Von Doughnuts on Danforth just East of Pape transforms the lowly proletarian donut to "Gourmet Doughnut" status with imaginative and over the top delicious creations with panache, They even sell the Doughnut holes renamed as "Kabobs". The owner is pleasant and most proprietarily proud of his creations. I agree having tried the Lemon Lavender combo with a cup of drip coffee on the premises.
I tried both the Crème Brûlée and Sangria. The Caramel Salt ‘N’ Pepa and Kabobs looked good, too.
I really liked the Crème Brûlée. The burnt sugar on top provided the crunch on the light and airy doughnut. The custard was smooth and creamy. It was really like having a crème brûlée!
The Sangria used a red and white wine glaze which was also good but if I didn’t know it was sangria, I wouldn’t be able to guess. The strawberry jam swirl did give the right tang to balance the sweet, fluffy doughnut.
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I don’t normally like cake doughnuts, but VON doughnuts has the best cake doughnuts I’ve ever had. Somehow, they managed to make their cake donuts chewy like the yeast donuts that I prefer. We tried their dill pickle cake donut. The deep fried pickle was nothing special and the glaze and dough tasted very dilly. It wasn’t unpleasant, but I wouldn’t call it a must-try flavour. We also tried a chocolate and hazelnut cake donut that had a delicious chocolatey ganache on top, and a crust all around the outside of the donut. The inside of the donut was chocolate flavoured and cakey. It was slightly dry and not sweet enough for my taste. They also have raised (yeast based) donut holes that are nice and soft (photo shown below). We tried their vanilla bean and french toast raised donut holes. Personally, I found that their glazes were way too sweet. Apparently, their best seller is their crème brûlée donut. If you like cake doughnuts, you should definitely give VON doughnuts a chance. Photos can be found on my food blog on my "Gourmet Donut Tour of Toronto" post.
Very creative flavours and toppings. I bought a box of 6 and I enjoyed the colorful presentation of them. The taste did not disappoint either, they were great & I will definitely come again.
Von Donuts are made fresh daily, with all fillings, custards and jams made from scratch. Beautifully decorated, the presentation will make you want to try them all. It was a tough decision, but we settled on the Pretty In Pink and the Pucker Up Sucker.
The donuts were light and fluffy but I prefer donuts that are a bit more dense. Von's are very rich but heavenly for those that have a big sweet tooth.
Pretty In Pink: raised doughnut, white chocolate raspberry vodka ganache dip, lemon drizzle, raspberry buttercream, raspberry compote.
Pucker Up Sucker: raised doughnut, tart lemon custard, lemon drizzle, baked meringue.
Tried mango passion which I didn't really like. peanut butter jelly time which was ok. Ferraro Rocher which was so good. Didn't like butter tart. Didn't like the creme brulee cookie dough was probably my favorite.
I saw this place several times in Toronto and finally decided to give it a try.
When I first walked in and saw the displays, my first thought was, "these are huge. How can I finish one?" The woman working that day explained each one to me so they were a little less intimidating. She even made a few recommendations for me to try.
So I tried one called the creme brulee doughnut. There was burnt sugar on top that added some crunch to the doughnut which I really like. The dough itself was really fluffy and had visible spices in it, giving itself a little personality. Then there was the creme filling. I don't know how they did it but they made it taste like an amazing creme brulee.
I highly recommend this place for unique doughnut that took my breath away
Good doughnuts. At first it may seem pretty expensive but it's a pretty big doughnut and great flavour!
Recommendations: cream brûlée, salted caramel.
This place is where I go for the occasional treat. I also like to bring along my friends so they can experience how wonderful Von Doughnuts is!
So far, I've gotten to try their Caramel Salt 'n' Peppa and their Cookie Dough ice cream. I'm looking forward to the next one! :)
designer donuts that you are paying for!
certainly not cheap, but you will not find these flavors in your typical shop. The donut was very soft and fresh and the flavors of the toppings went very well together (had the sappy pig). it was well worth the visit and I look forward to more in the future.
I went later in the day so there were not many left to choose from. from the looks of the menu and other posts, the variety is of flavors is pretty good.
Pretty good tasting doughnuts..but cannot afford visiting this place again...much too expensive for just a doughnut ...by the way ..they may want to reconsider some of their decor is:get rid of a visible odd bulky printer in corner :s
My friend suggested I come here for my love of sweets. As soon as I walked in, I felt like I was in pastry heaven. I love doughnuts, but this establishment blows the competition out of the water. The idea for each doughnut, which is made by hand, one at a time, is excellent. I wanted to have them all, but I know it'd be a quick route down the diabetes path. I had the Crème Brûlée doughnut and I was not disappointed. It had a very filling vanilla bean inside, that just oozed out with every bite. The top was nicely blow torched to make it crispy, exactly how the Crème Brûlée is supposed to be. I will definitely be back there, wanting to try a few others. It's a great idea to amp up a regular doughnut. I won't be able to enjoy regular doughnuts again. I definitely recommend this place for anyone who loves sweets.
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Von Doughnuts celebrated National Doughnut Day by giving away a free Von Kabob (think doughnut holes on a stick) with the purchase of a dozen doughnuts. It was technically our first stop on our doughnut tour but we decided to consume them after our tour was over. Unfortunately, Von Doughnuts didn't have the Kabobs ready that early in the morning (it was 8am-ish) but we bought a dozen anyway! :D
Our Favourites
Crème Brûlée
A familiar concept that is reinvented over and over again.
It's the first time I've seen it in doughnut form... and it comes with a nice vanilla bean filling.
They actually take a torch to the top of the doughnut and create an irresistible crispy top layer!
Caramel Salt 'N' Pepa
See Jelly Modern Doughnuts... you can't go wrong with a sweet and salty flavour profile... and this one's got a bite of pepper!
Peanut Butter Jelly Time
This doughnut was true to form... it was comforting in that it made you nostalgic and recall all those childhood memories! This doughnut showcases what you can achieve with in-house homemade fillings!
Most Creative
Pucker Up Sucker
This doughnut is a clear winner!
An awesome slice of baked meringue sandwiched in between a doughnut base that gives it that extra texture component. The tart lemon custard and drizzle makes you crave more!
One Night Stand
You can really pick out all the flavours on this boozy doughnut containing triple sec and tequila with salt and lime as the chasers! It's a clean and refreshing doughnut.
Rhubarb
Who would have thought acidic rhubarb would work in a doughnut?
Sappy Pig
This doughnut has a delicious savoury component in the form of crispy bacon! The dark chocolate prevents this doughnut from becoming a super salty experience though. Throw in some sweet maple and you have a match made in heaven.
Final Thoughts
Creative doughnuts with whimsical names!
They execute classics nicely. The flavour combinations were well balanced. One of the better doughnut shops in the city. Although, I personally would prefer denser doughnuts... denser but also richer... not denser like a Dutchie.
So I'm definitely not a huge doughnut person in terms of sweets, but oh my gosh these are some seriously good doughnuts. I had pretty high expectations and they lived up to them. The dough is like a fluffy pillow and its fantastic with the fun toppings they put on them. Not your average doughnut!
A sweet little doughnut shop. Creative flavours, with a great soft homemade texture to every delish bite! A chic feel to this simple store.A must try if your craving doughnuts.
Pucker Up Sucker - Meyer Lemon glaze and custard with a pretty little meringue on top. What made this donut truly amazing was that they didn’t just fill the middle with lemon custard. They added the filling sandwich style which meant you got lemony goodness in every bite!
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Since the explosion of the Starbucks-lead cafe concept and rapid expansion of the Tim’s franchise meant that the creative, heavy handed tendencies of the local bakers have been replaced by the cookie cutter approach meaning that a dutchie looks the same whether you get it in Yellowknife or at Queen and Bay.
As a result, I’m always looking for this delicious treat in other places. Whether an old school honey cruller at a small town ma and pa shop or a yeast-raised treat at gourmet boutique hidden within a urban bazaar, finding a good donut is well worth the trip. Needless to say, I was excited to see that Von doughnuts was down the road from a restaurant I was dining at that evening. Despite an Alberta clipper, I began the three block trek down Danforth in efforts to get there before it closed at 6. When I walked in, I had the pleasure of meeting the owner who proudly described the daily doughnuts available. She also informed us that she works 60 plus hours a week which likely explained the sign on the window looking for an evening baker. She also explained a sort of barter system that existed among local businesses. For example, she often trades doughnuts for Pizza Libretto’s thin crust pies.
The variation of doughnuts with witty names (such as enjoy-mint and one night stand) differs depending on the day of the week. I decided to opt for a variety (half dozen for $18) which included the following:
Pucker up Sucker (bottom left)- The owner cited this as one of the more popular. The curd was delicious and pure, leaving out the excessive sweetness that exists with most lemon filling, resulting in a fantastic balance. It was also ingenious that the curd was spread throughout the middle of the doughnut like a sandwich. Jelly filled doughnuts at Tim Horton’s are like a lottery; you either hit the jackpot or get a smigin of filling which may or may not be the flavour you actually ordered.
Peanut Butter Jelly Time (bottom right)- The worst part of this creation was the fact that Peanut Butter and Jelly Time song (including Brian from Family Guy dressed up in a banana suit) got stuck in my head. Otherwise, It was surprisingly balanced and not over sweet.
Creme Brulee (top left)- Smart in concept but less explosive than its box mates.
Butter tart- (bottom middle) -I didn’t understand this one. I think efforts failed in the attempt to reduce the signature sweetness of a butter tart. Maybe you’re best not to mess with this Canadian favorite.
Spicy Bourbon Cracker Jack (the duplicate)- By the time I ate it, I had forgotten it was spicy and was pleasantly surprised at the reminder. This was a great combination of snack nostalgia, subtle heat and just enough sweet.
I like the doughnut movement much more than the cupcake one. I think a deep fried piece of dough is a much better blank slate for creativity and VON has no lack of it. The passion of the owner, coupled the creativity of her wares makes VON doughnuts an exciting destination. Despite trying 5 varieties, I feel I have just scratched the surface. After all, I haven’t had the opportunity to try the Dill-Dough (ok..that didn’t sound right), which is normally served on Friday and Saturday or any of the seasonal treats that magically appear here and there. Although I don’t think I will ever again see the day where I can eat an apple fritter that looks like Madonna in Desperately Seeking Susan, I can still get some solace knowing there’s dill-doughs and one night stands to keep me happy.
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I would like to update this review solely on the basis of service.....
I am always impressed when an establishment takes a moment to address a customer's concern. In this case, Von Doughnuts really did not need to acknowledge my experience when taking into account how well-liked they are, and how consistently positive their reviews are.
Just a few more things that I wanted to note based on the message from the owner:
OWNER: I am not sure who you spoke with, but all of our staff are extremely friendly and are told to be so to everyone at all times, no exceptions.
MY RESPONSE: I do not doubt it. Clearly most of your customers have a great experience when they visit your store--your reviews say so. In fact, that was part of the reason I made the trek to your store in the first place. But my personal experience sadly was not a good one.
OWNER: To address your missing doughnut, I am not sure how that happens, but we are all human and even though it may be few and far between we all make mistakes.
MY RESPONSE: I know mistakes happen and I really did not think it was a big deal when it happened. So when I reached out to your store and they messaged me back immediately apologizing and asking me to return when it was convenient for me, I did not think anything bad. In fact, I felt that I should have checked before I left to make sure everything was in order--that I should have taken more responsibility. It was nothing at the time. In fact, I had shelved the thought until I returned to the area, months later.
OWNER: I would love to meet you in person to formally apologize for your experience and to make sure that each visit hereafter is perfect! And to personally give you your missing doughnut of course!
MY RESPONSE: That is incredibly professional and kind of you to offer. But truth be told, as much as I love doughnuts (kinda obsessed with them---first search I do when I travel anywhere in the world is for the most popular doughnut shop and hightail it there); this review was never about just a missing doughnut. The feeling I felt when I left your store was very unpleasant. So much so that returning has me feeling anxious. However, it is clear that this was a rare situation for your store (your reviews are almost all very positive) and myself (I rarely feel this upset or hurt by service--4/214 reviews are 1-star), and do not want to dissuade anyone from visiting your establishment and experiencing what most of your visitors have experienced; great service & delicious donuts.
Thanks again for your message Dustin! Cheers!
...ORIGINAL REVIEW....
Over the summer my brother and I bought a bunch of donuts at Von Donuts because a) we love donuts, and b) Von Doughnuts was getting a lot of hype. When we got home we learned that we were short one donut (the creme brule one), so I contacted Von Doughnuts on Facebook (stupid I know---I should have e-mailed), but they said to come by when I was in the area next and pick it up.
Well, on Friday I was in the area because I was meeting a friend for lunch at Pizzeria Libretto. I was there early so I decided to pick-up my missing donut. Unfortunately I was not prepared and had to find the message on Facebook, but the battery on my phone was dying and it was taking forever to load my messages. I told the lady at Von Doughnuts the situation and she stood there behind the counter waiting for me to find the message. And by standing, I mean, giving me a hell out of a lot of attitude!
The thing is that I completely get the possibility that people do this ALL THE TIME. That they lie and say that they purchased donuts from them before and that one was missing. And that people messaging them on Facebook about missing donuts happen on such rare occasions, that one would easily forget such a message.
COME ON! BS!
I got so much attitude from this staff member, that I really wonder why she is allowed at the front of the house and not kept hidden in the back. Every city in every country I visit has me searching for great donuts, and I really wanted to give Von Doughnuts that benefit of the doubt because there are not a lot of good donut establishments in Toronto. But let's be real, they were sub-par donuts (hence why I was in no rush to return), and combine that with rude and pretentious service.... HELL NO! I could have bought the stupid donut and moved on with my life---though they did after all forget to give me a donut I PAID for! But getting the hell out of that toxic environment became my goal.
Wow, I give very few "one stars," but this is one review I do not feel guilty giving.
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