Five Daughters Bakery

Five Daughters Bakery is arguably one of the hottest spots to hit when visiting Nashville. The locally-owned bakery specializes in concocting doughnuts made from croissant dough, as well as other unique treats. There are 3 locations around Nashville, and the family-run business has even expanded to Atlanta, Seaside, and Rosemary Beach due to its success.

The popularity of Five Daughters is largely due to their “100 layer” croissant doughnuts that are unlike any other doughnuts you will ever find at a regular doughnut shop. Some are frosted, some are filled, some are topped with extra ingredients, and some feature a combination of all three (like the “Pumpkin Cheesecake” doughnut featured above). I have sampled several varieties of the 100 layer doughnuts, and it is safe to say I have never been disappointed. There are certain “staple” flavors that are always available. “The Purist” has a simple sweet glaze; perfect for the plain Janes. The “Vanilla Cream” is filled with a vanilla buttercream, topped with a thick layer of vanilla frosting, and finished with a dusting of powdered sugar. The “King Kong” is the most unique of the staple options. It has a maple glaze icing and is topped with bacon. The combination of maple, bacon, and endless layers of flaky dough is a truly delicious balance of salty and sweet.

There are also several seasonal flavors each month. Some are repeated year after year, and some are never on the menu again, so choose wisely when you order! I tried the “Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough” (pictured above) when it was offered last year, but I noticed the recipe has been altered for its appearance on the current September 2019 menu. I am excited to try this one again, because I can honestly say it was the best doughnut I have ever had. If you think chocolate chip cookie dough by itself is good, just wait until you taste it sitting atop a soft, buttery croissant doughnut. Let’s just say my mouth went on a wild ride, and it did not want to come back.

Some of the other 100 layer flavors I have tried include “The Parent Trap” which was a neat twist on the Oreo and peanut butter combination that became popular after the release of the movie the doughnut is named after (pictured below).

The “Chocolate Lovers” was extremely rich but perfectly satisfied allll my chocolate cravings (pictured below).

The “Strawberry Eclair” was filled with strawberry buttercream and topped with strawberry icing (pictured below). The airy croissant layers soaked in the cream, making for a delicious balance of fruity, sweet, and creamy goodness in each bite.

I don’t see how anyone could not like a doughnut like the ones I have described, but for those out there who think 100 layers might be a bit too much, Five Daughters has some options for you too. There are several varieties of yeast raised doughnuts, and some of these are even vegan for those of you who live that life. I once tried the “Boston Cream” which had a traditional Boston Cream filling and was frosted with a layer of chocolate. Personally, I was not impressed. The dough was not flavorful, and the chocolate frosting was too bitter for my liking. I don’t want to discredit all of Five Daughter’s yeast donuts, because other flavors such as the “Blueberry Lavender” or “Brownie Batter” might be delicious, but for now, I think I’ll stick to Shipley’s or Donut Den if I want a yeast donut in Nashville.

Five Daughters also offers a doughnut known as the “paleo” which is free of grains, gluten, dairy, and sugars. I really don’t know how you can still call it a doughnut at this point, but whatever it is, it’s surprisingly tasty. I sampled the “Chocolate Raspberry” flavor. The doughnut itself was very dense, and the consistency was more like that of a cake. Nonetheless, I enjoyed every bite, and I think it’s really neat that Five Daughters has options like this so people on special diets can enjoy yummy treats too!

If you were thinking all of this was beginning to sound expensive, you were right! The 100 layer doughnuts ring up between $4.25-$4.75 each; the yeast raised range from $2.50-$3.25, and the paleo are $4 a piece. Obviously, when you compare the cost of a few doughnuts at Krispy Kreme to a few at Five Daughters, there is no competition. However, a single 100 layer doughnut from Five Daughters will keep you full from breakfast to lunch; whereas a single Krispy Kreme doughnut will only leave you angry until you eat about three more to make yourself somewhat full. When you look at it from this perspective, the prices at Five Daughters are much more reasonable.

Many locals think Five Daughters Bakery is over-rated, but where else can you get a doughnut topped with edible cookie dough? If you like sweets as much as I do, a trip to Five Daughters will truly make all your wildest dreams come true.