Eskimo Bites, Sandy Beaches and Plain Jane are just some of the mini donut flavors construction science junior Taylor Laney is serving us in Bryan-College Station.
Student owned and run, Donut Darlin’ prepares fresh donuts and coffee for the citizens of the Brazos Valley multiple times every week at various events in the area.
An avid food fanatic, Laney said she was intrigued from the moment she noticed a food trailer up for sale.
“Before I bought the food trailer, it was actually a crepe place called ‘Holy Crepe,’ and the original plan was to make crepes , but I was not good at cooking them and that is the reason this turned into donuts,” Laney said. “Crepes just weren’t for me.”
With the help of her parents, Laney and her family created the branding plan and flavor varieties for the donut trailer.
When Laney first opened up Donut Darlin’ she said she wasn’t sure what the response from the community would be.
“The reaction from customers has completely surprised me,” Laney said. “I was so focused on getting this trailer up and running that I had never put too much thought into the outcome.”
Once the food trailer was fully functioning, Laney began to create the different flavors of donuts she now offers. In addition to classic flavors like vanilla or chocolate icing and sprinkles on top, Donut Darlin’ also sells specialty donuts such as Eskimo Bites, Sprinkles are for Winners and Sweater Weather.
“The flavors are what I think sounds appealing, depending on the season or the event I’m catering,” Laney said. “I have the biggest sweet tooth and the names are fun to brainstorm and fit the event.”
Laney said she is working on establishing seasonal flavors once she determines what
her customers like, including pumpkin spice donuts for the holidays.
Natalie Gaydos, allied health junior, said she loved the Eskimo Bites flavor when she first tried Donut Darlin’.
“The donuts are small and easy to eat,” Gaydos said. “I like the simplicity of Donut Darlin’.”
Laney said the people of Bryan-College Station have been a big factor in her success.
“The Aggie community is the reason I love my job,” Laney said. “Everyone is so supportive and excited about this journey of mine and I have gotten to meet a lot of people but none of it would have happened without the support of my donut lovers.”
Laney said she keeps busy with five to six events per week, depending on her class schedule.
“Our first big event for Donut Darlin’ was at the Texas Reds Festival in Bryan,” Laney said. “About 20,000 people came, my parents were there for backup and getting to see people enjoying our donuts and understanding how to work these big events was worth the stress.”
Laney said she could not run Donut Darlin’ alone and has been lucky to have the help of her friends, family and boyfriend for every event that she caters.
“My little sister and my little within Zeta Tau Alpha help me out a lot of times,” Laney said. “My friends want to work for Donut Darlin’ and they make it a fun job going out to events and selling donuts to people.”
Laney said the hardest part about being a young entrepreneur is the time management challenge of running her business while also taking classes full-time and working another job.
“Balancing school, my sorority and my actual job for a local home builder plus the trailer is pretty difficult, but I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Laney said.
Addy May, agricultural economics sophomore, is Laney’s little in Zeta and said the same day after Zeta had their Big and Little reveal, Laney asked May to help her serve donuts at 4 a.m. the next morning for a
news interview.
“I work at a bank. I’ve never made donuts
before this, so it has all been a learning experience for me, which has made it a unique bonding experience,” May said.
May said Laney makes the work enjoyable and her friends are constantly supporting Donut Darlin’ during the events she goes out to.
“My favorite part of working for Donut Darlin’ is the people,” May said. “I love being able to make somebody’s day simply by serving donuts.”
Currently, Donut Darlin’ operates within the Brazos Valley area, but Laney is hopeful to expand to other areas down the road. Laney said she plans to run Donut Darlin’ until she gets tired of it.
“This is my life right here, in a trailer and I am absolutely loving it,” Laney said
“My favorite part of working for Donut Darlin’ is the people,” May said. “I love being able to make somebody’s day simply by serving donuts.”
Currently, Donut Darlin’ operates within the Brazos Valley area, but Laney is hopeful to expand to other areas down the road. Laney said she plans to run Donut Darlin’ until she gets tired of it.
“This is my life right here, in a trailer and I am absolutely loving it,” Laney said.
By Deborah Anderaos
@deborahanderaos
Student serves up small donuts with big flavor