Rodeo Donut

Visited several places earlier today in Ballard, which included to check out Rodeo Donut at Cupcake Royale. They featured small batches of inventive doughnuts which immediately reminded me of Blue Star in Portland, OR. Can’t escape coffee, cupcakes, ice cream, and now doughnuts!
Bought one each of the Pumpkin Cardamom and Blueberry Lemon Thyme — wasn’t able to photograph them, because they were later gobbled up by me and the kiddo at home with generous glasses of cold milk.
Both had a springy dough that didn’t have a dry, cakey, or oily feel thankfully. The flavors start off as subtle and then end as a pleasant exclamation mark. Not cloying, just satisfying. The pumpkin cardamom was earthy and I liked the crunch of the pumpkin seeds on top. I was surprised that they had a cream cheese-​like inner filling. I had a bite of kiddo’s blueberry lemon thyme one — loved the bright and assertive color with a citrusy finish.
Seattle has several places to get one’s doughnut fix… Rodeo Donut is another great addition!

this is a review for the Capitol Hill shop inside the cupcake royale — I loved my tiramisu filled donut as well as the blackberry balsamic cream cheese filled! I don’t know if it’s the heat lately, but it kept the dough super moist until I ate my donut later in the afternoon.
I did try the cinnamon and sugar one (the twisted long one) and I must say that flavor was a bit dry and nothing I would order again (but it must be the same dough?)
go for the filled donuts if you want to try them. love that they have creative flavors!

I hope they improve their dough because the flavor combos are great. We tried these:
Coconut cream — great filling, by far the best of these three
Whiskey maple bacon — good flavor, love the combo but didn’t taste any whiskey ;)
Lemon cream — filling was just ok, nothing special
The problem is the dough in the DOUGHnut is not good! It’s light and airy as advertised but also dry and bready. This has to be improved or it’s no use putting all those good fillings and toppings on it. But I am happy to see more innovative doughnuts in Seattle, finally.

I’ve been looking for a good donut shop in Seattle that wasn’t Top Pot and was excited to find out that a donut pop-​up was opening in Cupcake Royale. And like all things Cupcake Royale does their partnership with Rodeo did not disappoint!
They offer several kinds of donuts but if you’re looking for standard maple bar you won’t find it here. They have specialty flavors instead like tiramisu, huckleberry, vanilla with potato chips, etc. I actually really like the one with the potato chips! They usually have 6 – 7 flavors and once they run out they’re out so if you’re craving a donut don’t wait until late morning or afternoon to go. Cupcake Royale also serves Stumptown coffee so you can have something to go with that wonderful donut you just picked up.