A sweet escape we stumbled on last summer that definitely deserves a shout out is the wonderful @soyendesserts They are in a building literally next to the St. Paul Farmers Market. (Future post for them, stay tuned) Their amazing donut flavors do rotate and they do get sold out of items because they're that good. Flavors we got today and loved: Lemon Cloud Dream (mmmmmm bright and delish) Cocoa Cloud Raspberry Delight All of these were light and fluffy and full of amazing filling that was airy whipped and flavorful. This spot is one to make sure you stop by and try something if you're at the market or just in the area. read more

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I can't give it more than four stars for reasons I'll get into but I definitely recommend trying it if you are around when they're open. It seems that they are rightly known for their sweet baked goods, hence the name, but they have some savory offerings as well. I had heard good things about their congee so I made a point to try that. It was good! Filling, plenty of meat. I also have had a unique, savory roll that was buttery and great, I forgot what it's called but it's good. And I had a Lychee Rose brioche donut. Decadent! Delicious. Loved it. I got a Vietnamese coffee one time that was great, and a matcha milk with ube foam that was also great. So, yeah, really everything I've had has been great! The opening hours are painfully limited. They are only open from 9am to 1pm on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. And both times I came it was close to noon and they were sold out of LOTS of things. I'm convinced that if you go there because you want something specific, you simply can't trust them to have it available. Instead of planning a specific visit, the wiser approach would be to give them a look if you're in the area during one of the 12 hours they are open in a given week, and see if you're interested in what they aren't sold out of. They have an indoor counter which you get to via the main entrance on 4th street, and guessing your way through the halls until you find them past that gallery. There is also a seating section which has the ambience of a break room at a DMV. But there is also an outdoor window on Saturday & Sunday, with some seats set up in the alley; that description sounds dicey but it's perfectly fine. My hope is that they improve on some of this to make for a more predictably positive experience! read more

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When I saw SoYen post they had salt bread this weekend, I had to go check them out! They had 2 flavors for their salt bread: a ham with cheddar cheese and an ube. They were crispy outside and nice fluffy inside with a great buttery flavor. I really hope they keep these on their menu! I also got their strawberry shortcake and butter cream brioche donuts which were amazing. SoYen offers a variety of desserts like their famous brioche donuts that are filled with different flavors every month, crepe cake slices, beignets, basque cheesecake, honey butter toasts, and cinnamon rolls. They offer some savory dishes and I would strongly recommend you to try their congee (perfect for our Minnesota cold weather). They also serve hot and iced coffee and other refreshing beverages. Their location can be a little tricky to find since they're inside a big building but follow the signs and that'll get you there. Parking near can be difficult as they're limited meter parking but there are public paid parking lots around within walking distance. I do suggest to go there when they first open because they can run out of certain items. A few things to note: there is no sitting area inside the restaurant but there are a couple of high tables and chairs right outside in the common area. There may be a little bit of wait while waiting for your order but it's totally worth the wait, especially if you ordered your food to be toasted. Service is usually fast and the host and staff members are super friendly! read more

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SoYen is by far my favorite donut place in the twin cities! The flavor combos are amazing, never too sweet, always fresh. They also have one of the best cinnamon rolls you'll ever have! I love checking them out in the summer time after visiting the St. Paul farmers market. They have the cutest walk up window for all of your goodies: donuts, cookies, cinnamon rolls, coffee, but you can also get warm congee, egg rolls, and other savory things. FYI: cinnamon rolls are only sold in the summer, so wait for the warmer months. Parking is all on the street so prepare to walk a bit. In the winter months, SoYen will open their inside so you can still enjoy all of the goodness. Highly recommend checking them out for a delicious treat! read more

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While visiting the St Paul Farmers Market, we thought this would be the perfect time to grab a donut or three from SO Yen Desserts. They are conveniently located across the street from the market. What we thought would be a nice breakfast treat ended up blowing our minds.So Yen makes hand rolled Brioche donuts with flavors that change monthly. This month we tried their maple bacon, boo-berry lemon and caramel apple. First bite changes everything. It's so much more than just a donut, and I love donuts! The brioche is pillowy and just melts in your mouth. They are coated in sugar that provides a little texture and crunch,then you get that delicious filling. It really is a donut that eats like a dessert. First was the maple bacon. Maple filling with a piece of bacon. Personally I would have loved more bacon, but who wouldn't want more bacon? The maple filling was light, smooth and creamy. Almost like a mousse. The boo-berry lemon was bright and fresh. The caramel apple might have been the best. Just enough caramel to compliment the perfectly cooked apples. I would eat that over any apple pie! You might call these donuts, but they really do eat like a dessert. Can't wait to go back and try some of their other items! read more

SoYen Desserts - Donuts Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

Finally made it. After 20 minutes of circling the same block to find parking, we ended up quite a distance away, but walking off the donuts was a bonus. My dog was pretty happy strolling around St Paul too. Hmong sausage sandwich, boo-berry lemon and pistachio, and an iced Thai tea. The sandwich was fabulous, the jalapeño, or whatever it was, sauce that came with it added creaminess and heat. Both donuts were fresh, fluffy, and stuffed with delicious cream. I wish I tasted pistachio, but it was still a great donut. The iced Thai tea was sweet as heow. It was nice to be able to hit the farmers market afterwards. read more

SoYen Desserts - Boop - Donuts Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

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It's been on my radar for so long! We had a planned trip to MN & I knew it was a must must to check out. It's tucked in a shared space which seems to also be like an artwork gallery of some sort so it can be easily missed but luckily there's load of signs to direct you where to go. Not much of a dining area or seating space. More like a pick up which was pretty quick. The donut was so airy and soft and bouncy! My daughter LOVED it! Just the right amount of sweetness. read more

SoYen Desserts - Donuts Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

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I have been hearing about this spot for months and finally stopped in early on Saturday. Almost too early, it doesn't open until 830 even though they have the windows open earlier as they were making donuts The menu is fairly simple, a few different donuts, a variety of breakfast items and a few other desserts. It sounds like they are constantly adding more items to the menu. Even though there was a line, service was super quick. My donut was super fresh. I ordered the raspberry light sheet doughnut. I really enjoyed it and thought it was beautiful. I do wish there was more raspberry in it instead of just on top. But it was light super fresh and yummy. They have some really interesting breakfast items, particularly several savory things like congee. As I will stay with many other restaurants, I really wish they had vegetarian options for some of those, like the congee or the breakfast sandwich. I won't hold it against him because it seems to be common, but it would make me that much happier if they did have those options. read more

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The people were friendly and even offered my toddler an ice cream cone. I ordered two of each: raspberry lychee, biscoff and peach. My favorite was the raspberry lychee! It was amazing. I went inside the building and didn't realize the open window was on the opposite side of the building. It's closer to the farmers market parking area. read more

SoYen Desserts - Cookie Butter Biscoff, Peach Cobbler and Raspberry Lychee donuts - Donuts Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

Pick this up to go on a pop up their 2nd one. Presentations not my best ! Garlic sesame soy Riblets and Japanese chicken curry bowl. This was so flavorful, what can I say other than everything was delicious as always from So Yen! Definition of comfort food so perfect for a fall evening! not pictured the crème brûlée donut so so good with the crackling top! Also got loaded laab fries they are a must have. First time getting egg rolls also very tasty good wrap/ filling ratio. read more

SoYen Desserts - Garlic, sesame, soy riblets, Japanese chicken, curry bowl ,eggrolls - Donuts Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

My favorite donuts I've ever had. They were the perfect flavor and sweetness! I loved the fruit and cream cheese flavor mixes. Even though there's only four flavors, they switch out every month. The Hmong breakfast sandwich was incredible as well! The staff were really nice and there's a big room outside with tables to eat at. The only downside is parking around the area is very limited, and the entry door is hard to find. A sign on the side window by the farmers market pointing to the front would be helpful! read more

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I went right when they open because I heard that it gets busy. I ordered through the small walk up window on the side of the building. It was quick and easy. The donuts were delicious. It was packed with filling and the donut bread part was soft and chewy. I tried all of their fall flavors and loved each of them. I would definitely buy it again! read more

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In part of the former Golden's Deli location. You have to enter of off 4th Street and go up the stairs. Also only open 10a-2p Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Can only imagine how crazy this place will be when the Farmer's marker ramps up again. I do wish they would have kept more of the old space open for a place to actually enjoy whatever you purchase. There are a couple tables in the hall, but not sufficient for how many people were there. The product itself was pretty darn good. We stopped in for the special Razz-Pistach bun and it was delicious. Grabbed a couple of donuts for later as well. Expect a wait of some sort. We got there about 10:20 and had to wait about 20 minutes. The line was all the way down the hall when we left. read more

SoYen Desserts - Razz-Pistach bun special - Donuts Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

SoYen was a must try for me because it was noted on the Top50 list this past year. It's a convenient cafe and dessert spot in St Paul. Love the location right next to the farmers market. We brought our dog and sat outside while we enjoyed coffee and pastries. read more

SoYen Desserts - Donuts Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

Great service and amazing donuts. We stopped by SoYen for their delicious donuts and were able to grab some before they ran out. Customer Service was great, and the wait was minimal. Can't wait to return to try the rest of their menu. read more

SoYen Desserts - Donuts Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

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Incredible food, fantastic staff. Love the little window on the corridor near the farmers market. You can also access So Yen from inside the building and there are some tables in a lobby area. I would love to see a menu with a little more description of the offerings since many are unfamiliar to me - maybe a mobile menu with photos? I'll definitely be back! read more

SoYen Desserts - Donuts Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

I picked up some delicious food from here. The congee was comforting and flavorful. The eggrolls were delightful and pleasantly peppery. They were featuring a new cream cheese wonton which was perfect and stuffed to the max with cream cheese. How it should be! I did not get any doughnuts, but did try the Panna cotta. The mango topping on top was divine. In addition to amazing food, the service was prompt. Everyone was helpful and kind. I can't wait to return! read more

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If you're a donut lover or even mildly donut-curious, run -- don't walk -- to Soyen Desserts. Tucked into an unassuming neighborhood and only open on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday mornings, Soyen offers a rotating menu of brioche donuts that are hands-down the best donuts I've ever had. And I don't say that lightly. Each month, they unveil four new flavors -- typically a delightful mix of two fruit-based options and two wild card flavors that can range from nostalgic childhood favorites like dirt cake with gummy worms to elevated classics like Biscoff cookie butter or a silky vanilla bean glaze. The creativity, presentation, and -- most importantly -- flavor are on another level. The brioche base is pillowy, buttery, and rich without being heavy, and it elevates every filling or glaze they pair it with. A few things to keep in mind: They sell out. Fast. Donuts are first come, first served and certain flavors will be gone hours before closing. It's a bit of a mission. Parking is scarce, so be prepared to park and walk a few blocks, possibly through a less-than-glamorous part of town. But once you take your first bite, you'll forget all about that. They offer a walk-up window and a small indoor storefront, both of which are charming and well-run. The staff is friendly, and the line usually moves quickly. At $5 per donut, you might raise an eyebrow -- until you try one. These are not your average donuts. Each one feels like a gourmet pastry, with complex flavors and a texture that's almost too perfect. You can taste the craftsmanship, and they're absolutely worth every penny. I honestly can't recommend Soyen enough. Whether you're driving across town or just around the block, it's a trip worth taking. Just go early, bring cash (or check their payment options ahead of time), and treat yourself to what might be the best donut experience in the city -- or anywhere. read more

SoYen Desserts - Biscoff and Vanilla Donuts in July - Donuts Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

So worth a wait at the SoYen walk-up window on Wall Street overlooking the St Paul Farmers Market is a peach cobbler crème Chantilly stuffed brioche doughnut rolled in granulated sugar. Not since a similar jelly-filled bismark served at the erstwhile Fifth & Broadway Heartland Market has Lowertown been fortunate enough to have such a delicacy available on Saturdays. Service is efficient & friendly which will make the inevitable queue a distant memory when seated on the adjoining patio cherishing a SoYen delectable. 08:30 - 13:00. read more

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The staff at So Yen Donuts was incredibly friendly, making the experience even better! I tried the Strawberry Shortcake donut, and it was easily one of the best donuts I've ever had--perfectly fluffy, flavorful, and filled just right. If you love filled donuts, this is definitely a must-try! read more

SoYen Desserts - Strawberry Shortcake Donut - Donuts Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

I've always been impressed with the brioche donuts at SoYen but recently my husband and I went for the more savory options and holy cow were they delicious! The Hmong Sausage Sandwich was egg soufflé, Hmong sausage and had brown patty on a brioche bun. I wished we had gotten more than the one to share because it was so good! I'd never had congee before and it was delicious! Definitely out the chili oil on it because it is the best! They are located in the Lowertown neighborhood in a historic building. There aren't a ton of tables/chairs to eat at and they are usually busy but the line goes super fast and they are all so nice! Highly recommend! read more

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Pretty decent donuts, baked fresh and soft. Filled with cream and a lot of it! My husband and I visited today and it was a little difficult to find. We spotted an open window with a line and found what we were looking for. We ordered two donuts, a lychee iced tea, and congee. We were definitely a fan of the congee, the chili elevated it for sure. The ingredients were fresh and we got our order in like five minutes. The only downside is the parking, downtown is always a hassle. read more

SoYen Desserts - Donuts Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

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Despite this coffee shop is hard to find in location it's out of order for some of the donuts. I wish they did a better advertising for it. It's located right next to an art gallery that's also hidden inside the building next to the coffee shop and sells this magnificent art pieces. The donuts taste perfect. The coffee was great also. There is a few seatings available also. read more

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Was told I had to try this place by a friend. Location was right next to the farmers market and that was packed so the parking was tough. Small window and only found it pretty easily cause there was a line. Donuts were really good, only complaint is they were sold out of the egg salad donut and I think I was there an hour after open on a Saturday. I was told they would start making more or limiting people from buying so many so others can try them. Once I ordered, they came out quick and cool packaging. I'm not huge on sweets so won't go often but definitely worth trying. read more

SoYen Desserts - Variety pack of the day - Donuts Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

I wanted to love this place so much. I've seen pictures that made my mouth water. I finally tried SoYen, and I have to say we were all underwhelmed. My group mostly chose the raspberry lychee donut to indulge in and I was hoping for a raspberry and lychee flavor, but it was literally a stuffed donut with plain cream with one raspberry and a slice of lychee. So disappointing. I mean, for what it was, it was a fine sweet treat but when I see the different flavors, I expected more than just a small piece of fruit on the outside of the donut. We also had a Thai tea, nothing special but it was fine. In short, would I go out of my way to go downtown St Paul and find parking and pay $5 for a donut? No. But I would eat half of one if it were given to me! read more

SoYen Desserts - Menu - Donuts Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

The pastries here is a little different from the other and a good and sweet way. Love their brioche doughnut. Try there, September, special Dubai, chocolate donuts, and fall in love with their apple cinnamon crunch donuts. I gave a four star due to their weird limited hours. Place is nice and clean talking to a building kind of bidding. They open at 10 got there at 10:04 am and waited 30 minutes to get my order. Love their pulled pork, rice porridge. Their beignets not as good as I thought, just regular donuts with sugar powder on top. read more

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So I finally checked out this spot that has been flooding my social media page- right across from the St. Paul farmers market was the perfect excuse to go in We went about 11am so was worried they would be sold out but they still had plenty of delicious goodness left so we grabbed 2 -raspberry lychee- delicious! And strawberry cream- very good The beignets also looked amazing and they cook those fresh to order- my friend said it was really good- The doughnuts were smaller than I was expecting but worth every penny- messy to eat so grab those napkins Super friendly staff and service was fast! Can't wait to return when in the area read more

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Really fun rotating flavors of donuts, which the best texture- The Congee and the egg rolls were also fantastic!! The staff has always been so kind and it's pretty quick to get food. It is right downtown so you'll have to find street parking nearby. read more

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BRIOCHE. DONUTS. This place is open Friday to Sunday 10 am-2 pm. Drivers, it's street/meter parking. The shop is inside the building up the stairs then down the hallway, Suite 108. I visited on a Friday morning about 10 to 11 am and there was a line, it had grown by the time I was leaving. It's a small shop so the best bet is to take your donuts and wolf them down in the privacy of your car, I mean, home. I begged the customer in front of me to let me buy 1 specialty donut (creme brulee). I also got the blackberry pistachio donut. The custard in the creme brûlée and the glaze on top oh man oh man! Not too sweet, a very satisfying crunch. I cut these in half so that I could inhale the first half and try to savor the second half. I expected a strong pistachio flavor with the blackberry but these flavors played so well with each other. The donuts are soft, and light; and the filling is a delicious pairing. I would highly recommend it. Stay in line. It'll be worth it even if your favorite flavor sells out within an hour of opening. read more

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The best desserts in town! I have waited in line before this place even opens and every time it has been worth it. You need to be there within the first half hour to get all the good stiff on the menu. Totally in love with their monthly specials and the creme burle donut! read more

SoYen Desserts - Strawberry milk donut and Mango Pana cotta - Donuts Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

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Loved what I got from this place recently. I actually tried out the brioche donuts last year when they were doing pop-ups at Laune Bread. I love to see when other small businesses support each other. At the time I had tried one of their donuts & was blown away and then proceeded to follow them on all the socials, determined to experience that goodness again. I remember chatting a bit with the owner & she was so nice and that stuck with me. It made me happy to hear they opened up their first location. It's been on my list since they opened & finally went there recently. I told 2 family members I was going & then all of a sudden there were 10 of us standing outside on a Sat morning lol. AMBIANCE/SERVICE: Be prepared to wait in line for awhile on the weekends. I strategically arrived soon after they opened and there was already a line, that just got longer as the morning went on. There was no seating & we ordered from a window facing the street. Luckily it was sunny & not too cold. Protip: there's some benches across the farmers market outside the entrance of CHS Field to go scarf your food at. I do wish they had more places to sit, even if it's outside seating or moving into a bigger space one day. Most people were doing takeout here but I weirdly (or smartly?) like to eat the food right when it's freshest so it'd be great to have that option in the future. THE FOOD: Hardest part of the day was choosing what to get. I asked the employee which congee option they recommend. They said if you want traditional congee, get the chicken one but if you want something more unique, get the pork ginger one. I got the latter & omg yum. It had a little kick which I loved. If you like congee, it's a must-get. As for desserts, I got the blackberry-pistachio brioche donut & my sis got the fancier creme brûlée one. The fancier creme brûlée donut had a nice crunchy outer layer & the berries came through on the other one. Both were amazing and I highly recommend getting a couple to share or save for later. I was pleasantly surprised by how big the donuts were too. These are MN-size ;) The freshly made congee & donuts left me feeling satisfyingly warm on a brisk MN spring day. I've added this place to my Twin Cities favs list. Note they also rotate flavors each month so all the more reason to come back at least once a month. See you in line, in happy anticipation! read more

SoYen Desserts - Pork ginger congee was so satisfying, has a kick too - Donuts Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

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QUICK! Get in line, order, grab lots of napkins, find any open spot, and enjoy these delicious donuts! SoYen is a MUST stop when you visit the St. Paul Farmers Market (or just want donuts). My bestie and I barely got our orders from the gal and couldn't wait to dig into this month's flavors. These brioche donuts are light, fluffy, and filled with lots of whipped cream (have the napkins close!). We enjoyed a little taste test to find our favorite one. Couldn't stop laughing because the whipped cream sneaks right out when you bite into it. All were very good. I was surprised I enjoyed the black sesame the best- most flavorful and one flavor I would not typically gravitate towards. Staff were friendly and cheerful. Service was quick. I'll definitely be back. I also like how the flavors change monthly.... Fun surprise to look forward to. read more

SoYen Desserts - August 2024 Brioche donuts: Vanilla, passion fruit, and peach cobbler - Donuts Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

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I am a semi-regular here...gotta watch my calories however its hard when this place is within minutes. Staff super friendly donuts are just a journey! That egg salad donut is really something else it is a must try. Please keep showering us with these super calorie filled sweet treats. read more

Pure HEAVEN. I'm so glad they aren't open every day of the week - that would be bad for my weight and my wallet!!! The cream filled donuts are a dreamy perfection! The pork congee with the coconut chili oil is to die for!!! And the Hmong sausage breakfast sandwich is soooo tasty! I will definitely be back to try everything else... and each month for the new flavors! Kuma - you are amazing!!!! read more

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This donut shop is a must-visit for anyone with a sweet tooth! They've got a few different options for you to choose from. The donuts are soft, fluffy, and not overly sweet--just perfect. The staff is super friendly, and usually not busy inside, but if you order from their window, the service is fast. Whether you're grabbing a quick snack or a dozen to share, you'll love the variety and quality. It's definitely the spot for a tasty treat any time of day! Be sure to be there early because they are only open three days out of the week! Best way to support local small businesses! Friday Saturday Sunday From 10 am - 2 pm read more

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SoYen's doughnuts are the reason I get out of bed early on the weekends. They always fill these treats with the fluffiest cream and they have new flavors every month. If you're a regular at the Saint Paul Farmer's Market, check them out across the street. Just follow the line of people like me waiting to snack on their amazing desserts. read more

SoYen Desserts - Strawberry and banana doughnuts - Donuts Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

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Perfection. Love the beignets and their donuts. Fresh, high quality, irresistible. Best in the twin cities!!! Repeat for our family!! Staff super awesome too!!! Grateful to have them. Cheers !!! read more

SoYen Desserts - Signage - Donuts Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

Another bakery shop opening up in the TC area. The line is still considerably long with most of the brioche donuts are gone around 11:30. Be there before they open. As for the brioche, plenty of selections on the filling and they taste delicious. A bit expensive though. Please make sure to eat them the same day you purchase as it won't taste as good the next day (words from the owners themselves). read more

SoYen Desserts - Crème brûlée, Ube, mango, cheesecake. - Donuts Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

I tried one of this months doughnuts - the blueberry crumble. It was so good! The outside had the teeniest crunch with the graham cracker bits and the inside was so fluffy! A perfect doughnut. The blueberry and cream cheese whipped frosting was a perfect balance of sweetness. It made for a great weekend treat. read more

SoYen Desserts - dessert box - Donuts Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

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Yum!!!!! This is a great place to stop on your way to the farmers market or after the market. The donuts are so fresh, light, creamy and delicious. The filling has a light flavor so it's more of a hint or refreshing. The flavors are not strong or over powering. The donut is light, airy and fluffy. The perfect balance of soft and chewy yet firm. The coffee is smooth and dark. I also tried the mango tea and cannot stop thinking about it. I will definitely be back for more! read more

SoYen Desserts - Blueberry, Orange and Biscoff Cookies - Donuts Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

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