One North Georgia apple house sells about 700 different products, and almost all of them get made right up the road. Somehow the apple cider donut still steals the show.
I love that a simple fried ring of dough can compete with fried pies, fritters, and jars of apple butter. One mountain orchard even fries its donuts in three styles, from cinnamon sugar to plain old-fashioned cake.
Georgia takes this treat seriously, especially once the apple trees start filling up. Many of the best spots pair the donuts with U-pick rows, hayrides, corn mazes, and slushies made from cider.
A donut is the snack, but the farm turns it into a whole day.
I can’t imagine a better excuse to load up the car and chase a sugar-dusted carton. So which orchard will get your first bite of the season?
Mercier Orchards
Three kinds of apple cider donuts under one roof? That’s what happens when a family has been growing apples since 1943.
The bakery at this Blue Ridge favorite turns out cider donuts in cinnamon sugar, powdered sugar, and old-fashioned cake styles. Picking just one feels unfair, so maybe grab a mixed bag and call it research.
The donuts are only one part of the sweet lineup. You’ll also find fried pies, apple fritters, and other baked goods that make the counter dangerous for anyone without a plan.
Out in the open, the orchard covers about 300 acres. The farm is a fourth-generation family business and is also veteran-owned.
Apples get the spotlight in fall, with more than 40 varieties grown here. Earlier in the year, U-pick seasons include strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and peaches.
Before you leave, swing through the market for seasonal fruits and vegetables. Jams, jellies, and apple butter make easy souvenirs that won’t vanish on the drive home like the donuts will.
Hours run a little longer Friday through Sunday, which helps if you’re making a weekend trip to the Georgia mountains. Free on-site parking keeps the arrival simple.
Address: 8660 Blue Ridge Dr, Blue Ridge, GA 30513
Jaemor Farms
Founded in 1912, this Alto farm has had more than a century to perfect its snack game. Six generations later, the apple cider donuts remain a big reason to pull off Cornelia Highway.
Inside the family-owned market, fresh produce sits beside homemade baked goods. Southern road-trip favorites show up too, including boiled peanuts and freshly made kettle corn.
Hungry for more than sugar? A small cafe means you can turn a quick donut run into an actual meal.
Fall brings the farm’s harvest fun to life. Hayrides and a corn maze keep families busy, and apple cannons add a launch-and-cheer element that’s hard to resist.
Peach season draws fans here too, so this stop isn’t just an autumn thing. Still, apple season feels like the moment the place really shows off.
Timing matters if you prefer elbow room. Saturdays and Sunday afternoons get the biggest crowds, while weekday evenings tend to be calmer.
Sunday hours start at 1 PM, so plan around that. The market opens at 7 AM the rest of the week, which makes a donut breakfast entirely reasonable.
Address: 5340 Cornelia Hwy, Alto, GA 30510
Southern Belle Farm
Pig races and apple cider donuts on the same afternoon? McDonough makes that combination sound perfectly normal.
The same family has run this 330-acre working farm for about eighty years. It sits south of Atlanta, so you don’t need a mountain drive to get your orchard-style fix.
Mimi’s Bakery handles the sweet stuff. Apple cider donuts appear during autumn, and fried pies, apple cider slushies, and homemade ice cream round out the menu.
Fall is when the farm goes full harvest mode. A corn maze and pumpkin patch lead the way, with pig races and a slide adding extra fun for kids.
Food trucks have joined the fall scene too. That helps if somebody in your group insists on lunch before dessert.
The Country Market stocks fresh produce, local items, jams, jellies, and apple butters. Non-alcoholic fruit ciders make a nice take-home treat.
Check the calendar before you go, since the farm closes Mondays and Tuesdays. Saturday hours stretch to 7 PM, giving you time for one more lap through the maze.
Address: 1658 Turner Church Rd, McDonough, GA 30252
Hillside Orchard Farms
Seven hundred products is a lot of shelf space. This Lakemont country store makes them at its own wholesale plant just up the road.
With that many jars to browse, you could easily forget the bakery. Please don’t, because apple cider donuts share the case with peach donuts, fried pies, and fritters.
Peach donuts might be the twist your fall outing didn’t know it needed. Try both and settle the debate yourself.
Autumn activities give you reasons to stay. U-pick apples and muscadines arrive in the fall, along with a corn maze.
Want a ride around the property? The farm offers train and hayrides by appointment, so call ahead instead of hoping for luck.
Kids have other distractions here too. A gem mine and farm animals add a little treasure hunt and a little barnyard charm.
Summer visitors can pick blackberries and blueberries, so this Georgia stop works beyond pumpkin season. Weekday hours end at 5 PM, and Sunday opens at 1 PM.
Address: 18 Sorghum Mill Dr, Lakemont, GA 30552
R & A Orchards
Donuts by the carton is the right unit of measurement here. One box rarely feels like enough once the car ride starts.
This family-run market sits on Highway 52 in Ellijay, the town that calls itself apple country. Fruits and vegetables come from the farm’s 200 acres.
A cafe and bakery keep the counters stocked with fresh baked treats and food items. Pair your apple cider donuts with an apple cider slushy for a cold-and-sweet combo.
Fall adds tractor tours to the lineup. You can also pick your own apples and flowers, which makes for a prettier haul than most grocery runs.
Shelves of canned goods give you plenty to bring home. Think of them as backup snacks for when the donut cartons run empty.
Early birds get a bonus here. The market opens at 8:30 AM seven days a week, a little ahead of many neighbors.
That early start makes it a smart first stop on an Ellijay orchard crawl. Grab breakfast, then head down the highway for round two.
Address: 5505 GA-52, Ellijay, GA 30536
Red Apple Barn
Yes, the barn is red. The bigger news is what comes out of it: cider, chutneys, and cider doughnuts.
Tucked along Tails Creek Road in Ellijay, this farm leans hard into apple-picking fun. Its website even posts a chart showing when different apple varieties are ready.
That chart is gold for planners. Match your trip to your favorite apple instead of guessing.
U-pick visits have come with perks like a cider and doughnut alongside your fresh-picked apples. A hayride out to the orchard makes the trip feel like a proper fall field trip.
In autumn, a pumpkin patch joins the scene. Tractor rides round out the farm activities.
The market shelves go well beyond donuts. Look for apple pies, jams, jellies, butters, bread, ciders, and honey.
Got a four-legged co-pilot? Dogs are allowed, so your pup can tag along for the orchard walk.
Sunday hours run from 1 PM to 5:30 PM, so after-church visits need a little speed. Monday through Saturday, doors open at 9 AM.
Address: 3379 Tails Creek Rd, Ellijay, GA 30540
B.J. Reece Orchards
Calling your fried pies world famous takes confidence. The apple cider donuts sitting next to them at this Ellijay farm hold their own.
The market stays open year-round, but fall is prime time. Farm activities run seven days a week starting in late August.
Beyond donuts and fried pies, the sweet lineup includes apple fritters, apple bread, and fudge. Seasonal treats rotate in too, so there’s usually something new to try.
Picking your own apples is the main event during the season. A petting zoo and farm tours give little ones plenty to remember.
October weekends bring food vendors to the property. That’s handy, since there’s no full restaurant on-site.
Dogs are welcome in the orchards. They can’t go into the petting zoo or the market, so plan who stays outside with the pup.
Georgia Grown produce and locally made products fill the shelves. It’s an easy spot to stock up after a morning among the trees.
Address: 9131 GA-52, Ellijay, GA 30536
Hillcrest Orchards
Swimming pig races are not a typo. They’re part of the Apple Pickin’ Jubilee at this Ellijay orchard.
The family has been farming here since 1946. During the jubilee, usually in September and October, the place turns into a full fall festival.
Wagon rides, a petting farm, mini golf, and playgrounds keep kids moving. An apple tree maze offers a fruity spin on the classic corn version.
Now for the reward. Homemade cider doughnuts are made hot and fresh all day.
Hot is the key word there. A warm doughnut straight off the fryer beats a cold one sitting in a box any day.
Want to go bigger? Try a hot fritter topped with ice cream, then pretend that counts as lunch.
The farm market and bakery carry pies, fudge, and preserves along with seasonal treats. U-pick apples let you walk away with something that doesn’t need a napkin.
Hours run 9 AM to 6 PM daily, which leaves plenty of time for both races and refills.
Address: 9696 GA-52, Ellijay, GA 30536
Panorama Farm Market
About 20 apple varieties line up at this Ellijay market. Picking favorites might take longer than eating the donuts.
Panorama started as a family fruit farm back in the 1920s. Today it grows apples, peaches, and fall vegetables.
The bakery turns out cider donuts and fried pies. Its kitchens also make apple sauce bread and apple cinnamon bread.
Whole baked apple pies make a strong case for taking dessert home. Homemade ice cream comes in 12 flavors if you need a cold chaser.
The produce selection goes beyond fruit. You might find acorn squash, sweet potatoes, sweet corn, and popping corn depending on the season.
Fun pantry finds show up too, such as Amish butter and elderberry tea. It’s the kind of market that turns a donut stop into a full grocery run.
Weekend afternoons draw the biggest crowds. Tuesday and Wednesday evenings tend to be quieter if you’d like to browse slowly.
The market sits right off Talona Mountain Road, just minutes from its neighbor on this list.
Address: 63 Talona Mountain Rd, Ellijay, GA 30536
Penland Orchards & Farm Market (formerly Penland’s Apple House)
Some donuts disappear in minutes. These have a reputation for staying fresh for days, though testing that takes serious willpower.
Penland has been selling fruit in Ellijay since 1936. The name changed from Penland’s Apple House, but the classic North Georgia apple house spirit stuck around.
Pair your apple cider donuts with an apple cider slushy. It’s a sweet, icy combo that tastes like fall on a sunny afternoon.
The bakery also turns out homemade fried pies and apple fritters. Shelves hold cider and plenty of canned goods for the pantry.
Out in the orchards, the farm grows more than 30 apple varieties. Peaches and nectarines arrive earlier in the season.
Since this is a seasonal market, check before heading out in winter. It typically operates from mid-May through November.
Saturday afternoons get the busiest. Monday or Wednesday evenings are calmer if you’d rather skip the line.
End your Georgia donut tour here, and you’ll go home with a carton that might just last through Tuesday.
Address: 41 Talona Mountain Rd, Ellijay, GA 30540
