Celebrate National Doughnut Day at local eateries

Not that you need an excuse to chow down on some tasty doughnuts, but might as well get into the spirit of the holiday. Friday, June 6 is National Doughnut Day and there are plenty of local shops offering a variety of these pastries.

The Yellow Cottage
At The Yellow Cottage, in Branchville, there will be a buy-one-doughnut-get-one-doughnut-free special on Friday, June 6. The bakery/deli features a host of doughnuts including cake doughnuts which are made without yeast. Other doughnuts include Bavarian cream, glazed and chocolate. The same owners, who hail from Milford, Penn., have owned the business for more than 30 years.

Savour
Savour is a rather new bakery and luncheonette located on Newton-Sparta Road, in Andover, next to Bella Boutique. The pastries are unique including their hallmark Rose Water and Pistachio cake. Owner Brandi Cojocaru — who lives in Andover Township but is originally from Romania — said though they don't typically have doughnuts, "I plan to whip up some plain ones and some chocolate ganache ones for Friday."

Holland American Bakery
One of the most famous doughnut places in the area is the Holland American Bakery on Route 23 in Sussex. The brick building is home to specialty cakes, pastries and doughnuts galore. The bakery was started by the now owner's father, Walter Valkema, who came to the U.S. in 1952. He started baking out of his home on a part-time basis, and the business blossomed. The business is now owned by Owen and Stephanie Valkema, and doughnuts are a hot commodity.

"In the fall we make the apple cider donuts with fresh cider from Beemerville Orchard," Stephanie said. "We also sell apple, Bismark, glazed and cinnamon/sugar twists as well as old fashioned jelly and Boston doughnuts."

Clove Brook Market
Another popular bakery and doughnut shop is Clove Brook Market, in Wantage. Owned by Kim and Rich Sytsema, the business is dedicated to "wholesome farm fresh ingredients from local farms whenever possible."

In addition to a large array of homemade muffins, Danish, scones, cakes, cookies, pies, eclairs and cheesecake, Kim Sytsema said, "We do a simple cake doughnut, but the coolest thing is our doughnut maker."

The automatic doughnut machine produces a variety of cake donuts including: blueberry donuts and cinnamon donuts year round and apple cider doughnuts in the fall.

"It produces about a doughnut a minute," Sytsema said.

The market will be coming up with some sort of special for Friday.

Goehrig's
Goehrig's has long been known for its European artisan bakery and it's location in Jersey City Heights. They recently opened a second location in Theater Plaza, in Sparta.

"The thing is you do have to special order them," said one of the Sparta employees, "We can make just about any type you want, but it does have to be a special order."

Tim Horton's
Though it's a chain and not a local bakery, Tim Horton's deserves recognition. Located in Skylands Ice World, it's the first one to come to New Jersey. The popular Canadian chain caries a host of doughnuts and Timbites, which are akin to Dunkin' Donuts' Munchkins.

Dunkin' Donuts
There are three Dunkin' Donuts stores in the town of Newton alone. On Friday, to celebrate National Doughnut Day, customers will receive a free doughnut with the purchase of any beverage.