I headed out on Sunday morning with my hubby in tow to Holt’s Do-Nuts at 1325 Main Street in Grandview, MO. We didn’t get an early start but thanks to daylight savings time, everyone seemed to be running late on Sunday and a good selection was still available at 9 a.m.
It was immediately apparent that Holt’s has been in the same spot for many, many years with teal and white striped fixtures, a non-electric cash register and vintage donut making equipment visible through the windows. We were greeted by a friendly gal who said she has worked at Holt’s for 15 years and the original owners since the 1970’s only recently sold to a new owner. The new owner is carrying on the Holt’s tradition–everything is made in house, from dough to frosting to the cinnamon glaze.
We sampled the chocolate cake with chocolate frosting, which was thick and creamy and would have been perfectly at home on a cupcake. The glazed donut was good and just the perfect size. The filled long john was a real treat. Their long johns are split in half, like a hot dog bun, and the pudding or creme filling is then spread on the inside, guaranteeing filling with each bite. YUM!
With two tiny tables, Holt’s is not an overly social place to have a cuppa with your donuts, however it was very enjoyable to talk to the gal selling donuts and a steady stream of people came through the door during our visit providing for great people watching. One little cutie asked for donut holes, but they don’t sell them. They did have small bags of tiny cake donuts which seemed to satisfy her cravings.
After we had devoured our selections, it was time to pick out a few extras to take to Em. We snagged a sprinkle covered chocolate donut and a creme filled long john. The gal behind the counter insisted we should take one of the cinnamon rolls with us, as they are customer favorites and the glaze is tasty. We were convinced and loaded up the box of goodies for delivery later in the day.
Here is Em’s take on Holt’s:
“The filled long john was really tasty – loved the chocolate frosting shmeared on top. Almost like cake frosting. The cinnamon glazed was good, better when warmed up. But the eternal question: is a donut a donut if there is no hole?”
I don’t have the answer to Em’s hole-y question, but do know that I would eat at Holt’s again AND try to snag a tour of the donut making equipment. Great place!
I LOVE this place! it was the first place I ever had a Donut from as a child and go there as often as I can when I get out south early enough in the day.
At my wedding last fall, we had Holt’s donuts instead of a wedding cake for the reception.
John in KC–Holt’s absolutely seems like the kind of place that would make a great childhood memory! I hope the little cutie we saw while there gets to go back for donuts 20 years from now.
Matt–LOVE the idea of having donuts instead of wedding cake. Should you have a first anniversary party with donuts, I’d love to snag an invite!
Wow! Once we got a Krispy Kreme, I forgot that there were other donut places out there… LOL ! This page looks really really yummy! How do you visit a different donut place every day and not eat them!????
Didn't this shop used to be called Jack Frost donuts? I grew up in Grandview and there was a Jack Frost donuts located where holt is now. It was right beside a Cy Young hardware store and they had the best long John donuts I have ever had! They where cut in half with like a cake frosting on top (chocolate) with vanilla frosting filling. Always fresh, unigue, and and very tasty! I have never found another donut shop with anything like this.
Thanks,
Daryl
Daryl–
I don't know if it was called Jack Frost, haven't heard any references to this but they definitely slice their donuts to fill them instead of using an injector. It sounds likely this is the same place! So far it is the only donut shop I have come across that does this.
yes it is the same place as jack frost. both my mother and my aunt worked there while in HS, they graduated between 70-73. there is NO donut place that even comes close to them. NONE!!
A SAD SAD DAY IN DEED….
Today I had a Major Life Disappointment. I remember as a teenager walking to Jr. High school everyday I passed
this little Ma and Pa Donut shop on Grandview Main St. Every morning the place was buzzing like a beehive, Finally curiosity got the best of me and I stopped in one morning to find out what the fuss was all about. And I soon discovered a pudding filled chocolate donut that was like a drug. So addicting every morning I would gladly spend my lunch money for one. I would crave that very thing for the rest of my life. In the Marines I remember being on the other side of the world in the Persian Gulf day dreaming of the best donuts in the world. I have traveled the world and everywhere I gone I have tried pudding filled donuts and I have never found one that could even came close to comparing to the little shop in Grandview called Holts Donuts. For thirty years I have made my way back to the little donut shop to satisfied my cravings. Its always the same light, fluffy, creamy, sweet, tasty, chocolaty donut that tasted like it was made for kings. So good that Numerous times I have traveled two hours out of my way just to get one….
BUT today it was different….. This Morning their were two women working there that Id never seen before. I took one look at the donut Id craved and dreamed of most my life and it didn't look the same. I thought well maybe it will taste the same. I was so wrong 🙁
It was indeed worse then most gas station donuts. Flat, dense, and so bland, it seemed to have no flavor at all. It was all I could do to choke it down. It was heart wrench seeing my childhood memory shattered. What happened To the Donuts ???????
Anonymous–When I visited Holt's in 2009, they mentioned ownership had recently changed. I am hopeful you visited on a bad day, that this isn't the new norm at one of KC's donut gems. I hope to drop by soon and see what's up. And on another note, your comment is so well written that it has me hoping you are a blogger!
I agree. The donuts are not the same. The biggest difference is they use to ice them as you came in. They were still warm having not been out of the oil for more than 10 minutes or so. Now they are all made ahead early in the morning and aren't any where near as good. Why don't these places get it…The best donut places are the ones that serve them FRESH!!
There is NO donut like a Holt’s donut. I’ve looked for the last 20 years. This little shop has been there since my mom was a kid (She’s 62). I remember getting these donuts as a child and well into high school Sadly, I now live 2 states away (a 9 hour drive), but when I do make it home, it’s always on my list of to-dos. In fact, when I delivered my daughter, I insisted that my mom stop and bring some to me while I was in the hospital. Yes, they made a 9 hour road trip here. Oh the creamy filled long john with chocolate icing made to perfection so made up for the 24 hours of labor ending in a c-section. I can’t tell you how much I love these donuts. Anytime someone brings up donuts I have to tell them about my obsession and OH how good they are. Even my husband didn’t believe a donut could be THAT great,….until he had one. Now, the number is programmed into his phone so when we go home, he can order the donuts! LOVE!!!! Now if only they would open shop in Indiana.
I love hearing this! I believe locally-owned donut shops will always be far superior to chain donut shops. I really think they should name a mother’s day donut after you and your kiddo based on your long john labor story! 🙂