed here. Arrive early on the weekend to snag your favorite donut before it sells out (because it will)!

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4. The Big O Doughnuts

Vegan donuts might sound like a bad idea to some, but we’re here to tell you that at Big O Doughnuts, it’s actually a verrry good idea. These plant-based pastries are like soft pillows of delicious, sweet goodness and some of the very best donuts in Salt Lake City. If you love all things lavender as we do, their signature blueberry lavender donut is the way to go. It has fantastic flavor dimension and just about melts in your mouth. Their maple “bacon” bar, made with coconut bacon (a great dupe for the real thing!) is quite tasty as well. One of our favorite things about Big O Doughnuts is that they have a smaller size donut option so you can try more flavors and not feel quite as gluttonous. Can’t get much better than that!

3. Banbury Cross Donuts

Banbury Cross Donuts has been around since 1986, so it makes sense that they would know how to make a really incredible donut. Serving up both cake and raised donuts, Banbury Cross has one of the widest selections around and doesn’t run out as quickly as some of the smaller donut shops often do on a weekend morning. Yay! Also, they’ve got a drive-through so picking up a dozen donuts just got a whole lot easier. Their signature donut, the cinnamon crumb, is very beloved and absolutely lives up to the hype. A few more faves include their classic glazed donut—moist and fluffy but not too sweet, their blueberry sprinkle—tastes like fresh, summertime berries, and their maple bar—just plain delish.

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2. Fresh Donuts & Deli

Looking for light, fluffy donuts? Fresh Donuts & Deli is the place to go. Their raised donuts are airy and moist, leaving customers satisfied but not feeling overly full, while the old-fashioned donuts are a perfect balance of moisture, outer crunch, and sugary glaze. We highly recommend their raspberry jelly-filled donut that really hits the spot with its tart sweetness. Be sure to also try out their signature maple bar—it’s to die for and is quite possibly the best maple bar in Salt Lake City. 

1. Duck Donuts

Without a doubt, Duck Donuts, a brand new donut shop in South Jordan, serves some of the very best donuts in Salt Lake City.  At Duck Donuts, you’ll find an extra fun donut-eating experience as you select from their menu of featured donuts (all of which start as a vanilla cake donut) or build your own, picking the glaze, toppings, and drizzle. Expect the wait to be a little longer here because they make each donut to order, but it’s well worth it. Of their signature donuts, we can’t help but devour the French Toast donut—maple icing with powdered and cinnamon sugar, the Sunrise—lemon icing with raspberry drizzle, the Blueberry Pancake—blueberry icing with maple drizzle and powdered sugar, and last but not least, the S’mores donut—chocolate icing with graham cracker crumbles and marshmallow drizzle. Moral of the story: drop everything and get to Duck Donuts ASAP!