Cold Hollow Cider Mill’s hot apple cider doughnuts are one of life’s greatest pleasures.
Photo Credit : Aimee Tucker
Located just outside the Green Mountain tourist town of Stowe, Cold Hollow Cider Mill in Waterbury Center, Vermont, uses fresh-pressed apple cider (and apple cider doughnuts) to satisfy a year-round stream of visitors. While in the area for a quick Stowe overnight, I remembered Cold Hollow had recently made an appearance on Yankee‘s list of the Best 5 Cider Mills in New England, so I made sure we had time to stop for a sample.
Here’s a look at our visit in photos!
Cold Hollow Cider Mill
A cloudy early winter visit to Cold Hollow Cider Mill in Waterbury Center, Vermont. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerIt being early December, the store was in decoration-transition. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerBut, no matter the month, apples are the main attraction. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerIt’s at this point that, if you stop and sniff, you’ll get your first whiff of Cold Hollow’s famous apple cider doughnuts. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerOur first stop inside the store was the cider press viewing room, where you can watch apple cider being made the old-fashioned way. Pressing takes place year-round, but ramps up to daily from mid-September through mid-December. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerCraving an apple cider sample? Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerLine up at the tasting tank! Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerAfter you’re done sampling the cider, it’s time to explore the store. Foodies will find plenty of Vermont-made treats to take home, from 2015 Yankee Editors’ Choice Award Winner Fat Toad Farm caramel sauces to mustards, jams, crackers, maple candy, and so much more. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerMy favorite spot in at Cold Hollow Cider Mill is the Honey Bee Corner, where you can view a busy hive at work. Naturally, you’ll also find Vermont honey for sale. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerMy idea of heaven (well, the breakfast part of heaven) is the Cold Hollow maple syrup wall. Pick a size, any size. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerOn vacation? Mail a Vermont postcard to a friend. In case you didn’t know, the theme of Vermont can be summed up in two words: “fall foliage.” Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerEvery kind of Vermont souvenir and gift can be found at Cold Hollow. Shirts, mugs, puzzles, greeting cards, toys, books, soaps, wooly socks…you name it. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerGifts galore. I especially liked those animal-shaped cutting boards along the back wall. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerBefore you leave, don’t forget the fresh apple cider! It comes in gallons, half-gallons, quarts, and pints. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerAnd then, arguably the most popular item for sale at Cold Hollow, there are the (legendary) apple cider doughnuts. Four “donut robots” crank out the cider doughnuts daily. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerGrab a seat at the counter (or outside if the weather is nice) and enjoy your warm doughnuts fresh from the fryer. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerCold Hollow Cider Mill’s hot apple cider doughnuts are one of life’s greatest pleasures. Photo Credit : Aimee Tucker
Have you ever visited Cold Hollow Cider Mill?
This post was first published in 2017 and has been updated.
Aimee Tucker is Yankee Magazine’s Home Editor and the Senior Digital Editor of NewEngland.com. A lifelong New Englander and Yankee contributor since 2010, Aimee has written columns devoted to history, foliage, retro food, and architecture, and regularly shares her experiences in New England travel, home, and gardening. Her most memorable Yankee experiences to date include meeting Stephen King, singing along to a James Taylor Fourth of July concert at Tanglewood, and taking to the skies in the Hood blimp for an open-air tour of the Massachusetts coastline.
