A laminated croissant-donut hybrid: 100 layers of laminated dough fried to a crisp shell, then filled with pastry cream and topped with house glazes.
Isaac and Stephanie Meek (parents of five daughters: Dylan, Lucy, Maggie, Evangeline, and Constance) launched Five Daughters Bakery in 12 South in January 2015, adapting the cronut format with a 3-day, 100-layer lamination process. The donut requires 72 hours of folding and resting before frying. Five Daughters' East Nashville and Franklin locations followed; the 12 South queue regularly stretches down the block on weekends.
4 editor picks for Five Daughters 100-Layer Donut in Nashville, ranked by editorial score. All Nashville signature dishes · Five Daughters 100-Layer Donut across every city.
$$$$BakerySouth Nashville
Claire Menelly's Dozen Bakery in Nashville moved to Grandview Avenue in February 2025, a five-times larger space with full cafe service and a wood-fired oven.
TipSourdough loaves go fastest; arrive by 09:00. The morning bun and country biscuit are the bakery's signatures.
$$$$BakeryHillsboro Village
Proper Bagel on Belmont Boulevard in Nashville opened 2017 with New York-style hand-rolled, kettle-boiled bagels. Located in Hillsboro Village.
TipEverything bagel with whitefish is the order; second-best move is the lox platter with sliced Gaspe Nova.
$$$$Bakery12 South
Five Daughters Bakery's 12 South flagship in Nashville opened 2015 with its 100-layer three-day doughnuts, expanded to four city locations and Goldbelly.
Tip100-layer doughnuts are the order; classic glaze is the marquee. They run out by 13:00 most weekends.
$$$$CaféThe Gulch
Karl and Sarah Worley's Gulch biscuit counter in Nashville opened 2012 and pioneered the city's all-day biscuit sandwich format with daily 07:00-15:00.
TipThe Bonuts (fried biscuit doughnuts with lemon curd) are the order. Get there before 09:00 to skip the line.
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