I took my daughter to Starlight Donut Labs for some vegan donuts (she has an egg allergy and finding donuts she can eat is a struggle). Her review: The wait to order was not very long and the person we talked to was very nice. The donuts were DELICIOUS and very fresh. The store was cute and cozy . My review: the store is a small hole-in-the-wall place with side-street parking. There isn't a lot of space inside and you can't eat there. But, the donuts are AMAZING! There are so many vegan options, which I love as a vegan! The lady working the register was the very best! She was friendly and helpful. She was excited to have us try as many vegan options as possible and was passionate about all the flavors. The donuts are a true win and we will be back!! read more

Starlight Doughnut Lab - Happy! - Bakeries Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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You won't like this, but it's the truth. I really wanted to like Starlight Donuts, but I honestly can't see myself ever going back. Between the ultra high prices and the ruined classics by making them vegan, why would I? There are tons of better donut places that are FAR more reasonably priced. Service was slow, and parking is basically nonexistent. At the end of the day, it's just not worth the hype. At all. The donuts are somewhat creative, sure, but creative doesn't automatically mean good. A lot of these combinations just don't work. It feels like they're taking the Holtman's approach, and we've already seen how well that worked out for them. Eggs and milk belong in a donut. Not weird oils and God knows what else. I appreciate offering vegan options for people who can't have a traditional donut, but don't force everyone into that trend or make it the standard. I wouldn't go back if they were $2 donuts. But $20 for four donuts is comical and here is your review. You got me once, though. read more

By far the best donuts in Ohio! Ben & his team have created something truly special in Norwood. All of their donuts are fantastic, made with high quality ingredients and really unique flavors. They make their dough in house, proofing brioche from 24 to 48 hours, they make all their own fillings and toppings too. It's truly a labor of love! They collab with local chefs each month to offer a specialty donut, and offer creative donuts in both the sweet and savory variety. They also offer vegan donuts, coffee, brioche bread, bread pudding, and rolls for Holidays. Please stop by this locally owned treasure. read more

Starlight Doughnut Lab - Owner Ben making custom donuts - Bakeries Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

This review is going to go against many in the Nati and those I spoke with in line. But based on all the bakeries and donut places in the Nati that is why I feel this review is justified. Holtmans, Blossom, Golden Hands, Marcella's, Graters and Buskins to name only a few. The 2 stars are for the amazing lady that served me at Starlight. She was amazing she provides a 10 star service and smile. Now into the donuts maybe this was an off day. But here goes the cinnamon role was huge very pretty, but dry with little to no cinnamon filling. The Boston Cream also amazing to look at, but once you bite into it and it taste over fried. I mean these donuts have presentation down. Decorating and icing are amazing they just lacked the flavor expected that you get from other local places. Give it a try could be us and our personal preference just does not match this style of donuts. read more

Starlight Doughnut Lab - Bakeries Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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VEGAN REVIEW Discovered this spot on Instagram Came around 9:30 on a Sunday morning. Line out the door, but all flavors still available Love that they have several vegan options. All the ones we tried were tasty! This is a popular spot in a neighborhood, parking can be a little tricky Friendly service Cute little shop! No where to sit- these donuts are to go (but I did go in a snowy winter day so maybe they have seats outside in better weather?) Check IG for flavors. Closed Mon-Wed read more

Starlight Doughnut Lab - Amazing vegan donuts! - Bakeries Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

I saw the crab Rangoon review on TikTok and knew I had to bring it home to my husband to try!! The service was so friendly and just the sweetest. The donuts were fantastic! I tried other flavors including their tiramisu donut, creme brûlée, and cookie butter! Would recommend! & can't wait to come back!! read more

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This is my favorite donut shop in the whole country! Absolutely love the savory and always love the sweet! Between the vegan and the creative collaborations there is something for everyone. Not only are they great with donuts, but starlight really cares about its community and employees. It is continuously partnering with other local businesses and even in the month of May in 2026 they're donating part of a doughnut to a local charity. Whether you're a local to Cincinnati or one of the surrounding cities, this is worth a stop. There's a line every day they're open when they open. And It's worth the 20 minute wait. It's a grab and go kind of place with no seating. Parking is available on the street or in the parking lot across the street. They have some beverages for sale as well, including milk and coffee. read more

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My friend has previously brought me the everything bagel and hot pimento cheese flavors and those were memorable and delicious! Today I tried a couple of seasonal flavors (crab Rangoon and skyline chili) and the crab Rangoon was unique and perfect combination of flavors. The butter and salt is a staple and was a great mix of salty and sweet. The place has tight street parking so I had to park further down the street. There was a ~5-10 minute line when I went around 9:20 am on Saturday and I had to wait briefly outside. It is a small storefront with no seating but the service person was nice and chatted with many of the customers (who appear to be regulars from the neighborhood). I look forward to trying the new monthly flavors! read more

Starlight Doughnut Lab - Crqb Rangoon donut, butter and salt donut, Skyline chili donut - Bakeries Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Generous size doughnuts [Norwood OH] We popped in one Sunday morning, a modest, unassuming white building... you won't be able to tell it's a donut shop. There were a couple of customers ahead of us so we were able to check out the different types of donuts offered before our turn at the counter. We thought it would be easy to just choose a donut but these are a variety of specialized sweet and savory creative doughnuts including new monthly flavors and staple options. Best customer service. Originally, we chose two flavors (okay, three)... we walked out with half a dozen ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Our haul: Churro w/ Dulche de Leche - raised brioche ring donut tossed in cinnamon sugar, drizzled with dulce de leche Chocolate Ring - raised brioche ring donut dunked in vegan chocolate glaze Vanilla Ring - raised brioche ring donut dunked in vegan vanilla glaze Butter & Salt - brioche ring donut dunked in a rich brown butter glaze and finished with a sprinkle of sea salt Coffee Cheesecake Creme Brûlée - brioche donut filled with a coffee cheesecake, topped with hard crack caramel Blueberry Pancake - maple blueberry cake doughnut dunked in maple glaze, drizzled with blueberry glaze 5-lbs later... (Spongebob with voice French narrator) Instagram: @starlightdoughnutlab Review #3883 read more

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Great customer service. So welcoming & enthusiastic. The donuts are decadent & on point in their flavor. The hearty donuts are so unique. My personal favorites today were the bruschetta donut & Dubai cookie butter. Be sure to heat them up if they're not warm when you get there. We will be back for the famous skyline chili. Thanks so much for your kind service & introduction to a new to us Cincy staple. read more

Starlight Doughnut Lab - Bakeries Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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If God were to eat donuts, these would be the donuts that God would eat! Seriously that good. Vegan. Cinnamon rolls the size of single layer cake pans. Friendly service. Cute hole in the wall pumping goodness into the universe. Nice little trippy joint. read more

Starlight Doughnut Lab - Two freebies given for us to try: everything bagel with cream cheese and pimento cheese doughnuts. - Bakeries Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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I know what you're thinking, "ANOTHER 5 star review for Starlight?" Well, there's a reason. I've had their doughnuts before at events, but never visited their storefront until today and I was too excited I forgot to get pictures! The line was long, but well worth the wait and the service was fast and friendly. There's no seating, so don't expect to sit down and enjoy while you're there, but grab & go. They offer plenty of vegan options, but the staple Butter & Salt will always be my favorite! read more

Starlight Doughnut Lab - The Ghostface - Bakeries Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Fantastic donuts and even better people. They have some of the most unique donuts you'll find. If you haven't tried them yet, do yourself a favor and stop on by! read more

Update. I went back this weekend to get the persimmon doughnut and it turns out I did not get the wrong one last week. SO: The persimmon doughnut just tastes like pumpkin pie. I tasted no trace of persimmon. So go into this flavor if you like pumpkin but not if you are hoping for persimmon. read more

So many vegan doughnuts to choose from. All the doughnuts and bagels look yummy. The owner is so sweet. I feel good supporting this local business. read more

Starlight Doughnut Lab - Chocolate ring and vegan Boston cream doughnuts. - Bakeries Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Hidden gem! Highly recommend to give these doughnuts a try. Great quality, unique flavors, and excellent customer service.

Let me start this out with the fact that I am not a big fan of donuts but I love these donuts - there hasn't been a flavor that I haven't liked that I have tried - the texture of these donuts is more cakey which I like. The flavors change monthly and are so different than your normal donut joint. They even have savory flavors - they also have some staples that stick around all the time but the gems of the bunch are definitley their monthly offerings. I also found out recently that all their leftovers go to first responders so that is also good to know that nothing is going in the trash. The owners are friendly and watch their facebook page as they post a weekly bread pudding they have for the weekend on friday. It's a small hole in the wall - come early before they sell out and remember there is no seating. read more

Starlight is always our favorite local donut spot. Their flavors are so creative and the dough is delicious! Our recent favorite was the chicken mole which gave Skyline vibes and we also love the hot honey pimento. Their savory donuts are the bomb! They also had a pickle dip donut that was delicious. Definitely recommend! read more

Starlight Doughnut Lab - Bakeries Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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I love this place so much, as someone who cooks and bakes most of my own food at home I still come here at least once a month because I love these doughnuts. The owner is a very genuine guy, the staff is always exceptionally friendly, they rarely run out of any flavors, the pricing is incredibly reasonable for the size and quality of the doughnuts, and they have so many unique flavors that change monthly which I absolutely love. You can never go wrong with the Butter & Salt, it's one of their classics for a good reason, and for July's flavors I absolutely LOVE the sweet corn blueberry, I think it's easily one of their best. I've gone to Starlight Doughnut Lab every month without fail since November of last year, and will continue to go every month. These are the best doughnuts you can get, absolutely an 100/10!!! read more

Sometimes they are sold out of my faves but CHERYL is the best. She always convinces me to try something new! Then I walk away with stuff to expand my palate. Things I would never try. I love that it is such a tucked away spot. The donuts are sinful!!! She's quick and efficient. I wish they had seating so I can work, eat and ppl watch. read more

Super cute local donut shop! They had all different types including savory donuts. I got the everything and it was surprisingly good. The price was high but the donuts were all filled so makes sense. I would come back and try other flavors! read more

Starlight Doughnut Lab - Bakeries Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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MORE ROLL THAN DOUGHNUT!! Stopped by on a weekend afternoon when it wasn't too busy, and they still had most of their doughnut selection available. I tried the Everything Bagel, Boston Cream, Crème Brûlée, and one other. The texture and taste leans more toward a soft, glazed roll than a traditional doughnut, which makes the savory options stand out. If you don't mind a doughnut that feels more like an elevated bread roll, this spot is worth a try! read more

Starlight Doughnut Lab - Everything Bagel, Boston Cream, Crème Brûlée - Bakeries Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Good grief this place is delicious! I got there half an hour after it opened and there was already a line at the door, but service was very fast. The owners were quick with each customer but so friendly and personable. I walked in knowing exactly what I wanted but that plan went out the door when I actually saw the donuts. Took all my will power not to leave with two dozen donuts! The cherry bomb donut was absolutely stellar. read more

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These donuts are to die for. Seriously. And the flavors are so creative. It really is a work of art. If youve never had a savory donut before, this is your sign to just do it. I arrived and was able to find free street parking out front. The shop is small, and somewhat unassuming so trust your GPS. I recommend getting there earlier the better to get the best selection. I walked in to a super friendly and helpful staff member. I love the decor of the space. Now this is not your average donut, especially the brioche. They are super filling and it is hard to eat a whole one in a sitting. Fear not, they do store well. The menu has regular staples and a handful of flavors that change monthly. On this visit I had the bourbon eggnog, strawberry lemonade, everything bagel, and skyline chili which is made to order. Id say the eggnog and the everything bagel were my favorites although all were amazing. This is not a try just once place, its a come back for the new flavors and old favorites frequently spot! read more

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Updating my review from a recent trip with out of town friends and for the December 2023 flavors! My favorites this month were: -the French Toast-- which is impressive as I am not a huge french toast fan.The maple glaze on the doughnut was just so perfect. -the chicken tikka-- I actually ordered it twice this month because I loved it so much. I told the owner that he better be careful making chicken tikka that good or people might start trying to order Indian food from there. -the bourbon eggnogg-- Big win in my book. Definite eggnog flavor, so probably not for everyone, but I love eggnog, so I was a happy camper diving into the eggnog mascarpone cream topping. -Raspberry ring-- my niece and nephew both got one of these and gobbled them right up. Per usual, the owner and his dad were a delight to chat with and made our visit even better. read more

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Drive though newer Norwood to the real Norwood, the interesting, less gentrified version. Make a few quick turns deep into the neighborhood, and you'll find yourself at a lovely small shop. Enter, and you're greeted with the most savory flavors, as well as traditional donut fare. After stalking this place for a few years, we finally made it. Everything bagel donut was everything we dreamed it to be - and we also had some surprises (strawberry and s'mores!). Friendly staff and looking forward to supporting in the future. read more

This is a tiny little place. It's cute and family owned. I thought by 1pm there'd be out of everything. There were about 10 varieties. The egg nog doughnut was FANTASTIC ! Savory doughnuts are offered even though they aren't everyone's jam. I liked the everything doughnut and was excited to try it from the beginning. The man that served us was very kind. His son is the chef and his wife and daughter come up with the flavors. They have monthly flavors but we were a little late. The strawberry and raspberry wasn't available. Oh well more to try next time One tip would be... I wouldn't add the ENTIRE cookie on top of the doughnut. It makes it so much harder to eat, unless it's soft. The doughnuts are really large anyway. Cookie pieces on top are just as good. read more

I have to be dairy free, so finding places that have dairy free donuts can be a bit tricky. This place had vegan(naturally dairy free) donuts galore! I tried several, and oh my goodness! So delicious. Loved the vegan Boston cream donut. Loved the friendly welcome as we came in too. The place was super chill and felt clean also. Definitely coming back! read more

Five stars all across the board. From the super friendly service, to the unique flavors, and cool collaborations with other local businesses, this was truly a sweet find... All thanks to Yelp! I was driving through Cincy and had to stop to get gas. At the same time I found myself needing a snack, coffee wasn't going to get me through the 1.5 hour drive home all by itself. Before jumping back on the highway I did a quick search on Yelp and Starlight popped up. It was only a few minutes away and the reviews looked awesome! I added the extra stop on my maps and away I went. They are located in a primarily residential neighborhood. They were easy to find squeezed between some older homes, as the bright white exterior and sandwich board sign out front caught my attention. I walked in and the silver fox working the register welcomed me right away and answered all of my curious questions. While the space was small, the donuts were easily the star of the show. I ultimately picked out three, the everything bagel brioche, the churro, and the pumpkin spice. All were freakin' amazing and the everything bagel one blew me away. I've never had a savory donut creation before and I'm not surprised this one has found a place on their permanent menu. Herbed, goat cheese, filling? I mean, come on!! The pumpkin spice one was part of their seasonal donut menu for the month and it definitely cured my craving for all things PSL. There is no doubt in my mind that I'll be returning and I can't wait for the day I do! read more

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Literally the best donuts in the city hands down. The flavors are soooooo good and the amount of new ones they do every month is amazing. The staff are also so sweet. read more

Took an early morning stroll to get some donuts. And let me tell you, these donuts are worth getting up early for. The outside of the store is quite unassuming, white exterior with a single lamp shining over the door. A small sandwich signboard out front letting you know that they're open. You're warmly welcomed with the smell of fresh donuts cooking in the back. The space is cozy, no indoor seating, set up to grab and go. A coffee station with drinks on the left, and the case filled with beautiful creations on the right. They have a wide variety of selections, both savory and sweet. In the case, all the seasonal varieties are line up along the right. We opted for the Chicken Tikka and The Granny (chocolate and orange) donuts. The first bites were heavenly. Light, fluffy, absolutely delicious brioche donuts with no oily aftertaste. The chicken tikka was brought out to order, the donut serving as a vessel to enjoy the creamy curry. The granny had the perfect ratio of orange to chocolate in every bite. We finished both within 5 min on the walk back home. Sure the prices are more than you would typically spend on a donut -- but are they worth the $4? YES. Looks like we'll be walking a lot more this next year. read more

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WOW!! I do love doughnuts, but Starlight is over the top. Really small place, off the beaten path, but so worth the effort. There is no seating, so be prepared to grab your haul and find someplace close to devour these wonderful creations. I had to add a French toast, chocolate and vanilla ring, to my Yelp special doughnut box. Doughnuts all had a wonderful chew to them. And the flavor was amazing. If you are in the neighborhood, stop by you will not be disappointed. If you're not in the neighborhood, it was still worth the 35 minute drive I did!!! read more

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I have truly never left a donut shop so happy... I was helped out by Sheryl and she was absolutely the sweetest lady ever she was so helpful with us while we were picking out our donuts... and can I just say she did not steer us in the wrong direction... these were the best donuts I have ever had, the crab Rangoon donut was maybe the best thing that I have ever tasted... everything about this little shop was amazing I will 100% be returning, I live in Clifton so this was not super far away from me but I would drive from wherever to get this place again... I really couldn't say enough great things about this place it fricken rocks!!! read more

10/10 experience. Fantastic concepts, great customer service and a humble confidence that shows how much the owners care about their craft. Can't recommend the butter and salt more. read more

Oh my goodness, Starlight is a gem! It's a small donut shop with no tables, so be prepared to take it all to go. The staff was so nice and into the donuts. All of our donuts were SO good. Our young kids yelled from the backseat that their chocolate sprinkle donuts were the best they'd ever had. The pumpkin cream was very good, but the savory donuts were amazing. The hot honey pimento was the perfect mix of savory and sweet. It has a nice crunch/texture on top. The Skyline donut was as good as we'd hoped; it's not too sweet and a really great combo. Finally, the everything bagel donut was amazing - my husband and I agree we will visit again just to get that donut. It was hands down the best and they were all delicious and creative. read more

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Truly a fun creative place! The menu is always surprising and varied so you're going to find something for everyone. They offers classics in addition to their creative, out of the box donuts. I have enjoyed it each time I visit read more

Super quaint little shop tucked away in a neighborhood. Easy street parking. The lady behind the register was very welcoming and had great recommendations. The donuts are very doughy and thick and so flavorful! Highly recommend! read more

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I'm not sure what makes a doughnut lab as such; but the items on sale tested positive for deliciousness, with a variety of interesting flavors. I got some seasonal options, and also varied between cakier and airier options. I didn't jive with the odd savory options they had. The ones I tried were winners, and a box of a half dozen was worth getting to share. My favorite was probably a berry-flavored glaze, but my apple cider donut and some cream-filled creation didn't disappoint. I bet if I came back I'd find something new and interesting. read more

Starlight Doughnut Lab - Half dozen - Bakeries Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Wonderful folks and featuring an eclectic donut selection featuring both savory and sweet delights. We stumbled upon here on a visit to Cincinnati and we highly recommend it for anyone traveling through. read more

Looking for a late breakfast while we were in town, and naturally pulled up Yelp and this caught our eye. On the way there, I had to question where on earth Waze was taking us so far off the beaten path -- but man this is worth the drive. We were a little too late to have many options but that was probably for the best to relieve me the pain of choosing too much. We ended up with a cinnamon roll, a vanilla with sprinkles, and a seasonal butternut squash. (The only options left, other than a Skyline chili filled option that just sounded too much for breakfast.) These. Are. Incredible. I'm not usually a cake doughnut guy, but for this I'll make an exception. The butternut squash may be my favorite, maybe just because it was so unexpectedly good. If you're reading this and second guessing whether or not you should go, take this as a sign. Go early for the best selection, but know you're in good hands no matter what. As long as they're still open! read more