SLO’s Sugar Lips Mini Donuts goes nuts for doughnuts

For some sweet treats, get snacking on some Sugar Lips Mini Donuts.

The husband-and-wife team of Ben and Jessica Brown has been serving their delicious little treats at the Downtown SLO Farmers’ Market on Thursdays since 2007. In addition, they have a vintage 1968 Cardinal travel trailer that can provide the mini-donuts at special occasions such as weddings, festivals or winery events.

Batches of the donut batter are made from a commercial mix as needed, “so it’s always fresh, and we never run out of product,” Jessica Brown said. The batter is poured into the hopper of a compact Lil Orbits mini-donut machine that squeezes the batter circles onto a conveyor belt that runs through the frying oil.

Within minutes, after the Browns add their flavorful touches, you’re blissfully nibbling on a still warm Sugar Lips mini-donut.

Choices at the farmers market include rainbow sprinkles and classic glazes such as maple, vanilla and chocolate. For special events, the couple typically sticks to three options: mini-donuts dusted with cinnamon sugar, powdered sugar or a combo of the two.

The idea for Sugar Lips came from a trip to an Oregon farmers market where freshly made, full-size donuts were being served. After returning home, the couple sought out a mini-donut machine for sale; soon, they were in business.

The vintage trailer was added to the mix courtesy of Brown’s brother. After visiting his sister and trying the mini-donuts at the San Luis Obispo farmers market, he started a Sugar Lips franchise back home in Colorado. Although he started out using the 1968 Cardinal, business boomed enough for him to move into a brick-and-mortar setup.

“(The trailer) was just sitting in the snow, but was already fitted for the donut machine, so we went to Colorado and got it back to San Luis Obispo,” Brown said.

Its distinctive setup is always a popular addition to special events, and business for that aspect of Sugar Lips is steadily growing. However, the company does have to fit in with the Browns’ two children and full-time jobs; she works as a medical coder for French Hospital and he owns Hammer and Ink screen printing shop.

Surprisingly, the tempting mini-donuts weren’t always so popular, even at the farmers market.

“When we first started, I couldn’t even give them away,” Brown recalled. “Now people come up to us and say that their friends told them they had to try some, and a lot of downtown restaurants will send people to us on Thursday nights too.

“It’s really snowballed into something we didn’t ever expect.”

This story was originally published April 8, 2016 at 3:54 PM with the headline "SLO’s Sugar Lips Mini Donuts goes nuts for doughnuts."