Here’s something they don’t tell you about having a baby: You will be lavished with delicious food by ridiculously generous friends. Some of it will be homemade (shout out to Morgan’s stick-to-your-ribs lasagne) and much of it delivered. We’ve now had the good fortune of sampling decadent chocolate pie from Pie & Mighty and three-quarters of the Italian Eatery menu, courtesy of pals Sharyn, Laryssa, Michael, and Shayna. This particular box of breakfast joy, gifted to us by Ever and Hannah, comes from Cardigan Donuts in Minneapolis. Somehow this was only the second time we’ve eaten their donuts and boy are we kicking ourselves for missing out all these years.

Cardigan makes souffle-like French crullers, cinnamon-sugar-dusted churro rolls, bourbon apple fritters with whiskey glaze, a mean Boston Cream Bismarck with malted vanilla cream filing, and one of the best old-fashioned donuts we’ve ever tasted. The secret ingredient on that last one? Greek yogurt.

Cardigan Donuts

The hits don’t stop there. Cardigan cycles through scores of limited-edition sweets, changing up its offerings each week. Recent specialty flavors have included Salted Cooke Dough, Banana Buttercrunch (an old-fashioned donut smothered in dulce de leche icing and topped with pecans and chocolate-y toffee), Jalapeño Cornbread (a cornbread cake donut with diced jalapeño, honey glaze, and candied bacon), and a St. Patrick’s Day special topped with Irish whisky caramel, Guinness chocolate custard, and Irish cream buttercream.

The bakery is open Monday to Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. For all the latest flavors and pre-order information, follow Cardigan Donuts on Facebook and Instagram and kiss ya diet goodbye. 💋🍩

Cardigan Donuts
40 S. 7th St., Ste. 207, Minneapolis, MN; 612-259-7804.