Cherry cheesecake doughnuts? Creative toppings set the new Family Dough apart
When Stephanie and Ryan Kraft moved to Knoxville from Tampa, Florida, they missed their weekend breakfast doughnut routine. “We couldn’t find the same here, so we started Family Dough and centered our doughnut business around our family,” said Stephanie Kraft.
“We wanted something more than a glazed or chocolate mini donuts,” continued Kraft. “We started with our favorite flavors. The ‘core four’ represents our family: Our daughter Harper loves cherries, so The Harper is a cherry cheesecake flavor. The Ryan is a banana pudding, our son Owen is a little cookie monster, so The Owen is an Oreo cookie crumble. I can eat anything coffee flavored, so The Steph is chocolate espresso bean.”
They spent two months perfecting the doughnut base recipe. “We tried a yeast doughnut, but the process took a lot longer and we knew we needed something we could crank out faster, so we moved to more of a cake doughnut,” said Kraft, who loves to bake and craft with her daughter. “Our doughnuts are closer to a cake doughnut, but they are by no means dense. The first doughnuts did not have a lot of flavor in the dough, so it was a lot of trial and error.”
Friends and family were recruited as taste testers. Kraft said they did not mind at all.
When the Krafts felt they had a winning recipe, they launched Family Dough in May.
“Typically we do two or three dozen mini doughnuts for custom orders a day,” said Kraft. “That is just from word of mouth and events we have participated in.”
Family Dough can custom make just about any flavor, and they plan to expand their options. “We like to not just stick with our menu,” said Kraft. “If a customer says they need a blue or purple iced doughnut, we can make it to match their theme.”
A dozen mini doughnuts cost $15 plus tax. “We are making sure it is affordable,” said Kraft. “Right now, we are keeping our overhead down. We have a food trailer in production and we should be launching it by the first of October.”
In addition to participating in Colonial Village’s Midsummer Block Party and Tea & Treasures' Second Saturday Marketplace, Family Dough has popped up at other local events that are interested in new vendors all over Knoxville and Maryville.
“We are meeting other vendors and showcasing our mini doughnuts at these meetups,” said Kraft. In addition to preparing for The Pink Bride event on Aug. 6, and securing more recurring pop-up events, Family Dough has two big orders for July.
“They are both display orders. One is an honorary Eagle Scout ceremony with 150 colored doughnuts arranged on a board to look like a flag,” she said. “We are so excited for orders like that, that allow us to be creative. And Mac’s Pharmacy has ordered doughnut boards and stands for a celebration.”
Depending on the toppings, Family Dough’s mini doughnuts can be hung on a board or on a stand if they have too many toppings.
Kraft said they are looking forward to custom wedding and cocktail hour orders, as well as catering office meetings.
“We are very new and it is exciting to see the traction and reorders,” she said.
Current flavors and pop-up event dates are updated regularly on Instagram @family_dough_tn and at familydoughminidonuts.com. Customer orders or questions can be sent via direct message.
Stephanie works a full-time remote job in education, and Ryan’s supply chain job brought the family to Knoxville.
“We feel at home here now,” said Kraft. “We have gotten to know a lot of people, and the business has allowed us to have a reason to get out and explore the area.”
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Family Dough in Knoxville sets itself apart with creative toppings
