The Holy Donut opens new shop: Here's why community is rejoicing in Arundel, Maine

ARUNDEL, Maine — Be warned: if you’re reading this on an empty stomach, you’re probably going to want to do something about it by the time you finish.

The Holy Donut opened its latest shop on Portland Road on Friday, Jan. 13— a date that has been lucky for staff and customers alike, as the walk-up window and drive-through there are off to a strong start. The shop, which created a dozen new local jobs, is open seven days a week, from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Michaela Paddock, who manages the shop, said Monday she doesn’t know who’s more excited — her and her staff, or their customers.

“People are coming through our drive-through, congratulating us,” she said. “They had been waiting and seeing the team build on this property. It feels really good to finally have our windows open.”

Maine potato donuts, made from scratch daily

For the uninitiated, The Holy Donut puts a spin or two on Homer Simpson’s favorite treat.

For starters, there are the unusual flavors.

The Sweet Potato Coffee Cake Donut is a “nostalgic transformation of a coffee cake muffin,” according to the menu.

The Chai Donut is made with “warm chai tea spices, cradled by a creamy blanket of glaze.”

The pomegranate-frosted donut is “sweet and tart, complex in all the best ways.”

The Maple Bacon Donut — yes, bacon — is a “sweet and salty combo that re-imagines a full breakfast.”

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Then there’s the “fan favorite,” according to Paddock: the Chocolate Sea Salt Donut.

What is Paddock’s favorite?

“That’s a tough one,” she said. “I’m going to say the Sweet Potato Coffee Cake. Sweet potato dough itself is just so nice and fluffy — but then you have the contrast with textures with the crunchy streusel on top. And that cinnamon glaze is not shadowed by anything.”

Paddock's answer points to the company's biggest spin on its donuts: its distinct ingredient is potatoes. “Riced” potatoes, grown right here in Maine, are used as a substitute for a portion of the wheat flour usually used for making donuts. Sweet potatoes are used for some of the donuts.

“We mix them into the dough,” Paddock said. “It definitely gives them a heftier, more muffin-like texture ... The potato helps give it a moist texture.”

And according to Paddock, there’s another quality that a Holy Donut has: wholesomeness.

“We use all-natural ingredients,” she said. “You can also feel good about diving into a six-pack of our donuts ... It’s definitely going to be on the sweet side — sugar is definitely part of the mix of our dough. But in terms of ingredients, if we can’t pronounce it, if it comes with a package that has a long list, it’s not in our products.”

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Take that pomegranate donut, for example. It catches the eye, sitting there with its deep-pink icing on the shelf.

“The bright color is all-natural,” Paddock said. “We use beet juice.”

The donuts also are shaped by hand, giving each one that personal touch.

“A lot of love goes into each and every one of them,” Paddock said. “It’s definitely a play on nostalgic feelings. When you come to a donut shop, you are really treating yourself. We hope to exceed the expectations for every guest that comes through. We’re making sure that they’re getting exactly what they’re looking for out of the experience.”

Holy Donut in Arundel is company's fourth shop

Now open, the Arundel site has three components: a commissary, where the dough, glazes and gluten-free products are made; an office; and, of course, the drive-through and walk-up windows.

Leigh Kellis founded The Holy Donut more than a dozen years ago. She is now a minority owner, and her brother-in-law, Jeff Buckwalter, is now the lead owner of the business.

Leigh Kellis, the founder of The Holy Donut, started making donuts from scratch at her home on Munjoy Hill in Portland, according to the company’s website. At the time, she felt that Portland lacked the kind of donut she craved, so she set out to make one. It took months of experimenting and taste-testing, but Kellis knew she finally had something when she came across a northern Maine recipe that she liked and wanted to adjust to her liking. Enter the potato-based donut.

“Everyone who tried them knew immediately they’d be a hit,” the company states on its website.

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Fast-forward to today. The new Arundel site is the company’s fourth shop. There are two of them in Portland, at 194 Park Avenue and at 177 Commercial Street, and another at 398 Route 1 in Scarborough. The Arundel shop is located at 1197 Portland Road.

The Holy Donut offers vegan and gluten-free options, as well as assorted coffees and signature beverages. Wicked Joe’s provides a special roast for the company.

Paddock smiled when asked if the company has plans to open another Holy Donut shop some day.

“People are always requesting us to be in their neighborhoods,” she said. “Nothing is off limits.”

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: The Holy Donut opens new shop in Arundel, Maine on Portland Road