The sweetest spots for apple cider donuts in Pennsylvania

Something about the crisp autumn air makes Pennsylvanians crave these cake donuts, made moist by apple cider in the batter. Here’s where to find some of the best the state has to offer.

When the leaves begin to turn, the air feels crisp, and your kids, spouse, and/or stomach start begging for apple cider donuts, it can only mean one thing: fall has arrived.

These cake donuts, made moist by apple cider in the batter, are a sweet autumnal tradition across PA and the rest of the Northeast. You can get your fill of apple cider donuts at donut shops, apple orchards, and cider mills across the state. We’ve put together a list of ten places to get apple cider donuts so that you can munch on these treats all season long. 

Triple B Farms, Monongahela

The first thing you will likely gravitate toward upon your arrival to Triple B Farms, located just south of Pittsburgh, is the farm market that serves tray upon tray of fresh, sugar-covered apple cider donuts. After you’ve made a beeline to the donuts, you can browse the market for apple cider, seasonal fruits and vegetables, and pantry staples like sauces and jams.

The farm, however, is more than the market. Triple B Farms also provides opportunities for apple picking and pumpkin picking as well as family activities like a corn maze. Clearly, you can spend an entire fall day there.

Beiler’s Doughnuts, Philadelphia and Lancaster

Beiler’s Doughnuts serves apple cider donuts (or doughnuts—you can spell it both ways) baked in the traditional Amish way. And the traditional way is delicious. Just ask Fodor’s Travel, which named Beiler’s Doughnuts one of the best twenty dessert spots in the U.S.

Beiler’s can be found in multiple locations, including Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia and in Lancaster.

Hollabaugh Bros. Inc., Biglerville 

Hollabaugh Bros. Inc, about ten minutes north of Gettysburg, doesn’t just serve fresh-baked apple cider donuts to their hungry patrons. They also created an apple cider donut milkshake. This is no mere basic vanilla milkshake with a donut stuffed into it. It’s homemade vanilla ice cream with pieces of apple cider donuts blended with Hollabaugh Bros. apple cider and topped with whipped cream—and also an apple cider donut stuffed into it.

You can also pick your own apples at Hollabaugh Bros. When you’ve picked a bushel, perhaps you’d like to try your hand at making your own apple cider? And then your own apple cider donuts?

Okie Dokie Donuts, Philadelphia

If you’d rather not leave the big city for your apple cider donuts, don’t fear. You can pick up apple cider donuts in South Philly at Okie Dokie Donuts, which only makes artisanal, small-batch donuts. Outside of their retail shop, you can find Okie Dokie Donuts at a handful of other local establishments.

Okie Dokie’s handmade apple cider donuts are both gluten-free and vegan, meaning that people with different diets need not be without apple cider donuts this fall.

Brown’s Orchards & Farm Market, Loganville

Located in York County, Brown’s Orchards & Farm Market is a popular place for locals to pick up fruits and vegetables and baked goods. You can also stop for a bite to eat: the market has a coffee bar, lunch café, ice cream bar, and a bakery. 

The bakery’s apple cider donuts are a beloved York County dessert, but you don’t even need to wait for fall to get them! Brown’s freezes their homemade apple cider at the end of winter so that they can keep making apple cider donuts through the summer. This is important information for when an apple cider donut craving hits you in the middle of July.

Way Fruit Farm, Port Matilda

Beginning with 1,000 apple trees in 1872, Way Fruit Farm is a sixth-generation family farm located just 20 minutes from State College. Since its start in the 19th century, Way has grown quite a bit. Today, you can pick your own apples, among a host of other fruits, as well as attend fall festivals and other events. At Way’s bakery, you can buy bread, pies, cookies, and needless to say, old-fashioned apple cider donuts.

But you don’t even have to travel from State College to get Way’s donuts. Way Fruit Farm recently opened a market in downtown State College where you can shop for necessities: fresh produce, pantry staples, and apple cider donuts. 

Luminary Distilling, Eatery, Fuhrman’s Cider, Erie

The name “Luminary Distilling, Fuhrman’s Cider, Eatery” suggests that there is quite a lot to consume at this establishment, and that’s correct. Luminary is a distillery selling spirits that also has a restaurant, a bakery, and a cider shop. A bakery and a cider shop? Of course Luminary makes apple cider donuts.

In fact, as Fuhrman’s Cider has been an Erie favorite since 1896, Luminary is also hosting an apple cider festival on October 1, 2022. Besides cider and baked goods (like apple cider donuts), there will also be craft vendors, music, and activities for kids.

Linvilla Orchards, Media

Linvilla Orchards is a popular farm destination about 30 minutes south of Philadelphia that’s home to all sorts of things to do like hayrides, a haunted house, pick-your-own fruits and vegetables, mini golf, and even more.

It’s also home, of course, to a bakery that sells apple cider donuts. These classic apple cider donuts are made with Linvilla cider and dusted with cinnamon sugar. There’s so much to do at Linvilla, but we know you came primarily for the donuts. 

Ritter’s Cider Mill, Jefferson Township

Ritter’s Cider Mill, about 20 minutes from Scranton, is a farm offering traditional fall activities like a corn maze, hayrides, and apple cider donut eating. Usually, one can even watch cider being made at the mill, but viewing the cider pressing is currently closed because of the pandemic. But the next best thing is watching your apple cider donut being made, which you can do at Ritter’s. If staff are making the donuts when you’re visiting, be sure to check out the process—and ask for your donuts hot.