Creating a sour cream glazed donut sounds like a simple aspiration.
And when husband and wife Donna and Chrsitos Siafakas took over Peter Pan Donut & Pastry Shop in the late 1980s, all they wanted was to run a simple neighborhood shop where you could go to get a reliable donut.
But a quarter of a century later, they’ve created one of the most popular donut shops in all of Brooklyn. On any given weekend morning the line for donuts extends far out the front door. Tina Fey once announced to Esquire Magazine they might make the best donuts ever. And while any variety donut will do wonders, nothing quite matches the simple pleasure of a sour cream glazed donut at Peter Pan.
It’s no wonder that these specimens of doughy perfection sell out quick. It’s a donut that’s incredibly moist and dense. More than adding flavor, the sour cream gives the donut a melt-in-your-mouth texture that feels decadent. Meanwhile, the exterior glistens in a sugary glaze sure to give you as much lift as your first morning coffee. It’s as rich as cake, and just one of these masterful donuts will do, but no doubt you’ll want two.
Part of the secret to such simple mastery lies in the Siafakas’ dedication to the business. Each donut is hand-cut and baked in small batches. But take one bite and you’ll realize that other shops that hand craft their donuts don’t reach the level of Peter Pan.
“It’s my father’s special touch,” said the Siafakas’ son Demetri of the sour cream glazed donut. “And it’s private.”
Peter Pan Donut & Pastry Shop [727 Manhattan Ave. between Meserole and Norman avenues, (718) 389–3676, peterpan-donuts.com].
Will Levitt is a Brooklyn-based food writer. Follow him on Twitter @UnderEggWill
