The Decadent Donut To Seek Out Next Time You're At The Meijer Bakery

It's not the largest grocery store chain in America, but Meijer (pronounced "major") has a lot going for it. This superstore competes not just with your local supermarket, but also with your Walmarts or Targets, where you can buy household goods, clothing, and other general merch alongside your groceries. It currently owns 18 different brands in six states, with over 500 store locations. If you're lucky enough to live within the midwestern Meijer catchment, there's one item in particular that you should seek: a cinnamon swirl donut located in the bakery.

When we rounded up the best donut shops in every state, Meijer didn't make the list — but maybe it should have! The "Fresh from Meijer Cinnamon Glazed Donuts" come in a generous four-pack and sell for the super-low price of $2.99 per package. Do some quick math, and you'll see that's less than a dollar per donut. Of course, pricing and availability are subject to change by location, but that cost still beats the pants off Dunkin' or Krispy Kreme! 

These cinnamon donuts, which put us in mind of a spin on a cinnamon roll, are, per Meijer's ad copy, both sweet and spicy, with a light, flavorful sugar glaze. We can't help but think that they'd be the perfect accompaniment to our morning cup of coffee or tea or a sweet pick-me-up in the afternoon when you need to catch your second wind and finish out your chores, work, or school.

Not for nothing, Foodie's sister site, Tasting Table, named a very similar Meijer cinnamon treat the best of the best in its ranking of grocery store donuts. But don't listen to just us and our friends! The reviews on Meijer's product page for the cinnamon donuts paint an evocative picture. "D]elicious!" one buyer raved. "[They] taste just like the ones I get at work on Friday from a donut shop."

An Indiana consumer confessed to a full-blown snack fixation: "I am obsessed with these cinnamon rolls! I buy as many as I can and freeze what we don't eat right away and (yes, I have been known to get a frozen one out when I forgot to remove them from the freezer!!)" Meanwhile, in Michigan, another happy customer described how the donuts fit into their daily routine: "These cinnamon rolls are scrumptious! They are soft and yeasty tasting with just enough cinnamon and sweetness to more than satisfy my cinnamon roll craving. I love them with a cup of hot tea or coffee in the morning before I start my day."

A good donut shouldn't be taken for granted. We've eaten a lot of them, from the old-fashioned kind to crullers, bear claws, and paczki, and, too often, these pastries are dull, dry, or just generally disappointing. Getting an affordable donut from a grocery store that excites us and could go toe-to-toe with donut shop specimens? We couldn't be more pleased.

Static Media owns and operates Foodie and Tasting Table.