Some mornings deserve a real reason to leave the warm covers, and a fresh donut usually does the trick. Tennessee has a strong lineup of shops that fry rings in small batches, glaze them while they are still warm, and often sell out before lunch.
From family-run counters in small towns to busy city bakeries with lines out the door, these spots take their donuts seriously. Here are eight Tennessee donut shops that make waking up early feel like a smart decision.
1. Five Daughters Bakery, Nashville, TN
Layered dough is the whole idea here, and it shows in the signature 100-layer donut that has helped put this shop on the map.
Started by the Willett family, Five Daughters Bakery has grown from a small Nashville operation into a name people recognize across the state. The croissant-donut hybrids take a couple of days to make, which explains the flaky texture…