There’s a brand new, totally delicious doughnut shop in Bellevue.
Valkyrie Doughnuts has officially opened its doors, offering its popular vegan doughnuts in its own brick-and-mortar.
Owners Marcus Vahle and John Pugh previously worked together in the live events industry, which… sputtered during the pandemic. They teamed up with their friend Celine Belgtens, a pastry chef who had opened vegan doughnut shops in Florida, and began to learn the business. After purchasing a food trailer earlier this year, the two launched Valkyrie Doughnuts Pittsburgh, and began popping up in various spots around the city this summer, selling out their doughnuts (and seeing massive lines) regularly.
And now, you can get their egg-free and dairy-free doughnuts at their permanent location at 601 Lincoln Avenue.
Their doughnuts, which are square-shaped and yeast-raised, are different from most typical vegan doughnuts.
“The most important thing for us is that our doughnuts need to be delicious,” Vahle says. “Our doughnuts are made fresh every morning, and proofed twice, so they have a lighter texture than a cake doughnut.”
While the two were working out of the trailer, they had a limited menu, but more space now means more menu options.
“We’re going to be able to introduce a lot of different kinds of flavors of doughnuts, plus cinnamon rolls, brownies, and things like pumpkin and pecan pies for Thanksgiving. And, we always try to come up with interesting flavor profiles for our doughnuts, from Cotton Candy to Crème brûlée,” says Vahle.
The menu will also feature a few permanent doughnut selections, including their classic glazed and sugared. Rotating specials will change regularly, but some of their popular Key Lime, Salted Caramel Truffle,
Everything at the doughnut shop will be vegan, and many of the ingredients will be minimally-processed, including their vegan sugar. But, they say, their doughnuts aren’t a treat that only vegans can love.
“When we first started selling them, it was so great to see how happy people were when they got these doughnuts,” says Pugh. “Our contractor – he’s this big, great guy – I sent him boxex of doughnuts this morning, and he just texted me ‘Oh my God, these doughnuts are outrageous!’ And I know he’s definitely not vegan.”
“Like I said, the first thing we care about is if our doughnuts taste good,” says Vahle. “But we also have had multiple parents come up to us, and tell us that their kids have a dairy allergy, or an egg allergy, and they’re so excited that they can now give their kids this treat that they couldn’t before. That’s really gratifying.”
Valkyrie Doughnuts will be open seven days a week from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Valkyrie Doughnuts (601 Lincoln Avenue, Bellevue)
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