Sweet victory! Readers pick top three spots for best doughnuts in southwest IL. See the results
It hasn’t been boring, the doughnut poll.
In an update during the poll, Kruta Bakery led with 206 votes with Berkemann’s Baker’s Dozen and Braeutigam Orchards following in second and third, respectively.
Wood Bakery was in fourth place by only one vote.
While no other updates were posted, I did take regular peeks at the totals.
After the Labor Day weekend, Kruta dropped down to second place and Berkemann’s to third, both overtaken by Wood Bakery.
By Wednesday, Wood Bakery was still in first place and widening the gap between them and second place.
Braeutigam made its way to second place, bumping Kruta down to third.
Now the poll is over, and here are the final results:
First Place: Wood Bakery, 1,328 votes
With nearly half of the total votes, Wood Bakery takes the cake … er, doughnut. (It didn’t hurt that a link to the poll was pinned to the top of their Facebook page the whole time. I don’t mind.)
“I want to thank the [BND] readers and our wonderful customers for all the support they’ve given us over the years,” said owner Jim Schmitt when he learned that Wood Bakery won the poll by such a large margin.
In addition to delicious doughnuts, Wood Bakery’s offerings include cakes, pies, pastries and cookies.
They even have a maple bacon long john that typically features in O’Fallon’s annual BaconFest.
Schmitt said he’s been with Wood Bakery since day one, opening in 1967 with his business partner George Wood.
He was the baker and Wood the business man, Schmitt said.
Wood died in 1999, and Schmitt bought the business in 2000.
“People ask why didn’t I change the name,” Schmitt said in 2017.
“I didn’t want to,” he continued, “because I worked all those years trying to build up the business as Wood Bakery.”
When asked what his favorite doughnut is (corny question, I know, but I couldn’t help myself), Schmitt replied that he prefers cake doughnuts, “but they’re all good.”
Wood Bakery is located at 115 W. 1st St. in O’Fallon. Hours are 5:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday, 5:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 6 a.m. to noon Sunday.
Get more info by calling 618-632-5070 or visiting woodbakery.com.
Second Place: Braeutigam Orchards, 703 votes
I can’t share the exact reaction of Braeutigam Orchards manager Kurt Range when he learned they didn’t take first place in this latest poll.
But it made me laugh pretty hard.
Range did say, however, that he’s thrilled that Braeutigam Orchards came in second place.
Had he known how the poll would go, Range said he would’ve “worked harder” for first place by sharing the poll on social media.
(It worked for Wood Bakery. Ah well, hindsight and all ….)
Although Braeutigam Orchards is mainly a fruit and vegetable farm, said Range, their apple cider doughnuts are what they’re known for.
They started making cider doughnuts around 2013-2014, said Range, and they’ve increased in popularity since then.
They also have blueberry and pumpkin doughnuts, as well as muffins, pies and turnovers.
Range runs Braeutigam Orchards with his parents, Tom and Pat Range, who are the sixth generation owners.
Braeutigam Orchards has been a family operation since 1831. In 1935, Rollin Braeutigam (fourth generation) started raising fruit, according to the orchard’s website.
The website says the eighth generation is already training for the orchard’s future.
Braeutigam Orchards is located at 2795 Turkey Hill Lane in Belleville. Hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
For more information, call 618-233-4059, visit braeutigamorchards.com or find them on Facebook.
Third Place: Kruta Bakery, 231 votes
I just visited Kruta Bakery’s Facebook page and was happy to see a delicious photo of their old-fashioned sour cream cake doughnuts.
(Man, I really miss those. I think I gained five pounds just thinking about it this last couple of weeks.)
No wonder they’re among our top three doughnut joints.
In addition to an excellent variety of doughnuts, Kruta’s also offers cakes, pies, breads, stollens, coffee cakes and a lot more to satisfy a sweet tooth.
The bakery has a new expanded storefront and patio for indoor and outdoor seating that are part of a renovation project that started a couple of years ago.
Paul Kruta told the News-Democrat last summer that the project also included new decorating and maintenance rooms and new flooring. The flooring was installed in July 2021.
Around since 1919, Kruta Bakery is another local, family-owned business.
Originally located in East St. Louis, the bakery moved 55 years later and opened at its present location in Collinsville, according to their website.
Kruta Bakery is located at 300 St. Louis Road in Collinsville. Hours are 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
For more info, call 618-344-1115 or visit krutabakery.com.
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Here’s how the other contenders on the poll ranked:
Berkemann’s Baker’s Dozen – 115 W. Hanover St., New Baden. 618-588-4233.
Wood River Donut N More – 102 W. Edwardsville Road, Wood River. 618-251-5331.
Duke Bakery – 819 Henry St., Alton, and 3202 Nameoki Road, Granite City. 618-462-2922 (Alton) and 618-877-9550 (Granite City).
Mr. E’s Donut & Custard Shop – 951 S. Green Mount Road, Belleville. 618-310-2756.
East Town Donuts – 1101 Caseyville Road, Suite E., Caseyville. 618-803-0407.
Ahne’s Bakery – 201 W. Mill St., Waterloo. 618-939-3131.
Schnucks - Multiple locations. schnucks.com
Gutzlers Donuts – 239 E. Adams St., Nashville. 618-327-3294.
Krispy Kreme – Multiple locations. krispykreme.com
Dunkin Donuts/Dunkin – Multiple locations. dunkindonuts.com
