The Sweet-Seeker’s Guide to the Butler County Donut Trail

By CityBeat Staff on Fri, Jun 4, 2021 at 9:00 am

Cheesecake. Maple Bacon. Fruity Pebbles. S’mores. These sweet selections are all delicious on their own. But when these words are being used to describe the flavor of a donut, we’re talking about an entirely new level of delectability.

These donuts aren’t the stuff of fairy tales. Every morning, these magical flavors grace the shelves of 13 mom-and-pop shops throughout Butler County, a measly 45-minute-drive north of Cincinnati.

But that’s not all — these shops have converged to form the Butler County Donut Trail, a sugary machination of the Butler County Visitors Bureau which challenges hungry humans to get a passport stamped at each of the 13 locations in a quest for total donut domination.

Official Butler County Donut Trail passports are available at each stop along the trail, and a printable version is also available online. Those who successfully get their passport stamped (and eat a donut or three) at every stop along the way are eligible to claim a well-deserved prize: an official Butler County Donut Trail T-shirt.

Don’t set out unprepared: These stores close up shop as soon as their inventory runs out, which can happen as early as 10 a.m. daily.

If you do intend to visit them all in a day, plan on beginning around 7 a.m. Although Oxford Doughnut Shoppe is an optional stop — the only elective destination on the list — the popular store near Miami University frequently has its shelves cleaned out by 8 a.m., necessitating a particularly early start if you plan to include it. And you should — its donuts make the grogginess worth it (and there’s coffee!).

With your completed passport in hand, swing by the Butler County Visitors Bureau to claim your T-shirt (available small through XXL). Passports can also be mailed into the bureau (8756 Union Centre Blvd., West Chester, OH 45069), which will send your T-shirt to you in return.

So grab a traveling companion, make room in your stomach and hone your sweet tooth: The Donut Trail is calling your name.

For more information on the Butler County Donut Trail and to download an official trail passport, visit gettothebc.com/donut-trail.

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Click through to see all donut shops you can find on the Butler County Donut Trail

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Milton’s Donuts

3533 Roosevelt Blvd., Middletown
If this little shop with a spot in a Middletown strip mall looks unassuming, don’t be surprised by the long lines at the counter. This hidden treasure is a local favorite and too good to miss. Long-time owner Dan Milton’s parents put their life savings of $5,000 toward some used donut-making equipment, and the result is today’s shelves of exciting, sugary delights. When the shop first opened, donuts cost a nickel, but even today you can find totally unique choices for affordable prices. Find everything from a Reese's-topped peanut butter-filled donut donut to a Fruity Pebbles-topped yeast donut to a chocolate cream pie.
ASK FOR: the cherry iced cake donut, a cake donut with cherry icing.
Photo: Jesse Fox

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Oxford Doughnut Shoppe

120 S. Locust St., Oxford
Although this little shop is an optional stop on the trail — its popular donuts sometimes sell out as early as 8 a.m. — it’s well worth waking up a little early to get your hands on some treats from this local favorite. With a prime location near Miami University, the shop is a popular destination for students looking for a quick caffeine and sugar buzz. The shop is easily identifiable thanks to Sir Doughnalot, the store’s cheerful donut-headed mascot — look for him on a red sign above the building. (You’ll also find him posing with the latest donut creations on the shop’s social media pages.) Inside, the store is bright and colorful, with a donut-devoted mural and large chalkboard menu.
ASK FOR: The Fruity Pebbles donut, a white-iced cake donut topped off with the popular crunchy cereal.
Photo: Jesse Fox

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Kelly’s Bakery

1335 Main St., Hamilton
If you’ve got a big appetite for a super-sized donut, Kelly’s Bakery is the place for you. It’s on the west side of town, but it’s worth the trip from anywhere in the Greater Cincinnati area. These unique treats range in size, shape, color and confection, with everything from bacon and glaze to chocolate-frosted logs and heart-shaped delights to donuts twisted to spell out things like “I <3 U MOM.” A fun array of toppings and extras appeal to kids and kids-at-heart: popular cereals, colorful frostings and sprinkles and scrumptious cream fillings. Make sure to scan their selection of cinnamon rolls, pastries, danishes, cookies and more, served with a fresh coffee, cappuccino, milk or juice.
ASK FOR: The s’mores donut, a cake donut with chocolate, graham cracker and marshmallow drizzled with chocolate syrup.
Photo: Jesse Fox

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Martin’s Donuts

4 W. State St., Trenton
You can spot Martin’s Donuts from all the way down the street — its bright pink exterior, located in the heart of Trenton, is difficult to miss. And the cheery, bright atmosphere you’re greeted with once you step inside is hard to forget. Handmade fresh donuts are the game and Martin’s is a winner with more than 28 years of family experience. You can often find creative flavorrs such as banana pudding, red velvet and maple bacon in the bakery cases, and if you’re lucky, you can even take a peek inside the kitchen and tasting room adjacent to the shop.
ASK FOR: The cronut — a combination of donut and croissant that embodies the flavor of the former and the texture of the latter.
Photo: Jesse Fox

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The Donut Spot

5148 Pleasant Ave., Fairfield
The Donut Spot is a bustling hub of sugar and caffeine — the smell of freshly roasted coffee permeates the air as the shop buzzes with the queries of regulars ordering their favorites. If you’re feeling extra hungry, put in a special request for a giant, sprinkled donut that’s bigger than your head. The shop has also been enlisted for help with endeavors like sweet dance proposals, with glazed treats shaped to spell out “PROM.”
ASK FOR: A simple but scrumptious vanilla iced donut with rainbow sprinkles.
Photo: Jesse Fox

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Jupiter Coffee & Donuts

5353 Dixie Highway, Fairfield
For donuts that are absolutely out of this world, try the homemade goodness of Jupiter Coffee & Donuts. Located in Fairfield near Jungle Jim’s, this family-owned bakery whips up fresh batches of donuts every morning alongside brownies, danishes, muffins, cookies and cupcakes. Enjoy a delicious treat, a cup of fresh-roasted coffee with beans from Guatemala, Papua New Guinea and Colombia, free Wi-Fi and a friendly, bright setting. Ask about their waffle donuts or real Ohio maple syrup donuts, plus the perfect house-roasted coffee pairing. They also make a great cup of hot cocoa — perfect for a casual morning (the French drink it with breakfast) or a sweet break from your day.
ASK FOR: The Red Storm Roll, a raspberry-filled donut with cream cheese frosting.
Photo: Jesse Fox

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Ross Bakery

1051 Eaton Ave., Hamilton; 221 Hamilton Cleves Road, Hamilton
This Hamilton-based bakery now has two locations. If you happen to bump into a few of Ross’ regulars along the trail, chances are they’ll talk up the bakery’s flaky, best-selling apple fritters. But don’t limit your selection — the shops is also known for coffee, bagels and an assortment of treats like holiday-themed iced cookies. Look for unique creations like a dirt cake donut, slathered with white icing, sprinkled with Oreo crumbles and garnished with a gummy worm.
ASK FOR: The Crème Horn, a flaky, puffy pastry stuffed with whipped cream, made the old-fashioned way.
Photo: Jesse Fox

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Mimi’s Donuts & Bakery

2267 Millville Ave., Hamilton
Mimi’s Donuts & Bakery tests the limits of experimentation with selections like a rich Funfetti cake donut, a warm, fresh-from-the-oven cream cheese and raspberry croissant and a gluten-sensitive morning muffin. A goofy “donuts must be leashed” sign greets visitors on this trail stop, and eager customers fill up the pub-style tables and chairs each morning. The energetic, creative ownership is always looking for new donut dreams to turn into realities, whether that’s a handheld pineapple upside down cake or a Creamsicle-flavored donut with real orange zest. A real family affair, the store accommodates its loyal followers with decorative mugs, holiday specials and diet-sensitive desserts.
ASK FOR: The Little Chicago donut, an apple-filled donut rolled in cinnamon and sugar. But if they don't have that, try the Reese's Cup donut.
Photo: Jesse Fox

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Holtman’s Donut Shop

9558 Civic Centre Blvd., West Chester
This Greater Cincinnati-based donut chain might already be familiar to Cincinnati residents, but it's still worth stopping at their newer location further up I-75 to grab one last sweet treat before heading back down to the city. The family-owned bakery sells yeast and cake donuts made the old-fashioned way, but with a modern twist. Re-experience your favorite childhood cereals on top of a Fruity Pebbles or Lucky Charms round or indulge in a Maple Double Bacon pastry. They even sell a Oreo vegan donut for an animal-product-free sugar high.
ASK FOR: A S’mores donut, which features a housemade glob of marshmallow perched on top of a chocolate and graham cracker-coated yeast donut.
Photo: Jesse Fox

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Central Pastry Shop

1518 Central Ave., Middletown
This bakery, first opened in 1949, has provided three generations of Middletown residents with delectable cakes and pastries of all kinds. Its donuts are no exception. They recommend that first-time donut trail visitors try one of its specials, such as an “ugly” (a chunky yellow cake donut fried to crispy perfection and then coated in sugar) or a cinnamon square (a block of yeasty donut dough coated in cinnamon sugar and not infrequently described as a piece of heaven). If you’re tired of donuts, Central Pastry offers plenty of other options, such as decadent fudge squares, cookies, breads and even wedding cakes.
ASK FOR: The Cinnamon Square, a heavenly donut block coated in sugar and cinnamon.
Photo via Facebook.com/CentralPastry

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Stan the Donut Man

7967 Cincinnati Dayton Road, West Chester
With a bright, open space and multiple tables, Stan’s is a perfect place to take a respite from your devoted donut hunting. The shelves here are stocked with an overwhelming array of colorful treats; rainbow sprinkles, Fruity Pebbles and M&Ms top white-iced donuts, and surrounding trays contain things like chocolate yeast rounds and twisty glazed tiger tails. Look for tempting seasonal flavors like cherry and pumpkin, plus fun holiday-themed flairs like red, white and blue sprinkles.
ASK FOR: The best-selling Bowtie, a twisty glazed donut.
Photo: Jesse Fox

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The Donut Dude

7132 Cincinnati-Dayton Road, #900, Liberty Township
Though a relatively recent addition to the Greater Cincinnati donut world, The Donut Dude has secured itself as a new local favorite. The shop opened in spring of 2020 and features handmade, daily fresh donuts, pastries, fitters and locally-sourced coffee. But you can bet on finding much more than your average glazed donut here, The Donut Dude serves up wild creations like cotton candy donuts, blueberry maple bacon donuts and pecan turtle donuts.
ASK FOR: The pecan turtle, a yeast donut dipped in caramel and topped with pecans and chocolate icing.
Photo via the-donutdude.com

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The Donut Hole by Milton's

8268 Princeton Glendale Road, West Chester Township
Find all of your Milton's Donuts favorites at this West Chester location dubbed "The Donut Hole." The space is a little smaller, but packs just as much flavor as the other spots.
ASK FOR: The lemon-filled lemon-iced donut, a lemon-filled and lemon-iced yeast donut.
Photo via miltondonuts.com

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