In Search of the Best Donuts

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  From the orange and red leaves to cozy sweaters and Halloween, there’s nothing I dislike about fall! For the past 10 years, my friends and family have indulged me as I lead them on tours of area farm markets to find the best fried cake (aka donut) and evaluate the competition. So when Roc Parent asked me to share my research with you readers, I jumped right in.

  While my search is broad — from Stokoe Farms in Scottsville and Green Acre Farm in Greece to Gro-Moore in Henrietta and Powers Farm Market in Pittsford — in this article I will introduce you to three local haunts in the Webster/Penfield area.

  I opted to focus on my hometown as this is the 10th anniversary of Amanda’s Fall Donut Tasting Weekend! We traveled to Schutt’s Apple Mill on Plank Road, Bauman’s Farm Market and Greenhouses, and Herman’s Farm Market & Cider Mill on Five Mile Line Road.

Methodology

I have chosen to sample each location’s plain fried cake, and have rated it, based on my preferences, on a scale of 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent). The cake is evaluated on density, texture, appearance, and overall fall experience. While I’ll do my official 2017 judging in October, for this article I did a sneak-peek sampling.

1. Schutt’s Apple Mill

I started with a visit to Schutt’s Apple Mill, a legend since 1918 — not only for its extensive selection of apples and quaint general store, but also for the controversy surrounding the pronunciation of the family name (is it “Shoot-z” or “Shut-z”?).

Flavors: Plain, glazed, and cinnamon

Pricing: Single 85 cents, half-dozen $5.10; dozen $8.50; online Dozen $22.99 (includes free shipping)

Evaluation — 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent)

Density: 3 — Very dense and doughy

Texture: 4 — Crispy, flaky edges

Appearance: 4 — Medium-sized, fit perfectly in your palm

Overall Fall Experience: 5 — Schutt’s is a top-notch visit. In addition to the fry cakes, they offer everything apple (apple cider, apple frost, and 20+ varieties of both U-Pick and prepared apples), ample outdoor seating, and tours.

2. Bauman's Farm Market & Greenhouses

Next up was Bauman’s Farm Market & Greenhouses, which has grown fresh produce and flowers since 1908.

Flavors: Plain, glazed, powdered sugar, and cinnamon

Pricing: Single 85 cents, Half-Dozen $4.99, Dozen $8.99

Evaluation — 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent)

Density: 4 — Not as dense, but soft and syrupy

Texture: 4 — Very moist, and keep well for breakfast the next day

Appearance: 4 — Large and a dark golden brown color.

Overall Fall Experience: 5 — Bauman’s giant teepee, Scary Pumpkin Room, and extensive JellyBelly collection make this another must-see market for the family

3. Herman's Farm Market & Cider Mill

Continuing on Five Mile Line Road, the last stop on my tour was Herman’s Farm Market & Cider Mill

Flavors: Plain, glazed, cinnamon, pumpkin, and glazed pumpkin

Pricing: Single 80 cents, Half-Dozen $4.74, Dozen $7.99

Evaluation — 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent)

Density: 4 — A perfect balance between airy and doughy

Texture: 4 — Very fluffy

Appearance: 5 — The smallest (and cutest!) of the cakes

Overall Fall Experience: 3 — Herman’s is a much quieter, simpler experience than the others, with limited activities for children, but offers many colorful gourds, mums, and pumpkins.

The Verdict

   What a hard decision to make! Ultimately, you can’t go wrong — Bauman’s is our family favorite and certainly holds a special place in my heart, but Herman’s is a strong competitor, and Schutt’s is the whole package with something for everyone. So start planning your trips. I hope to meet you, Roc Parent families, on the road.

Judge for yourself--Click here to download Amanda's 2017 spreadsheet.

Visitor Info

Schutt’s Apple Mill

• Where: 1063 Plank Road, Webster
• Hours: Open year-round; 9 a.m-6 p.m. MondayWednesday; 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Thursday-Saturday; 9 a.m.-5 p.m Sunday
• More info: (585) 872-2924

Bauman’s Farm Market and Greenhouses

• Where: 1340 Five Mile Line Road, Webster
• Hours: Open May-December; 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Friday; 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday
• More info: (585) 671-2820

Herman’s Farm Market & Cider Mill

• Where: 741 Five Mile Line Road, Webster
• Hours: Open Spring, Summer, and Fall; 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday; 9 a.m-6 p.m Saturday and Sunday
• More info: (585) 671-1246