Shore 2009: Doughnuts (& other baked goods)

The breakfast (and snack, and dessert) of champions

Cream doughnuts The golden hand-rolled sticky bun (with raisins) is Kohler’s claim to fame in Avalon, but the cream doughnuts — crispy outside, velvety within — are truly little stars. (Kohler’s 2709 Dune Drive, Avalon, 609-967-3694, kohlersbakery.com).

Italian pastries Brigantine’s fabulous Aversa’s Italian Bakery has a new Margate outpost — so now lucky Downbeachers have easy access to all the rum cakes and napoleons and cream puffs and pretty little cookies (plus fresh, soft hoagie rolls, stroms and pizzas) that Brigantine’s loved for years. (Aversa’s Italian Bakery 3101 Atlantic-Brigantine Boulevard, Brigantine, 609-264-8880, and 9307 Ventnor Avenue, Margate, 609-487-6600; aversasbakery.com).

Sticky buns On breezy days, the heavenly smell of sticky buns wafts across the coast. Mallon’s makes Cinnabon look as mass-produced as Spam. (Mallon’s Bakery 1340 Bay Avenue, Ocean City, 609-399-5531, and 5008 Landis Avenue, Sea Isle City, 609-263-1280; mallonsbakery.com)

Old-fashioneds Junior’s Donuts and Dogs in Margate knows we don’t need any bells and whistles, just a warm, spongy cake doughnut. With milk. (The sugared version ain’t bad, either.) And Brown’s iconic status in Ocean City rests solidly on the fresh, humble plain potato version, dipped in cinnamon. Or chocolate. Or vanilla. (Junior’s Donuts and Dogs 9315 Amherst Avenue, Margate, 609-823-8790; Brown’s Restaurant St. Charles Place  and the Boardwalk, Ocean City, 609-391-0677).

Jellies Try a classic from a classic: A sticky glazed doughnut with a gooey raspberry-jelly center from Ocean City’s almost 62-year-old Dot’s Pastry Shoppe is still a delight, albeit a messy one. (Dot’s Pastry Shoppe 3148 Asbury Avenue, Ocean City, 609-399-0770).

Apple-ciders O.C.’s Ove’s, of course. Powdered and cinnamon. (Ove’s 4th Street and the Boardwalk, Ocean City, 609-398-3712, ovesrestaurant.com).