Best cider donuts in New Jersey? Vote now in our poll
Happy Fall, North Jersey! With school back in session, plastic jack-o-lanterns filling the aisles of Walmart and pumpkin spice vodka-infused whipped cream on the shelves of your local grocery store, we've arrived at the perfect time of year for March Madness.
JK. Kind of.
For the next four weeks, you'll be voting to help us crown the best apple cider donut in the state. Think the cinnamon sugar-topped treats from Abma's are king? Have a taste for the powdery rings at Delicious Orchards? Now's the time to let us know, because (starting with a Sweet 16 bracket) we'll be pitting Jersey's top farms against each other every Tuesday until we reach a winner.
So, though we may not be betting on basketballs, things are about to get heated — because it's time for the ultimate baked good battle royale.
Here's how this first round will work.
Sweet 16 voting guide:
Voting for this bracket begins at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 3, and ends at 11:59 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 5.
You can vote once per matchup, per round.
Elite 8 voting will begin on Sept. 10, featuring winners from the previous round.
Let's vote!
Now that you've got the rules, let's begin.
Vote below for the donut spots you think should move on to next week's top 8.
**NOTE: If the polls do not immediately load, refresh the page. The poll generally loads better on desktops and laptops rather than on mobile devices. If you have issues voting in the app, try using your browser. Also, avoid using Firefox browser.
Delicious Orchards vs. Wemrock Orchards
Delicious Orchards is a central Jersey agricultural staple, known equivalently for its fresh produce and baked goods. Each year, the orchard attracts more than 2.5 million visitors in search of fruits, vegetables or a delicious dessert. The cider donuts (which are available in varieties from original to powdered sugar), however, might be the most coveted item to be sold on its 110(+) acres of sprawling farmland. Go: 320 Route 34, Colts Neck; 732-462-1989, deliciousorchardsnj.com.
It may not be a corporate Goliath, but Wemrock Orchards is a Monmouth County gem. Family owned and operated, the charming spot has been providing fruits, vegetables, pies and more to the town of Freehold for 50 years. Visit its well-tended grounds and you may find yourself stumbling into an old country store — where some of the state's most mouthwatering apple cider donuts await. Go: 100 Wemrock Rd., Freehold; 732-431-2668, wemrockorchards.com.
Demarest Farms vs. Wightman Farms
Is Demarest Farms the most well-known PYO farm in Bergen County? It might be. Founded in the mid-1800s, the "jewel" of the area (as the team calls it) offers a variety of u-pick produce for guests to enjoy. When we visit, however, we don't pick any pumpkins, strawberries or peaches — because we're too busy blowing our budget on an obscene amount of hot, tasty apple cider donuts. Go: 244 Werimus Rd., Hillsdale; 201-666-0472, demarestfarms.com.
At one point, the fruits and vegetables of Morristown's Wightman Farms were sold at a little table under an old mulberry tree. Today, though, the farm has grown exponentially, and it now boasts a rustic country store. In it, guests can buy all sorts of agricultural products (not far from the site of that original tree), but the apple cider donuts — which boast more powdery cinnamon sugar than competing versions — are a top-seller. Go: 1111 Mt Kemble Ave., Morristown; 973-425-9819, wightmanfarms.com.
Emery's Farm vs. Pochuck Valley Farms
Emery's Farm might be known for its blueberries, but that doesn't stop the team from serving some of the most acclaimed apple cider donuts around. In fact, since the fruit season at the farm is so long (they aren't just a fall farm), the bakers get practice making decadent treats all year. That expertise and repetition is apparent, then, when you bite into one of their masterfully-crafted — and incredibly consistent — fried cider rings. Go: 346 Long Swamp Rd., New Egypt; 609-758-8514, emerysfarm.com.
There are some people that claim the "best apple cider donuts in Jersey are actually in New York." Whether or not those donut snobs are right? We can't say for sure. Regardless, Pochuck Valley Farms is right up on the New York/New Jersey border, so — if you're after that New York orchard taste (while still being on team Jersey)? This Sussex County market and deli is the place to get it. Go: 962 McAfee Glenwood Rd., Glenwood; 973-764-4732, pochuckvalleyfarms.com.
Hacklebarney Farm vs. Mood's Farm Market
Apple cider floats, apple cider twists, apple cider hot dogs — if it has cider in it? Hacklebarney Farm is making it. It comes as no surprise, then, that the spot boasts top-tier apple cider donuts. What does come as a surprise, however, is how many ways the farm team serves them. In the past, they've offered cider donut French toast, cider donut ice cream sandwiches and cider donut-topped slushies; all of which are fan-favorites. Go: 104 State Park Road, Chester Township; 908-879-6593, hacklebarneyfarm.com.
The apple cider donuts at Mood's Farm Market are so good that people literally compete to eat them in mass quantity. That's right — each year, the South Jersey farm puts on a contest in which contestants devour four donuts as quickly as possible. We personally don't compete, however, because we like to slowly savor every last bite of the team's delicious treats. Go: 901 Bridgeton Pike, Mullica Hill; 856-478-2500, moodsfarmmarket.com.
Johnson's Corner Farm vs. Alstede Farms
Johnson's Corner Farm has a sizable social media following for a Burlington County small business. Visit the spot, however, and you'll quickly learn why it's garnered such a buzz. The produce is fresh, the manicured grounds are constantly hosting family-friendly activities and the corn maze is second to none. Enjoy an apple cider donut in that lovely atmosphere, and you'll see why the farm has been a South Jersey favorite for decades. Go: 133 Church Rd., Medford; 609-654-8643, johnsonsfarm.com.
Alstede Farms is a Morris County agricultural behemoth. Whether winter, spring or fall, the community staple is always open to the public; constantly boasting events loaded with great food and endless family fun. No visit to the farm, though, would be complete without one of its soft apple cider donuts. Order yours with a scoop of homemade ice cream, and you'll be in countryside dessert heaven. Go: 1 Alstede Farms Lane, Chester; 908-879-7189, alstedefarms.com.
Windy Brow Farms vs. Battleview Orchards
Everything the bakers, chefs and ice cream makers serve at Windy Brow Farms is fantastic. From artisan pizzas to wood-fired meatballs, the Fredon Township gem has a menu to rival a restaurant — and we're so here for it. After you grab an apple cider donut, then, we urge you to stay for dinner. But, if you can't? You'll still be wowed by one of the freshest, most mouthwatering fried rings in the state. Go: 359 Ridge Road, Fredon Township; 973-579-9657, windybrowfarms.com.
Battleview Orchards has been impressing guests with juicy apples and memorable experiences since 1908. To many, a trip to the family-owned farm is a yearly tradition. At the holidays, Central Jersey residents top their tables with the team's pies, and, in the summer, local kids spend hours plucking strawberries from the spot's expansive u-pick fields. In the fall, though, it's all about apple cider donuts — and the orchard turns them out in droves. Go: 91 Wemrock Road, Freehold; 732-462-0756, battlevieworchards.com.
Abma's Farm vs. Race Farm
When we asked our @northjerseyeats followers where to get the best cider donuts in Jersey, Abma's Farm was on the tips of their tongues. Served in three varieties (plain, cinnamon sugar and powdered sugar), the donuts are as popular in the fall as taking a family picture on a hay bale. Though our favorite of the three flavors is the powdered sugar, you really can't go wrong with any of the melt-in-your-mouth options. Go: 700 Lawlins Road, Wyckoff; 201-891-0278, abmasfarm.com.
Race Farm's apple cider donuts are true Jersey dessert treasures. Fluffy-yet-cakey, and with a perfect deep-fried crust (that ripples around the center hole), we could eat a whole bag in a sitting if we ever ended up at the farm alone. Since we generally apple-pick with family, however, we've always been forced to share — but not without a fight. Go: 87 Belcher Road, Blairstown; 908-362-8151, racefarmllc.com.
Terhune Orchards vs. Secor Farms
Terhune Orchards is a Princeton-based farm and winery committed to producing the highest quality produce through sustainable practices. Its crops are clean and organic, ensuring a fresh, delicious taste. Grab an apple cider donut while traversing its environmentally-friendly fields, then, and be impressed by a dessert that is made with the same lofty standards. Go: 330 Cold Soil Road, Princeton; 609-924-2310, terhuneorchards.com.
The apple cider donuts at Secor Farms are famous in Bergen County, where they're sold in massive batches from a quaint country store. Homemade by the spot's talented bakers, each one is notably large, impressively cakey and decadently dusted in cinnamon sugar. Unlike the donuts of many competing farms, they're also sold in bags of six — rather than three — which we love (because more donuts is always better). Go: 85 Airmount Ave., Mahwah; 201-529-2595, secorfarms.com.
Come back on Tuesday, September 10 to see who advanced to the Elite Eight.
North Jersey Eats' Apple Cider Donut Madness dates
Sweet 16 (nominated by readers): Sept. 3-5
Elite 8: Sept. 10-12
Final Four: Sept. 17-19
THE FINALS: Sept. 24-26
Winner announced Tuesday, Oct. 1
Kara VanDooijeweert is a food writer for NorthJersey.com and The Record. If you can't find her in Jersey's best restaurants, she's probably off running a race course in the mountains. Catch her on Instagram: @karanicolev & @northjerseyeats, and sign up for her North Jersey Eats newsletter.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Best cider donuts in New Jersey? Vote now in our poll