Gluten-Free Treats: 1) The Dough Nut

Located at NE Greenwood near 8th St.

Looking for a down-to-earth, all-American gluten-free sweet to go with your cuppa Joe? If you're celiac or seriously allergic to gluten, perhaps you wouldn't consider a donut shop your safest bet. Here in Bend though, the Dough Nut on NE Greenwood has got you covered.

They've been around since 2012, proudly serving the delicious gluten-laden variety, landing on the Source's "Best of..." list a number of times. If you read the small print, though, you'll discover that somewhere along the line they came up with a fantastic selection of delicious GF donuts as well.

Light and moist with rich, creamy frosting.

Naturally, when I heard this, I thought it might be too good to be true so I put on my Dragnet hat and did some interrogating. "Just the GF facts, ma'm."

Actually, it was a patient and pleasant David who helped me out. He said the gluten-free donuts are prepared in a separate part of the kitchen and have their very own oven. They never enter the display cases with their donut cousins, so cross-contamination is not a problem. Instead, they have their very own trays, kept behind the counter.

The first time I visited was around 10:30 a.m. When I asked for GF, the pickin's were slim. "Sorry, you have to come in early or order ahead for the gluten-free," David said. "They sell out fast."

Take note bakeries and donut shops everywhere. "They sell out fast."

Chocolate and vanilla cake with a variety of toppings.

It's no wonder. These are, hands-down, the best GF cake donuts, I've come across in 20 years. I would only ask owners Kirk and Sidonie Heppler and pastry chefs everywhere, any chance you might figure out how to make a raised version? I long for the light-as-air glazed and cinnamon twists of my youth. Given how far we’ve come in the last couple decades with GF breads, pizzas, even crepes, it’s got to be possible

Bonus: the Dough Nut also offers a vegan selection, so here's a place family and friends of many dietary stripes can finally enjoy together!

Stay tuned for another installment of Bend's Gluten-Free Treats in my next post.

755 NE Greenwood Ave., Bend, Oregon 97701 (541) 241-8788

https://www.thedoughnutoregon.com/