Raphaels

What: Glazed raised, chocolate cake, maple cake, maple cinnamon roll

Where: Bemidji, MN
When: Wednesday, July 19th, 2017

Website

We may have gone a little overboard with our donut order in Bemidji, which stunk because they were pretty disappointing. These may have been the first time I threw out half eaten donuts. I'm not sure if they were old, or just not what Raphaels is known for.

Glam Doll Donuts

What: The Misfit, The Showgirl, The Scream Queen, The Daddy Dearest

Where: Glam Doll Donuts, 2605 Nicolet Ave, St. Paul MN

When: Tuesday, May 26th 2015

This was our last stop on the Minnesota Donut tour for Memorial Day Weekend. And it was everything you expect from a place called Glam Doll. There were 50's era decorations, lots of hot pink, and original artwork of pin up girls with donuts. The donuts also all had cutesy names so you really had to read the descriptions. They had a couple donuts that used Surly Brewing Company beers, including the Daddy Dearest.

Their display case was perfectly done and my husband and I had a really hard time deciding which one(s) to try. Four was being picky for us!

My favorite was the Misfit. The glaze had the perfect flavor. I was not a fan of the Daddy Dearest

because I didn't care for the beer flavored crumbles on the top. The Showgirl and the Scream Queen were good, but nothing super unique about bacon donuts anymore. I would give the Misfit a 4.4/5, Daddy Dearest a 2/5 and the Showgirl and Scream Queens 3.5/5.

Bonus pics of the awesome decor:

Mojo Monkey Donuts

What: Maple cake, Blueberry Pancake cake, Cinnamon and Sugar donut holes

Where: 1169 7th St. West, St. Paul, MN 55102

When: Tuesday, May 26th, 2015

website

This place may have had my favorite donut shop decorations yet, check out this tile mosaic from their front wall!

It was a small store, but you could tell the baking was done right there on site. We arrived around 11am and there were still a lot of options for donuts, mostly cake.







At first I thought they were slightly overpriced, but that was before I tasted our selections. They were so well flavored it was amazing. The blueberry pancake one had some drizzles of maple frosting and the blueberries in it tasted like you just picked them in Maine. The maple cake donut had the best flavoring for a cake donut that I have ever had. Possible a hint of cinnamon? Or real vanilla from the pod, not the liquid stuff McCormick's sells. They also had a cake stand of sample donut holes. I can't tell you the last time I walked into a donut shop that was giving away samples that wasn't my neighborhood grocery store. The samples definitely sucked in the hubby. We bought 7. I'd give everything a 5/5. This is what good baking tastes like.

Tobie's

What: Maple Roll, Chocolate Buttermilk Cake
Where: 405 Fire Monument Road, Hinckley, MN 55307
When: Sunday, May 24th, 2015
website

Tobie's is one of those massive complexes just off the interstate in an otherwise empty section of road that offers everything. Food. Gas. Gift shop. Car Wash. It's halfway between the Twin Cities and Duluth, which is apparently where everyone goes for long holidays. Not Duluth necessary, but "up north". Like how the people in Philadelphia go "down the shore."

We stopped in to check out their bakery section and were not disappointed. Look at this case! And the size of these cinnamon rolls!


My husband wanted the chocolate buttermilk and he convinced me to get the maple roll instead of the maple long john because he doesn't like fillings. Both donuts were COVERED in icing. I mean, it was good icing, but it was thick. I've been known to scrap icing off before, but that's hard to do when you're camping so I sucked it up and ate it. Every last bite.

     

I'd say 4/5 for both and I would definitely stop again if I'm ever in the area. Just don't go in the gift shop.

Yoyo Donuts

What: Maple Bacon, Chocolate raised 

Where: 5757 Sanibel Dr, Minnetonka, MN 55343

When: Friday, May 22nd, 2015

website

Yoyo Donuts had a great look from the outside, and the inside was nicely decorated. But something just seemed off. Like it was all for show. It reminded me of a smoothie place that opened down the street from me when I lived in Boston that only had one blender. Maybe they just moved spaces and hadn't totally unpacked.

We arrived around 3 or 4 in the afternoon, which isn't the best time for donut selection. They did have their maple bacon, which was mentioned in their online reviews. I prefer a plain maple, but I won't turn down a maple bacon (and hey, if the bacon is helping the maple gain some more popularity, I'm all for it!)

The donuts were standard, neatly frosted and tasting exactly as you would expect your standard donut to taste. My husband liked the bacon, probably because it was still slightly soft and he likes softer bacon than I do. I'd give them both 2/5.

North Country donut tour

This year my husband's company had to shut down extra days for building construction and we got 5 days off in a row. So, to take full advantage of them, we planned a crazy trip to Minnesota that involved some camping, some sight seeing, some beer tasting, and a lot of donuts.

My husband did most of the hard word, vetting various donut places and letting me know which ones were must see. I then compiled my favorites and researched hours so we wouldn't miss any. We still missed some. Tip: write down hours for every day, not just the day you might go! Also, call for hours if at all possible. Donut places' websites aren't always the most up to date. 

We made it to four of the five places I listed, missing out on Dozen Excuses because of timing. We also added Tobie's in Hinckley, MN. So many donuts...here are your teaser reviews:

Yoyo's: grocery story donuts in a hip setting

Tobie's: old fashioned bakery

Mojo Monkey: amazing flavor

Glam Doll: THE donut destination in Minneapolis

Twin Cities Donut Crawl

For Memorial Day Weekend this year, my husband and I went up to Minnesota. (He likes to pronounce it Min - ee - so - ta with an accent on the "so" part). Apparently we went up the wrong weekend! The Twin Cities Donut Crawl looks AMAZING and I really wish I could go! They take over a park for the day, everyone gets a bakery box and you walk around to the different store to collect your donuts! 11 places are participating, 2 may just be for the coffee though. 

Stay tuned here though because we did make it to four donut places on our five day trip, so reviews will be coming!