PA’s Best Doughnut Found Here: New Ranking

The doughnut has been part of American culture since Dutch settlers introduced “olykoeks” — oily cakes — in the 17th century, but not all are created equally in Pennsylvania.

For the best doughnut in the state, you’ll want to head to Beiler’s Donuts. That’s according to the digital food and drink news site TastingTable, which put together a list that highlights The Best Donut Shop In Each State.

Beiler’s Donuts has three locations, including one in Philadelphia’s Reading Terminal Market. Other locations include Lancaster and Germantown, Maryland.

According to the folks over at TastingTable, Beiler’s Donuts is no stranger to best of lists. “Local and national media alike are well aware of the qualities of this joint, which is why Beiler’s repeatedly appears on lists of best donuts in Pennsylvania,” the report said.

The menu features an array of sweet choices, including classics like glazed and Boston creme. They also serve up some creative options, including the “Elvis delight” (filled with peanut butter creme and topped with banana and sprinkled with bacon) and triple chocolate cake (chocolate cake doughnut, dipped in chocolate and smothered in chocolate chips). See the full menu here.

To arrive at its choices, TastingTable said it reviewed Reddit posts, local and national publications discussing doughnuts, and first-hand reviews regarding the taste of different pastries.

Doughnuts have come a long way since olykoeks, which were essentially solid balls of fried dough, often filled with nuts or fruit. Captain Hanson Gregory is credited with introducing the iconic ring shape after punching a hole in the center of the dough, which made for even cooking.

The mass production of doughnuts began in the 1920s after Adolph Levi, an enterprising Russian immigrant, invented the “Wonderful Almost Human Automatic Donut Machine,” which churned out the treats at an impressive rate.

The “Doughnut Girls” — Salvation Army volunteers who served frontline troops in World War I and World War II — solidified the popularity of doughnuts as a comfort food.