Small Town Rivals There are two famous donut shops in Sioux City: Jitters and Sunkist. I have been to both throughout my 12 years living in the city, but yesterday I wanted to do a
Small Town Rivals
There are two famous donut shops in Sioux City: Jitters and Sunkist. I have been to both throughout my 12 years living in the city, but yesterday I wanted to do a taste test comparison. Here are the results!
Jitters
Saturday morning, we drove to Jitters first, I got a variety of six donuts for $5.14. Not bad, considering it’s the original Sunshine Donut recipe!
Sunshine Donuts!
For those of you not familiar with Sioux City, Super Valu was a grocery store here in town, and they had a machine that would mass produce the infamous Sunshine Donuts. It was a local favorite, creating many memories for multiple residents, young and old. Well, Super Valu closed twenty years ago, and the owner of Jitters jumped on an amazing opportunity, and bought the machine, affectionately named “Donut Robot”. She also bought the original recipe, so she could preserve that small-town nostalgia.
Quaint little coffee shop
Let’s just take a moment and appreciate the eclectic and crafty atmosphere when you walk in. I know it has nothing to do with what their donuts taste like, but it is truly inviting and energetic.
So, what do Jitters’ donuts taste like?
First off, the smell is glorious! I’ve had donuts where I can practically taste the preservatives, I’ve also had donuts where the stale scent ruins the experience for me. Jitters donuts are far removed from either. They are slightly crispy on the outside, with a soft cake batter on the inside.
With only one size donut, you always know what to expect. Consistency is not necessarily a bad thing. They do, however, have daily donut specials with different designs and flavors.
Sunkist Bakery
Now off to Sunkist. For $5.80 we got 6 donuts. These were much larger, about twice the size than the donuts from Jitters. Additionally, there were more unique and artistic options, along with cookies!
Over 80 years in business!
Sioux City has been home to this iconic donut shop since 1932! Located on Morningside Ave, it is more of a bakery than a donut shop. In addition to donuts, they bake pizza crusts, various types of breads, and cakes.
onlyinyourstate.com
Recently changing ownership in 2016, Sunkist was sold, and the new owners knew they wanted to expand the business after foreseeing increased demand for their baked goods.
Opening a second location
I love that the new owners sought to preserve the 80-year-old business and its name recognition. Aiming to expand, they opened a second location in December 2018. So along with their Morningside location, they now have their Hamilton location. For those of you not acquainted with Sioux City, it is around a ten-minute drive from Morningside to Hamilton. Furthermore, ten minutes to cross a conventional small town is quite a distance. Therefore, opening a second location on the complete opposite side of town was an incredibly smart and competitive move!
Sunkist’s new location
We live very close to the Hamilton location, and we have yet to make our initial visit since they opened in December 2018, so we wanted to check it out! Small but charming, it’s more airy and open than one would expect by just admiring from the outside. The sunlight flows brightly through the windows, and I can just imagine how warm and appealing it will feel and look in the Spring and Summer.
So, what do Sunkist’s Donuts taste like?
To start, they are slightly flakey, and not as dense as cake-donuts. They have less sugar in them, making them more neutral flavored, which actually works in Sunkist’s favor. This neutral flavor opens the door for creativity. You start with a basic foundation, and then build on it. For example, Sunkist has many original creations. Ever heard of a bacon maple donut? How about a cinnamon toast crunch donut? And their donuts are not all one size or shape, some also have pudding or crème filling.
What’s the difference?
tripadvisor.com
One noticeable difference between the two businesses is Jitters has an entire breakfast and lunch menu, serving everything from omelets to chicken salad sandwiches. Sunkist is strictly a bakery; however, they are branching out and dabbling in the coffee and smoothie industry. I have yet to try one of their hot or cold beverages, but they look amazing.
facebook.com/sunkistbakery 
facebook.com/sunkistbakery
Both businesses cater to events, such as weddings, reunions, and graduation parties. Both also have a cult following. There are some die-hard fans out there who swear by one or the other, and will not step foot in the competitor’s establishment. Just be ready for heated debates if you are brave enough!
Which will you choose?
Lastly, which is your favorite? I like the crispy outer layer of Jitters’ donuts, but I also enjoy the diverse assortment at Sunkist Bakery. I enjoy Jitters’ coffee shop feel, and their menu, and I can appreciate Sunkist’s daring move to start making espressos and smoothies.
Go out and explore! Visit both locations, and see what their up to on facebook.
Jitters: https://www.facebook.com/JittersSiouxCity/
Sunkist: https://www.facebook.com/ForTheLoveOfReyes/