An Iowa bakery is once again getting national attention after being named one of the best doughnut shops in the United States.
USA TODAY’s 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards recently released its list of the best donut stores in the United States, and The Bakery Unlimited in Winterset was among the best. A panel of experts determines finalists in each category before readers vote to make the final selections.
How did The Bakery Unlimited rank among the best doughnut shops in the United States?
The Bakery Unlimited ranked third among the best doughnut shops in the United States, according to USA TODAY’s 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards. The Winterset bakery also ranked third in 2025 and was No. 5 in 2024.
The only doughnut shops to top the Winterset bakery were Donald’s Donuts in Ohio and Happy Place Homemade in New Jersey. Here is the full list:
“The air is sweet on the square in Winterset, Iowa, thanks to The Bakery Unlimited,” USA TODAY’S 10BEST wrote. “Try the Maple Bacon Long John or a classic apple crisp donut, and expect to stand in line on Saturday mornings because their donuts are just that good.”
The Bakery Unlimited said in a social media post on Wednesday, June 17, that it was honored by the recognition.
We have poured our hearts into from-scratch baking for you every single day, and we hope to continue to make our customers proud with everything we do,” The Bakery Unlimited wrote. “We are so incredibly proud to help represent our small town of Winterset on the national stage.”
What does The Bakery Unlimited sell?
Doughnuts at The Bakery Unlimited are made with owner Kate Sparks’ mother’s original recipe. The homemade doughnuts are known for being extra soft and fluffy, Sparks said.
The bakery makes anything from doughnut holes to old-fashioned cake doughnuts and long johns with strips of bacon on them. The doughnut shop is especially known for its red delicious apple fritters made with fresh apples.
Visit The Bakery Unlimited
The Bakery Unlimited is based in Winterset, approximately 45 minutes from Des Moines. It is located at 119 N. John Wayne Drive.
The Bakery Unlimited is open from 5:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
Des Moines Register growth and development reporter Kate Kealey contributed to this report
Cooper Worth is a service/trending reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at cworth@gannett.com or follow him on X @CooperAWorth.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: This Iowa doughnut shop ranked among best in US for 3rd straight year
Reporting by Cooper Worth, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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By Cooper Worth, Des Moines Register | USA TODAY Network
