On The Hunt For Donuts In Small-Town Kentucky: 10 Shops, 2 Winners
I spent weeks driving through winding Kentucky backroads, following hand-painted signs and Google Maps pins that led to some seriously underrated donut shops.
Small-town bakeries have this magic that chain stores can never replicate, fresh dough made before sunrise, recipes passed down through generations, and flavors that surprise you in the best way.
Out of all the stops I made, two shops absolutely blew my mind and left me craving more long after I’d licked the glaze off my fingers.
1. Sweet Sunrise Bakery, Berea
This spot opens at 5 a.m. sharp, and locals line up before the sun even thinks about rising. Sweet Sunrise Bakery does classic glazed donuts that melt on your tongue like sugary clouds.
Their cinnamon twist is generous with spice and has this buttery finish that sticks around. You won’t find fancy flavors here, just solid execution of the basics done right.
The owner greets everyone by name, which adds to the hometown charm. If you’re passing through Berea, this is your morning fuel stop without question.
2. Country Crumbs Cafe, Harrodsburg
Where else can you grab a donut and overhear the town gossip all before 8 a.m.? Country Crumbs Cafe nails the small-town vibe with mismatched chairs and checkered tablecloths.
Their blueberry cake donut is dense and packed with real fruit, not that weird artificial goo. The coffee is strong enough to wake the dead, which pairs perfectly with their slightly sweet offerings.
It’s not groundbreaking, but it’s consistent and comforting. Sometimes that’s exactly what you need on a lazy Saturday morning drive.
3. Main Street Donut Shop, Danville
However predictable the name sounds, this place delivers reliable quality every single time. Main Street Donut Shop has been around for over thirty years, and you can taste that experience in every bite.
Their chocolate iced with sprinkles is a nostalgic throwback that hits different when you’re feeling sentimental. The texture stays fresh for hours, which is rare for fried dough.
Nothing here will shock you, but that’s not always a bad thing. Consistency builds loyalty, and this shop has plenty of both.
4. Hillside Bakehouse, Bardstown
Did you know that some bakers still use lard instead of vegetable shortening? Hillside Bakehouse does, and it makes their old-fashioned donuts ridiculously tender with a subtle richness most shops miss.
The powdered sugar variety leaves a sweet dust trail on your shirt that you won’t even mind. Their apple fritter is massive, stuffed with chunks of real apple and cinnamon.
Though the shop is small, the flavors are big and unapologetic. Stop here if you appreciate traditional methods and aren’t counting calories.
5. Maple Grove Donuts, Lebanon
Are maple donuts your weakness? Then this place will ruin you for all other versions forever. Maple Grove Donuts uses pure Kentucky maple syrup, and you can taste the difference immediately.
Their maple bacon is decent but doesn’t quite reach the heights you’d hope for. The texture is fluffy, the glaze is sticky in the best way, and the sweetness is perfectly balanced.
When I visited, the owner was experimenting with a maple pecan creation that showed real promise. Keep this spot on your radar for straightforward, quality maple goodness.
6. Rolling Hills Bakery, Springfield
Though this bakery sits on the edge of town, it’s worth the extra mile for their strawberry-filled donuts alone. Rolling Hills Bakery stuffs theirs with homemade strawberry jam that tastes like summer in a bite.
The dough is light and airy, never greasy or heavy on the stomach. Their crullers have a delicate crunch on the outside that gives way to soft, sweet interior layers.
It’s a family-run operation, and you can feel the care in every product. Grab a half dozen and thank me later.
7. Blue Grass Donut Co., Lawrenceburg
Hence the name, you’d expect some Kentucky pride baked into every batch, and you’d be right. Blue Grass Donut Co. experiments with flavors like honey bourbon glaze and brown butter icing that show real creativity.
Their lemon poppyseed donut is bright and tangy, cutting through the usual sugar overload nicely. The shop itself is Instagram-ready with clean lines and a chalkboard menu that changes weekly.
It’s modern without being pretentious, which is a tough balance to strike. If you like adventurous flavors, this is your playground.
8. Sunrise Sweets, Georgetown
When you walk in at dawn, the smell of frying dough hits you like a warm hug. Sunrise Sweets specializes in yeast donuts that are impossibly light and fluffy, almost like biting into sweet air.
Their raspberry-filled variety oozes with thick jam that doesn’t taste artificial or overly sugary. The glazed twist is simple but executed flawlessly, with just enough sweetness to satisfy without overwhelming.
It’s a no-frills operation that focuses on doing a few things exceptionally well. Solid choice for purists who value texture over trendy toppings.
9. Amon’s Sugar Shack, Somerset
This place doesn’t just make donuts, it crafts edible poetry that captures Kentucky’s soul in every bite. Amon’s Sugar Shack serves a bourbon-glazed donut with a subtle yet rich flavor that lingers like a beautiful memory.
The texture is impossibly light yet deeply satisfying, a balance few bakers ever master. Their salted caramel old-fashioned is a revelation, with crystals of sea salt cutting through the sweetness in perfect harmony.
Every element feels intentional, from the golden crust to the tender crumb inside. This is one of the two shops that left me absolutely speechless and planning my return trip before I even left the parking lot.
10. Doughdaddy’s Doughnuts, Versailles
Where innovation meets tradition, magic happens in the form of thick-cut bacon and real maple syrup on a fluffy canvas. Doughdaddy’s Doughnuts creates a maple bacon masterpiece that achieves perfect sweet-savory harmony without feeling gimmicky.
They experiment fearlessly with flavors like lavender honey and spicy chocolate that showcase genuine passion for the craft. The dough itself is pillowy soft with a delicate chew that holds up to bold toppings beautifully.
This shop takes risks that pay off in spectacular fashion, pushing boundaries while respecting donut fundamentals. It’s the second unforgettable winner that proves small-town Kentucky is hiding some seriously talented bakers who deserve national recognition.
