Best Donuts in Minnesota (2026 Guide)
Minnesota's donut scene thrives despite (or because of) those long winters. Minneapolis and St. Paul anchor a vibrant community of bakeries blending Scandinavian baking traditions with modern creativity, from lefse-inspired donuts to craft coffee pairings.
Top 15 Donut Shops in Minnesota
Why it's notable: The top-rated donut shop in Minnesota, known for Greek Yogurt Old Fashioned, French Cruller (part donut, part souffle), PB Stout Donut with Castle Danger Beer, with 3 awards, serving since 2016, featuring craft donuts and weekly rotating flavors.
Why it's notable: One of Minnesota's highest-rated shops, known for Brown Butter Glazed Brioche, Nutella-Filled Donut, Vanilla Bean Filled, with 3 awards, serving since 2015, featuring brioche donuts and brown butter glaze.
Why it's notable: One of Minnesota's highest-rated shops, known for Brown Butter Glazed Brioche, Nutella-Filled Donut, Vanilla Bean Filled, with 3 awards, serving since 2015, featuring brioche donuts and brown butter glaze.
Why it's notable: A standout Grand Marais favorite, known for Raised glazed donuts, Cake donuts, Skizzle (signature glazed twist), with 3 awards, serving since 1969, featuring seasonal operation (May-Oct) and Lake Superior location.
Why it's notable: A standout St. Paul favorite, known for Seasonal brioche donuts with fillings, Caramel Apple Whipped Cream (fall), Ube Banana (summer), with 3 awards, serving since 2022, featuring brioche filled donuts and seasonal rotating flavors.
Why it's notable: A standout Rochester favorite, known for Fresh-to-order mini donuts, 17 unique sugar blend flavors, MasterChef-level flavor development, with 3 awards, serving since 2022, featuring MasterChef founder and 100% proceeds to community.
Why it's notable: A standout Rochester favorite, known for Layered doughnuts (croissant-donut hybrid), Maple Pecan layered, Blueberry Lemon layered, with 3 awards, serving since 2025, featuring layered doughnuts and craft coffee.
Why it's notable: A standout Minneapolis favorite, known for Wednesday-only Raised Glazed Donuts, Artisan breads, Pastries, with 2 awards, serving since 2016, featuring donuts only on Wednesdays and artisan bread bakery.
Why it's notable: A standout Duluth favorite, known for Scratch-made donuts, Creative weekly specials, Pastries, with 2 awards, serving since 2022, featuring mission-driven and scratch-made.
Why it's notable: A standout Minneapolis favorite, known for Pressed Doughs (Bismarck + ice cream griddled), Brookie (cookie dough ice cream with brownie), Gimmie S'more (vanilla with marshmallows and Biscoff), with 2 awards, serving since 2023, featuring donut-ice cream hybrid and griddled Bismarcks.
Why it's notable: A standout Minneapolis favorite, known for Artisan cake donuts, Seasonal pastries, Laminated dough pastries, with 1 award, serving since 2023, featuring small-batch artisan and seasonal pastries.
Why it's notable: A standout Minneapolis favorite, known for Whale-sized mega doughnuts, Orange Cream Old Fashioned, Raspberry Cream Cheese Bismarck with pretzel crunch, with 2 awards, serving since 2020, featuring mega-sized doughnuts and creative Bismarcks.
Why it's notable: A standout Maple Grove favorite, known for Raised and Glazed Donuts, Eye-catching creative toppings, Gluten-free donuts (Wednesdays), with 2 awards, serving since 2021, featuring gluten-free days and vegan days.
Why it's notable: A standout Eagan favorite, known for Cream-filled donuts, Classic glazed varieties, Apple fritters, with 2 awards, serving since 2010, featuring cream-filled specialty and early morning hours.
Why it's notable: A standout Oronoco favorite, known for Apple cider cake donuts, Seasonal orchard donuts, Pumpkin donuts (fall), with 2 awards, serving since 2020, featuring orchard setting and apple cider donuts.
Donut Shops by City in Minnesota
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best donut shop in Minnesota?
Cardigan Donuts in Minneapolis is the top-rated donut shop in Minnesota with a 4.5 rating.
How many donut shops are in Minnesota?
We have 33 donut shops listed across 14 cities in Minnesota on NearbyDonuts.com.
Which cities in Minnesota have the best donuts?
The top cities for donuts in Minnesota include Minneapolis (10 shops), Rochester (8 shops), Duluth (3 shops), St. Paul (2 shops), St. Louis Park (1 shops).