If you are planning to pass through El Dorado, Arkansas any time soon, you must do us all a favor and make a morning stop into The Spudnut Shoppe! You will thank me for this recommendation! The Spudnut Shoppe in El Dorado, Arkansas is an iconic staple in that town, and most anyone from south Arkansas will know what you are talking about if you mention a spudnut!
At El Dorado High SchooI, I was on the journalism staff. I still remember how the seniors on yearbook staff all wanted the job of ad sales because they wanted the opportunity to leave campus and go to the Spudnut Shoppe to “sell ads.” We did sell ads, and we ate plenty of spudnuts while doing it!
We even had spudnuts served at a breakfast event at one of my high school reunions. That’s how special spudnuts are to native El Do folks! In fact, there is even a Facebook group dedicated to El Dorado spudnuts!
So What is a Spudnut, Anyway?
In simple terms, a spudnut is a donut made of potato flour dough, covered in a flaky powdered sugar glaze. In other words, it is Heaven on earth! It is light years away any other donut I have ever eaten.
I still remember introducing some cousins to spudnuts when they visited from out of state. I could tell it was a life-changing experience for them – especially my youngest cousin! He must have used the word “spudnut” 50 times during his trip! Those fried rounds of potato flour dough made an impression on that boy.
History of The Spudnut Shoppe
The Spudnut Shoppe has been around since 1948. Over the years, it changed owners. For the last many years, it has been owned and operated by the same family. Eventually, a second location – the Spudnut Shoppe in Magnolia, Arkansas – was opened in 1959. In recent years, the Magnolia location closed down. Once upon a time, the Spudnut Shoppe was part of a franchise with hundreds of locations around the world. But there were only the two locations in Arkansas.
I went to college in Magnolia. I tried the spudnuts there, and they were good. But I just didn’t feel it was quite as good as my original El Dorado Spudnut Shoppe!
Location of The Spudnut Shoppe in El Dorado
The Spudnut Shoppe is located on 1810 West Faulkner in downtown El Dorado – where it has been a fixture since the late 1960s.
This is a no fuss, no frills kind of place. There is a scattering of tables. You will often seen regulars meeting for spudnuts and coffee. You might see some golfers coming in for a regular Saturday morning meet up before hitting the golf course. Or you might see a mom with her young kids in tow, anxiously awaiting their morning treats.
Many customers, like us, are there to take a big order home to share. The place opens early – at 5 a.m. and closes at noon. My suggestion is to get there early in the morning so you don’t risk any of the favorites being sold out already.
The building is an older one – having been around for ages and ages. There are stacks and stacks of white boxes everywhere. Little care is given to decor or ambiance. Well, unless the ambiance IS spudnuts!
The inside brings vintage vibes with the framed newspaper articles featuring past write ups about the business.
My Favorites at The Spudnut Shoppe
I stick with the classics when it comes to Spudnuts! I love the glazed spudnuts and the chocolate spudnuts, as well.
My dad and my husband love The Spudnut Shoppe cinnamon rolls. I have to admit they are pretty incredible!
There are other popular flavors as well, such as caramel and strawberry.
Biting into one of these flaky rounds of fried dough takes me back to my childhood. Spudnuts were on repeat on Saturday mornings – especially whenever my dad, a U.S. Postal Service letter carrier, had the occasional Saturday off. He would head out early to pick them up so by the time I woke up, he would be back home with that white box of warm deliciousness.
If you’ve never tried this El Dorado claim to fame treat, you simply must make the drive two hours or so south of Little Rock to my precious hometown!
More Travel Posts from Arkansas and Beyond
If you enjoyed our introduction to spudnuts in El Dorado, Arkansas, you will want to check out some of our other Arkansas travel posts and additional travel ideas!
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Spudnut Shoppe in El Dorado, Arkansas
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