SUGARED LEDGE BAKERY
Hoppen Hierarchy:★★★⭑
District: Elkhorn; Waterloo
Donut shop w/ custom cakes and breakfast sandwiches
Perfect For: Breakfast/Brunch; Casual Dining; Takeout
Standout Dishes: Sausage and Egg Biscuit; Maple Bacon Donut; Espresso Twist; Apple Fritter
When chef Joel Hassanali partnered with Gregg and Ashley Young to open Salted Edge, he couldn’t wait to take the vast array of savory cooking techniques he’d honed over his career and unleash them on Omaha.
So you can imagine his surprise when he got a call from the Youngs informing him that they’d purchased the bay next to Salted Edge… to open a bakery, specifically one that would specialize in donuts. The seeds for Sugared Ledge had been planted.
Never one to back down from a challenge, Joel put himself on a crash course learning the ins and outs and donuts and pastry while bringing a strong team of experienced bakers around him. The result is a bakery that takes all the creativity, whimsy, and beautiful cooking from the savory dishes at Salted Edge and replicates them in sweet form.
With locations in Waterloo and Elkhorn (off 204th and Dodge), Sugared Ledge has quickly become one of west Omaha’s go-to stops for donuts. The bakery offers macarons, cupcakes, and custom cakes—the designs of which are truly stunning—but donuts are it’s clear calling card. The Youngs felt the area lacked a go-to donut stop, but now that Sugared Ledge has arrived, that’s no longer an issue.
The first thing you notice about a Sugared Ledge donut is how light it is. With an airy, puffy interior, these donuts are the polar opposite of the heavy, nap-inducing grease bombs one finds at most donut shops. Rather, these yeast donuts have achieved a great rise that not only gives them a pleasant chewiness, but also won’t stop your productive day in its tracks.
One of the things that makes Salted Edge special is Joel’s ability to present a familiar dish, such as a cheeseburger or a roasted chicken, and put a few unexpected but thrilling twists on it to amp up the flavor. He does the same at Sugared Ledge, where each donut gets a flavor power boost to take it to the next level.
The Maple Bacon is a great example, as this confection perfectly balances two contrasting pairings. Not only does it get the salty bacon to play well with the sweet maple glaze, but it features brilliantly crispy bacon bits that bring texture to the cloud-like consistency of the donut.
The Apple Fritter is introduction of an updated classic. Most apple fritters barely feature any fruit, but Sugared Ledge’s version is packed with gooey, caramely apples. And the Espresso Twist masterfully uses coffee’s ability to accentuate chocolate’s richness by employing the bitterness and sweetness of Hardy Coffee’s espresso.
Even those who don’t love filled donuts will fall for the Bavarian Cream, as the rich chocolate ganache is paired with a creamy, sweet vanilla custard that bursts forth upon first bite.
The standard menu has plenty of fun surprises, but it’s the Donut of the Month where Joel and his team truly shine. It’s here they let their creativity run wild, creating donuts like the Lunchbox (a spin on the classic PB&J), the Autumn Apple Delight (think of a donut version of apple crumble), or the Hot Mama, which uses a hot honey filling and chili flakes to add some spice to the donut game.
Sugared Ledge’s gluten free donuts are a bit denser than the original recipe, but they still have the tender, fluffy consistency. The aptly-named Triple Chocolate is a chocolate lover’s dream, and the Lemon Blueberry expertly balances the pungent, citrus-forward lemon zest with the tartness of whole, juicy blueberries baked into the donut.
Sweetness is the defining flavor profile in the menu, but Sugared Ledge squeezes in some savory options, too. The bakery uses its incredibly buttery, flaky biscuits for its breakfast sandwiches, giving each an excellent base to start with. The biscuits have good structure and just the right amount of crumble, and they practically melt in your mouth.
The Sausage and Egg Biscuit features Salted Edge’s delightful orange rosemary biscuit, which blends citrus and earthy flavors to offer something wholly unique. The maple fennel sausage patty adds a balance of sweet and spice, and the buttery egg is supple and light. It’s one of Omaha’s best breakfast sandwiches.
The Jalapeno Cheddar Bacon, Egg and Cheese doesn’t quite reach those epic levels, but it’s still quite good. The jalapeno cheddar biscuit, while still buttery and delicious, is missing that flavor punch that the orange rosemary has, though the peppery bacon and gooey white cheddar are welcome additions.
Sugared Ledge offers everything you want in a donut shop. The base for its donuts is delicious, light as a cloud, and without an ounce of grease, and its flavor profiles are as pronounced as they are unique. The breakfast sandwiches provide an excellent savory option, and its cakes and cupcakes are elegant enough to feature at a wedding.
Chef Joel’s resume may feature mostly savory stops, but Sugared Ledge is full proof the guy is well in touch with his sweet side, too.