Holy Bakery!

When is a doughnut more than a doughnut? When it’s vegan, gluten-free and still delicious. For about a year now, Karen Nunley has owned and run Holy Donuts, which produces doughnuts and pastries free of pesky ingredients like dairy, gluten, trans fats and cholesterol. The doughnuts have attracted what you might call a cult following, levitating off the shelves of the consignment tent at the Saturday Market and various grocery stores and cafés around town. In fact, business has been so good that the Holy Donuts bakery will be opening its doors to the public by the end of May. 

“Business is growing, even in the recession, and I want to be able to give people more options,” Nunley says. “And I love meeting customers face to face and want to do that every day.” Nunley will continue to sell her baked goods in all of the current places after the bakery opens.

The Holy Donuts bakery will have tables for lingering, including several in an outdoor courtyard, and will serve coffee, Nunley says. The bakery will offer current favorites, such as jelly doughnuts and fritters, as well as a wider selection of doughnut, pastries and cakes. The bakery will also continue to offer a few non-vegan items. “There are just too many good things you can make with ricotta cheese,” Nunley says with a laugh.

Nunley is already testing some new recipes, including vegan versions of the Pop-Tart and the Hostess chocolate cupcake. “We’re taking these old-fashioned things that we’ve always loved and making them heart healthy,” she says. “I wanted people to be able to indulge in these treats without hiding out in a parked car,” she jokes. “Our motto is, ‘Holy Donuts: All are welcome.’”

The Holy Donuts bakery will be located near 15th and Willamette. 510-6635.