Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

This is an updated version of a post originally published on Jan. 28, 2019.

Doughnuts. I don't know about you, but I can't live without them. Every time I try to swear them off, I find myself reaching for one at a bakery or doughnut shop that just happens to be "on the way.''

I'm not the only one dizzy about doughnuts. About 202 million Americans ate doughnuts at some point this year; the number is expected to increase to 208 million in 2020. Diets, and waistlines, be damned.

How popular are the deep-fried delights? There are not one but two National Doughnut Days — June 7 and November 5. Why two? It's not really clear. But wait, there's more. National Jelly-Filled Doughnut Day is June 8, while National Cream-Filled Doughnut Day is September 14. We can never get enough donuts. Or doughnuts.

Here is my list of the 28 best places to get doughnuts — doughnut shops and bakeries large and small, from around the state. The list is drawn from my considerable doughnut experience; I'm not proud of it but neither am I ashamed. The list is not ranked. Three doughnut shops have been added to the previous list.

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Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Curiosity Doughnuts, Princeton Whole Foods, West Windsor

Curiosity Doughnuts, then in Stockton, hit the big time when it was named one of the country's 10 best doughnut shops by the owners of legendary Federal Donuts in Philly.

Curiosity Doughnuts is now inside the Princeton Whole Foods on Route 1 in West Windsor. (See photo.) There are about 20 kinds available. My favorites on a recent visit: the cinnamon cardamom and the cruller chocolate candy cane. The doughnuts aren't cheap — $3 each. Note: the counter is open on Saturday and Sunday only, from 9:15 a.m. until they sell out.

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Rainbow Cookie Donuts are finally back! Don't miss out. Available today and tomorrow. Open Labor Day til 1:30. Posted by D'Ercole Donuts on Sunday, September 1, 2019

D'Ercole Donuts, Northvale

It didn't take long for D'Ercole Donuts, open just two years, to make a name for itself. It was named the state's top doughnut shop in the Sweetest Bakery in America contest. Doughnuts are made in small batches throughout the day to guarantee freshness. There are 26 kind of regular doughnuts, from plain, chocolate frosted, and jelly to cinnamon apple pie and churro cheesecake. There are also 11 kinds of devil's food doughnuts, including Death by Chocolate, S'Mores and chocolate covered strawberry, plus seasonal doughnuts.

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Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Uncle Dood's, Toms River

The big doughnut debate is pre-made (at your typical neighborhood bakery) or made-to-order. At the latter shops, toppings are added to already-made plain doughnuts, or the doughnuts are made from scratch, then toppings added.

Uncle Dood's, named N.J.'s best doughnut shop by Thrillist, offers about 20 set doughnuts, but as at any made-to-order doughnut shop, you can call the shots, mixing and matching toppings. The cinnamon sugar doughnut (on the left in the second row above), is a classic, and the Cocoa-Puff-topped doughnut (on the right in the second row), will bring a sugary smile to kids of all ages.

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Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Cloud 9 Donuts, Brick

Small but eclectic assortment at Cloud 9 Donuts. Jelly doughnut lovers, take note: There are five kinds available here, including strawberry, lemon and blueberry. The chocolate cream doughnut (pictured) is crazy-good, and the chocolate mint chip-topped chocolate doughnut is even better.

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Suissa Bakery, Newark

Newark's Ironbound is home to scores of cafes, bakeries and pastry shops; my favorite is Suissa, a tiny Portuguese bakery at the corner of Pacific and Garden. One must-try: the sonho (Portuguese for "dream"), a deep-fried, sugar-topped doughnut that you'll dream about weeks later.

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Frog Hollow Donuts, Ocean View

Frog Hollow Donuts is a funky little house in the middle of nowhere; it's just off the corner of Route 50 and Tyler Road in Dennis Township, if that helps. Open Saturdays and Sundays only, Frog Hollow offers simple, solid doughnuts; the plain doughnut is a model of its kind. Good apple cider doughnuts, too. A sign in the small parking lot says: Frog Hollow Parking Only. Others Toad. November 10 is the last day of their season.

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Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Montclair Bread Co., Montclair

"A bread bakery with a doughnut addiction'' is how Montclair Bread Co. describes itself, and that sounds about right. The red-and-green sprinkle-topped chocolate doughnut, on a brioche, is simply sensational. Even the powdered sugar atop the strawberry doughnut tastes better than the rest.

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Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Shore Good Donuts, Manahawkin

I fell in love with Shore Good Donuts on a Munchmobile run back in 2001, and the romance continues. These are made-to-order doughnuts, more substantial than most. The chocolate glaze is mighty good, and the jelly doughnut (in photo) features what looks like a pound of jelly on top. There are also locations in Ship Bottom and Beach Haven.

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Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Glaze Donuts, New Milford

Jule Hazou took the N.J. doughnut world by storm with his Italian rainbow doughnut, an instant hit at his New Milford and Wayne stores. He makes about 140 kinds of doughnuts; about 50 are on display at any one time. Several doughnuts are named after Led Zeppelin songs: Misty Mountain Hop, Communication Breakdown, and Dazed and Confused. And his doughnut holes are called — what else? — Zepps.

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Mama Buntz's Donut Co., Sewell

Tammy Buntz picked up the nickname Mama Buntz because she was always ready to make a meal or snack for her kids and their friends when they were growing up. The shop, which opened last November, shows every doughnut in the display case, something you wish every made-to-order doughnut shop would adopt. The Loco Coco (in photo), with Rice Krispies, is one seriously guilty pleasure, and the maple bacon donut is better than its much-ballyhoed counterpart at Duck Donuts.

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Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Donuts Time Cafe, Hamilton

Cheesesteaks and doughnuts sounds like a good combo; you can get first-rate examples of each at Donuts Time Cafe and Gaetano's, neighbors in the same strip mall on Route 33. Many of the doughnuts at Donuts Time are ready-made, but they have few equals in head-spinning wonder. The Reese's (photo) features a wedge of the candy, plus caramel drizzle and nuts, while the Samoa includes a chunk of the Girl Scout cookie.

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Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Drip N Scoop, Ocean City

Drip N Scoop serves coffee and ice cream, not surprisingly, but the donuts take center stage here; check out that display in the photo! There are about 20 kinds; they get crazier/more complex as you work your way from left to right. The maple bacon donut is the most bacon-y of its kind I've tried, and I've tried a few. Plain donuts may be boring, but the ones here are simple and delicious. One bonus: the shop is open year-round. There are plans to open locations in Atlantic City and Somers Point.

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Try us for your next event Posted by Beignets on Sunday, September 16, 2018

Beignets, Denville

Despite the name, Beignets is more about doughnuts than the powdered-sugared-topped fried dough familiar to anyone who's been to New Orleans. There are 13 doughnuts on the menu, but as at any made-to-order doughnut shop, you can let your imagination run wild and create your own. The maple bacon is better than Duck's version, and the Deanna Banana features my new favorite flavor combo: bananas and coconut.

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Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Haddonfield Donut Co., Haddonfield

Haddonfield Donut Co. opened in April 2018 in one of N.J.'s best small towns. Jelly doughnut lovers will swoon at the display out front (photo), and if you like chocolate doughnuts, this is paradise. The triple chocolate doughnut, with chocolate sauce, chocolate filling and chocolate cake, is simply irresistible, and those jelly doughnuts are jolly good.

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Purple Glaze, Asbury Park

Wesley Sharpe opened Purple Glaze in 2015, and it didn't take long for doughnut denizens to find their way to Asbury Park. Every imaginable flavor and topping seems to be on the menu, from cinnamon sugar, jelly and Boston cream to Coconut Concussion (vanilla icing, shredded coconut, coconut cream filling) and Ring of Fire (vanilla icing, local hot pepper jelly filling). There are vegan doughnuts, too. The Reindeer Food doughnut (top row center in photo) is an improbably wonderful combination of chocolate icing, Chex, M&Ms, powdered sugar and vanilla drizzle.

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Brother's Quality Bakery, Kearny

No designer doughnuts here. No M&M/Cheerios/pretzel/candy cane/marshmallow/Reeses-topped doughnuts — just old fashioned goodness. I can't tell you how many times I've driven down Kearny Avenue, spotted the bakery and said, "Gotta stop.'' Brother's has been open since 1976, and will likely stay open until the end of doughnut time.

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Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

The Fractured Prune, Ocean City

The Fractured Prune has both Ocean Cities covered; there are seven locations in Ocean City, Md., and two in Ocean City, N.J. And don't forget the boardwalk stand in North Wildwood (shown in photo). I sampled a half dozen during my epic boardwalk foods expedition, and even though it was blazing hot that day, those doughnuts tasted like heaven.

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Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Erie Coffeeshop & Bakery, Rutherford

Renee Faris opened Erie Coffeeshop & Bakery in 2015 in a former barber shop, although you'd never know it with the extensive renovation it underwent. This isn't your typical sprawling neighborhood bakery with hundreds of items; the selection at Erie is compact and highly creative. Sweet potato cayenne biscuits? Check. Olive oil citrus cake? Yes. Oh, and delicious doughnuts — available on Saturdays only. Their Thanksgiving menu includes sweet potato cayenne biscuits, bourbon pecan pie and salted caramel apple crumb pie.,

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Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

McMillan's Bakery, Westmont

Cream doughnuts! It's what McMillan's Bakery is best known for, but there's plenty of other baked goodness in the legendary neighborhood bakery. Arline Biemiller is the owner; her parents opened the bakery in 1939. So how much cream is in each cream doughnut? "As much as it takes,'' she replies, smiling.

Whatever you do, don't eat that cream doughnut in your car — your seats will be covered in powdered sugar.

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Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Brown's Donuts, Ocean City

My favorite boardwalk doughnut stand, Brown's is at the north end of the Ocean City boardwalk. There are just six basic varieties, which makes ordering easy. They're all close to perfect; no fancy designer doughnuts here. They are closed for the season, re-opening in the spring.

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Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Deluxe Italian Bakery, Runnemede

They're rolling in the dough at Deluxe Italian Bakery; the sprawling facility — 55,000 square feet, three buildings — makes 125,000 rolls a day. The bakery started in 1949 in Camden, moving to Runnemede in 1965. The cream doughnut at Deluxe (photo) is a worthy rival to McMillan's; the former is bigger and slightly more sugary than the latter.

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Judicke's, Bayonne

Sprinkle doughnuts. That's all you need to know about Judicke's, a Hudson County legend. The bakery opened in 1924, and holds a special place to those who live in town — and those who have moved away.

"We also would love to place an order for delivery!!! I was born in Bayonne and moved from NJ to Georgia five years ago. In desperate need of sprinkle cookies and donuts!'' goes a typical comment on Facebook.

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Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Broad Street Dough Co., Oakhurst

"The finest hot and fresh doughnuts in New Jersey'' is the modest claim at Broad Street Dough Co. The original location, in Oakhurst, opened in 2014; another one opened in Freehold this summer. Many of their creations are over-the-top even by made-to-order doughnut standards, with multi-colored toppings resembling some demented holiday light display. The West Park is a standout Bavarian cream doughnut, and the M&Ms-topped chocolate glazed Route 35 is a candy-coated delight.

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Chester's Pastry Pantry Bakery, Somers Point

Most Shore bakeries close for the season; not Chester's Pastry Pantry Bakery, which opens even on Christmas Day if co-owner Linda Myhre can bribe her husband. "I drag him in, tell him, I'll give you all the profits if you work Christmas Day,'' she says, laughing.

Honey buns are the bakery's signature item. "They're not sticky buns,'' Myhre says. "They're made with honey.''

The butter cream at the screen-doored shop is so prized regulars often ask for a cupful to take home. The cream, jelly and chocolate doughnuts are all highly recommended.

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Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Duck Donuts, various locations

Popular North Carolina-based chain Duck Donuts now has five N.J. locations; the newest one, in Clark, opened about a year ago. Duck is another made-to-order doughnut shop. One cool feature: a screen shows the most popular doughnuts at each shop (the five most popular at the Middletown location at time I visited: cinnamon sugar, maple bacon, chocolate, glazed and powdered sugar with raspberry). Good doughnuts, but I liked Uncle Dood's and Broad Street Dough Co. more.

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OB-CO's Donuts, Toms River

The stuff of Jersey Shore doughnut legend, OB-CO's Donuts opened in 1953. Look for the red shack on Fischer Boulevard, just off Route 37. They're open seven days a week year-round, from 5 a.m. on. But when they run out of doughnuts, that's it, so get there by mid-morning to be on the safe side. Their signature doughnut is their sugar-raised, big and chewy and one of the best of its kind anywhere. There's no inside seating; just line up in front of the window.

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Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Plainfield Donut Shop, Plainfield

Ten years ago, I said Plainfield Donut Shop made the state's best jelly doughnut, and nothing I've tried since would make me change my mind. It's an unlikely spot for jelly doughnut nirvana: a luncheonette with a long counter, eight stools and green walls. Jelly doughnuts usually contain the same bland goop. Not here; the jelly is dark, thick, just-sugary-enough. Sweet.

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Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Village Donut Shop, Jackson

Village Donut Shop is a funky little red-awninged doughnut shop in Jackson's Cassville section. It's tiny inside, but the donuts are big — check out those cinnamon sugar twists! Excellent jelly doughnut here.

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Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

What's your favorite place to get a doughnut?

Many worthy doughnut shops and bakeries were left off this list. What's your favorite place to buy doughnuts? Who did we miss? Let us know in the comments section.

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