Growing up in Portland, Oregon among famous donut stores on every corner, I like to think that I know my way around when it comes to donuts. I have endless childhood memories of trips to Voodoo Donuts after tests at school, and walking the East Side in the winter to escape into the warmth of Pips Donuts for chai lattes and donut holes.
When I moved to Atlanta, I was in completely new territory when it came to my favorite dessert/breakfast combo. So, during my sophomore year of virtual classes, I made it my mission to explore all of the best known Atlanta donut establishments.
I went to probably six different places, and honestly, almost none of them met my standards. The last place I tried on a cold day this past spring was tucked away in a back corner of Ponce City Market. It was a little donut stand called Five Daughters Bakery, and I’d finally found what I was looking for.
Not only was Five Daughters the clear winner of my donut search, but I loved their donuts so much I decided to go back this fall and write a full article about them. So, here’s the full scoop on Five Daughters, why they’re so incredible, and a guide for your first visit.
The Flavors
In my opinion, a well-done maple-bacon donut is the staple of any good donut store. Portland is actually home to one of the most famous bacon-maple bars in the country, but I have to say that Five Daughters might do it even better. It’s the perfect mix of salty and sweet, and might be my new definition of the term ‘comfort food’.
Their maple-bacon donut isn’t the only thing Five Daughters does well, though. All of their donuts are absolutely incredible. We tried the raspberry, blackberry, chocolate, plain, and pumpkin spice donuts as well. While I loved them all, the pumpkin spice definitely stole the show. That one in particular was a seasonal option, so I definitely recommend running down to Ponce ASAP to try out their December options: sugar cookie, spiced honey cheesecake, gingerbread latte, peppermint mocha, and eggnog.
The Dough
Potentially even better than the toppings or fillings, though, is the dough itself. Five Daughters uses croissant dough for their donuts, resulting in a hundred-layer dough that makes the whole thing melt in your mouth. Their website describes the donuts as “a delicious hybrid of a croissant and a donut”, and they evidently take up to three days to make. The dough isn’t where it ends, though, because after they’re baked, the donuts are rolled in sugar, filled with filling, and topped with whatever special flavors they have in stock.
The Minis
The best part of Five Daughters, in my opinion, is their mini donuts. They carry these in the seasonal flavors, too, so my favorite strategy is to treat the mini donuts like a seasonal tasting platter. Somehow, these tiny pastries are even better than donut holes, and are without a doubt the best snack when you’re walking around Ponce City Market! So grab a hot chai latte from across the aisle and a mini box of tiny donuts; I promise it’s the best winter strategy – and the best donut in town.