Photo courtesy of DonutDudes.com
By Zuzanna Fudala, Staff Writer
There are many things to enjoy about college: meeting like-minded people, interesting classes, campus events, etc. One of my favorite things about college is definitely the food, especially sweets, so imagine my excitement when a new donut (mmmmm.. dooonuuut..) cafe was about to open in the library; my sweet tooth just got a whole lot sweeter.
On Sept. 8, DonutDudes had their grand opening. They are located in the Dr. Sylvia M. Jenkins Library in the L building; currently open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Based in Chicago, DonutDudes is a small business created by brothers, Mohammed and Khader, who have a passion for baking, their younger brother, Ali, who occasionally gives the elder two ideas for donuts (as well as is the designated taste tester), and with help from their brother-in-law Noor. The brothers started their venture out of their kitchen, working hard and perfecting their recipes. Eventually they were filling online orders on Facebook and Instagram; later on, supplying cafes around Chicago and festivals such as Lollapalooza. After a year of hard work, DonutDudes opened their location on Kedzie Ave. in Chicago with future visions of expanding their small business and to bring donuts to new heights with bold, creative and delicious flavors. Made fresh daily in the morning, trust me when I say that these donuts are a-glaze-ing.
Among the variety of donuts – vanilla glazed, Oreo sprinkled, strawberry cheesecake, and Boston cream – I decided to go with the Boston cream, and it was divine. The chocolate glaze was rich and smooth, taking a nice solid glaze on top, but was quick to melt in my mouth the second I bit in. The cream filling was equally delicious, sweet, yet light in flavor, and blended perfectly with the chocolate, both complementing each other while each demanding my tastebuds’ attention. The dough was so soft and fluffy, it was like biting into a tasty cream-filled-with-chocolate-ganache-on-the-top pillow. The only other donuts that I can think of that can rival this one would be from Krispy Kreme.
In addition to the mouth-watering donut, I bought the small coffee, specifically a caramel macchiato. The coffee was equally as sweet and bursting with caramel flavor, however not so much with coffee. If you are anything like me however and have a massive sweet tooth, then this coffee is right up your alley. I did end up buying a cup of coffee that wasn’t incredibly sweet and the taste was amazing!
Photo by Zuzanna Fudala
DonutDudes uses Intelligentsia, a high quality coffee bean that has a delightfully rich taste and pleasant earthy fragrance. A nice consistency with a moderate flavor; not too bitter and not watered down as some coffees may taste. Their coffees range from hot to iced, and plain to sweet. Standard drinks such as lattes, cappuccino, chai latte, espresso, drip coffee, iced coffee, and hot chocolate as well as signature drinks such as ferrero, white chocolate, matcha, and caramel macchiato complete the menu. Vanilla, tiramisu, caramel, and other flavors are available as well as dairy substitutes like oat milk and almond milk.
Every couple of days, DonutDudes will switch out the flavors of donuts to see which flavors are the most popular. So be sure to try out a new flavor, I know I will. In addition to donuts, DonutDudes will also be offering bagels, yogurt, cheese sticks, and hummus cups. Currently there are no gluten-free or vegan options. However, the brothers are currently testing out recipes, so we may see these options sometime soon.
When I asked Mohammed if he has any advice for any entrepreneurs or bakers looking to start their business, he had this to say: “Don’t be scared of the work, and don’t let failure stop you from pursuing your dreams. If you’re passionate about it, don’t let one setback stop you.”
If these donuts have your mouth watering, be sure to check out their Chicago location for more goodies like a donuts sundae, donut shake, or frostbites – a hot pressed donut ice cream sandwich with your favorite topping! DonutDudes also offers catering, fundraising, and online orders. Their website is in progress but they can be contacted through their Instagram and Facebook: @donutdudes_chi; email: info@donutdudes.com; or through text: (708) 680-6244.
(The brothers who own and operate DonutDudes requested we not use their last names.)