If you’re looking for the perfect back-to-school sweet treat this month, look no further than these donut shops, which perfectly blend unique and classic flavors with their donuts’ fluffy, cake-like texture. Five-O Donuts, a local chain launched in 2017, offers 24 different donuts every day with a variety of classic and specialty flavors.

Classic flavors include a simple glazed cake donut as well as a popular apple fritter offering, while specialty flavors include the Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Nutella S’Mores and Maple Bacon. Those looking for a twist on a classic donut can try the best-selling croissant donuts—made with a flaky, layered butter croissant and topped with a classic, homemade glaze or dipped in chocolate and sprinkles. Five-O also offers delicious gluten free and vegan options for those with dietary restrictions. “Our business is about making people happy,” owner Christine Nordstrom says. “We try to offer something for everybody, so they can always be surprised and delighted when they come into our store.” Yummies Donuts & BBQ is a longstanding staple in the Venice area, owned by Karen Sayre-Tines and Allen Tines since 2006. Offering handmade, from-scratch donuts made by Tines every day, the store provides a variety of classic donuts to choose from, including their best-selling Boston cream, filled with custard and topped with chocolate icing.

Yummies recently hired a decorator, allowing them to offer specialized donuts for holidays or celebrations, including their cocktail line with the decorated tequila sunrise donut and other carefully crafted, cocktail-themed donuts. For those looking to taste a classic house speciality, try the menu staple sticky pig, with pulled pork on a glazed cinnamon bun donut. Peachey’s Baking Co, a family-owned bakeshop, makes handcrafted donuts and pretzels with a classic homemade recipe. After selling their original vanilla glazed donuts around town in their local truck, Peachey’s first permanent store officially opened earlier this year and offers their classic flavor, as well as specialties like the espresso, toasted coconut or maple glazed donuts. Customers can also taste their handmade pretzels with a side of mustard and enjoy a pick-me-up coffee. Duck Donuts, a national staple in the donut industry that opened its first Sarasota location earlier this year, offers made-to-order selections and more than 30 of its most popular flavors.

Customers can select classics such as cinnamon sugar covered or glazed donuts, but the store also offers a broad variety of specialty flavors, such as its double cookie butter with a cookie butter glaze and crumbles or the thin mints crunch with chocolate icing featuring Girl Scout thin mints cookie crumbles and a vanilla drizzle. For those with their own special combination of toppings in mind, Duck Donuts offers a “Build-Your-Own” option, or if it’s too hard to pick just one, the store offers a fan favorite dozen with 12 of its most popular flavors.  —C.Mould 

Five-O Donuts, 2241 Ringling Blvd, Sarasota, 941-960-1370; 81 N Cattlemen Rd, Sarasota, 941-358-7661; 5942 34th St W #116, Bradenton, 941-751-5077; 2211 60th Ave E, Ellenton, 941-722-9800; fiveodonutco.com

Yummies Donuts & BBQ, 2001 S Tamiami Trl, Venice, 941-493-7170, yummiesdonuts.com

Peachey’s Baking Co, 4800 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota, peacheysbakingco.com

Duck Donuts, 1580 Lakefront Dr UNIT 102, Sarasota, 941-357-4400, duckdonuts.com