This started a while back when I was at an event where someone had brought some unbelievably good doughnuts that they got in Middlefield, Ohio; so I have stopped out that way a number of times looking for the elusive home of these culinary gems. Finally I was shopping at the Middlefield Flea Market and one of the vendors suggested a little market down the road as the place to go for doughnuts – and she was so right.
Located at 15979 Nauvoo Road, Middlefield, Ohio 44062, around the corner from Middlefield Cheese and just past the Middlefield Market (the flea market), it could be easy to miss the small market on the South side of the road, but you would be missing some major league doughnuts.
The small, clean market has a sign out front and one on the front of the building. Pulling in to the small parking lot you will see some spaces to park in front and a parking area for the Amish buggies off to the side. There is a covered porch area with a couple of chairs. Walking in to the market you will find that the grocery side is to your right and the hardware side is on the left. Going to the right and all the way back you will find the bakery at the back wall, with three display cases, first a large display of fry pies in almost every variety you can imagine. I have tried a couple and they are very good, the kind of pastry that the old Hostess pies wanted to be. On the other end is a case that usually has several pies in assorted sizes and flavors along with some other assorted baked goods, all of
these are usually outstanding as well, with a special mention for the molasses cookies with the creme in the middle.Now we get to what is the true highlight for me, the doughnut case in the middle. Here are the best doughnuts I have ever had. Big sugary bombs of goodness that should be a National Treasure. Admittedly, the variety is somewhat limited, usually several variations on creme stick topped with chocolate, maple or powdered sugar, glazed rings, cinnamon sugar rings and then variations of those. Occasionally I will find the creme sticks with Pastry Creme and there will be chocolate topped glazed, but I have never seen any jelly doughnuts or fruit variations; the truth is that these doughnuts are so good, they don’t need more variety.
Let’s start with the Creme Sticks, these are bigger than your hand sticks of perfectly cooked doughnuts that are filled with a perfect creme filling and then topped with a chocolate glaze. Not only are they delicious, they are filled so full that almost every
bite has creme.The giant glazed rings are bigger than any other place I have ever seen and as delicious as you could imagine. A bit lighter in texture than the other doughnuts, they still have enough weight to fill you up with a single doughnut, but the taste may make you want to go back for another.
The real revelation to me are the Cinnamon Sugar Rings, harkening back to a simpler time when doughnuts were just fried rings of dough with a simple topping these taste better then any other simple doughnut I have tasted. The texture is great, substantial without being heavy and somehow the cinnamon sugar just pops my taste buds awake every time. Probably the only place, this side of the Café Du Monde Beignets from New Orleans that you will taste anything this simple and good.
Prices are very affordable, especially considering the size and quality of what you are getting, last time I checked a dozen glazed doughnuts were $9. The sticks were slightly more. In addition there are a variety of breads and other baked items you can buy. It is also worth shopping the small aisle for bulk food items; I usually pick up popcorn at great price and will see what else hits my fancy.
I would strongly recommend stopping out and trying these doughnuts if you are anywhere in the area. For that matter you can make a trip of it; stop at Middlefield Cheese and get some great Swiss or other cheese and imported items; shop through the stalls at Middlefield Market and see what obscure it
em you can find; of head to Headwaters Park or Swine Creek for a very nice hike. Of course there is a lot more interesting things to do in Amish country so stop by and visit. Remember the Market is closed on Sundays.I will warn you that these doughnuts can become habit forming; I brought a couple dozen in for the instructors at the dealers academy to welcome them to the Cleveland area and I started to get frequent requests to bring them more, I ended up making a couple more runs over the academy and they were always a big hit.
Doughnuts from Nauvoo Family Market get my highest recommendation, well worth the drive.
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