Muriel’s Donuts

OCTOBER 2017

This is what the Donut Bucket List is all about. On this family trip I was even able to bring my grandpa to tag along! The donut bucket list is often a topic of conversation on our phone calls so I was thrilled for him to be able to join in! Muriel’s donuts is basically in the middle of nowhere in New Hampshire. It’s technically in the city of Lebanon, New Hampshire, with a population of 10,000,  but the hour drive we took there is about as secluded and classic New England as you can get - through foliage, mountains, and with very few people on the road. In fact, this was the only time Google Maps has led me astray. It took us down a one-way street the wrong way right before our arrival to Muriel’s donuts.

The shop is the epitome of a hole in the wall mom and pop shop. In fact, I think the building might have actually been half shop and half home to Muriel. I was surprised to find the hours were listed as only 10-1 but as soon as I arrived it all made sense. There was no line and we walked right up and into the shop. The shop is literally just this sweet old grandmother making donuts herself and running the whole operation behind a cut-out window that opens into her kitchen. One of the reviews I had read described it as “no frills” and that’s the understatement of the century! She is a one-person dynamo behind the counter with all three stations for her: shaping, rolling and cutting the dough; frying and drying; and then hand filling with jam or coating with cinnamon sugar.  The menu is understandably limited which meant that we could try one of everything! Make sure to get these donuts hot! While some of our batch might have been sitting, the ones that were piping hot fresh off the rack were on point! The highlights were the plain old fashioned and the jelly stick which arrived in a brown paper bag with a paper towel. We devoured them before we got back to our car that was parked right in front of the shop. Overall the experience was easily just as memorable as the donuts at Muriel’s. This trek to New Hampshire’s “North Country” was great and not-to-be-missed! 

Other NH locations that we visited:

Lou’s Restaurant and Bakery

If you have been to Dartmouth College I hope you have checked out Lou’s! While there isn’t a ton going on in the secluded college town of Hanover, New Hampshire, I have ventured over there a few times to visit family and I always made sure that Lou’s was on our itinerary for the weekend. Lou’s is a popular spot and known by many around the town as a great bakery and breakfast spot but there’s a hidden gem on the menu that is the reason this place made my Donut Bucket List: Cruller French Toast. While I actually haven’t had the crullers plain from this bakery spot, I have had them as French Toast numerous times. This novel recipe takes 3 crullers, dips them in batter, fries them and tops them with whipped cream, strawberries and (obviously local) pure maple syrup. 

This place definitely puts to rest the question about whether you can just have donuts for breakfast. The answer here is YES! (which is always my answer, but I understand there may be some other varying views on this for some reason). The way this item is created also allows it to be served hot every time so you know what you are getting and don’t have to worry about getting a stale donut. The whipped cream and strawberries are obviously optional but frying these day-old crullers and serving them hot means you are getting what tastes like a fresh batch of donuts every time. Dousing it in maple syrup is really just the cherry on top. I haven’t found a better breakfast / donut in Hanover and would recommend trying this one out!