Cruel Donuts & Ice Cream

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Homemade ice cream and donuts. Ice cream is made in house by highly experienced ice cream chef. Unique flavors.

Cruel Donuts & Ice Cream gives a familiar neighborhood treat a creative twist in San Mateo. Passionfruit glaze, guava filling, and strawberry shortcake-inspired doughnuts offer fruity alternatives to the classics, while ube and mochi varieties add different flavors and textures. We like that sense of variety when putting together a box to share. The crème brûlée doughnut is especially distinctive: owner Lean Ma has described filling it with baked custard and finishing the top with torched sugar. The selection also includes more familiar choices such as apple fritters and cinnamon rolls, alongside coffee and ice cream. With roots in a family doughnut business, Cruel combines recognizable bakery comforts with more inventive creations. Its appeal is the opportunity to choose a nostalgic favorite and something a little unexpected in the same order.