Top 10 Best Doughnuts in Ohio

Ohio is one of the most underrated doughnut states in the country, with old-school 24-hour shops, family bakeries, college-town icons, small-city legends, and one of America's best-known doughnut trails. This Discovery Matt Food Map ranking highlights Ohio doughnut shops that stand out for local reputation, doughnut-specific credibility, awards, longevity, and geographic spread beyond just Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati. The final list balances nationally recognized names with smaller-city shops that locals have defended for years.

1. 1

   Bill's Donut Shop

   Centerville

   Bill's Donut Shop takes the top spot as the most defensible No. 1 doughnut shop in Ohio. The Miami Valley institution has been serving doughnuts since 1960, moved to its current Centerville location in 1979, and remains open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Its combination of longevity, local loyalty, true doughnut-shop hours, and national recognition makes it the strongest overall pick in the state.

   Known for: 24-hour doughnuts, Miami Valley tradition, classic glazed doughnuts, national recognition

2. 2

   Donald's Donuts

   Zanesville

   Donald's Donuts gives Zanesville one of Ohio's strongest smaller-city food destinations. It has long been treated by Ohio doughnut-road-trip writers as one of the best doughnut shops in the state, and in 2025, Donald's received major national attention when it was named the best doughnut shop in the country in USA Today's 10Best Readers' Choice Awards. That combination of local obsession and national recognition makes it a very strong No. 2.

   Known for: Zanesville doughnut destination, classic doughnuts, USA Today 10Best recognition

3. 3

   Jack Frost Donuts

   Cleveland

   Jack Frost Donuts is the clearest Cleveland-area heavyweight on this list. The shop has earned multiple Cleveland-area honors over the years, including Best of Cleveland and Best of the West recognition, and it continues to be one of Northeast Ohio's most talked-about doughnut shops. Its creative flavors, strong local following, and awards history make it one of Ohio's most credible doughnut destinations.

   Known for: Cleveland doughnut awards, creative flavors, Northeast Ohio reputation

4. 4

   Resch's Bakery

   Columbus / Gahanna

   Resch's Bakery is one of Central Ohio's most beloved old-school bakeries. The bakery dates back to 1912 and remains known for classic doughnuts, cakes, cookies, pastries, breads, and other traditional bakery staples. It earns a high spot because it combines more than a century of Columbus-area history with a doughnut reputation strong enough to compete statewide.

   Known for: Old-school bakery doughnuts, Columbus-area history, classic glazed doughnuts

5. 5

   Central Pastry Shop

   Middletown

   Central Pastry Shop earns a high placement because Butler County has one of the strongest doughnut cultures in Ohio, and Central Pastry is one of the key stops on the official Butler County Donut Trail. The shop represents the kind of mom-and-pop doughnut tradition that makes southwest Ohio so important in this category. It belongs in the top five because a true Ohio doughnut list needs serious Butler County representation.

   Known for: Butler County Donut Trail, classic pastries, Middletown mom-and-pop doughnuts

6. 6

   Buckeye Donuts

   Columbus

   Buckeye Donuts is one of Ohio's most iconic college-town doughnut shops. Located by Ohio State, it has been a Columbus campus staple for decades and is known for being open around the clock. Its doughnuts, breakfast sandwiches, late-night energy, and Buckeye-themed sweets make it one of the most recognizable independent doughnut shops in the state.

   Known for: 24-hour campus doughnuts, Buckeye Donut, Ohio State tradition, apple fritters

7. 7

   Milton's Donuts

   Middletown

   Milton's Donuts is another Butler County standout and one of the best-known doughnut shops in southwest Ohio. The shop has been described as a local icon, with a large selection of doughnuts, pastries, and baked goods. It earns its spot because it adds more weight to Middletown's doughnut reputation while still standing on its own as a serious destination.

   Known for: Classic glazed doughnuts, Butler County Donut Trail, southwest Ohio doughnut tradition

8. 8

   Crispie Creme Donut Shop

   Chillicothe

   Crispie Creme Donut Shop gives southern Ohio a very credible representative. The Chillicothe shop is a destination-worthy stop for old-school doughnuts, especially its classic glazed doughnut. It ranks here because it brings history, character, and southern Ohio representation to a list that could otherwise become too centered around the state's largest metros.

   Known for: Classic glazed doughnuts, Chillicothe history, southern Ohio doughnut stop

9. 9

   Schneider's Bakery

   Westerville

   Schneider's Bakery is a long-running Uptown Westerville bakery with strong local loyalty. The shop is known for fresh-baked doughnuts along with cakes, cookies, pies, danishes, breads, buns, and other bakery classics. It earns a top-ten spot because it represents the neighborhood bakery side of Ohio's doughnut scene rather than only destination doughnut counters.

   Known for: Fresh-baked doughnuts, Uptown Westerville bakery, neighborhood loyalty

10. 10

    Martin's Donuts

    Trenton

    Martin's Donuts rounds out the list as another Butler County Donut Trail favorite. The Trenton shop is known for its bright pink storefront, classic doughnuts, seasonal offerings, apple fritters, and fun specialty flavors. It closes the ranking as a strong small-town pick that reinforces Butler County's place as one of Ohio's true doughnut strongholds.

    Known for: Butler County Donut Trail, apple fritters, classic doughnuts, Trenton local favorite