Donuts may be my favorite food group. They have their own food group, right? Anyway, I found this plastic tray for Dixie Cream donuts a while back.
I'd never heard of Dixie Cream Donuts, so I turned to the internet. I found this photo on Flickr of a building here in St. Louis that added a little information to the mystery.
Apparently, the donut flour was made here and shipped to franchise owners throughout the country. Some more Googling revealed some vintage advertisements enticing you to become a Dixie Cream franchisee.
Image courtesy Pinterest
Anyone out there have a Dixie Cream Donut near by?
Not sure if I have ever seen a Dixie Cream but they sure look good.
ReplyDeleteThe box and logo almost look like Krispy Kreme!
ReplyDeleteThat was my first thought. I thought they might be related, but appear to be different companies. Based on the founding dates, Krispy Kreme was a full 8 years behind them.
DeleteWe had a Dixie Creme shop with a window to the sidewalk where you could watch them being made in the early 40's in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The chef would cut & flip them on his thumb & drop 4/5 in the oil at once. Quite a show
DeleteSounds like more fun than watching the automated Krispy Kreme line (although that's fun too). Thanks for stopping by, Unknown!
DeleteMy Grandfather owned a Dixie Cream in Chicago in the 1930's until mobsters tried to takeover and he sold the business...as the story goes.
DeleteYikes! Thanks for sharing your story!
DeleteI have never even heard of them. But I like donuts. mmm So glad I found this blog!
ReplyDelete>So glad I found this blog!
DeleteI'm glad you did too! Thanks for stopping by!
They were all over Texas at one time, along with the Shipley chain. They are not at all similar to Krispy Kreme. These were more like any good mom and pop donut shops still popular around the country. ~jeff.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info, Jeff, and thanks for stopping by.
DeleteGood sleuthing so far. Hope additional information on the mystery rolls in. I'm not sure about their Planet Earth logo, though.
ReplyDeleteGood sleuthing so far. Hope additional information on the mystery rolls in. I'm not sure about their Planet Earth logo, though.
ReplyDeleteWe call him "Globey".
DeleteI know this post is old, but I grew eating Dixie Cream donuts in Valdosta, GA. When fresh they have the best glazed donut I have ever eaten. I still pick up a dozen when I get back down there for a visit. The problem is that they lose that freshness and dry out after 4 or 5 hours. You have to eat them fresh.
ReplyDeleteGood to hear there are still some around. My family and I pass through Valdosta every couple years on our way to Disneyworld. We'll have to seek one out. Your description of the donuts sounds a lot like Krispy Kreme donuts.
DeleteI live by the West Frankfort, Il location and it is actually very much still thriving here. They supply pretty much all of the donuts to gas stations and small grocery stores within a solid 45 minute radius. They are a thousand times better than Krispy Kream and my personal favorite is the angel cream filled chocolate long john. I will be sad the day I move away and won't be able to eat it until I visit my family
ReplyDeleteThanks for letting me know, Unknown. Glad to hear they're still thriving. West Frankfort is about a 2-hour drive for me, so sadly, just a little out of range, even for a great donut!
DeleteThanks for stopping by. If you make the trip, I'd love to hear about it.
ReplyDeleteI am from and currently live in West Frankfort. I'm very fortunate to have Dixie Cream Donuts. They are the best. have had Duncan and krispy, not even close. About 20 years ago there was one about 100 miles north west in town famous for the white squirrels that live there...Onley IL. There is a new one opening soon in Herrin IL.
ReplyDeleteThere is a Dixie Cream about 15 miles south of me in Ft. Pierce, Florida in Orange Ave. They're the best donuts I've ever tried. There used to be a shop here in Vero Beach, but I think it's been closed for at least a year. A real shame because not only were the donuts great, but they served up a selection of fantastic empanadas as well. Pretty unique little combination. Lots of Cuban cafes in south Florida. I hit as many as possible when driving through Palm Beach, Broward, Dade and Monroe counties. A donut shop in Vero Beach used to serve up the 3rd or 4th best I've ever tried. Pretty cool.
ReplyDeleteDid you know they have a location in PSL now as well as the Ft. Pierce location? Such amazing donuts. But you better get their early as I'm sure you know, cause they usually sell out by 11am.
DeleteCool Burger Chef logo, btw. Haven't seen a Burger Chef since I was a kid. Can't remember if it was in St. Louis or Kansas City. It was a good 40 years ago. Remember hitting it on occasion. It was certainly better than McDonald's. Even as a kid, I pulled for the little guy. I credit my parents for my (not-quite) disdain for large franchises.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Eric. Burger Chef played a big part of my childhood. I always preferred it to McDonald's as well. I have several memories of Burger Chef I've written about. https://garagesalin.blogspot.com/2010/08/incrediburgible.html
Deletehttps://garagesalin.blogspot.com/2013/10/halloween-monster-fun-find.html
https://garagesalin.blogspot.com/2011/09/would-you-like-frisbee-with-that.html
I grew up in southwest Michigan outside a small town with a Dixie Cream donut shop (owned by a grade school friend's mom and husband). You had to be there early Saturday morning to snag the lemon and raspberry filled bismarks, those incredible filled long Johns and the delectable sugar and cinnamon donuts plus so many others. Having difficulty finding the right words to describe them - I want to say dense, substantial - maybe depth and texture is better. If I ever make it to any of the locations mentioned, hope they still taste as good.
ReplyDeleteGrew up in Gainesville, FL Area from 51-77.. There was a Dixie Cream on 400 block of N.Main St, I knew of from 56-63, they moved to Corner of NW 6th St & 23rd Av.. Not sure when Krispy Kreme opened maybe 64/65 near NW 13th St & 3rd Ave.. Its still thriving.. Not sure when Dixie Cream closed ?? Mid 60s.. Never did see a Dixie Cream in W.Palm Bch.. I lived there for 24 yrs (89-2013)..Jimmy Buffett had (2) Krispy-Kreme Stores only lasted '03-'10.. Bagels are King in SnowBird Country.. Vero to Miami.. Will see if I can find additional info...
ReplyDeleteThanks for the information, Unknown and thanks for stopping by.
Deleteyup. Dixie Cream Donuts on NW 6th & 23rd Ave in Gainesville closed down, erm, probably early 1970s. Circa 1978, property was bought by the Larsens and opened as The Dixie Cream Restaurant that served southern, kitschy, hippie dishes for breakfast and lunch. The property had two bldgs: the upfront restaurant and "the back bldg" with office upstairs & storage downstairs. The old donut machine was still in the downstairs of the back bldg. Never had Dixie Cream donuts but was told they were yummy. Miss the restaurant very much. I waitressed there.
DeleteI have a Dixie Cream Donuts shop about 2 miles from my house. Its located in Fort Pierce, FL Dixie Cream Donuts
ReplyDelete[Dixie Cream Donuts
3210 Orange Ave, Fort Pierce, FL 34947
(772) 467-1002]
I didn't know it was a franchise (or used to be) until I stumbled upon this while looking to see if I could find their recipe. The most popular donut (believe it or not) is their glazed donuts. If you're lucky enough to get some, (they sell out wicked fast) especially while they are nice and warm, they will absolutely melt in your mouth. They are vy far the most delicious donuts you've ever put in your mouth. When I meet people who have never tried them & ask where they can get good donuts from I will usually take them their, or send them that way. If you ever find one while traveling I HIGHLY encourage you to go in and get a glazed donut or even the glazed donut holes (they also sell out super fast. Take my advice, they are INCREDIBLE!
Thanks, Unknown. I will see if I can swing by one on our next trip to Florida. I'd love to try them!
DeleteWhen we took our grade school safety patrol trip when I was 11 years old (1986) we stopped at a Dixie Cream donuts in Washington, DC. There was also one for a few years in Winfield/Teays Valley, West Virginia near where I live, sometime in the 1990's, but it has long since closed down.
ReplyDeleteThere was one in Quincy, Illinois in the 60's. Delicious.
ReplyDeleteWas there ever a Dixie Cream franchise in Granite City, Illinois, on Washington Avenue in the 1950s and 1960s.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure, but maybe someone reading will know.
DeleteMy grandma had a franchise in Elgin, IL in the 80s/90s. They sold to dunkin in the mid 90s unfortunately but those angels angelcream donuts still visit my dreams 🤤
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info, Unknown and thanks for stopping by!
DeleteI used to work for a small engineering firm, Hannum, Wagle and Cline, in Tuscola, IL in the mid-90s. Right across the street was Dixie Cream Donuts. That was not good news for my waist line but I was into mountain biking heavily so that helped! Great donuts, the plain and white iced cake were my favorites. The reason I posted this today is I visited this morning another local favorite donut shop where I live now (East Peoria, IL) called Carl's Bakery. Their donuts are the closest I've found to Dixie Cream.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info, Jason. I'll have to add Carl's to a future visit. Thanks for stopping by!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome.
ReplyDeleteWe had a Dixie Cream in Bowling Green, KY not far from where we lived and near WKUs campus. It was in a shopping center in BG/ Jonesville until Western purchased it to make a parking lot. Then it moved out a bit and was there until sometime in the 80s (90s?). You could watch them cooking the donuts and icing them through a big window. You knew they were fresh! Much better than Krispy Kreme!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info, Susan. I have yet to experience one for myself. Hopefully one day.
DeleteWe had one very briefly in Jenks, OK. It was open for about a year. I worked there for about 4 months it was a good job, and I've never had a better cinnamon roll (though I would eat mine still hot and dripping glaze, my mouth is watering just thinking bout it). Found this page cause I stopped in a town of about 4,000 people on vacation and even the gas stations don't have donuts aside from Hostess. Think I could make a Killin opening up a shop.🤔....quite a few cool vacant old timey shops too.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by, Unknown. And a town without donuts? It's name should be "Hell".
DeleteI heard about this franchise business from a gentleman who operated one in Dresden Tennessee with his uncle he told the story he expected to make 6 or 8 dozens a day sell them then repeat for another day he just about worked his mother to death they were making 25 to 30 dozens a day. I wish I could find out more but I did get this from an individual with a good mind that took place in 1948 or 49. Thanks Joel
ReplyDeleteThanks for the information, Joel. That's a lot of donuts.
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