This Old-Fashioned Ohio Donut Shop Has Kept Its Traditional Recipes Alive

A bakery that has been frying donuts since 1912 is now run by the sixth generation of the same family. That’s not a typo.

Six generations of people who decided flour, sugar, and early mornings were the family business.

The recipes here are decades old, and everything is made from scratch. There’s a supersized glazed donut with a name that sounds like a wrestler.

There are bowtie donuts, French crullers, and crème brûlée filled rings sharing the same case.

I like how this Ohio shop never chased trends to stay relevant. It just kept baking the way its founder did after arriving from Germany.

I believe that kind of patience shows up in every bite.

A German Immigrant Started Something That Six Generations Refused To Quit

Back in 1906, a young man named Wilhelm left Neiderwinden, Germany, for America. Six years later, he and his uncle Frank opened Resch’s Bakery in Columbus, Ohio.

That was 1912. The bakery has stayed in the same family ever since, which is a pretty wild streak for any business.

The first shop stood at 1029 E. Livingston Avenue.

In 1962, the bakery moved farther east to 4061 E. Livingston Avenue, where it stayed for decades.

Today, the sixth generation keeps things running. Think about that for a second.

Great-great-great-grandkids of the founders are still turning out the same kind of treats.

What makes this story fun is how little the core idea has changed. Resch’s still uses decades-old recipes and traditional methods to make its baked goods from scratch.

Plenty of bakeries talk about tradition on a sign or a coffee mug. Here, tradition is basically the job description, and it has been for more than a century.

It also explains why the place feels personal to so many families in central Ohio. Birthday cakes, Saturday donuts, and holiday cookies have been tied to this name for generations.

So when you grab a donut here, you’re holding a little slice of family history. Not a bad bonus for something that also happens to taste like breakfast heaven.

History rarely comes with sprinkles, but this one does.

The Donut Case Reads Like A Greatest Hits Album

Glazed, chocolate iced, and cinnamon are only the opening act. The lineup at Resch’s Bakery keeps going far past the usual suspects.

Cream-filled donuts come in chocolate, maple iced, and white iced versions. Custard fans get their own option too, along with jelly-filled donuts for anyone who likes a fruity surprise.

Then come the classics that feel straight out of a grandparent’s kitchen. Old fashion sour cream, plain cake, powdered cake, and sugar cake donuts all make the list.

Bowtie donuts deserve a special shout-out. Their twisted shape looks fancy without trying too hard, which is honestly a great life goal.

French crullers bring a lighter, ridged look to the case. Stick donuts and apple fritters round things out for people who like variety in their box.

Donut holes are a smart pick when you can’t decide. They’re small enough to try a few without committing to a whole dozen of one flavor.

Here’s a practical tip for groups. Mix the classics with a few cake donuts so everyone at the table finds a favorite.

Kids usually go straight for anything with icing. Adults sometimes surprise themselves by grabbing the sour cream old fashion and never looking back.

The hardest part is closing the box. Good luck with that.

Meet The Giant Glazed Donut That Needs Two Hands

Some donuts are snacks. The Big Boy is more of an event.

Resch’s Bakery makes this supersized glazed donut for anyone who looked at a regular donut and thought, “Cute, but bigger please.” It’s the same classic glazed idea, just scaled up to celebration size.

Why does a giant donut work so well? A simple glazed recipe is the best test of a bakery’s skill, and there’s nowhere to hide.

That’s what makes the Big Boy fun. It shows off traditional dough and a sweet glaze without needing fillings or toppings to steal attention.

It’s also a great pick for sharing. Cut it into wedges for the office, the kids, or a family breakfast, and suddenly you’re a hero.

Birthday mornings could use one of these too. Stick a candle in the middle, and you’ve got a cake alternative that feels playful and a little bit rebellious.

Photos are almost required. Set it next to a normal donut, and the size difference makes for a picture your friends will ask about.

If you’re planning a road trip across Ohio, this is the kind of stop that gives the day a story. Nobody forgets the time they split a donut the size of a dinner plate.

Bring napkins, and maybe a friend.

Specialty Flavors Prove Old Recipes Can Still Have Fun

Crème brûlée inside a donut sounds like something a dessert genius dreamed up at midnight. At Resch’s Bakery, it’s on the specialty list.

The bakery leans on tradition, but its specialty donuts show a playful side. Blueberry cream cheese filled donuts bring a tangy, fruity twist to the case.

Then there’s the PB-J filled donut with raspberry. It’s basically a lunchbox classic that grew up and got a glaze-worthy upgrade.

Salted caramel rounds things out for anyone who likes sweet with a little edge. That combo has fans for a reason, and it pairs nicely with a plain cake donut on the side.

What’s cool is how these flavors sit right next to century-old favorites. You can grab a cinnamon donut and a crème brûlée donut in the same visit.

That mix makes Resch’s a great stop for picky families. Traditionalists get their classics, while flavor hunters get something new to brag about.

A smart move is to build a half-dozen tasting box. Pick two classics, two cream-filled, and two specialty donuts, then rank them at home.

Turn it into a family contest if you like. Losers clean up the powdered sugar, which is never a small job.

Old recipes, fresh ideas, and zero boredom. That’s a pretty sweet balance.

The Pastry Lineup Will Make You Forget You Came For Donuts

Cream horns. Rugelach.

Mini pecan pies. Resch’s Bakery could close its donut fryer tomorrow and still have a full-blown pastry party going on.

Danishes come in apricot, pineapple, and cheese. Turnovers show up in blueberry, apple, and cherry, plus a meringue version that feels delightfully old-school.

Rugelach is a real treat here. Fillings include cinnamon sugar with walnuts, plus raspberry with chocolate chips.

Mini pies are perfect for anyone who wants pie without the whole pie commitment. Choose from pecan, sweet potato, or cherry dutch.

Cookies fill out the case too. Chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, peanut butter, and sugar cookies keep things friendly for younger bakers in training.

Brownies and bagels add more options. Homemade soft pretzels give salty snack fans a reason to cheer.

Here’s a tip for hosting. Mix pastries, cookies, and donuts on one platter, and your brunch suddenly looks like you planned it for weeks.

Everything is made from scratch with the best ingredients the bakery can find. That focus is a big part of why people keep coming back for more than just donuts.

So go ahead and wander past the donut section. Your sweet tooth might thank you, and your coworkers definitely will.

Celebration Cakes Have Starred At Ohio Parties For Generations

Ask around central Ohio, and a Resch’s cake has probably shown up at a birthday, wedding, or graduation in somebody’s family. These cakes are a big part of the bakery’s story.

Resch’s Bakery is known for moist cakes with frosting that hits a sweet spot. Not too heavy, not too shy, just right for a party plate.

You can order a custom cake for a big day. That works well for weddings and graduations, when the cake ends up in a lot of photos.

Pre-made cakes are available too. They’re handy for surprise celebrations or those moments when you suddenly remember it’s your cousin’s birthday.

Planning ahead is the easiest way to get exactly what you want. Think about the guest count, flavors, and colors before you call or stop by.

Cupcakes can be fun for school events or casual parties. Kids love having their own little cake, and nobody argues over corner pieces.

A classic white cake is a timeless choice. It fits almost any theme and lets the decorations shine.

The best part is knowing your cake comes from a family bakery with more than a century of experience. That’s a lot of birthdays behind every slice.

Candles not included, but smiles pretty much are.

Every Season Brings Its Own Reason To Stop By

Pumpkin donuts with cream cheese icing. That’s the kind of fall news worth sharing with everyone you know.

Resch’s Bakery rolls out seasonal specialties throughout the year. Each one gives regulars and newcomers a fresh excuse to swing by.

Spring brings hot cross buns for Easter. They’re a classic holiday bake with deep roots, which fits a bakery that loves tradition.

Fall turns into pumpkin territory. Pumpkin treats show up, and the pumpkin donuts with cream cheese icing are a cozy match for sweater weather.

When Christmas arrives, the bakery offers special cookies and pastries. They make great gifts for teachers, neighbors, or that friend who already has everything.

Seasonal shopping turns into a fun family tradition. Mark your calendar, and make it an annual outing with the kids.

You could even start a holiday tasting challenge. Try one seasonal item each time, and keep notes on everyone’s favorites.

A box of holiday cookies on the table makes any gathering feel more festive. It also saves you from flour-covered countertops at home.

Each season feels a little different at the bakery. That keeps a century-old shop feeling fresh all year long.

So, what’s your season? Pick one, and plan the visit.

A Bigger New Home Keeps The Old Recipes Rolling

Moving after more than six decades is a big deal for any business. For Resch’s Bakery, the move to Gahanna opened a brand-new chapter.

The new store is larger and serves as the bakery’s main production space. Construction was underway in early 2025, and the shop is now open and baking.

Inside, the main event is the aroma of fresh baking. That smell is a big part of the experience and a clue to the scratch-made work happening behind the counter.

The building may be new, but the recipes are not. The same traditional methods and decades-old recipes still guide what lands in the cases.

Hours run Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday hours run from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the bakery is closed on Sundays.

That schedule makes it easy to plan. Grab breakfast donuts, an afternoon snack, or a cake pickup on the way home.

Gahanna makes a fun stop for a day of exploring central Ohio. A box of donuts in the car turns any drive into a mini adventure.

You’ll find Resch’s Bakery at 150 N Hamilton Rd, Gahanna, OH 43230. Bring your sweet tooth and a sense of history.

Six generations would approve.