Old Post 8: Peace, Love and Little Donuts

The plan today was to do research on doughnuts in Pittsburgh and write about another bakery. Doughnuts wasn't going to be on the docket until next week.

Peace Love and Little Donuts changed the plan with their pretzel topped chocolate perfection of a cake doughnut. 

 

For doughnut novices, their are two major groups of doughnuts. You have the yeast raised doughnuts - think Krispy Kreme glazed doughnuts - and the cake doughnuts - think Starbucks Old Fashioned glazed doughnut. Yeast raised are just what you would expect - a rich, sweet dough that is fermented by yeast and later fried in oil. Cake doughnuts have a more cake-like texture and taste and don't require yeast. They are also fried in oil.

They are both delicious, but for today, we'll talk about cake doughnuts, because that's the addictive candy Peace Love and Donuts was serving.

The shop is small but welcoming. You get a full view of the kitchen, as you are standing in it, and can see the doughnuts coming fresh off the line. The smell is just wonderful. Unlike the smell you often get when deep frying meat or potatoes, the smell inside of Peace Love and Donuts is reminiscent of the smell of a funnel cake vendor at the county fair.

A small, family owned affair, the store keeps really accessible hours, especially for your typical doughnut crowd. The bigger doughnuts, which are actually the perfect serving size of sweet, are served until 11 am. At 11 am until 2 pm when they close, they serve mini doughnuts.  

The flavor combinations are endless. You can choose from three levels of toppings. If you are unsure where to start- groovy, funky, etc- just ask for a recommendation. In small places like Peace Love and Donuts, you'll often get the best flavors you could imagine by asking them to make their favorites.

Sugar Love recommends the Pina Colada, the S'more, the Chocolate Covered Pretzel, or the Raspberry Oreo. They are all great though, because the base, the doughnut itself, is cake doughnut heaven. It's flavorful, sweet, soft, and fried, but in the best way. They aren't at all greasy, and the frying manages to enhance the doughnut by sealing in the flavor and moisture.

Check out Peace Love and Donuts on Smallman and 21st St in the Strip District. The doughnut won't disappoint or leave you feeling guilty for eating fried sweets so early in the morning.

The Chocolate Covered Pretzel Donut on the Sugar Love Scale:
Taste ♥♥♥♥♥
Texture ♥♥♥♥♥
Appearance ♥♥♥♥♥
Overall ♥♥♥♥♥