Celebrating Apple Cider Donut season at Henderson County, NC apple orchards, Barrie and I decided to do an informal Apple Cider Donut Throwdown. We spent time at six of eight orchards. One of the eight we skipped because it was closed, and the other because we couldn’t get there that day.
We got a feel for the vibe at each orchard while picking up enough donuts for ourselves, our husbands, and the throwdown.
FYI, when you search an orchard online, top results show a helpful breakdown similar to: Hours & Directions, Apple Varieties, Plan Your Visit, Make a U-Pick Appointment, and Attractions.
ORCHARDS MAPPED – Click this link or the image below for the live Interactive Henderson County NC Apple Orchard Map with more Orchard Pictures and Videos.
Orchard Notes
All the orchards were busy. We planned to go during the week when it would be quieter, but ended up going on a Saturday. They were all very organized, but a few were super organized, moving donuts to packaging and counter, and people right through lines & purchases.
Most orchards have U-Pick available. A number of the orchards are also growing gorgeous flowers for sale. It’s a treat just looking at fields of tall, colorful flowers.
- Grandad’s Apples is on a beautiful property with easy access. Long range views and pretty pond. Their fun Apple Cannon shoots over the pond. Nice shaded seating by the pond, also. Going on a weekend? Check out their excellent corn maze and Kids Zone tractor train.
- Jimmy Nix & Sons Apple House was low on apples when we showed up, but getting more ready for sale. We headed over to The Nix Pumpkin Patch from there. They had apples as well as pumpkins for sale, and beautiful in-field flowers. There are a few things for kids to do. On weekends try one of Papa & Nana’s Old Fashioned Homemade Fried Pies.
- Jeter Mountain Farm Apples is a massive property with a smoke house restaurant, lots of seating, a large well stocked shop, bakery, coffee shop, ice cream shop, a large indoor play area for kids, and plenty of parking. They also make their own Hard Cider and have up to six on tap.
- Justus Orchard has a bakery, ice cream shop, gift shop, farm produce shop, a separate free-standing taproom, lots of outdoor and covered seating, playground, huge bouncy area for kids, and a tractor-pulled “cow train”. In addition to apples, they grow Navaho Blackberries and Asian Pears. A nice property with plenty of parking.
- Mountain Fresh Orchards grows 17 apple varieties, selling at a roadside farm market and bakery. They’re almost back to normal store stock after losing lots of trees during Hurricane Helene. Check to see if they’re running their Apple Express Train Rides ahead, if you want to take a ride.
- Sky Top Orchard is super kid/family friendly expansive property with lots of play areas and activities: hay rides, apple cannon, playgrounds, big equipment to climb on, gold rush gem mine, nature walks, and farm animals. Their market is expansive and well stocked.
- Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard has a lot going on. Of note, they offer Online-Only Fall Fun Bundles: “Save money and time with ready-to-go u-pick containers, bundled activity tickets, and express check-in access.” They grow Apples, pumpkins, grapes, and flowers. Fun for the kids & family include a huge inflated jump pad, corn maze, and apple cannon. When you’re ready for a break, snack on the goodies you’ve picked up in the Picnic Shed.
Barrie’s Take
I tried them all side by side at room temperature. I will say up front that they are ALL good, especially warm (including Jeter and Holt, which I’ve had at other times). 😅 You really can’t go wrong.
I know there are a lot of Sky Top lovers, but I just didn’t get much of any apple flavor from them. It just tasted like a regular cinnamon sugar donut (which are good too!). And their interior was yellow (no sign of spices), much like a yellow cake. So that one was my least favorite. But, if you like a super light and fluffy cake donut, you’ll love that one!
The most apple flavor for me was from Mountain Fresh and Stepp’s. Mountain Fresh and Stepp’s both had nice crisp/crunchy exterior bits and great soft donut textured interior with good apple flavor. They were both darker interiors from the spices and cider.
Justus and Grandad’s tasted exactly the same to me (flavor and texture). Nix also tasted like those two, but with a slightly denser texture.
Like I said, you really can’t go wrong with any of them. I’d love a much stronger apple flavor from all of them, but that’s just personal preference. It was a yummy experiment! 😃
My Take
- Overall, I agree with everything Barrie said. My two favorites were a tie between Mountain Fresh and Stepp’s. When I took a bite of each on site at the orchards, they did both have little spots of crispiness along the inside and outside edges. A plus for me.
- Some had more sugar on them than others, Jimmy Nix & Sons and Stepp’s were good donuts with good flavor, but had too much sugar on the outside for my taste. Brushed a bunch off after the throwdown bite.
- Some were sold/served warm, which in my opinion, enhanced texture and flavor. Some, we picked up from orchard displays, so at room temperature. We did the throwdown with all donuts at room temp.
- There was a definite difference in size, with the biggest being tied between Jimmy Nix and Sons Apple House and Mountain Fresh Orchards.
- Told our plumber, who was working at our house, what we were going to do and he said, he and his wife both vote for Sky Top Orchard. So I was looking forward to that one. It was a good Apple Cider Donut with cinnamon flavor, but I liked a couple others more.
- Sky Top had a bit more cinnamon flavor than others. Both Sky Top and Grandad’s donuts had lighter density.
- Some donuts were denser than others. I felt that Justus Orchard and Grandad’s Apples donuts were both on the denser side.
- Grandad’s Apples looked on the outside like they had an extra ingredient like small bits of a spice. Pretty sure they weren’t pieces of apple.
- Speaking of ingredients, comparisons were a problem. Stepps was the only orchard that seemed to put all ingredients on their label. Others had minimal information, maybe covering potential allergies?
- That brings me to the most important thing about this throwdown. All the donuts were good and every person has their own taste and preferences. So don’t hesitate to get an Apple Cider Donut from whatever Orchard you go to.
