Time to eat the donuts! Our picks for the best spots in Monmouth County to indulge in America’s favorite breakfast treat


By:  | October 28, 2024 Monmouth County

 

By Ryan Loughlin

It’s hard not to love donuts. They are simple, compact, eaten by hand and fall into that niche category where despite being almost entirely made up of sweet, dessert-like components, for some reason it is socially acceptable to consume them for breakfast and not feel entirely ridiculous doing so (try that with a hot fudge sundae!)

The trickly thing with donuts is finding a good one. If they have been sitting out too long, they get stiff and stale, and many of the more common chain shops serve sub-par versions even on their best days. That means finding a killer donut shop is imperative. Monmouth County has a respectable assortment of them too, from old-fashioned bakeries to trendy new-school shops offering all the wow-factor you could ever hope for. Here are a few of our favorites:

 

Broad Street Dough Co. (Oakhurst/Wall Township/Freehold)

Broad Street Dough Co. has made a name for itself in the last decade or so, with their signature brand of creatively topped and filled donuts. No need to worry about freshness here as all donuts are made to order. They have a massive menu with a variety of fun and colorful options, but as Instagammable as their creations are, they match that with flavor. The utter deliciousness of their “Broadwalk” donut — a simple vanilla frosted donut with rainbow sprinkles — is perhaps the best illustration of their commitment to quality, as it proves they don’t need all the bells and whistles to nail the taste experience. That said, one would be foolish to shy away from their more extravagant offerings, the best of which include their “triangles” — flaky, delicately deep-fried croissant-style creations which come filled with various delectable cremes and compotes. I love the “West Park Triangle” with its combo of Bavarian crème filling and chocolate drizzle finished with a smack of powdered sugar; or last month’s specialty, the “Queen B Triangle” which came stuffed with black raspberry preserves, Bavarian cream, and a drizzle of caramel and sea salt for the win.

Broad Street Dough Co. has various locations throughout Monmouth County. Go to BroadStreetDoughCo.com for more info.

 

Battleview Orchards (Freehold)

If there is a more quintessential fall activity than apple picking, we are not aware of it. Battleview Orchards in Freehold offers guests the opportunity to do just that, but the real treat is to be had afterwards, as a stop in their country store is all but mandatory, and doubles as a fabulous spot to grab another much-loved fall staple — apple cider donuts. Battleview’s apple cider donuts are the stuff of legend, but although they can be purchased anytime the store is open, if you REALLY want them at their best you need to visit on Saturdays and Sundays between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. when the hot donut window is open for business. Grabbing a bag of these is an absolute must-do, just make sure you go for the cinnamon sugar-coated ones (the plain are fine too, but we are talking about hot donuts here, and this is clearly not the time to hold back.)

Battleview Orchards is located at 91 Wemrock Road in Freehold. BattleviewOrachards.com.

 

Once Bitten Donuts (Red Bank)

If your idea of a great donut is for it to be as over-the-top and visually stunning as humanly possible, look no farther than Once Bitten Donuts in Red Bank. Their creations are impressive on just about every possible level, and arriving at a party with a box of these is all but certain to make you the hero of the event. But after all the cheering subsides, what awaits all who partake is a damn good donut. In fact, I would go as far as to say that their “Crumble Me Apple” (a yeast donut stuffed with apple pie filling, dipped in caramel and topped with fresh cinnamon crumbs, vanilla icing and more caramel) is the single most satisfying donut I have eaten anywhere in New Jersey all season.

Once Bitten Donuts is located at 86 Broad Street in Red Bank. Go to OnceBittenDonut.com for more info.

 

Del Ponte’s Bakery (Bradley Beach)

New and fancy donut shops have their place, but there is something about an old-fashioned bakery that is irreplaceable. Sadly, these spots are shrinking in numbers each year, but Del Ponte’s in Bradley Beach manages to keep the doors open (and packed with customers!) by offering a dizzying variety of fabulous baked goods from cookies and pastries to a killer strawberry shortcake. And then there are the donuts. Like everything at Del Ponte’s, they skew towards the classic style, and that is most certainly a good thing, because a straightforward Boston Cream donut from this bakery need not be messed with in any way. One bite will take you back at least a generation or three, and just might cause you to form a serious Sunday morning habit.

Del Ponte’s Bakery is located at 600 Main St. In Bradley Beach. Go to DelPontesBakery.com for more info.

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