Peter Pan, Home of the Best Non-Fancy Doughnuts – NYC

The first time I went to Peter Pan, I thought, ‘What’s the big deal?!’ It didn’t taste much different from the doughnuts at Donut Pub, and in fact, tasted a bit stale. Well, I went back and I’ve changed my mind. These are the best damn non-fancy doughnuts in New York.

Similar to Donut Pub, the doughnuts at Peter Pan are of the non-fancy yeast variety. Price-wise they’re both cheap, but Peter Pan is a little bit cheaper at $1 a doughnut. When I went, they also threw in a free doughnut so it was even cheaper. The main difference though is the filling. In most cases, there’s more of it, and it’s better in quality.

The jelly doughnut was oozing with thick black raspberry jelly after one bite, and the texture was more like jam as opposed to gloppy jelly.

The lemon doughnut didn’t seem as stuffed as the jelly after one bite…

but after two more, I struck lemon gold. I would have preferred more tartness, like a lemon curd, but for a dollar only an ahole would complain. Especially when you get a doughnut bursting with goopy, sweet lemon filling.

The apple crumb dougnut was equally fantastic with lots of large, dense streusel crumbs on top, and stuffed with an apple pie-like filling with a very generous amount of diced apples.

And there’s no filling inside the white cream coconut doughnut…

but you don’t need it when it’s topped with a crazy amount of sweet, buttery cream and shredded coconut. Very tasty and not too heavy on the coconut flavor. No sunscreen taste here.

Similar to Donut Pub, Peter Pan can also have their off days, but when they’re on, their doughnuts are amazing. I’m still madly in love with Donut Pub, but I’m not delusional. Peter Pan’s doughnuts are slightly better. Not leaps and bounds better, but enough to take the short train to Brooklyn when the urge strikes.

Peter Pan Donut & Pastry Shop
727 Manhattan Ave (b/n Meserole & Norman Ave; map)
New York, NY 11222
718-389-3676