A lot of awful things came out of the pandemic. But like a comforting candle in the darkness, a few shining lights came out of it, too.
The Donut Man is one of them.
Sometimes, it takes a push to pursue your dreams, and when James Blackwell lost his job due to COVID, the push became a shove.
With everything shut down and no easy paths forward, Blackwell and his wife had a lot of time to fill.
Like many of us during lockdown, they started experimenting in the kitchen to pass the time.
Specifically, they took on a mission to replicate the unbeatably mouthwatering donuts that Blackwell’s grandmother used to make.
The cherished family recipe had been lost, and Blackwell had only his memories of their deliciousness to guide them.
But against all odds and through more than a fair share of trial and error. (Again, they had nothing but time.) They succeeded in bringing that revered recipe back from the grave.
A fluffy, airy, bounce-right-back, melt-in-your-mouth, delicately sweet and a subtle crisp ring of heaven.
The perfect donut. And BOY, was it ever good.
Hey, We Should Sell These!
Once they felt they’d truly paid homage to Grandma Blackwell’s creation, they started thinking about how to get paid to keep doing it.
Just like that, The Donut Man was born!
But it wasn’t enough to create a donut shop comfortably nestled in Crossfield.
The shop had to attract and keep customers coming back again and again.
Jo one? Create the best damn donuts possible!
“Every day, James starts making the dough at 1 AM and doesn’t stop until an hour before close,” said the bakery’s website.
Part of the reason for the need for early morning wakeups is the sheer number of flavours the Blackwells have created.
That’s job two. Create unique varieties you can’t get anywhere else, and keep the surprises coming!
Apple Pie, Lychee, beloved classics such as the Long John and Bismarck, weekly fritter varieties, S’mores, Boston Cream, Cherry Cheesecake, Dirt and Worms, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, and Root Beer—the list just keeps going!
They have at least 30 varieties daily. Every donut is made fresh each morning, and they conjure up a special creation each month.
Job three is to make the place friendly and fun. Check!
The dedication and efforts the Blackwells and their fantastic staff have put into the place have not gone unnoticed.
Reviews online show that customers drive for hours to savour a bite.
“Incredibly fresh and fluffy (when you pinch the dough, it springs back). You can tell the employees have been baking up a storm to ensure the donuts are always at their peak deliciousness,” one user wrote.
“It’s easy to forget about all the small-town businesses, especially when you live in the big city. It says a lot about The Donut Man that people are travelling far and wide to check out their donuts.”
Bigger Than Imagined
The level of attention their little donut shop has received has stunned even the Blackwells.
“We didn’t expect to blow up like this. This is insane, but in the best way possible,” Blackwell said in an interview.
And times have flown since the Blackwells first started trying to replicate Grandma’s recipe.
The Donut Man is a going concern.
This is definitely a spot to add to your summer road trip list.
Located at 1202 Railway Street in Crossfield, it’s just under an hour from downtown Calgary off the QE2.
The Donut Man has just switched to summer hours, open from 7 AM to 8 PM.
Even if you’re a traitor to Canadian culture and donuts aren’t your thing, they’ve got a host of other baked goods like pretzel buns, savoury rolls, and a sundae bar to satisfy you.
Grandma approved!
Follow all the delectable creations from The Donut Man on Instagram.