Round Rock Donuts
{{Infobox restaurant
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| name = Round Rock Donuts
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| image = File:Round Rock Donuts.jpg
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| image_caption = Storefront in December 2024
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| established = {{Start date and age|1926}}
| closed =
| current-owner = Jan and Dale Cohrs
| previous-owner = Lavern and Charles Baird
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| food-type = Doughnuts, kolachess, cinnamon rolls, and coffee
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| street-address = 106 W Liberty
| city = Round Rock, Texas
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| state = Texas
| postcode = 78665
| country = United States
| coordinates = {{Coord|30.5092|-97.6798|type:landmark_region:US-RI|display=inline,title}}
| seating-capacity = 0
| reservations = No
| other-locations = 1
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| website = https://roundrockdonuts.com/
}}
Round Rock Donuts is a doughnut shop established in 1926 in Round Rock, Texas {{Cite web|url=https://roundrockdonuts.com/our-story|title=Our Story|website=Round Rock Donuts}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.texashighways.com/blog/item/6464-round-rock-donuts-the-hole-story|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170406094147/http://www.texashighways.com/blog/item/6464-round-rock-donuts-the-hole-story|title=Round Rock Donuts: The Hole Story|author=Sheila Scarborough|date=June 2007|website=Texas Highways|archive-date=April 6, 2017}}{{cite magazine |last=Scarborough|first=Sheila|date=June 2007|title=Round Rock Donuts: The Hole Story|url=https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1203014/m2/1/high_res_d/UNT-0014-0117.pdf#page=16|magazine=Texas Highways|page=14}} that has appeared in numerous "best of" lists, including ones put out by Texas Monthly in 1976{{cite magazine |last=West|first=Richard|date=July 1976|title=The Best of Texas|url=https://reader.texasmonthly.com/texas_monthly/19760701/index.html#p106|magazine=Texas Monthly|url-access=subscription|page=105}}, Bon Appétit in 2010{{Cite web|url=https://www.bonappetit.com/recipes/article/top-10-best-places-for-donuts|title=Top 10 Best Places for Donuts|author=Andrew Knowlton|date=January 28, 2010|website=Bon Appétit|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130906080536/https://www.bonappetit.com/recipes/article/top-10-best-places-for-donuts|archive-date=September 6, 2013}}, The Daily Meal in 2013{{Cite web|url=https://www.thedailymeal.com/eat/america-s-25-best-donuts-slideshow/|title=America's 25 Best Donuts|author=Dan Myers|date=June 23, 2016|website=The Daily Meal}}, Yelp in 2022{{Cite web|url=https://www.yelp.com/article/yelps-top-100-us-donut-shops-2022|title=Yelp’s Top 100 US Donut Shops 2022|website=Yelp}}, TasteAtlas in 2025{{Cite web|url=https://www.tasteatlas.com/best/restaurants|title=100 Most Legendary Restaurants in the World|website=TasteAtlas}}, etc.
Round Rock Donuts has had a second location in Cedar Park, Texas since 2022{{Cite web|url=https://communityimpact.com/austin/cedar-park-leander/impacts/2022/02/21/round-rock-donuts-opens-cedar-park-bakery/|title=Round Rock Donuts opens Cedar Park bakery|date=February 21, 2022|website=Community Impact|first=Taylor|last=Girtman}}.
History
Established in 1926, Round Rock Donuts, then known as Lone Star Bakery, moved to its present location, 106 W Liberty, in Round Rock, Texas, in 1970
In January 1977, Round Rock Donuts opened up a second location in Austin, Texas at 5453 Burnet Rd {{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/austin-american-statesman-round-rock-don/171951034/|title='Swamped' bakery moves|author=Kathy Haworth|newspaper=Austin American-Statesman|date=January 27, 1977|pages=F13|via=newspapers.com}}.
In September 1978 Jan and Dale Cohrs purchased Round Rock Donuts from Lavern and Charles Baird, who themselves, had owned it for 13 years {{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/austin-american-statesman-round-rock-don/171951174/|title=New owners of doughnut shop keep turning out the goodies|author=Chris Petrison|date=September 28, 1978|page=6|department=Neighbor|newspaper=Austin American-Statesman|via=newspapers.com}}
In April 1985 Round Rock Donuts opened up a new second location (by this time the location off of Burnet road had closed) in Round Rock, Texas at 409 Round Rock Avenue {{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/austin-american-statesman-round-rock-don/171952315/|title=Lone Star adds new outlet for its famed doughnuts|author=Christie Schroeter|date=April 18, 1985|page=6|department=City/State|newspaper=Austin American-Statesman|via=newspapers}}
In the evening of Tuesday, September 12, 2000{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/austin-american-statesman-round-rock-don/171976314/|title=Doughnut shop blaze leaves hole in Round Rock hearts|author=Claire Osborn|date=September 13, 2000|page=B3|newspaper=Austin American-Statesman|via=newspapers}}{{Cite news|title=Home of Round Rock Donuts glazed by fire|first1=Bill|last1=Frisbie|first2=Marcial|last2=Guajardo|date=September 14, 2000|page=1|newspaper=Round Rock Leader}}, firefighters responded to a grease fire started by a deep fryer{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/austin-american-statesman-round-rock-don/171976314/|title=Doughnut shop will come 'round again, owner says|author=Tony Plohetski|date=September 14, 2000|page=B1|newspaper=Austin American-Statesman|via=newspapers}}. Damage from the fire forced the closure of Round Rock Donuts, which wouldn't re-open, again, until Tuesday, October 10, 2000, when a portable building was setup in the parking lot {{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/austin-american-statesman-round-rock-don/171976636/|title=A delightful sight in Round Rock|author=Tony Plohetski|date=October 11, 2000|page=B1|newspaper=Austin American-Statesman|via=newspapers.com}}. Construction on a replacement permanent building began on September 21, 2000 and, on December 5, after about 2.5 months, the newly constructed building was opened for business for the first time. Whereas the last permanent building was one story tall this new building was two stories tall and featured new ventilation and sprinkler systems.{{Cite news|title=Lone Star Bakery burns, then rises from the ashes|date=January 1, 2001|first1=Bill|last1=Frisbie|first2=Marcial|last2=Guajardo|page=3A|newspaper=Round Rock Leader}}{{Cite news|title=Up from the ashes: Lone Star Bakery to reopen - bigger and better - next week|date=November 30, 2000|first1=Marcial|last1=Guajardo|page=1A|newspaper=Round Rock Leader}}
In October 2002 Round Rock Donuts opened up a new second location (by this time the second location in Round Rock had closed) in Pflugerville, Texas, at 1202 FM 685. At around the same time as this expansion the company became officially known as Round Rock Bakery Ltd. The name Lone Star Bakery couldn't be used as a company based out of San Antonio, Texas, has/had the expansion rights. "We now have all the registrations and trademarks for Round Rock Donuts and will be marketing it in the new locations" CEO Dale Cohrs told the Austin American-Statesman. {{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/austin-american-statesman-round-rock-dou/171977050/|title=See them a-round|author=Kitty Crider|date=October 30, 2002|page=E3|newspaper=Austin American-Statesman|via=newspapers.com}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/austin-american-statesman-round-rock-don/171977471/|title=Round Rock doughnuts could make P-ville phat|author=Pamela LeBlanc|date=December 12, 2002|page=7|department=Williamson County - This Week|via=newspapers.com}} This new location had closed down by at least May 2013 {{Cite web|url=https://www.statesman.com/story/news/local/2013/05/05/round-rocks-golden-treasure/9789694007/|title=Round Rock's golden treasure|date=May 5, 2013|website=Austin American-Statesman|first=Jennifer|last=Wisian|url-access=subscription}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/austin-american-statesman/171978033/|title=Round Rock's golden treasure|date=May 1, 2013|author=Jennifer Wisian|page=A1|newspaper=Austin American-Statesman|via=newspapers.com}}
On February 20, 2022, Round Rock Donuts opened up a new second location in Cedar Park, Texas, at 1614 E. Whitestone Blvd
Doughnuts
Round Rock Doughnuts distinctive golden-orange tint was historically due to specialty eggs, however, in more recent times, regular eggs have been used with egg color die{{Cite web|url=
https://sherialzeerah.wordpress.com/2013/09/21/hole-foods-the-round-rock-donuts-story/|title=Hole Foods: The Round Rock Donuts Story|date=September 21, 2013|author=Sheri Alzeerah}}.
Whereas most doughnut shops use baking powder-based dough, Round Rock doughnuts use baker's yeast-based dough that's rolled, cut, fried and iced by hand.
Accolades and Notable Media Appearances
In 1976 Texas Monthly declared Round Rock Donuts (as Lone Star Bakery) as having the best doughnuts in Texas
In 1998 Round Rock Donuts (as Lone Star Bakery) won a Local Legends award from the City of Round Rock {{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/austin-american-statesman/171978435/|title=Cohrs family still doling out donuts|author=Tony Cantú|date=August 16, 2014|page=A1|newspaper=Round Rock Leader|via=newspapers.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.roundrocktexas.gov/city-departments/planning-and-development-services/historic-preservation-2/local-legends/|title=Local Legends|website=City of Round Rock}}
In 2007 Texas Highways ran a story about Round Rock Donuts
In 2008, in the 5th episode of the first season of Man vs Food, host Adam Richman devoured giant Round Rock Donuts {{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/austin-american-statesman/172081309/|title=Cohrs family still doling out donuts|author=Tony Cantú|date=August 16, 2014|page=A2|newspaper=Round Rock Leader|via=newspapers.com}}
In 2010 Bon Appétit included Round Rock Donuts in its list of "Top 10 Best Places for Donuts"
In 2011 Texas Country Reporter ran a segment on Round Rock Donuts {{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhWOrnGSbh0|title=Round Rock Donuts|publisher=Texas Country Reporter|date=August 12, 2011|format=video}}
In 2013 The Daily Meal put out a list of "America's Top 25 Donuts" and Round Rock Donuts came in as #2 {{Cite web|url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/food/2013-12-03/austin-area-confections-make-national-top-25-list/|title=Austin-Area Confections Make National Top 25 List|author=Virginia B. Wood|date=December 3, 2013|website=The Austin Chronicle}}
In 2015 The Daytripper featured Round Rock Donuts in an episode about Round Rock, Texas. {{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-L2qCk23pwo|title=Round Rock Donuts: TEXAS SIZED! 🍩|publisher=The Daytripper|date=May 28, 2015|format=video}}
In 2022 Yelp ranked Round Rock Donuts as the #1 doughnut shop in the United States. {{Cite web|url=https://shoptherock.com/yelp-ranks-round-rock-donuts-best-in-america/|title=Yelp ranks Round Rock Donuts best donut shop in America|date=June 17, 2022|website=Shop The Rock}}
In 2025 TasteAtlas ranked Round Rock Donuts as #21 out of 150 of "Most Legendary [Global] Dessert Places" {{Cite web|url=https://www.mysanantonio.com/food/article/round-rock-donuts-best-20006739.php|title=98-year-old Round Rock bakery named one of world's best dessert spots|date=January 4, 2025|website=San Antonio Express-News|first=Emily|last=Hernandez}}. Of the US based businesses on that list Round Rock Donuts ranked as #4 {{Cite web|url=https://www.fox7austin.com/news/round-rock-donuts-taste-atlas|title=Round Rock Donuts earns spot on worldwide list of legendary dessert places|author=Jenna King|date=January 5, 2025|website=KTBC (TV)}}