The Salty Donut
Photo Courtesy of The Salty Donut
Who doesn’t love doughnuts? Like the cake pop and cronut trends, the venerable doughnut is getting its time in the limelight. Don’t get us wrong. We still love our Krispy Kreme glazed treats fresh out of the oven, but we’re thrilled to see the doughnut craze bringing an array of dangerously delicious concoctions to the conversation. Only in Miami would you find this mixture of flavors. Here are the top spots to get your sugar fix.
The Salty Donut
The Salty Donut pop-up shop in Wynwood is all about “small batches, big smiles.” Here you’ll find doughnuts made from fresh ingredients, all assembled in house — from the fillings, glazes and jams to the dough and compotes.
Standout items include a cream-cheese-glazed doughnut with guava and cream cheese filling; a bacon doughnut with a porter reduction and maple glaze; and Tahitian vanilla bean doughnut holes with a buttercream glaze and crushed Oreos. Get here early, though, because lines do get lengthy.
The pop-up shop is open Friday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., or until sold out. The permanent storefront is expected to open later this year.
Passion Fruit Perfection at Driftwood, Photo Courtesy of Driftwood
Driftwood Room at Nautilus, a Sixty Hotel
Passion fruit doughnuts are a specialty at this Miami Beach address, which is headed by celebrity chef Alex Guarnaschelli. Fresh from the fryer, each cloud of dough is made to order. After frying, they’re filled until oozing with passion fruit puree and rolled in white sugar.
Served warm in sets of three and with a side of vanilla bean custard for dipping, these sumptuous confections are available for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
La Mar by Gaston Acurio at Mandarin Oriental, Miami
At La Mar by Gaston Acurio, located in the Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Mandarin Oriental, Miami, you’ll find the perfect mash-up of sweet and spicy with los picarones, executive chef Diego Oka’s version of the authentic Peruvian-style doughnut (think crispy sweet potato and pumpkin fritters, served with a spiced honey sauce for dipping).
Dine in pure South American fashion by pairing the dessert with a reposado tequila.
Bunnie Cakes
If you’re looking for a vegan option, hop on over to this quaint Wynwood sweet shop. The lovingly designed décor features an array of hearts and vibrant colors in keeping with the bakery’s motto: “Our heart with every cupcake” or, in this case, doughnut.
Bunnie Cakes specializes in vegan and gluten-free baked goods, making it an unlikely place to find drool-worthy pastries. But it’s won fans over with its vegan version of the sweet-and-smoky bacon doughnut with shredded coconut meat and the whimsical Chill Pill, a sunflower-butter-and-jelly doughnut.
NaiYaRa’s Thai Doughnuts, Photo Courtesy of NaiYaRa
NaiYaRa
Chef Piyarat Potha Arreeratn (better known as chef Bee) has perfected his beloved Thai doughnut at his Miami Beach eatery. Envision a special dollop of batter fried with just the right amount of crisp crunch on the outside and soft dough on the inside and you’ll have a decent idea of delicious potential here. The addition of mango sauce, spicy pineapple, cashews and Thai basil, along with a sweet banana anglaise drizzled on top, seal the deal.
Chez Bon Bon at Fontainebleau Miami Beach
Chez Bon Bon’s award-winning pastry artists hand-make fresh doughnuts, among other exquisite items, in the lobby-level pastry shop at the ultra-luxe Fontainebleau Miami Beach, a Forbes Travel Guide Recommended hotel.
Choose from a variety of flavors, including traditional cinnamon sugar, chocolate, strawberry, whiskey and other specialty seasonal flavors; each option is finished with different frosting and toppings. Think of them as edible art.
Sugar Factory at Hotel Victor South Beach
When you call yourself Sugar Factory, people expect an over-the-top dessert emporium. This candy playground for grownups, located in the swanky Hotel Victor, delivers. For a good idea of what the eatery can do, order rainbow doughnuts smothered in vanilla or chocolate glaze.
Other cool concoctions include the Froot Loop doughnut ice cream sandwich and rainbow doughnut ice cream.
