Just over a year ago, cupcakes were all the rage.. Now, specialty donuts have edged out the cupcakes all over the Atlanta area. So, we’re going to do a Donut Crawl to acquaint you with some of the donut possibilities. We’ll start with:

Sublime Donuts

Sublime Donuts is the first specialty donut shop I think of when considering  where the specialty donut craze started in Atlanta. The original shop was, and is, still located in downtown, Atlanta near Ga. Tech. I looked for excuses to be in that area early in the day, just to go by Sublime and  get an Orange Dream Star donut or a Butterfinger donut(my personal favorite). I didn’t realize for a time that Sublime is open 24/7 and I didn’t have to try so hard to get down there early before my favorite donuts were gone. I needn’t have worried. 

Now, a second location is open , near the Briarcliff/N. Druid Hills Rd. intersection. This second location is out my way, so no more looking for excuses to head downtown.

Kanal Grant, the mastermind behind Sublime, recognized ealy in life, that he was interested in culinary arts. His Navy service gave him the oppotunity to hone his baking skills. His travels exposed him to the variety of tastes, flavors that existed throughout the world. He seeks to bring that variety into his donut creations. Sublime gives us flavors from around the world.

Among the selections, which can be ordered on line ahead of time, include: Maple/Bacon, Strawberries and Cream, Orange Dream Stars, Smores, A Town Cream, Butter Toffee and many more. If all these donuts seem like way too much sweetness, try the Ice Cream/Donut sandwiches. he gelato is also an excellent choice if you’re looking for variety and something a little lighter on the pallete. I might just see you there.

Sublime is located at: 535 10th St., NW, Atlanta  and

                                        2566 Briarcliff Rd., NE, Atlanta

Both locations are open 24/7

Duck Donuts

Duck is my favorite donut place so far. Heavenly cake donuts, made to order, served up warm and delicious. Choose your toppingsfrom an extensive list of goodies.

Duck Donuts wa started in Duck, NC in 2007, thus the name, by Russell DiGilio.It has spread to the Atlanta area, specifically Buckhead, on Roswell Rd, and Old Alabama Square in Alpharetta, soon to spread even further to the Toco Hill Center on N. Druid Hillls Rd. and LaVista. Imagine my delight when walking past an empty storefront in this currently renovated shopping center, I spotted a sign announcing the future opening of another Duck Donuts. And another one out my way again, although the Buckhead Duck is near my church. What a great palce to go after the 9:00 service.

My favorite donut at Duck is the one with Maple Icing with crumbled bacon. OMG, thes are good. But there are a lot of choices, like, Vanilla Icing with Hot Fudge drizzles and sprinkles, Key Lime Icing with Graham Cracker crumbs, Lemon Icing with Shredded Coconut, and as their website says, a Duckzillion flavors. Add a cup of Duck’sArabica bean coffee or expresso, and you’ll have a perfect breakfast, mid-morning brunch, or late night snack. And, in my experience, the team that makes your donut, is personable and helpful. You will also find yourself surrounded by ducks.

You really need to check out Duck Donuts in Tuxedo Festival, open 7:00am to 3:00PM.

Duck Donuts is located at: 3655 Roswell Rd, NE, #210, Atlanta

                                                 3005 Old Alabama Rd., #170, Old Alabama Square, Alpharetta

And the soon to be Duck at: Toco Hill Shopping Center, N. Druid Hills Rd. Atlanta

Bon Glaze Donuts

We just recently tried Bon Glaze Donuts, both locations, in fact. We went from the walk-up store to the walk-in store in Brookhaven, just to check them out.

Both locations have personable young people serving you and nice, clean interiors.

The donuts are delicious. Kelly  and Kenny Keith are offering a “culinary” doughnut to the Atlanta area, with made from scratch glazes and frostings and dreamy fillings like fruits, creams and bacon. Try the Appple Streussel, Butterscotch Bacon or Strawberries and Cream donuts. Speaking of bacon, Bon Glaze offers candies bacon that is to die for, not to mention chocolate covered bacon and Candied Cayenne bacon. It’s hard to pass up the candied bacon, even after indulging in a donut already. 

Bon Glaze also offers coffees, fruit smoothies, shaved ice for the summer, and strawberry OJ or lemonade. They have a neat machine that mixes your drink and seals the top automatically. Just poke a straw into the top just like your child’s fruit box.

Bon Glaze is located at:  3575 Durden Rd off Johnson Ferry, dine in

                                            3794 Roswell Rd., Walk-up

More Atlanta Area Specialty Donut Shops:

• Sarah’s Donuts                    Norcross and Decatur
• Donut City                            Tucker
• Revolution Donuts             Decatur
• Screamin’ Nuts                   Alpharetta
• Vegan Dream                      Atlanta
• Dough In the Box               Marietta
• Dutch Monkey Donuts      Duluth
• Ray’s Donuts                       Marietta
• Best Country Donuts         Forest Park
• Donut Theory                     Alpharetta
• Di Vinci Donuts                Dunwoody, Sandy Springs, Alpharetta              
• Dapper Donuts                 Lenox- Buckhead