Rainbow Orchards

Two words. Cider doughnuts. Totes amaze.
I bought two doughnuts for each of us, as well as a slice of berry pie to share, a baked apple pie for after dinner and apple cider to bring back to the bay area.
The doughnuts were the standout hit.
Evident by the packed parking lot and crazy long line (30 minutes), the doughnuts and cider are on point.
Waiting in line tires me out a bit, so bring a blanket, picnic lunch and/​or camping chairs and hang out on the lawn around back. Great for people watching and relaxing with a nice view of the apple orchard.
I’ve seen the cider and apples at the Rainbow Orchards booth at the Downtown Sunnyvale farmer’s market. They also sell at the Newpark Mall farmer’s market. So, if you’re craving some really good cider, you know where to find some without having to drive three hours to Apple Hill.
You can only get their cider doughnuts up in Camino. If you’re going, would you grab a few extra cider doughnuts for me??? Yaaaaaaassssssssssss!

The place for apple donuts. Warm, moist, soft, and fluffy… get them while they’re hot! They also have a nice seating area with scarecrows, so you don’t have to worry about birds getting to your food (I think…).

This was our first stop during our first Apple Hill trip. I can’t believe I’ve been living in northern CA for three years and not made it to Apple until today!
We stopped here with a group of grad school friends and bought three dozen donuts and a gallon of apple cider to split amongst 20 – 22 people. The donuts really are as amazing as the reviews make them out to be. Perfectly warm, soft yet crunchy, and deliciously sweet and cinnamon-​y! I’d get at least 2/​person. The apple cider was obnoxiously expensive ($ 10/​gallon) but it was top notch.
After devouring the donuts, we walked around the orchards for a bit. This is a fantastic first stop in Apple Hill, regardless of whether you’re with a family with kids or with a group of friends. They have so many picnic tables and haystacks around the orchards that you will surely find something to please everyone.

Hot apple donuts for a dollar.
Let that sink in for a minute and then plan a stop at Rainbow Orchards on your next visit to Apple Hill. But make it early (as in 9ish when they open) or be prepared to wait in a line that wraps inside the building and makes you wonder if you’re actually at Six Flags waiting to get on a ride instead of just a simple bag of hot sugary goodness.
Their cider is reasonably priced and sold in various sizes. They keep it in a refrigerator near the front of the line. Feel free to grab a bottle and sip as you wait in line. We did and it helped make the line appear faster ;)
A couple of friends bought the monster corndogs and exclaimed that they were «the best damn corndog» they had ever eaten. And yes, that includes the state fair.
If you’re feeling extra apple-​adventurous… try the cream cheese apple tart. It’s basically apple cheesecake and ridiculously rich.
Yum.

Most important piece of info for your first apple hill trip, rainbow orchards is the only place with HOT apple cider donuts.
Yes the other orchards sell donuts but rainbow fries them to order.
My girlfriends and I planned our trip and made sure we got here right as it opened. We had loaded up on coffee and were ready for the much awaited donut when we got there.
We modestly ordered one each then sat on the benches outside and devoured it. Then after a few minutes we looked at each other and all said at the same time «Dont judge but I want another»
We spent some time walking around afterward, they were setting up for BBQ later in the day which I think just happens on the weekends. Everyone was very friendly.
Loved the décor outside and the ample benches and seating area.
Such a fun place to bring the kids and family, come with your friends, or a date!

This ranch was quite busy. I would give it a 3.5 stars. Check out lines extended from the front to the very back and it’s a bigger house filled with apple bins and pumpkins.
The cider was refreshing and the cinnamon apple donuts were nice and warm. Delish!
There’s also a bbq shack; didn’t eat bc I was still stuffed from all the snacking of fruits and desserts.
They had a nice area with benches and mini stage. We rested here for a bit. Good ranch for families. Lots of dogs were also at this ranch.

Rainbow Orchards is located near the center of all the other stops in Apple Hill. According to their website, they advertise their famous delicious Apple Cider Donut. I got the opportunity to try it and they are delicious. They are only $ 1 each and the size of them are smaller than a regular donut you would find a your local donut shop. What I like about these donuts is that they won’t make it until you order it. It comes out hot and fresh making the donut delicious. It wasn’t too sweet at all and it does have that apple taste.
This orchard is fairly small. They do sell apples and pumpkins inside their «barn». Free tasting of their cider is available and different sizes are available for purchase. But the main item here is the donut. This place is worth a stop.

If you’re looking for the best apple cider donuts in Apple Hill, Rainbow Orchards is the place! However, if you’re looking for a good apple and apple product selection, look elsewhere.
With me being a donut lover and on the hunt for the best apple donut, Rainbow Orchards was recommended to me by a waitress at a nearby restaurant. Boy did it not disappoint. I went to order four donuts and I thought that they would just package up some already made donuts. Nope. They make every donut to order! That way you get a warm, fluffy, perfect donut. I was worried that the sugar that they sprinkle on the donut would overwhelm the apple flavor, but it ended up balancing out the tangy apple flavor really well.
I wish I could give this place more stars, but compared to other apple orchards in the area, Rainbow just doesn’t compete with variety of apples place like High Hill and Boa Vista have. In fact, when I was there they only had like four varieties of apples. Disappointing. They do sell cider here too, but I wasn’t particularly impressed with the flavor. A very small selection of jams and jellies were also available for purchase.
If you’re with your family and are looking for a good place for a picnic, Rainbow has numerous picnic tables in a small orchard next to the building. I was here on a weekday and it was pretty quiet. They might have more activities come weekends.
All in all, I give the donuts an A+, but everything else was pretty disappointing.

Oh you lovely apple donuts… I want more of you! I’m still reminiscing over the light, yet doughy, hot donuts I got this morning. Full of cinnamon and spice goodness, these donuts come fresh off the press in a white paper bag. I didn’t particularly notice any apple flavors, but there’s an overall fall feeling to these donuts. They’re coated in sugar, which I could’ve done without, but it’s all so worth it. Two was definitely filling for breakfast (and don’t blame me for eating two… everyone wants at least that many). In fact, I probably should’ve eaten more! Each donut is $ 1.
We also purchased a half gallon container of Apple Cider for $ 6. It was cold and delicious. There’s a sample station so you can taste the cider before you buy it, but I’m pretty sure you’ll love it! They require a minimum $ 10 purchase for cards.
The barn itself isn’t very big and the line inside to order food gets kind of long. It’s easy to quickly look at all they have to offer, from the boxes of apples to the variety of pumpkins. There are also pies, jams, syrups, and wine. You can even order a slice of a dessert and get it a la mode! If you’re looking for something more lunch-​like, I noticed they had a BBQ tent that was setting up in the back when we got there around 9:00.
There are hay bales and a myriad of picnic tables spread out on the grassy lawn with plenty of well-​spaced trees to provide shade. There’s also a little stage/​amphitheater and there was a tractor that kids could take pictures on. Also, if you want the classic «It’s fall! Take a picture with a pumpkin!» photo, there are pumpkins spread out on some hay bales by the entrance and also several pumpkins out on the grass. I appreciated the lack of vendors at Rainbow Orchards. It gave the environment more of a rustic feel, rather than that of an outdoor market.
Just a little port-​a-​potty tip: it looks like their lovely gray outhouses are emptied and serviced on Fridays, which means if you go on Saturday they shouldn’t smell too bad yet!
If I were to redo my inaugural Apple Hill visit, I would come to Rainbow Orchards around lunchtime with a picnic basket of sandwiches, counting this place as my last stop of the day. They don’t have restrictions on bringing in outside food in October (unlike Kids Inc.). Then I’d get some pie or donuts to complete the meal!

Fresh from the fryer apple cider doughnuts and perfect apple pies – two very good reasons to visit Rainbow Orchards during harvest time! Oh and of course their apples!
The hubby and I were driving back down from Tahoe, and decided to stop by here on our way home. RO is less than a couple of miles from the Camino exit on 50, so it’s really not too far out of the way. 3 pm was a good time to come. Parking was easy. There was no wait to get into their parking lot which is typical at many Apple Hill Orchards during peak hours on weekends around harvest time. There was a long line inside for their doughnuts, Apple pies and corn dogs, but the line moved fast. It must have taken us less than 15 minutes to get to the front of the line.
When we got our doughnuts, they were still warm. They are best eaten right then and there. So soft and delicious! They’re also not terribly sweet which is a definite plus in my book. They are more like old-​fashioned cake doughnuts and are small in size, nowhere near the size you get at the grocery store or your local doughnut place. We also got a slice of their apple pie (a la mode), and it was perfect. The crust was flaky, and the thin slices of apples had a nice texture and a bit of tart. Loved it!
If you’re wanting something savory, RO also sells corndogs coated with freshly made batter. We tried it and the coating was a little too sweet for me. There is also a BBQ booth outside by the orchards behind the stage where you can get more savory items. There are picnic tables near the entertainment stage where you can eat your stuff!
As for apples, there are bushels and bushels of them! Their varieties include Granny Smiths, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, and Braeburns. There might have been more, but those are the only ones I remember seeing. I got a bag of Golden Delicious (maybe 8 pieces) for $ 2 something. So inexpensive. I also got a quart container of their Unfiltered Apple Cider which I plan to mull for a small dinner party and serve with brandy for those who are so inclined! A perfect warming cocktail for fall!
There is something for everybody at RO. Lots of activities and entertainments for kids and adults alike. We’ve been here in the past with friends who buy lots of apples to make apple pies with, and sometimes just by ourselves to get some apple doughnuts and pies after a half day of wine tasting in the Fair Play wine region near Placerville. Lucky for me, RO has a stand at our local farmers market in San Leandro, so I don’t have to go all the way to Apple Hill to get their apples. But you can only get their donuts at Apple Hill, so we’ll be going back there for sure!

Best Apple Cider donuts!!! Worth the wait in line! We jumped in line after getting there. Line moved pretty quick. Hot and fresh apple cider donuts are amazing. They are smaller than regular donuts so get extras. At $ 1.00 per donut grab extras. We ate some right away and then took some home. They are amazing hot and even yummy cold. Delish! While here try a slice of pie a la mode… mmmm mmmm mmmmmm!!!