Fractured Prune
Several locations including 8705 Harford Rd., Parkville, 410-661-9999.
This offspring of the original Ocean City hotspot stays true to the mother ship with a purple-and-green color scheme and doughnuts baked to order. A tray on the counter tempts you with colorful offerings, including Oreo cookie, Almond Joy, s'mores, and thin mint. It takes only minutes for the fragrant, hot doughnuts to be placed in your hands.
Editor's pick: “O.C. Sand," a honey-glazed round coated with cinnamon sugar.
Donut Shack
497 Ritchie Hwy., Severna Park, 410-544-0278.
The scent alone——wafting with honey and cinnamon——will hook you when you walk into the store. Brightly lit shelves are laden with all manner of doughnuts——about 20 varieties in all. The bakery, family-owned for almost 30 years, has an added bonus: It's open 24/7 to satisfy your cravings any time of day. But bring cash. No plastic accepted.
Editor's pick: The honey-dipped doughnut.
The Fenwick Bakery
7219 Harford Rd., Parkville, 410-444-6410.
At 100 years, the bakery is wearing its age quite well, thank you, continuing to churn out pastry cases full of confections for the next generation of visitors. Customers will find pies, birthday and wedding cakes, cookies, breads, and doughnuts among the offerings in the storefront staffed by motherly clerks.
Editor's pick: The chocolate-glazed cinnamon buns.
Herman's Bakery
7560 Holabird Ave., Dundalk, 410-284-5590.
You know you can trust a family-owned bakery that has been around since 1923 and at its current location since 1958. The cases are filled with cookies, strawberry shortcakes, éclairs, and doughnuts, including a marshmallow-filled one that almost requires a spoon.
Editor's pick: The plump, sugar-dusted jelly-filled doughnut.
Hoehn's Bakery
400 S. Conkling St., 410-675-2884.
The beloved bake shop in the heart of Highlandtown has been making customers smile since 1927 with its made-from-scratch products. Inside the corner store, the air is perfumed with yeast and sugar as friendly neighbors stop in for their regular treats. And there are goodies galore, from cookies and doughnuts to smearcase (Baltimore's own type of cheesecake).
Editor's pick: The airy marshmallow-laden doughnut.
