Square doughnuts?

At Valkyrie Doughnuts in Bellevue, they strive to be different. That begins with not making round-shaped offerings and it ends with not-your-typical ingredients, either.

The shop, which opened two months ago, features square-shaped treats that are plant-based — no egg or dairy products. They also use soy flour.

“For us, this shop is not just doughnuts,” said co-owner Marcus Vahle. “It’s about a sensory experience for your palate. It’s about texture and flavor. We put a lot of time into making a quality product.”

One of the vegan doughnuts costs $4. They are $20 for a half dozen. Doughnut holes are called “nuggs.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by ValkyrieDoughnuts (@valkyriedoughnuts)

The products are yeast-raised, so they are more bread-like. The creative process begins at midnight. It takes time to make them.

Vahle of the North Side and John Pugh of Sewickley are often in the kitchen in the early morning hours.

Courtesy of Marcus Vahle and John Pugh The co-owners of Valkyrie Doughnuts in Bellevue began selling product out of a trailer in various Pittsburgh neighborhoods.  

The business partners introduced Pittsburgh to this concept by selling doughnuts out of a trailer they drove around Pittsburgh from Garfield to Millvale, to the North Side to the Strip District. The plan is to venture out again once the weather gets warmer.

“We love meeting people from so many different Pittsburgh neighborhoods,” Pugh said.

Operating in a former pizza shop, this is the third location for Valkyrie Doughnuts. The other two shops are in St. Petersburg and Orlando, Fla. Vahle and Pugh said the Bellevue neighborhood has been welcoming.

Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review Vegan doughnuts, pies and cookies at Valkyrie Doughnuts in Bellevue.  

Vahle and Pugh co-own all three with Celine Beltgens, who they refer to as “doughnut mom.” Beltgens and Vahle met at a gym in Florida when he was living there. Vahle introduced Beltgens to Pugh. Pugh and Vahle had worked in the event industry and did marketing for automobile makers.

“Now, we are building our own brand,” Pugh said.

The Valkyrie logo represents the winged goddess from Norse mythology who decides who goes to heaven.

Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review Vegan burnt almond doughnuts at Valkyrie Doughnuts.  

The signature flavors available daily are strawberry, vanilla sprinkles, Oreo, burnt almond, french toast and Pittsburgh crème. The shop will also introduce additional flavors and seasonal choices. They also have tasty cinnamon rolls – which aren’t square.

Pugh is not vegan, but said he loves the doughnuts.

“These doughnuts are so good,” said Vahle. “They take you to heaven.”

Recently, the store expanded its offerings to include cookies and pies — maple bacon and chocolate crème (the pies need to be pre-ordered) — and breakfast sandwiches made from Just Egg and vegan cheese and meats.

Cookies include oatmeal raisin, red velvet, chocolate chip and one called “the kitchen sink,” which contains pretzels, caramel, chocolate chips and pecans.

Customers can order through Door Dash and Uber Eats delivery services.

The owners hope to expand into catering opportunities, such as weddings and other events and special occasions. They said they can offer something traditional doughnut shops don’t.

“We wanted more of a unique product,” Vahle said. “We can accommodate people who have egg or dairy allergies. Everyone deserves a treat. They also aren’t mass-produced, so they are always fresh.”

It’s also a visual thing, Pugh said.

“The doughnuts aren’t your typical doughnuts,” Pugh said. “It comes naturally to say, ‘It’s hip to be square’ when you don’t see round doughnuts and you see square doughnuts.”

---

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)

---