As a former Bostonian, I will always have a soft spot in my heart for Dunkin' Donuts, but among the many blessings that came with moving to Texas was the chance to become acquainted with Shipley Do-Nuts. I will always favor their monstrous apple fritters, though recently I have willed myself to try their diverse doughnut flavors (it's rough, i tell you). Here are my five favorite Shipley varieties:
5. Cherry-Filled. While the filling is definitely a far cry from natural/organic, the drupe stuffing of this doughnut still bursts with (processed) fruit flavor. It can barely contain all those cherries in syrup, so don't be surprised if just a little leaks onto your hands. Don't worry, that's what napkins licking your fingers is for.
4. Plain Glazed. By sight alone you can readily tell the difference between crappy grocery-store glazed doughnuts and the ones proffered by Shipley. Shipley doesn't skimp on the glaze, covering every curve of the doughnut with a thick layer of sugar icing that does NOT drip off at the drop of a hat (I'm looking at you, H-E-B glazed doughnut). The dough's interior is always fresh and fluffy, making for a doughnut that is lighter than air...which is probably why half a dozen go down so smoothly.
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