Dreamboat Vegan Donuts and Scoops in Fort Worth, which opened last month, is a dream come true for the plant-based set. Photo by Andrea Ridout.
June 28, 2023
It's been more than 20 years since Spiral Diner first brought vegan comfort food to the Metroplex. Today, with venues in Fort Worth, Denton and one on the way in Arlington, owners Amy McNutt and James Johnston have proven plant-based fare can be a hit in DFW.
Now the franchise is filling a dessert niche with the opening of their new vegan sweet shop last month.
The new Dreamboat Vegan Donuts and Scoops sits across the street from Spiral's flagship location in Fort Worth. It's also next door to Maiden, McNutt and Johnston's new plant-based fine-dining restuarant, which launched this month.
A case filled with Cookie Butter donuts at Dreamboat Donuts and Scoops. Photo by Andrea Ridout.
DOUGH NUTS
Everybody loves donuts! You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn’t enjoy eating these fried and delicious bundles of joy.
The first donut as we know it did not come “a-round” until the mid 19th century. Since then, they have become an American food staple. Although the traditional donut recipe is fairly simple, because of the use of milk and butter, vegan donuts have been hard to find — especially in the DFW area. Until now!
When I walked into Dreamboat for the first time, I knew I was in for something special. The hot pink counters and matching pink take-out boxes exuded a hip urban vibe.
Dreamboat staffers Roxy and Freddy were quite friendly and made my friend and I feel right at ease. They guided us through some menu favorites, from their standard glazed donuts to blueberry muffins and everything in between.
We couldn’t take our eyes off of their glass case full of Cookie Butter donuts slathered with cookie butter frosting and speared with Biscoff cookies. Dreamy!
Donuts range from $2.99 up to $3.99, depending on variety.
Dreamboat Donuts and Scoops. Photo by Andrea Ridout.
I opted for a Chocolate Glazed with an orange zesty drizzle that was just the perfect blend of sweet and citrus — then on to the popular JJ, a triple creation of peanut butter frosting, chocolate cream-filled cookies and peanut butter drizzle.
Dreamboat also sells a variety of cake donuts including a Classic Cake with a sweet glaze, Lemon Poppyseed, Red Velvet with Cream Cheese and a Blueberry Lemon Cake, as well as seasonal flavors of muffins.
The donuts are available until sellout and can go quickly on a busy day like Father’s Day.
COOL TREATS
Spiral Diner has long served ice cream, but at Dreamboat they've expanded their offerings.
Ice cream scoops start at $2.29 for a single scoop or $4.49 for a double. Flavors include Banana Pudding, Cookies & Cream, Cookie D’oh, Coffee, Strawberry and Pistachio – and of course, Vanilla and Chocolate.
Specialty waffle cones include Midnight Vanilla, Salted Blue Corn or Birthday Cake and run $3 each. Multiple toppings are also offered at 79 cents each.
All donut, muffin and ice cream flavors will vary with the season and are subject to availability.
THE COMBO
A Dreamboat server piles a donut with two scoops of pistachio and strawberry ice cream topped off with whip cream. Photo by Andrea Ridout.
One of the unique options Dreamboat offers — and encourages — is pairing donuts with ice cream.
My cohort was up for it and was served a decadent dessert mountain on a plate. The pistachio donut was piled high with a scoop each of pistachio and strawberry vegan ice cream and topped with plant-based whipped cream, sprinkles, cherries and caramel drizzle.
If you’ve ever had the ice cream from Spiral Diner, you know this combo was out of this world!
EXTRAS
Retro pink Dreamboat mugs are available for sale. Photo by Andrea Ridout.
Drinks on the menu include fruit juices ($3.49), agave limeade (3.99), plant-based chocolate or vanilla milk ($2.49) or Olipop soda ($3.79) – and even iced fair trade coffee ($2.99) — the perfect thing to cool off on a hot Texas summer day.
Before you leave, be sure to grab one of the adorable Dreamboat souvenir mugs to take home as well as extra donuts to share!
Dreamboat does not offer indoor seating but there are some convenient tables just outside. The shop is located in Fort Worth’s PS1200 mixed-used development, a chic urban shopping experience clad in oversized corrugated steel with sloped curving rooflines and overhangs where you’ll find a smattering of unique shops and soothing outdoor spaces for dining, walking or just contemplation.
Find them at 1204 6th Ave in Fort Worth. It’s a dream!
RELATED ARTICLES
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Green mixed-use development underway in Fort Worth
Spiral Diner bringing down-home vegan fare to Denton
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Author
ANDREW RIDOUT
Andrew Ridout, has a degree in software engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington and is currently living in Dallas. He has written articles for The Daily Texan newspaper and numerous other personal essays both for school and work. He is a strong advocate of a wholly plant-based diet. He's the founder of Frankly Good, a vegan baking company. Contact him at fridout106@gmail.com.
