109 layers.
That is the magic number after a four-month process to perfect the dough. High altitude is notorious for being the nemesis of a baker. Amy Fairbanks and Larissa Vendola were brought on by Altitude Hospitality Group to combine their knowledge of bread and pastry to create the recipe for Dad’s Donuts’ signature item—a delectable blend of croissant and donut.
The Process
The dough takes four days to reach completion. It’s made fresh each time with real ingredients, using butter and flour from Europe. The base dough is created first and then chilled for 12 hours. Once the dough has chilled, it is layered with butter, folded, laminated and rested before undergoing the process again. Once it is cut and ready, it is fried for two to four minutes to crispy, flaky, gooey perfection.
Even then, that is not the end of the process.
The ganaches, glazes, fillings and toppings come next. Each donut is thoughtfully prepared to give guests a one-of-a-kind experience.
The Heart
As impressive as the whole process is, it’s the behind the scenes that is the true heart of Dad’s Donuts. Besides being a donut-funded social enterprise that teaches employees about much more than customer service, Dad’s is working to put the focus back on the value of a paternal relationship.
Dad’s, after all, is run by a group of dads.
They all come from different backgrounds, but they respect and value the relationship that only a father can provide. One of the dads, James Anderson, explains that society is in need of authenticity in people and in food.
“I can’t tell you how many dads I get to meet, or how many stories of dads that I get to hear,” Anderson says, going on to explain how important and nostalgic the shop’s name has become with people.
“If you can step into someone’s life for even a little bit, you can make a lifetime of difference,” says Mitchell Yellen, one of the other dads of Dad’s Donuts. Yellen was an orphan as a youngster and understands the value that mentoring the next generation can have for a community.
“This is like our family room,” Anderson says, “…come on in, there’s lots of food.”
Website: https://dadsdonuts.com/
Facebook + Instagram: @DadsDonutsCo