The Duchess Bakery
Known for: Hand-cut yeast-risen doughnuts made fresh daily from a decades-old recipe, plus cakes and cupcakes; a downtown Cullman staple since 1939
222 1st Ave SE
Cullman, AL 35055
Monday: Closed; Tuesday: 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM; Wednesday: 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM; Thursday: 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM; Friday: 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM; Saturday: 7:00 AM – 2:00 PM; Sunday: Closed
Founded in 1939, the bakery started out known for bread before shifting to doughnuts, cakes and cupcakes, and ran as a family business for more than eight decades. Longtime owner Larry Bontrager sold it in January 2020 to Roger Rich and Jason and Stephanie Neal, who kept the original recipe and still start the doughnuts at 4 a.m. each day.
Open since 1939
Last checked 9/25/2026

