Whatcha Craving?
Cravin' Donuts! This sweet gourmet doughnut shop located in Bloomington, IL. is pure gold. It was a delicious find, and according to Yelp and Facebook reviewers, it was an awesome experience for many more (earning 4.6 out of 5 stars on Facebook). Dunkin Donuts and Krispy Kreme better watch out for this new flavorful phenomena.
My sister Allie and I visited this four-month old bakery about a month ago. We were amazed at the colorful walls and decor and most importantly the beauty and presentation of the doughnuts. Cravin' Donuts opens at 6:30 a.m. and its rumored to have a line out the door each morning. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately since I am not a morning person, I missed the hustle and bustle. We didn't make it over to the shop until well after noon, however, unlike most doughnut shops, Cravin' still had a wide selection of mouthwatering desserts to choose from.
We asked the cheerful (and patient) workers what some of the fan-favorites were. She told us the strawberry shortcake and maple bacon were constant victims to hungry customers. Something I really enjoy about Cravin' is that the workers always post the flavors of the day on social media so you know what to expect when you arrive, and more importantly if your favorites are in stock that day.
Not only is this little bakery "pinterest" adorable, I could tell the staff 1) loved their jobs and 2) really focused on taking their time to make the doughnuts not only visually appealing but also tasty. Our personal goal walking into the restaurant was to leave with ONE doughnut each, but somehow (after begging from Allie) we walked out with half a dozen. This purchase left me with no regrets though because the doughnuts truly are stunning. And, while they are a bit on the pricier side (about $2-3 a piece) the taste and beauty of each crafted doughnut is well worth it.
It took me forever to finally bite into one of the doughy creations because I was, admittedly, so busy taking pictures and admiring them. The doughnuts Allie and I tried come highly recommend. There was not one that I didn't enjoy "savoring" (aka inhaling). Even choosing our half dozen was so difficult! I wish there was a sampler. We ended up ordering Maple Bacon, Lemon Blueberry, S'mores, Dough Re-Mi, Pebbles and Bam Bam and Jacked Up.
Cravin’ Donuts is open daily from 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is located at 405 N. Main St. in downtown Bloomington. You can see what flavors are available today on their Facebook page .
Update July 2017 -- It is with an empty stomach and sad heart that I must report Whatcha Craving donuts has gone out of business. Thanks for the delicious aromas, tasty donuts and great memories. You will be missed.
