Michigan Bakery Named Among America’s Best Donut Shops

If donuts were an Olympic sport, Jackson, Michigan, would already be standing on the podium, blowing kisses to its family. because once again, Hinkley Bakery has been recognized as one of America's best donut makers, courtesy of Taste of Home, which finally caught up to what Jackson residents have been smugly aware of since 1913. 

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Let's be clear. Donuts are not a snack. They are a lifestyle choice, and Hinkley Bakery has been enabling that choice for well over a century. opened by Romy Hinkley back when cars were optional, and calorie counting didn't exist yet, this corner bakery at Blackstone and Wilkins has been quietly perfecting fried dough while the rest of the country keeps reinventing the wheel with cereal toppings and bad ideas.

Why Hinkley’s Donuts Stand Out

The secret is aggressively simple. The recipes have not changed. The stone oven does the heavy lifting. And Brian Hinkley, a 4th-generation baker, still works through the night so that by 5:15 a.m., Jackson can make a series of extremely good decisions involving sugar and coffee. On a typical day, nearly 1,200 chocolate crescents alone disappear into the wilds of Michigan, proving restraint is a myth. 

Hinkley Bakery keeps banker's hours, which only makes sense when you're the best in the business. They're open Wednesday through Saturday, close when they sell out, and only accept cash because excellence doesn't need Apple Pay.

The Chocolate Crescent Phenomenon

And yes, Hinkley's chocolate crescent donut gets most of the love, but the chocolate custard Long John is the real power move. Dense, rich, and capable of replacing an entire day's meal, while also serving as a doorstop. Taste of Home called it one of America's best. In Jackson, they call it Wednesday.