Oscar’s Donuts started with an idea in lockdown. Two years later, the Parsons family prepare sweet treats for all on a Braidwood street. Photo: Oscar’s Donuts Facebook.
Many of us used lockdown to learn a new skill or get cracking on that project we’d put off doing around the house.
Judy Parsons’ son’s grand idea was starting a business – Oscar’s Donuts.
“Brodie got into cooking donuts through lockdown,” she said.
“We were living in town in Braidwood at that stage and he experimented with some recipes in the kitchen.
“It was trial and error, but he had fun doing it.”
After teaching himself how to cook donuts, he began selling them through Facebook.
“When we couldn’t go anywhere, he would drop them to people’s houses and it was a bit of fun in a time that was pretty scary for a lot of people,” Ms Parsons said.
“The only thing that might have been a negative was that we just ate too many donuts for a while!”
For Brodie, the next step was buying a food van with money he’d earned from working in cafes.
“When that one was too small, we helped him buy a bigger one out of Canberra,” Ms Parsons said.
“His uncle runs the model car shop and he encouraged Brodie to set it up there.
“That’s where it’s been for two years now.”
While Brodie’s days start at 3:30 am to cook the donuts, his family also pitches in.
“I do most of the bookkeeping and [admin] things,” Ms Parsons said.
“He also employs one of his sisters, and also the other sister when she comes home from Western Australia.
“It’s been great to see him grow as the business does.”
As well as the classic cinnamon, the other flavours on offer include vanilla glazed, lemon, maple, passionfruit, pink confetti and KitKat.
Donuts of all flavours (and colours) are available from Brodie’s food van. Photo: Judy Parsons.
Two years into the journey, Ms Parsons said demand for Brodie’s yeast-raised donuts was still strong.
“People tell us they have driven out of their way to come and find us,” Ms Parsons said.
“The kind of donuts that we sell are hard to find.”
For those after something a little more savoury, they also offer other menu items.
“He just does a simple toastie with any combination of ham, cheese and tomato, and we do milkshakes and coffee,” Ms Parsons said.
“We use a coffee company called Niugini Arabica, which is organically grown fair-trade coffee that’s grown in Papua New Guinea.”
Ms Parsons said the result was a sweet treat for Braidwood residents and visitors alike.
“It’s successful – he’s happy doing it,” Ms Parsons said.
“At the end of Braidwood, there are a couple of restaurants but it is not traditionally a spot with a lot of food options.
“We’ve talked about having an actual shop front, but that’s probably years away.”
Oscar’s Donuts is open 9 am to 5 pm Friday to Sunday and is located at 198 Wallace Street in Braidwood.
Original Article published by Claire Sams on About Regional.
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