From classic glazed to more whimsical styles, here’s where to get doughnuts down the Shore

Chris O’Hara opened a doughnut shop near his family’s pancake restaurant in Ocean City, serving sweet, pillowy doughnuts for late breakfasts or afternoon snacks at the beach. Every summer growing up, O’Hara worked at Uncle Bill’s Pancake House and always thought he’d end up expanding the pancake empire. But after about eight years in financial services, he opened Nauti Donuts on Asbury Avenue to complement the block’s existing family-friendly businesses, like his family’s pancake house and Aunt Betty’s Ice Cream Shack.

Doughnuts at the Shore are a fun grab-and-go option, O’Hara said, especially for days when the whole family doesn’t want a sit-down meal — you can just send mom or dad for treats and coffees to enjoy before, during, or after the beach.

For Matthew Kuttler, doughnut shops are all about tradition. Just as his Sea Isle City spot, Maryanne Pastry Shoppe, has been “passed down through generations, so have the traditions of people coming in and starting their mornings by having something that is a true classic.”

“They hit a little different when you’re at your special place down the Shore,” O’Hara said.

Whether you’re searching for classic glazed, colorful cereal-coated, or an ice cream-topped version (at Nauti Donuts), you’ll find plenty of flavors to choose from at the Jersey Shore.

For glazed, chocolate, Boston cream, or vanilla iced doughnuts, Madison’s Bakery & Coffee Shop has you covered. Find 15 flavors of doughnuts for $1.85 at any of three Cape May locations. In Sea Isle City, Maryanne Pastry Shoppe is all about serving hot, fresh yeast-raised doughnuts, for $1.75 each. Try best-sellers like the powdered sugar vanilla cream doughnut or the cinnamon bun-shaped Bismark. There are also cake doughnuts, like chocolate with vanilla icing.

Why can’t a bread and cheese shop be your spot for doughnuts too? Stone Harbor’s Bread and Cheese Cupboard has plenty of $2 glazed, iced, and sprinkled classic flavors, and blueberry and sour cream cake doughnuts. Kohler’s Bakery in Avalon is another spot for $2 doughnuts. Order traditional cake doughnuts topped with chocolate or vanilla icing and rainbow sprinkles; yeast-raised dough twists dipped in chocolate or vanilla icing; or cinnamon sugar-coated doughnuts oozing with raspberry or strawberry fruit filling.

🍩 Where to find classic doughnuts

Madison’s Bakery & Coffee Shop:📍Multiple locations, 📞 609-305-4641, 🌐 madisonsbakerynj.com

Maryanne Pastry Shoppe:📍108 44th St., Sea Isle City, 📞 609-263-3814, 🕒 Sunday to Wednesday 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., Thursday to Saturday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., 🌐 maryannepastryshoppenj.com

The Bread and Cheese Cupboard:📍246 96th St., Stone Harbor, 📞 609-368-1135, 🕒 Monday to Thursday 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., Friday to Sunday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., 🌐 breadandcheesecupboard.com

Kohler's Bakery:📍2709 Dune Dr., Avalon, 📞 609-967-3694, 🕒 Friday to Monday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tuesday 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., 🌐 kohlersbakery.com