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Best Untraditional Donuts In Chicago

Bread flour, sugar, egg... those are some ingredients in donuts, and when mixed together they create quite the tasty sugary treat. But add in some other creative ingredients, and you have the makings of a memorable and untraditional donut. Fortunately for Chicagoans, we have plenty of bakeries and donut shops. Here are the five that excel at some of the most untraditional donut options in the city.

Donuts
(Photo Credit: Glazed and Infused Doughnuts' Facebook)

Glazed And Infused
939 W. Armitage Ave.
Chicago, IL 60614
(312) 226-5556
www.goglazed.com

Pick any of their five shops around Chicagoland, and you're in a for a treat that's both glazed, and sometimes infused. Their handmade and artisan donuts hit the donut scene in 2012, and have since made quite a splash with such a wide variety of flavors. Menu items vary depending on location and time of year, but expect traditional flavors, as well as creative flavors, such as blackberry cheesecake, maple bacon long john, and, if you're lucky, even creme brulee.

The Doughnut Vault
401 N. Franklin St.

Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 285-2830
www.doughnutvault.com

When this award-winning bakery runs out of donuts for the day, you'll be out of luck. That's why so many people show up when the doors open at 8 am. Many of their usual offerings are wonderfully made, but more traditional than not. If its a truly unique doughnut you're looking for, opt for their special, which rotates on a daily basis. Just some of the flavors you may encounter range from grapefruit old fashioned, to mocha old fashioned with cocoa nibs.

Firecakes Donuts
(Photo Credit: Firecakes Donuts' Facebook)

Firecakes
68 W. Hubbard St.
Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 329-6500
www.firecakesdonuts.com

There's oh so many wonderful choices at this River North donut shop. Step inside and you'll be greeted with a huge array of flavors, like butterscotch praline, malted milk ball, Valrhona chocolate iced, and peanut butter cup -- all of which are the perfect amount of sweetness. But just in case those flavors don't quite satisfy your sugar fix? Then check out their seasonal offerings too. Or, if you want to go all out, Firecakes features decadent ice cream donut sandwiches too. Round out this 'breakfast' with your pick of coffee drinks.

Related:  Best Doughnut Shops in Chicago

Delightful Pastries
5927 W. Lawrence Ave.
Chicago, IL 60630
(773) 545-7215
www.delightfulpastries.com

Delightful Pastries has cookies and brownies aplenty. They've got cakes and savories galore. But as for donuts? There's only a handful of options... but even so, they've made a mark in Chicago, particularly their paczki, Polish donughts with a variety of fillings (including raspberry jelly, plum jelly, and custard). While most traditionally found before Lent, these donughts are available year round at all of the Delightful Pastries bakery locations.

Scafuri Bakery
1337 W. Taylor St.
Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 733-8881
www.scafuribakery.com

Situated in the Taylor Street neighborhood, Scafuri is an Italian and family-run bakery through and through. With decades upon decades of traditions, one of their must-have baked goods is, of course, the donuts. In addition to the classic donuts, they also offer yeast-raised donuts, as well as apple cider donuts. And then there's the best for last: bombolini, otherwise known as Italy's version of donut holes.

Related: Best Bets for Donuts in Chicago

Elizabeth SanFilippo is a freelance writer, who enjoys trying new foods from all over the world. But her favorite city for culinary treats will always be Chicago. When not blogging about food, she's working part-time at a culinary vacation company, The International Kitchen, based in the Windy City, as well as repping Younique cosmetics and skincare products. Some of her writing can be found at Examiner.com.

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