Donut Cakes for Dad’s or Grad’s or Any Occasion

(Gerry Furth-Sides) When I wanted to take something special but small to my cousins for a birthday on their visit to Palm Springs, I asked Primo Donuts do a decorated donut for the “birthday boy.” I had in mind the sourdough doughnut the shape – and size – of a large potato. Little did I know we would be starting a family tradition. (see the birthday card I got this week below!)

We already loved the Dodger donuts and Easter donuts so much we have done articles on them both. //localfoodeater.com/celebrate-the-world-series-and-more-with-historic-primos-donuts-la-baseballs/

Primo bakery manager, Wendy Navarro, and second generation Primo family member, Celine, had something different in mind. I could sense their excitement, which amounted to enough care and concern for a wedding cake. So when I turned up for the delivery I was startled, and pleased, with a donut the size of a cake!

Wendy told us that requests for the large donuts “cakes” only started two years ago. A customer made a request for Primo’s to make a big donut the size of a birthday cake because it was her favorite dessert.” Founder and owner, Ralph Primo, Sr. made the “donut cake” for her. The founder still comes in to decorate, and you can really “taste” the fun, festive addition he makes.

Wendy showed us the most popular donut cake, and most requested: a chocolate donut with different color sprinkles.  It already has the feeling of party confetti.

Wendy and the Primo family have no idea if donut cakes are made in Italy. We asked a few of our Italian chef friends and they had never heard of it either.

When we asked if there were any outstanding or surprising requests, Wendy laughed. “Yes we have many different requests and always try to accommodate our clients. It’s crazy to even order such a large donut! About a month ago a woman asked us to make a donut with “will you marry me” when she was going to propose to her boyfriend. And, of course, we did.

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Much to our surprise, and our delight at being a little bit original, there have not been many orders for the “cakes.” “We’ve only had about ten requests since they were first made,” reported Wendy. 

This would would be unusual to Angel Food Bakery in Chicago. Their donut cakes and celebratory donuts are so popular they ship them all over the country by way of Goldbelly. Angel Food Bakery ships its Congrats Grad Donuts nationwide on Goldbelly. They bake up this treat for graduates from kindergarten to graduate school

The donut cake at Primo is in the $15 dollar range, and the celebratory donuts are close to $25 a dozen. And you can pick them up yourself. Goldbelly doesn’t charge a delivery fee but the donuts are $79 a dozen.

The whimsical motto of the bakery founded by Katy Gerdes in 2012 is: “Every time the team at Angel Food Bakery, one of Minneapolis’ best bakeries, pulls a creation out of their ovens, an angel gets its wings.”

Primo’s Donuts, 2918 Sawtelle Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064 (parking in back lot).