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It’s impossible to resist the cornucopia of activities that are quintessentially autumn. Put fears of "basic" cries aside, and shamelessly sip that pumpkin spice latte, have an Instagram photo shoot at a pumpkin patch, brandish a souvenir stein at an Oktoberfest, and of course, drive out to an orchard to go apple picking.
Most apple picking veterans would posit that the best part of any visit to any apple orchard is without a doubt the apple cider donuts. But the hot, soft, crave-worthy treats are just too delicious to be relegated to a field trip snack. They should be enjoyed on any perfect fall day, regardless of someone’s proximity to an apple tree.
That’s why urban and suburban vendors are seizing the opportunity to fill the void and give the people what they want: apple cider donuts that can be attained without taking a 45-minute drive into the country. Thanks to these food trucks, coffee shops, and bakeries, fall-ophiles can enjoy a fresh apple cider donut whenever they please.
Del Ray Farmers Market
Ashbank Farm trucks their apple cider donuts all the way from their bakery in Markham to satisfy farmers market shoppers in Alexandria.
2300 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria
Self-identifying as Del Ray’s living room, St. Elmo’s Coffee Pub serves up apple cider donuts in their cozy café and music venue.
749 8th St. NE
One of the nine choices on the menu at this gourmet donut shop is an apple cider cake donut with an apple cider glaze.
Various on-street locations and markets in D.C. and Arlington
Track the location of Mama’s Donut Bites truck on social media each morning, and follow the bright pink exterior to find mini donuts in various flavors, most notably, apple cider.
Falls Church Farmers Market and Dale City Farmers Market
Donut Heaven is a tiny trailer equipped with all the donut-frying essentials to bring hot mini apple cider donuts to the Falls Church and Dale City Farmers Markets during the fall.
Happy fall!! We have hot n fresh Apple Cider Donuts till 1pm today @DaleCityFarmersMky! pic.twitter.com/Zj5z8xGuYh
— Donut Heaven (@donuthvn) September 25, 2016
Court House Farmers Market
Order Mac’s Donuts signature stick o’ donuts and then top the bite-sized goodies with an array of cinnamon and sugar toppings laid out next to the truck.
For those looking to make a trip out to a farm for the full experience of apple picking and hot donuts, there are plenty of options within an hour’s drive from the city. In Virginia, there’s Cox Farms in Centreville, Great Country Farms in Bluemont, Marker-Miller Orchards in Winchester , and Carter Mountain Orchard in Charlottesville. In Maryland, there’s Milburn Orchards in Elkton and Miller Farms in Clinton.
