If you grew up in or around Kokomo, you have probably heard about Dan's Variety Bakery, and probably at an odd hour. Dan's has been a Kokomo fixture since 1975, a family-run bakery whose calling card is simple: fresh donuts, made overnight, sold until they run out. Ask around town for the best donuts and Dan's comes up fast.
A 1 a.m. Donut Run
Dan's is famous for its hours as much as its donuts. The bakery opens at 1 a.m. and runs until it sells out, usually by around noon, and it is closed on Mondays. It is not unusual to see a line in the middle of the night: night-shift workers, students, and anyone else who knows the fresh batches come out early. One practical note before you go, Dan's is cash only, though there is an ATM inside.
What to Get
The donuts are the reason to come, from light yeast donuts to fried cake donuts, glazed and filled. The cinnamon rolls are a regular favorite, and the cases fill out with other scratch-made sweets through the morning.
Finding Dan's
You will find Dan's Variety Bakery at 1800 S. Union St. in Kokomo. Come early for the fullest cases, bring cash, and expect a friendly, no-frills counter that has been doing the same thing well for about 50 years.
