I’m not biased when it comes to sweet treats. I’m a brownie girl, a cookie girl, a blondie girl, a cake girl… you get the picture. But when it comes to doughnuts, there’s just something about them that’s got a real hold on me. So you can imagine how excited I was when I found out about Harry’s Handcrafted Doughnuts in Darlington!
I was on my way out of the door and I told my Instagram story that I was off to Darlo. Within minutes, I had multiple people messaging me, telling me to go pay Harry’s a visit. And when multiple people are recommending at the exact same time, you just know the place is going to be good. In fact, I’d already seen people raving about their doughnuts in a Facebook group, so it was about time I got myself there. Here’s everything you need to know for your visit!
What is Harry’s Handcrafted Doughnuts?
As you might be able to guess, Harry’s specialises in freshly fried doughnuts. I’m talking about big boy doughnuts – some with filling, some without – that are all topped and decorated beautifully. They create a huge variety of flavours with some regulars and some that rotate (which is the perfect excuse to keep visiting… just so you can check which flavours they have on). Not only do they offer mouthwatering dougnuts, but you can also grab an amazing coffee to wash them down with. Definitely give the Spanish latte a try!
The idea for Harry’s first started in lockdown. I remember seeing people raving about their doughnut delivery on Instagram and clearly, it just snowballed from there. The business now has its own premises right in the heart of Darlington, so it’s a true lockdown success story!
Where is Harry’s Handcrafted Doughnuts?
The coffee shop is super easy to find. It’s directly opposite the market hall on the House of Fraser side, and just before Buckton’s Yard. You can’t miss it, the front is jet black! But if you need directions for your maps app, type in 17 High Row, Darlington, DL3 7QQ.
To get into the doughnutty coffee heaven, you’ll need to go upstairs. If you have a pushchair, there’s a place for them to be locked up, but unfortunately, there’s no lift at the moment.
When is the shop open?
If you live in, work in or visit Darlington throughout the week, then you’re in luck! The only day that Harry’s Handcrafted Doughnuts isn’t open is Sunday. So you can grab doughnuts and coffee from Monday to Saturday between 10AM and 6PM, which is ideal for a quick lunch break visit, an after work fix, or a weekend treat.
Do they offer takeaway?
Absolutely! Their coffee shop is decorated with an urban feel – think graffiti, bare walls, lots of wood – and there’s a good amount of tables and seating. So you can totally sit in and watch the world go by below if you fancy. But you can also take boxes of doughnuts and cups of coffee out with you. So if you’re in a hurry or you want to pick up a box for later, it’s perfect!
Which flavours are the best?
This is such a difficult question because every single doughnut I’ve had from them has been sensational. But if I absolutely had to pick, I think my top favourite would be the blueberry cheesecake that you can see above. The blueberry glaze is sticky and sweet, the biscuit crumbs are an amazing touch, and the dollop of blueberry cheesecake is so light and delicious. Combined with a dense, fried doughnut, it’s just a match made in heaven.
Some of the other stand outs for me are the Daim doughnut (think salted caramel with crunchy bits), chocolate orange, Biscoff (the whipped filling is to die for), and the Bueno. But there are honestly tons to choose from, including lemon, caramel crunch, coffee & walnut… the list truly goes on.
Do they offer vegan options?
Yes! When you walk up the stairs, the first thing you see is the doughnut cabinet and each doughnut is labelled. The ones that are vegan will say on the cabinet, but if you’re not sure, you can ask the extremely friendly and helpful staff. I know for certain that the cinnamon rings are vegan, though!
As you can tell, Harry’s Handcrafted Doughnuts has become one of my new favourite places for very good reason. And I have everyone who told me to visit to thank! It’s such a cool place that’s packed full of personality with gorgeous treats to boot.
If you want to see more from Harry’s, make sure you check them out on Instagram or follow their updates on Facebook. Their website is currently under development, but keep checking back to see when it launches.
Will you be paying Harry’s a visit?
