Rebel Donuts taking winter to hole new level in Mornington
It’s the doughnut shop with a rebellious streak, first taking us over the rainbow with its crazy unicorn creations. Now the owners have a hot chocolate bar — and they’ve found a deliciously different way to serve their unique blends. SEE VIDEO
South East
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Dedicated doughnut entrepreneur Ben Swan is putting a tasty spin on a winter warmer.
The Rebel Donuts co-owner has opened a hot chocolate bar and is serving a bespoke blend of melted dark and milk chocolate in a doughnut “cup”.
“I wanted to do something different to celebrate the launch of the hot chocolate bar and thought why not try serving the drink in a doughnut?” Mr Swan said.
After some trial and error he came up with a way to stop the doughnut disintegrating when he poured in the liquid chocolate.
“I discovered that if I coated the inside and edges of the doughnut with chocolate it stopped leaks,” Mr Swan said.
He uses Cacao Ivory white chocolate to seal the “cup” and then prepares a blend of Callebaut and Caco Ivory dark chocolates with Cadbury Sienna milk chocolate.
“We add some cream and then pour it into the doughnut,” Mr Swan said.
For extra indulgence the result is topped with milk chocolate shavings.
Mr Swan’s daughter Bobbie, 9, was on hand to try the treat the day after it was launched.
“It’s really yummy,” she said.
“Can I have a refill?”
Mr Swan said the $8.50 hot chocolate doughnut would be available for short time only, with just one combination on offer.
But he said the hot chocolate bar would be open all winter with a wider range of drinks including Nutella, ruby chocolate and vegan versions.
Mr Swan said the bar was inspired by Belgian hot chocolates he used to drink when living in Sydney.
“I really wanted to recreate that rich, velvety drink that was indulgent without being too sweet,” he said.
Mr Swan opened Rebel Donuts with his life and business partner Hayley Bradley in early 2018.
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The business quickly became known for its artisan doughnuts which are handmade and filled daily.
Its range includes old school iced and cinnamon dusted circles along with more avant-garde creations such as the Salty Sailor — a salted caramel filled, white chocolate glazed, pretzel topped indulgence and the Beetle Juice — a triple choc treat featuring dark chocolate truffle filling, milk chocolate glaze and white chocolate drizzle.
There are also four vegan and two gluten free versions and a savoury brekkie bun filled with bacon.
New flavours are regularly introduced with the couple keen to work with Mornington Peninsula producers.
One of the more popular collaborations is the Queen of Hearts which was created using Sunny Ridge strawberries.
Rebel Donuts is at 968a Nepean Highway, Mornington