I’ve heard intriguing things about the Doughnut Project, a doughnut shop in New York City’s West Village neighborhood, and decided it was time to check it out. Unfortunately, my first attempt ended in failure. I’d decided to go on National Doughnut Day, and by the time I arrived at the shop they had sold out of doughnuts and closed for the day! I should have known that such a national holiday would result in a rush on doughnuts! Not to be deterred, I ventured out again on Friday, determined to not be turned away a second time without my prize. This time, I experienced success.
The Doughnut Project specialized in yeast doughnuts, with flavors inspired by classic food pairings and cocktails. On the day that I visited, they offered a number of tempting doughnuts, including flavors such as salted chocolate with buttered pretzel, lemon with sea salt, olive oil and black pepper, peach pie, beet and ricotta, corn and blueberry, and the maple bacon bar, accessorized with a full strip of bacon on top. They all looked delicious, and I asked which doughnut I would regret if I didn’t try it. Without hesitation, Doughnut Project co-founder Leslie assured me that I must try the everything doughnut.
Now, New Yorkers love their everything bagels, but I wasn’t convinced that this flavor profile made good sense for a doughnut. But I trusted Leslie’s advice and ordered one despite my reservations. And I was glad I did. It might not taste like a traditional doughnut, but it was delicious! The yeast doughnut was covered in a cream cheese glaze, creating the first reference to a bagel traditionally spread with cream cheese (known by New Yorkers as a “schmear”). The baker then liberally sprinkled the doughnut with poppy seeds, pepitas, black and white sesame seeds, a very small amount of garlic, and sea salt. Thankfully the dehydrated onion, so prevalent in everything bagels, is missing here! The glaze adds a light sweetness, which is balanced by the nutty, slightly salty crunch of the seeds. It’s a delicious bite.
Like most doughnut shops in New York City, the Doughnut Project is small – but the store is airy and inviting, with bar stools lined up along a wooden ledge by large windows. The walls are decorated with spray painted graffiti/street art, like this colorful stenciled and spray painted wall by Buenos Aires-born and Brooklyn-based street artist BNS (Instagram: @bnswhat).
So how do you get to the Doughnut Project? It’s located at 10 Morton Street in the West Village. The West 4th Street subway station, accessible by the A, B, C, D, E, F, and M trains, is only a few short blocks away. Don’t wait too late in the day to visit this shop though. The Doughnut Project opens at 8 am Monday through Friday and 9 am on the weekends, but it’s only open until the doughnuts sell out.
I love how original the flavors are. Will have to give it a try!
I think I will have to return to try another one, as I just can’t eat more than one at a time. I was intrigued by the corn and blueberry – a doughnut filled with a corn custard with blueberry glaze. The beet and ricotta doughnut also looked gorgeous. The beet juice made the glaze a lovely berry color, and I think that the beet flavor would go well with the ricotta filling.
Haha yes. I was thinking I need to bring at least one friend along so we can try more!
That’s a great plan!
I am not sure about the everything doughnut. But the beet and ricotta sounds great. Any place that features street art as to be good–okay maybe not.
What interesting flavors. I’m not sure I would like the everything one but the salted chocolate with buttered pretzel sounds really delicious. This definitely looks worth the trip.
What a knack you have of making things I would normally think of as ho-hum, won’t go there, interesting and inviting. I rather yearn after beet and ricotta too. (I’ve yet to try beetroot ice cream here.) The photo of your donut is edible. Thank you for taking me to unfamiliar and unsought after places and making them a treat.
Now that everything bagel is something I would like to try! Mm and wish you had more photos of the other ones – like with the bacon!
But cool place and glad you had success on the second trip – we will try and check this out when in NYC next time !
Salted chocolate with buttered pretzel…? I’m about to hop on a train.
Oh My God! They all sound AMAZING!! The everything doughnut sounds interesting !
Fun post…and us Canadians love our doughnuts!
What a fun place to have a little treat when visiting NYC. Thanks for bringing the city alive for me. Have a great weekend.
I’m glad you enjoyed it. I hope you have a great weekend too!
Would you buy it again? Take someone to try it? Such a weird combo!
I would definitely go back – and take people with me. I don’t think I could eat a whole one again, but it was strangely delicious. I think the best plan would be to go with friends, order several different doughnuts, and share them with each other.
Krispy Kreme is king down here in Florida, but I happened to be driving by the lone store in my town. The lines were practically out into the traffic. Yes, I, too, happened to drive by on National Donut Day, which I read about in the newspaper the next day (complete with photo showing people lined up into said traffic). For one donut!!! Amazing. That everything donut looks and sounds pretty darn amazing. So glad you were able to get back there.
I’m familiar with Krispy Kreme and its neon “hot” sign that draws you in if you are hungry. They are good, especially straight out of the fryer! This doughnut was certainly different from those, but delicious in its own way.