Have you ever tried a doughnut crawl?

I first heard about the idea of a doughnut crawl from the blogger, MinneMama Adventures. If you don’t follow her, she’s worth a follow with so many unique ideas. This past summer, we tried one of her doughnut crawls with a few adjustments due to the location we were coming from. Despite the fact that I’ve never been much of a doughnut lover, we had SO much fun! Many months later, my kids still talk about this and what a fun adventure this was. So, I decided to create a doughnut crawl closer to us and try it out. Save this post or send it to someone you want to go with because this is going to be something you will want to do. 

Here’s what you do:

*Visit each bakery and buy one or two doughnuts (or more if you have a large group) that are different! OR buy the same one or two kinds of doughnuts at each bakery!

*Save them all without trying them until the last stop! 

*Find a spot to taste test each one. 

*Vote on your favorites. 

*Do it again a different day to find new favorites and support small businesses! 

My favorite thing about this adventure is it’s a fun activity for all age groups. Our youngest daughter enjoyed this just as much as my mom. This is a great bonding activity to do with teenagers or even college students. Who doesn’t love to try a bunch of doughnuts? 

On this doughnut crawl, we were pleasantly surprised at the prices for this experience! Grand total for all four bakeries was just a little over $14. Yep, you read that right. In fact, we spent more than all three bakeries at one bakery. So, if we had skipped that stop, we would have spent only $6.53. No joke…can you ask for a better deal with any other activity? 

When we did this the first time, somebody made a comment about how much sugar that was for the kids. How rude, right?!?! Yet, when it was said and done, it really wasn’t anymore than eating one doughnut. I cut up the doughnuts into enough pieces that everyone could try at least one piece. This meant cutting it into six pieces or some a little more. We bought one or two doughnuts at each spot. By the end, most of us had eaten less than one whole doughnut. It truly was about the experience, not about how much sugar they were getting. For little ones, this also gave them a chance to try unique kinds of doughnuts that they normally wouldn’t try. One of our kids always wants a doughnut with chocolate frosting and sprinkles. This way, she tried other kinds…and guess what?! She’s realized she likes a few other kinds now! 

All bakeries that we stopped at are right off Highway 169/60 and driving time from the first stop to the last stop is forty-five minutes. Check out the rest of my blog for other places to stop along with these bakeries if you’re looking for a full-day event! Here’s where we stopped:

Schmidt’s Bakery- St. James:

If you haven’t tried this bakery, this is a must visit place whether you do this doughnut crawl or not. Not only was this bakery rated 14th best bakery nationwide in the Sweetest Bakery in America contest, but they just celebrated their 100th year of business in 2023. They have kept their recipes the same as they have passed the business down to the next generation. Walking into the bakery, you can tell it’s not just a business. It’s loaded with tradition, history, family, and memories. Schmidt’s is a true small-town bakery with mouth-watering treats for everyone. Evidence of this is their empty bakery shelves if you come too late in the day. You can’t sleep on Schmidt’s as everyone else will come get their bakery items early! This is an easy spot to stop on a road trip or to take a day trip down to the southern area of Minnesota. Everyone who works here is so kind and patient, especially as our kids always take forever to pick which treat they want. They are quick to make sure our experience at the bakery is always wonderful. On this particular doughnut crawl day, we got a fried cinnamon roll and a chocolate sprinkle long john to try. Our total for both was $2.40. Can you really even beat those prices for amazing doughnuts? When we tried them with the other doughnuts, we all noted how light their taste was in comparison to the other doughnuts. The fried cinnamon roll melted in your mouth and reminded the adults in the group of cinnamon rolls from their grandparent’s house. Once you’ve tried a Schmidt’s doughnut, they truly are hard to beat. It’s clear their family has definitely mastered their recipes. 

Some of our other favorites at Schmidt’s include: their cream horns (I could eat these every single day!), their cookies, and their rolls. Depending on the time of the year, they have a variety of seasonal items, including Tom & Jerry mix. Their cookies change designs throughout the year and our absolute favorites are by far, the pumpkins. My mouth is watering just thinking about them right now! We always, keep a pack of rolls frozen in our freezer to pull out when we need them. They’re absolutely delectable for sandwiches, hamburgers, pulled chicken, you name it! Please note that Schmidt’s is a cash or check business only. 

Sweet Indeed!- Madelia:

Just one town over from Schmidt’s Bakery is this next hidden gem. Walking in, you will instantly feel at home with their cute decorations and their kid’s play area. My daughter adores playing in their play kitchen every time we go here. For this particular doughnut crawl, we got a maple cinnamon roll and a zebra top (white frosting with chocolate stripes) long john. Unfortunately, the zebra long john didn’t make it all the way to the end of the doughnut crawl. Our youngest could not stop asking “please” for some of this one, so we ended up splitting it up in the car for everyone to try on our drive. One of my favorite parts about Sweet Indeed’s doughnuts is their frosting. Perfectly made, it’s the kind of frosting you could easily just ask for a little bowl and eat that because it’s so delicious. The total for both doughnuts was $2.50. Another steal for such amazing treats! 

Some of our other favorites at Sweet Indeed’s are their sandwiches and their coffee drinks. Their cakes are also, absolutely delectable. Not only are they flavorsome, but they are also beautifully decorated and well thought out. One last thing we love to look at here are their packs of cookie decorating kits, treats, or breads. We have bought everything from tasty breads to puppy chow to decorate your own dinosaur cookie kits. They always have unique baked goods to celebrate different parts of the year. Snickers cookies caught our eye on this day and they made it on our receipt, along with the doughnuts. 

Mochi Dough- Mankato:

Next up on our doughnut crawl was a new doughnut spot called Mochi Dough. This was definitely a change-up from the last two bakeries that were small-town bakeries. Known for their Japanese doughnuts, their doughnuts use rice flour instead of traditional yeast and their doughnuts consist of “bubble-like” circles in a doughnut shape. When we walked in, we were greeted with tons of pink flowers and lots of photo opportunities sprinkled throughout the bakery. Two computer screens greeted us to order on. We picked the box of 3 doughnuts for $7.50. After getting a receipt, a worker behind the counter helped us to pick out the three doughnuts. The flavors the kids picked out were: churro, cookies n’ cream, and just marshmallows. 

These doughnuts were light and fluffy. Our kids loved that they got a “doughnut hole” to sample when we cut up these doughnuts. The lucky charm marshmallows were a hit with our two youngest. My husband was shocked at how much the churro doughnut actually tasted like a churro. After seeing one of the Bober teas, I decided I had to get one. I got a brown sugar milk tea with tapoica pearls. With a lot of shaking, the drink was pretty good. It did have a strong flavor at first, but was definitely a great treat after I shook it up. 

Krusty’s Donuts- Mankato: Our last stop was Krusty’s Donuts. This is a fun spot with unique kinds of doughnuts. The prices also, are hard to beat. At this stop, we got a maple bacon doughnut and an oreo doughnut. We got to Krusty’s around 11:20 and were shocked to have our doughnuts be $1.63. If you stop even later in the day, the worker told me the doughnuts are even cheaper. These doughnut toppings were absolutely mouth-watering and the kids loved eating the toppings off. Their doughnuts are a little heavier and not as light and fluffy as some of the other locations. 

After we finished buying all of the doughnuts, we went to the Mankato mall to try them all. We put all the doughnuts out on the table and then, cut them up into six pieces. Everyone could try a piece of each doughnut if they wanted. Then, we voted on which doughnuts and which bakery we each liked best. There was a definite winner in each category for each of us…but, I can’t tell you guys as that’s for each of you to figure out after you do this doughnut crawl. 

Below are each of the details for each bakery:

Schmidt’s Bakery

Address: 422 1st Ave S, St James, MN 56081

Hours: Tuesday- Friday: 5:30 am-5 pm

Saturday: 5:30 am- 3 pm

Sweet Indeed!

Address: 6 W Main St, Madelia, MN 56062

Hours: Tuesday-Saturday: 6 am-2pm

Mochi Dough

Address: 1600 Warren St Suite 14, Mankato, MN 56001

Hours: Sunday thru Thursday: 9am-9pm

Friday & Saturday- 9 am-10 pm

Krusty’s Doughnuts

Address: 1600 Warren St Suite 14, Mankato, MN 56001

Hours: Tuesdays- Sundays: 7 am-9 p

Since doing this doughnut crawl, we have tried several other bakeries that would be worth it to visit for a part in the doughnut crawl.

These include:

Infusion Baking Co. and Cafe:

Address: 118 S Main St, Lake Crystal, MN 56055

Hours: Tuesdays-Fridays: 6:30 am-4pm,

Saturday 7:30-1:30pm

Sweet Sister’s/Meg’s Sweets & Treats:

Backerei & Coffee Shop:

Address: 27 S Minnesota St, New Ulm, MN 56073

Hours: Tuesdays-Fridays: 6am-3:30 pm

Saturdays: 6am-1:30pm

Sweet Sisters/Meg’s Sweets & Treats:

Address: 116 Broadway, Hanska, MN 56041

Hours: Check Facebook page for specific hours as they change

Kiehl’s Bakery:

Address: 332 Main St, Lakefield, MN 56150

Hours: Wednesdays-Saturdays: 7am-2pm

If you’re looking for something to do in these winter months, this is the activity to do. It’s perfect for all ages, fairly cheap, and an experience that all of you will talk about for weeks after. Comment below which doughnut or spot was your family’s favorite! 

Until my next adventure,

Allie