Fresh cider donuts are only part of the reason families visit Spicer Orchards in Fenton, Michigan. This family-run farm also offers apple picking, wagon rides, a corn maze, and a market filled with baked goods and homemade fudge.
One feature that sets it apart is its gluten-free donut option, which the orchard says is prepared at a separate facility and sold sealed. That gives visitors avoiding gluten another way to enjoy a classic cider mill tradition.
Families can pick apples, explore the farm playground, visit the animals, and finish with cider and donuts. With so much to do beyond the bakery counter, this is the kind of fall stop that can easily turn into an entire afternoon.
A Family Farm Off Clyde Road in Fenton
Spicer Orchards Farm Market, Cider Mill, Fudge, Bakery is a long name, and honestly, it earns every word. The family-run farm sits at 10411 Clyde Rd in Fenton, Michigan, in the United States.
It mixes a working orchard with a busy market, a bakery, and a cider mill.
The farm is spread out, so you can easily fill a whole afternoon here. Pick-your-own fruit, hay wagon rides, a play area, and farm animals all share the property.
Inside the market, shelves hold baked goods, fudge, jams, and other farm treats.
Fenton sits in Genesee County, which makes the orchard a reasonable drive from Flint, Ann Arbor, and parts of metro Detroit. That location helps explain why so many families make it a yearly stop.
I like that the place feels rooted in farming rather than flashy rides. The focus stays on fruit, food, and time outside together.
Hours can change by season, so checking the official website or social pages before leaving home is smart. Once you arrive, the first thing most people head for is the donut counter, and for good reason.
Warm Donuts Bagged Right Behind the Counter
Fresh donuts come out in bags on the back counter at Spicer’s market, often still warm. The classics are easy to spot.
You can usually find cinnamon sugar, powdered sugar, and plain options for simple tastes.
Fall brings pumpkin cinnamon donuts into the mix, and they tend to move quickly. If the batch you want is gone, waiting a few minutes for the next one is often worth it.
Buying by the dozen makes sense if you plan to share. Donuts travel home well for the ride, though the warm ones rarely make it far out of the parking lot.
My strategy would be simple. Grab a half dozen to eat right away, then a dozen to take home for later.
The bakery is tied closely to the cider mill, so the two treats naturally go together. A cup of cold cider beside a warm donut is the pairing most visitors picture before they even leave the driveway.
Speaking of flavors, the donut list does not stay the same all year, which brings up one of the farm’s fun habits.
Weekly Flavors Worth Watching For
Cherry cake donuts with cherry frosting once lit up local Facebook feeds for days. Spicer’s rotates special donut flavors each week during the summer, and fans keep a close eye on the announcements.
Past specials have included cherry chip and blueberry with lemon icing. During strawberry season, glazed strawberry donuts showed up on the counter too.
The rotating menu gives people a reason to come back more than once. Some families even turn it into a weekly outing to try every flavor before the season ends.
The best way to keep up is through the farm’s official social media pages. Flavors appear for a limited time, so the one you saw last week may already be gone.
I find this detail especially fun because it adds a little surprise to an ordinary donut run. You show up knowing the classics are there, then hope for something new.
These seasonal flavors usually follow whatever fruit is ripening in the fields. That connection makes sense once you see how much picking happens on this farm through the warm months.
Gluten-Free Donuts Made With Real Care
Fall orchards can be tough for anyone with celiac disease. Most cider mill donuts are made with wheat flour, and cross-contact is a real worry.
Spicer Orchards recently started making gluten-free donuts. The farm uses a dedicated fryer and dedicated utensils, and it prepares these donuts in a separate area.
Gluten testers are part of the process too. Those steps matter, because even tiny amounts of gluten can cause problems for people with celiac disease.
I can understand why this news spreads fast among families who usually stand back while everyone else eats. Being able to join the cider-and-donut tradition is a big deal.
If you have a serious allergy, it still helps to ask staff questions when you arrive. Ingredient labels on some packaged goods may not list every spice in detail, so speaking up is the safest move.
The gluten-free option shows the farm paying attention to who its visitors are. It is a thoughtful touch at a place that already draws all ages.
And after donuts, there is one more drink everyone comes for.
Cider Pressed at a Working Mill
Google lists Spicer’s first and foremost as a cider mill, and that tells you where its heart is. Fresh apple cider is a core part of the farm market experience.
You can buy it by the cup to sip on-site or in half gallon jugs to take home. Cold cider alongside warm donuts is the classic Michigan fall combo for a reason.
Even people who claim they do not usually like cider sometimes change their minds here. That says something about the appeal of a fresh local pour.
I would grab a jug for the ride home. Cider is easy to share and makes a simple fall breakfast drink the next morning.
Keep it cold, since fresh cider is best enjoyed within a short time. A small cooler in the car helps on warmer autumn days.
The apples behind that cider grow right on the property. So once you have a cup in hand, the next logical step is heading out to the trees yourself.
Short Trees and a Wagon Ride to the Apples
Short apple trees fill the orchard, and small kids love that detail. Even a four-year-old can reach the fruit without being lifted.
A hay wagon carries visitors out to the orchard. You can hop off at different spots to find different apple varieties.
Pick-your-own works on a wristband system. The first wristband is free, and each additional one has a small charge, which covers wagon rides, the playground, the orchard trip, and the farm animals.
Fruit you pick is weighed and charged by the pound. You can bring your own container or buy one at the farm.
Staff can help if you are unsure what to choose. They have shared tips on which varieties work better for baking and which are better for snacking.
I would ask about baking apples first, then pick a few snackers for the drive. That way the trip pays off in pie later.
Apples are the fall headline, but the picking season actually starts much earlier in the year.
Berries and Cherries Before Autumn Arrives
Strawberry season kicks things off at Spicer’s long before the leaves turn. The berries grow in raised rows that help with drainage.
Because strawberries sit close to the ground, picking means a lot of bending. Anyone who struggles with that may prefer cherries, which can be picked while standing.
Tart cherries and raspberries also have their turn during the warmer months. Availability depends on the weather and the crop, so check the farm’s updates before going.
Bring a hat and sunscreen on sunny days. The fields offer little shade, and picking takes longer than you expect.
I like the idea of visiting more than once a year. A June strawberry trip and an October apple trip feel like two different farms.
Like the apples, berries are weighed when you finish. The farm also sells containers if you forget yours.
Of course, autumn brings its own outdoor attractions, and one of them is big enough to get lost in for a while.
A Corn Maze and Pumpkins for October
Tall corn walls turn into a fall puzzle at Spicer Orchards. The farm is known for a large corn maze, one of the most talked-about parts of an autumn visit.
Families wander the paths, try different turns, and eventually find their way out. It is a simple activity that works for kids and adults alike.
Pumpkin picking comes along in fall too. Choosing the right pumpkin often becomes a small family debate, which is half the fun.
Wear shoes that can handle dirt. Farm paths get muddy after rain, and corn mazes are no exception.
Weekends in October tend to be the liveliest time. A weekday visit can feel calmer if your schedule allows it.
Food trucks sometimes visit during busy seasons as well. Check announcements if you want lunch beyond the market’s treats.
Once the maze is finished, younger kids usually have plenty of energy left. Luckily, the farm has a dedicated space for burning it off, and it includes some furry residents.
Goats, a Cow, and a Sandy Play Yard
Baby goats hopping around their pen are hard to ignore. The petting farm at Spicer’s has goats, a friendly cow, and other farm animals.
Next door sits a playground with a sand and dirt area. Kids can dig, climb, and run while parents rest nearby.
Wristbands give access to the play yard and the animal area. That makes it easy to combine picking, playing, and visiting the animals in one trip.
The market also sells bags of apples meant for feeding deer or horses at home. It is a quirky item, but handy for families with animals.
I would plan extra time here if you have little ones. This is often the part they remember most.
Washing hands after visiting the animals is a good habit, especially before grabbing donuts. A pack of wipes helps.
After play time, most families wander back toward the market. And inside, there is more than cider and donuts waiting on the shelves.
Fudge Samples, Warm Pies, and Holiday Visits
Watermelon and maple bacon are not flavors most people expect in fudge. Spicer’s fudge counter has offered both, and samples make trying them easy.
Fruit pies sit out on tables, sometimes still warm. Blueberry and apple are among the choices, and either makes a fine souvenir.
The market also carries homemade jams, ice cream, and other fruit-based goods. The store is narrow in spots, so strollers take a little patience.
Fall is the main event, but the farm stays busy into winter. Christmas activities include visits with Santa in a wooden cabin and a gingerbread house train ride.
Families who love holiday traditions might want to watch for those dates. They can fill up, so planning ahead helps.
I like that one farm can cover June berries, October apples, and December Santa visits. It turns a single stop into a year-round habit.
Still, for many Michiganders, the reason to drive out remains the same simple pairing: a warm donut, a cold cup of cider, and an afternoon on the farm.
Share this story
