If You Want Michigan’s Best Donut, Go To This Bakery in Jackson

Donuts might be the reason I may never be a skinny man. I've had several donuts in my life, and with the exception of a mustard-filled charity-related dare, I've loved them all. But one perfect pastry stands above them all in Michigan and, in my opinion, globally. While MLive went as far as to crown this iconic bakery the home of Michigan's Best Donut, I boldly proclaim that Jackson, Michigan's legendary bakery at the corner of Blackstone and Wilkens, makes the best donuts in the world.

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I wouldn't make such a bold claim if I weren't certain that the bakery opened by Romie Hinkley in 1913 hadn't been consistently baking tasty treats for over one hundred years. If you've had one of their sweet creations, you already know.

Michigan's Best Donuts are Made at Jackson's Iconic Hinkley Bakery

What makes the donuts from Hinkley Bakery so good? Well, the recipes haven't varied much, if at all, from Romie Hinkley's originals, which makes sense considering that Brian Hinkley is a fourth-generation baker's son. Breanna Davey, the daughter of Brian and Connie Hinkley (the owners), shared in an interview with Jackson District Library that not a lot has changed in the last 100-plus years.

To get ready for a 5:15 AM opening, Brian Hinkley works throughout the night to get the traditional stone oven to the perfect temperature for a day of donut making. Davey estimates that her dad will make nearly 1,200 chocolate crescents, the bakery's best seller, in a single day. That's just one of the dozens of varieties of donuts, cookies, and other decadent snacks they offer.

What to Know When Visiting Hinkley Bakery

When you make Michigan's Best Donut, you can set your own hours, and Hinkley Bakery does. Closed Sunday through Tuesday, piping hot donuts are available Wednesday through Saturday from 5:15 AM—1:00 PM (or until they sell out, which has been known to happen). They also don't accept any means of payment other than cold hard cash, so make sure you hit the ATM.

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While the chocolate crescent is the most popular offering, the Hinkley Bakery Chocolate Custard Long John is, in my opinion, the best donut in the universe. This dense, chocolate-frosted, custard-filled pastry makes for a delicious meal (that's not a typo; this donut is an entire seven-course meal) and can also serve as a doorstop (though it would be a waste). Oh! And don't forget to take home a couple dozen glazed donut holes. You'll make your team's or your family's day.