Anthony's take
By Anthony Martinez, The Leander Local · Updated June 2026
When Shipley is on, it's a real Texas donut morning: fresh-made, the chocolate iced with walnuts disappearing faster than I can think to take a picture, and a team under Katie that goes above and beyond enough to earn a thank-you letter from the hotel down the street. That's the version I root for, and they do try new products instead of running on autopilot, which I respect.
The trouble is the floor falls out on the busy days. A deflated kolache, donut holes that tasted like stale over-glazed sadness, nine dollars for not much, and weekend orders showing up incomplete with deformed, unevenly glazed donuts. When a donut shop can't hold it together when it's busiest, that's the whole job. Hit it on a calm weekday morning and you'll be fine.
The Order
I go for the chocolate iced topped with walnuts, fresh, on a quiet weekday when the line isn't fighting the kitchen.
⚠ Gotcha
Weekends and delivery are where it falls apart: missing items, stale holes, deflated kolaches. Go early on a weekday and order in person.