Yates Cider Mill Outpost

Get the donut sundae with cinnamon on top! The definition of a tasty fall treat!
I’ve been here twice since their September opening and its a great little shop for a quick treat.
I’ve also had the Cider Crème off their frozen drink menu and that was alright.
Don’t be frightened by the line, it goes fast. There’s also two registers on the side that can help as well!

Warm donuts and a cider icey? Sign me up!
The donuts are delicious and the cider icey was really good too. The kids working here were super friendly and helpful. I do wish their prices were a little lower, but the quality is excellent.

We all knows Yates is great and I love having this outpost location at the mall. They have the traditional cider (or cider slush) to choose from along with the donuts, but they also have a large variety of coffee drinks and smoothies that look amazing. I hope they open more locations in other places as well.

Nothing brightens a trip to the giant, overcrowded Great Lakes Crossing Mall like a sugared cider doughnut. I learned from an exhaustive outing searching for a formal dress that Yates Cider Mill’s stand needs to be the first stop, not the last, to guarantee a fruitful and productive shopping trip. Just like hiking, it’s important to gear up, supplement yourself prior to setting out on the trail, and keep well hydrated while traversing those pedestrian hamster paths. One doughnut down, a small cup of hot cider or chai, and I was much better served on my next trip.
Yates does a roaring business at their home cider mill during the autumn. Apple products fly off their shelves. The outpost carries a selection year-​round. Of course they have the pressed cider in hot, toasty or frozen, slushy forms. There’s apple juice for the kids in a variety of sizes and flavours. The outpost also functions as a coffee bar, whipping up cappuccino, espresso, lattes, hot chocolate, and vanilla spiced chai. Specialty flavours are provided by some decadent syrups, so if a hot coconut rum coffee sounds like your thing, they can provide that caffeinated hit.
And then there are the doughnuts. Go sugar or go home. Plain cider doughnuts are fine, I suppose, but the sugar ones definitely provide the sweet and spiced kick I love about autumn and winter. The baked goods case also includes cookies, muffins, and bagels (including a pretty nummy looking jalapeño jack) that they can serve up with creamcheese. But the doughnuts sing their siren song, fresh baked and oh so cinnamony good.
Prices are fair, though $ 3 for cider always hurts my heart. I suppose I’m supporting a Michigan business so I feel less guilty than the same price at a fast food joint who probably bought their juice at Costco or GFS. The staff working here are a genuinely happy and wholesome bunch who were happy to chat while we waited for the ciders to be done. Sweet people all around; they hire some really lovely people who were efficient and double checked my small order to be sure I had the right number of doughnuts. I suppose cramming one in my mouth wouldn’t slip past them?
They take cash and credit, and you can walk out with a full dozen doughnuts if you want. It might even be faster and more approachable than the Yates’ mill itself during peak season. I think the products are better for you than most everything else in the food court too.
Nom on!

I have to admit that I’ve actually never been to the actual Yates Cider Mill. I know, I know. The horror! But it’s a bit far from me and I’m a huge devotee of Franklin so I usually go there. However, the other day I was shopping at Great Lakes Crossing and could not pass up the arresting aroma of cider and doughnuts coming from their outpost in the food court. I was like a cartoon character and the scent wafted over to me, grabbed me by the nose and dragged me over. I got a doughnut and a smal cider slushie. Perfection.
It was the perfect treat to get a little sugar in me while I navigated the massive mall. The doughnut was about the size of a golf ball around and it was warm and moist. I’m just putting it out there – it might have been one of the best doughnuts I’ve ever had. Nothing fancy, just dusted with cinnamon and sugar, but fresh and ever so delicious. The cider slushie was sweet and had a hint of cinnamon. I got the kiddie sized so it was a little bit bigger than a dixie cup and it was the perfect amount for just a little snack. It was a really warm day out so it really hit the spot.
The outpost also carries a number of other pastries including danishes and scones, but I could not pass up the doughnut. They also carry jams and other gifty items as well as the aforementioned cider and Zingerman’s coffee. Huzzah! Even better? While Yates’ actual mill may be closed during off season this place is open year round and until 9pm every day except Sunday. So if you’re a’cravin’ some cider and doughnuts in February, you can get your fix!
The gal who helped me out was a youngin’ but so so sweet and friendly. Is it crazy to say that even though I got a fantastic new handbag the highlight of my visit to GLC was my stop here? Ehhh, no. No, I don’t think so!