In our Inside Look stories, Herald-Leader journalists take you inside places around Lexington and Kentucky that you maybe haven't seen before. Read more. Story idea? hlcityregion@herald-leader.com.
A new-to-Lexington doughnut shop will officially open its doors 6 a.m. Jan. 29 with a lineup featuring more than 30 different varieties.
The popular, fast-growing Louisville-area doughnut shop will be open 24 hours, seven days a week, near downtown Lexington and the University of Kentucky campus.
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The 1,498-square-foot store will be the first location outside Louisville for the old-fashioned, handmade doughnut maker. They started just outside of Louisville in downtown Jeffersonville, Indiana, in 2004 and have six locations in the Louisville area. Marketing director Michael Getz said Lexington was the most requested city by customers for expansion.
“All of our doughnuts are made fresh,” Getz said. “We have three shifts, so we’re making doughnuts around the clock. They’re made in-house, in our doughnut kitchen, and they’re refreshed around the clock.”
A variety of a dozen doughnuts from Jeff’s Donuts, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, in Lexington, Ky. The new-to-Lexington doughnut shop is opening a location near downtown and the University of Kentucky campus on South Broadway. Doughnuts shown include clockwise from top, chocolate iced sprinkles, apple fritters, vanilla iced cookies and cream long john, vanilla iced chocolate chips long john, blueberry iced cream filled long john, vanilla iced fruity pebbles long john, original glazed, chocolate peanut butter honeymooner and strawberry iced sprinkles. Brian Simms bsimms@herald-leader.com
A variety of doughnuts on a display cases at Jeff’s Donuts, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, in Lexington, Ky. Every doughnut is made daily in-house and the shop is open 24 hours, seven days a week. Every doughnut cost $2.50 but doughnut holes are $.25 each. Brian Simms bsimms@herald-leader.com
Heather Konkle kneads dough at Jeff’s Donuts, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, in Lexington, Ky. Every doughnut is handmade daily at the location, which is open 24 hours. Brian Simms bsimms@herald-leader.com
What kinds of doughnuts does Jeff’s Donuts have?
Getz said Jeff’s Donuts has a core menu of about 34 different varieties of premium doughnuts on the menu, including glazed, bismarcks, twists, fritters, honeybuns, fried pies and a small selection of cake doughnuts
But what they are really known for is a big selection of long johns — 22 on the menu — which you can get filled or unfilled. All filling is a white cream, but they have custard filling in a bismarck doughnut. Flavor varieties include Orange Dream, Raspberry Zinger, Vanilla Iced Fruity Pebbles and Cookies and Cream.
Another popular doughnut is its Honeymooner, which is capped with specialty toppings like chocolate peanut butter, cherry vanilla and caramel apple.
“I would describe a honeymooner as an inside-out filled doughnut,” Getz said. “So it’s round, it’s iced, and it has the topping on top, so there’s no hole in the middle. The filling sits in the middle of the icing.”
Chocolate iced cream filled long johns sit on a tray at Jeff’s Donuts, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, in Lexington, Ky. The Louisville-based doughnut shop has 22 varieties of long johns on its menu, which you can get filled or unfilled. Brian Simms bsimms@herald-leader.com
Apple fritters, photographed Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, in Lexington, Ky., are a popular option at Jeff’s Donuts. Every doughnut at Jeff’s cost $2.50. Brian Simms bsimms@herald-leader.com
Three different kinds of honeymooner doughnuts in a display case at Jeff’s Donuts, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, in Lexington, Ky. A honeymooner is an inside-out filled doughnut without a hole in the middle and capped with specialty toppings. From left is caramel apple, lemon vanilla and cherry vanilla. Brian Simms bsimms@herald-leader.com
They also have an oversized Texas-sized doughnut ($10) that requires 24-hour advance notice.
“It’s a great option as an alternative to a birthday cake or any kind of other special celebration,” Getz said.
Some of our latest Texas donuts, a giant, shareable treat perfect for birthdays, graduations and more. Call to order 24 hours in advance of your celebration and we’ll have them ready.
Yeast doughnuts get a coating of glaze after being fried at Jeff’s Donuts, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, in Lexington, Ky. The new-to-Lexington shop has more than 30 varieties of doughnuts on its menu plus a rotation of specials. Brian Simms bsimms@herald-leader.com
A long john gets a coating of vanilla icing at Jeff’s Donuts, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, in Lexington, Ky. Jeff’s is known for is large menu of long john varieties that can be filled or unfilled. Brian Simms bsimms@herald-leader.com
How much do Jeff’s Donuts cost?
The price for each doughnut at Jeff’s Donuts, no matter the size or shape, is $2.50. Customers can buy single doughnuts at that price or build their own boxes of four, six, 12, or 24 doughnuts. It’s all a la carte at that price.
There is a rewards program, and if you sign up on opening day at the Lexington store, you get a free doughnut.
Jeff’s Donuts, photographed Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, in Lexington, Ky., is located at 1080 S. Broadway Suite 204 near First Watch and Sir Pizza. It’s easy to spot driving down Broadway. Brian Simms bsimms@herald-leader.com
Brian Simms has been with the Herald-Leader for 20-plus years, most recently reporting and editing coverage of restaurants, bars, food and bourbon. He is also a photographer and manages the newspapers photo archive that dates back to the late 1930s.Support my work with a digital subscription
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