LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — A Nevada Built business with a classic formula, is finding new fans on social media with viral videos. It's where tradition meets what's trending.
Taking a blow torch to a Crème Brulee donut is going to grab your attention and you're not alone. Videos of their donut-making process often get tens of thousands, even millions of views on social media.
Perhaps, not what you'd expect from Carl's Donuts. A family-run business steeped in tradition, that dates back to the 60s.
"Carl's dough has remained the same basically since we started. It's a nice yeasty dough. It has a nice vanilla flavor," says Amber Ramsay, COO of Carl's Donuts.
You step in here and you smell the sugar and the spices and the warmth and you love that. But then when you learn the story of your family, it makes it that much more endearing.
HOTEL TO DONUTS
Carl's Donuts was started by Amber's grandparents. Her grandfather, Carl and her nana, Lynn.
"In the hotel business in Lake Tahoe. They noticed all these people were leaving to go get breakfast. They were like, how can we keep them here? So they met a man that was selling a donut fryer and they said, we'll buy your fryer if you teach us how to make donuts," says Ramsay.
WONDER WORLD
That donut fryer led them to Wonder World in 1966. The once-popular Las Vegas variety store was also home to the first Carl's Donuts.
Today, the Nevada Built business is cranking out between 50 and 70,000 donuts a day. You'll find them being sold at convenience stores and hotels and casinos throughout the valley.
"Right now since it is fall, we do have our pumpkin cake donut and that is a donut I wait all year for," says Ramsay.
More than 80 people work here at their facility near Sunset and Pecos, which also includes a retail donut shop.
TIKTOK SUPERSTAR
They have a lot of workers here, but perhaps none as famous as Pillar.
"Yes, Pillars are TikTok superstar. She is the queen of oddly satisfying video. She racks up millions of views, so we're pretty proud of her," says Ramsay.
They may be using social media to reach the next generation of donut lovers, but at their core is still the taste. Traditional treats like apple fritters are their staples.
You can check out more delicious treats from Carl's Donuts on Instagram and TikTok.
