Atlanta’s doughnut scene grows with Donnie’s Donuts launching in Inman Park

Coming to Inman Park this fall, Donnie’s Donuts, a cake-based doughnut shop, comes from Atlantan Patti Summerlin and her husband, Donald. The couple “retired” to Florida, where they opened Donnie’s in Ormond Beach in 2014. A few locations later, they’re now returning to Patti’s home state to share their homemade treats with Atlantans.

“We make doughnuts we want to eat. We make our own frosting and creams,” she says. “I’m a Georgia Peach through and through. We cannot deprive our home state of these.”

Located near Highland Bakery in Old Fourth Ward, Donnie’s will offer “Modern” and “Vintage” styles of cake doughnuts. The Vintage doughnuts are simpler and topped only with sugar or cinnamon sugar. Modern doughnuts come in three bases: original, chocolate, and either blueberry, apple cider, or pumpkin spice. There will be 15-20 predesigned flavors daily, often including Snickers, German Frosted Cake, Sea Breeze (salted caramel), Strawberry Shortcake, Maple Bacon, and Fruity Pebbles.

Courtesy of Donnie’s Donuts

Those who prefer to get creative can build their own with 120 possible flavor combinations. There’s peanut butter frosting, marshmallow fluff, raspberry drizzle, cinnamon streusel, and pecan pieces, to name a few. “We’re absolute sweets nuts,” Summerlin says. Donnie’s Donuts feature frosting (like cupcakes), not glaze. Everything is made in house using non-GMO sugars.

To counter the sweetness, Donnie’s will serve fair trade coffee, tea from a female co-op in Thailand, milk, juice, and blended drinks. The 2,400-square-foot space will have a mid-century vibe that’s both rustic and modern. Expect gray, black, white, and wood. “We want it to be a place everyone feels comfortable,” Summerlin says.

Though it’s not slated to open until late October, Donnie’s will give out free doughnuts as its staff tests its machines. Follow @donniesdonuts on Instagram for details.

Courtesy of Donnie’s Donuts

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