Karen's Donuts - Redlands
Karen's Donuts
Description
Karen's Donuts in Redlands is a beloved mom-and-pop shop famed for fresh, high-turnover donuts—especially apple fritters, maple bars and chocolate-filled varieties—and decent coffee. Regulars praise friendly, quick service, ample parking and takeout convenience, though popular items often sell out early. Criticisms include occasional greasiness, skimpy fruit fillings, inconsistent sandwich prep and rare rude interactions. Cash-only, limited seating and variable inventory mean arriving early yields the best selection.
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Feedback
This is definitely my favorite local donut spot. They sell out all the time, and it took a few visits for me to try different donuts since some were always unavailable. But the ones I did manage to try were so good that I kept coming back! Now I make sure to arrive early and grab my dozen. There's something truly special about this place. It's not just an apple fritter—it's the best apple fritter I've ever had. Simple yet amazing, the dough is soft and moist, while the sugar coating is crisp and has a buttery, melt-in-your-mouth texture. Karen, even though I have to run extra miles because of your donuts, I’m still going to indulge—then run!
I really love this place; the donuts are fantastic! However, the raspberry-filled ones are a bit disappointing because they only have a tiny bit of raspberry jelly inside. We've visited at different times, hoping it might have been a one-time issue, but we've come to realize that they are consistently cutting back on the filling.
I had some of the best donuts I've ever tasted at Karen's Donuts! They were recommended to us for our wedding's Donut Wall, and the donuts were a massive hit! Everyone loved them, and they stayed incredibly fresh for two days afterward. It's definitely the best local donut shop in Redlands! Just a heads up: they only accept cash and often close early once they sell out for the day.
Karen's Donuts is a straightforward donut shop, as shown in the photos. It's easily accessible with plenty of parking available. Please note that it operates as a cash-only business. I tried the Apple Fritter along with a cup of coffee. The coffee had a mild flavor, but it wasn't watered down. The Apple Fritter, as depicted in the picture, was similar in diameter to others but about half the thickness. It had a nice crunch without being overcooked and was filled with the expected apple filling and topped with a sweet glaze. While we enjoyed our Apple Fritter there, we noticed several regular customers coming in, and we saw quite a few Maple Bars being sold along with the Apple Fritters. Just a heads up!
FAQ
More information
QR-Code for the menu

