Who makes the best artisan doughnuts in Virginia?

Donuts
In the June 2012 issue of Virginia Living, Greg Weatherford’s article “Don’t Mind If I Doughnut” chronicles the polarizing rise of the artisan doughnut, which is poised to be the next big thing in the culinary world.
So where does all the controversy lie? When people say they “like” doughnuts, this doesn’t mean they actually believe all doughnuts are created equal. The fact is that when we think of doughnuts today, we typically think of one of two archetypes: Either the denser cake-like version, which uses baking powder as the raising agent – the Dunkin’ Donuts special – or, as Greg Weatherford describes, the doughnuts made with yeast which puff up into “a sort of transcendentally airy product that evanesces into sweetness like cotton candy” – the Krispy Kreme phenomenon.
When it comes to deciding which method yields the superior product, doughnut enthusiasts on both sides of the spectrum tend to be opinionated to the point of hunger-fueled aggression. The rise of the craft-doughnut muddles the picture even more because, when it comes to made-from-scratch doughnuts, no two are going to be alike.
So it has come to this. With National Doughnut Day (June 1) nearly upon us, we at Virginia Living feel it is extremely important to set the record straight. Where are the best doughnuts to be found in Virginia, and what makes them so good? Aside from the mass-producing doughnut monsters, Dunkin’ Donuts and Krispy Kreme, which have locations around the state, there are a variety of increasingly popular artisan doughnut shops in Virginia, including:
Carpe Donut (Charlottesville)
Country Style Doughnuts (Richmond)
Mama’s Donut Bites (Vienna)
Spudnut Shop (Charlottesville)
Westhampton Pastry Shop (Richmond)
Was the best place left off this list? Can anyone compete with the chain restaurants? (Is Krispy Kreme a restaurant?) Do you make the best craft-doughnuts?
Let us know in the comments: Who makes the best doughnut in Virginia, and what is it that makes their doughnuts so delicious?
Comments (82)
Comment FeedBEST old fashioned doughnut!
Mumsey MOM more than 7 years ago
Best RVA Donuts 2014
Tom Renehan more than 8 years ago
Best RVA Doughnuts
Emma Swann more than 9 years ago
donut
bob bobbins more than 9 years ago
One More for the Best Doughnut List
Buz more than 9 years ago
O'Doodle Doo's
Amy M more than 10 years ago
Ringo's of Smithfield
Mark J. Hall more than 10 years ago
Carol Lee
David more than 10 years ago
Donuts
Alan Freed more than 10 years ago
donuts
Alan Freed more than 10 years ago
Donuts ... the very best
Andrew Kleeger more than 10 years ago
donuts from times past
Michelle Mead-Armor more than 10 years ago
doughnuts!
Frieda Harman more than 11 years ago
For the donut craver....Yummmmmmmm!
Jill more than 11 years ago
Wow, you are missing out...
BW more than 11 years ago
Apple Fritters
Steve more than 9 years ago
yum
beth more than 11 years ago
doughnuts
amy more than 11 years ago
Like
Bob more than 11 years ago
Doughnuts
Bob more than 11 years ago
I dunno
Anita LY from Alabama more than 11 years ago
Country style
Shalinda more than 11 years ago
Sprinkles
Lola more than 11 years ago
hey
beckky more than 11 years ago
Best Donuts?
Lisa Mann, donut maven more than 11 years ago
Paul's Bakery Donuts - Fredericksburg VA
E. B. S. more than 11 years ago
Sweet Briar College, Sweet Briar, VA
Claire Fowler more than 11 years ago
Best donuts in Richmond
Dennis Pace more than 11 years ago
Best Donuts - Richmond
Adam more than 11 years ago
Wholesome
Donna L. more than 11 years ago
Thank you!
Erin Parkhurst, Editor Virginia Living more than 11 years ago
Fantastic Donuts
Thomas Markson more than 11 years ago
Great donuts
Linda Walton more than 11 years ago
Daylight Donuts
Nikki D. more than 11 years ago
Daylight Donuts
Patrick Martin more than 11 years ago
Daylight Donuts
Marilyn Glazebrook more than 11 years ago
Great donuts
Pat Stoltz more than 11 years ago
doughnuts
Chuck Hudson more than 11 years ago
GREAT DONUTS
George McIntyre more than 11 years ago
General Lee's Favorite Breakfast
ForDubyuhnelliYell more than 11 years ago
Carpe Donut, Carter Mountain, Spudnuts
Courteney Stuart more than 11 years ago
doughnuts- the best
Terri Lowder more than 11 years ago
The Rolling Pin
Shelley more than 11 years ago
donuts
Susan more than 11 years ago
Strites
Lisa more than 11 years ago
Strite's
ethel strite more than 11 years ago
Strites Donuts
Maile Wood more than 11 years ago
Strites
Maile Wood more than 11 years ago
Hurray for Strites
Kate more than 11 years ago
Strites Donuts
Evan more than 11 years ago
Pure Eats
SCS more than 11 years ago
Pure Eats
Bill Hamilton more than 11 years ago
Harrisonburg Farmers' Market- Byler's Donuts
Melanie S. more than 11 years ago
Pure Eats has the very best
Jean more than 11 years ago
Pure Eats is Best Donut
Melissa Scholl more than 11 years ago
Pure Eats
Sharon Ulrich more than 11 years ago
Pure Eats
Stacy L. more than 11 years ago
Pure Eats
Katrina Ulrich more than 11 years ago
Staunton
Pat more than 11 years ago
Pure Eats!!
Tara Baer more than 11 years ago
Pure Eats in Lexington VA
Jen Goff more than 11 years ago
Don't Overlook Pure Eats Donuts, Lexington, VA
PKP more than 11 years ago
Best Donuts iin VA
Kevin Merrill more than 11 years ago
Pure Eats Doughnuts!
Christa Loudermilk more than 11 years ago
Pure Eats
JK more than 11 years ago
...no contest
Mat more than 11 years ago
PURE EATS DONUTS!!!
Ashley more than 11 years ago
PURE EATS
Mary S. more than 11 years ago
Pure eats
K. Smith more than 11 years ago
Purely Delicious
Tilden B more than 11 years ago
Pure Eats
Jane more than 11 years ago
Pure Eats in Lexington!
Holly Pickett more than 11 years ago
PUre Eats, Lexington, VA
Tiffany more than 11 years ago
Pure Eats!
Sara more than 11 years ago
Pure Eats
Katie Ackell more than 11 years ago
PURE EATS
Kerry more than 11 years ago
Another vote for Pure Eats!
Chris K more than 11 years ago
Pure Eats, Lexington VA
Summer Sullivan more than 11 years ago
Pure Eats
Travis - Hampton, Va. more than 11 years ago
Pure Eats Donughts
Kristen Jones more than 11 years ago
W&L <3s Pure Eats
GoodStudent more than 11 years ago
Pure Eats Doughnuts in Lexington
John Blackburn more than 11 years ago