Not So Sour(dough): Despite the wait, everyone should try Slow Rise doughnuts

I didn't imagine bringing home six doughnuts would require a blanket, a lawn chair and a Starbucks run. The Slow Rise sourdough-filled doughnuts are the new rave in Kansas City, but as I waited in line, I kept thinking: Wanting the doughnut is one thing, but waiting three hours is excessive. 

The business sprouted at the Lawrence Farmer’s Market in 2022 and has now grown into a brick-and-mortar store off 135th St. in Overland Park. 

Owner and founder of Slow Rise doughnuts, Jessica Dunkel, has recreated the nostalgic deep-fried treat into a sourdough-filled delicacy with a mystery box of flavors.

Currently, Slow Rise is still in its soft opening phase, moving from farmer’s markets to a physical store only open on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. But the pastry’s mystique and exclusivity have only increased the demand. 

The combination of unique flavors that vary weekly and the cozy, family-like environment makes for an unforgettable experience everyone should try. 

While the cost of the doughnut leans on the more expensive side, with $5 per filled doughnut and $4 per classic, I would wait hours again just to see what flavors they are offering that week. 

Stalking the menu via Instagram, I was intrigued by the lavender filling with coconut flakes sprinkled on the ube coconut doughnut. As a coconut lover since birth — blame it on my Panamanian heritage — I was hoping the taste would match its presentation.  

After my first bite, a sweet taste filled my mouth, but my mind scrambled to find a descriptor.

The sweetness in the cream filling was neutralized with the fluffy — and almost chewy — tangy sourdough. 

But I still couldn’t describe the flavor...

Was it vanilla? Maybe coconut milk? 

Then, I remembered the word I didn’t know in the doughnut’s name, ube — a purple yam from southeast Asia. The nutty, vanilla flavor complimented the coconut to create a delicious bite. 

While in line, a few customers told me their least favorite doughnut was the smoked chocolate. Apparently, it was too smoky. 

Eager to see if they were right, I took a bite ... and it tasted like a bonfire. 

Disappointed, I gazed at the cute sprinkles on the chocolate filling, but I truly couldn’t finish the rest. The smokiness literally blew me away, from the doughnut and to the trash can. 

While others may enjoy the strong smoky taste, I felt it was overpowering. I couldn’t even taste the chocolate or the sea salt. Don’t let cute sprinkles and your love of chocolate fool you into wasting $5 on a doughnut that you won’t finish after the first bite. 

Truly, there wasn’t a single flaw with this doughnut. It was simple — in flavor, texture and appearance — and left me warm, full and happy. This doughnut will prove the jelly-filled haters wrong with its homemade blood orange and raspberry filling that has a dull sweetness paired with a light citrus flavor. 

I heartily recommend this doughnut to anyone looking for a guaranteed satisfaction.