Minnesota Prairie Roots

Writing and photography by Audrey Kletscher Helbling

Roasting doughnut holes at historic Valley Grove February 13, 2026

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(Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted file photo used for illustration only)

DOUGHNUTS OR DONUTS. Whatever the spelling, there’s one thing for certain. Most everyone loves this sweet treat. I’ll take a doughnut from a bakery. Make that one covered with chocolate icing and colorful sprinkles. I’ll take a bag of sugary mini donuts fried by a food vendor. Any doughnut will do.

Roasting doughnut holes at Valley Grove in 2025 next to the limestone church with the wood-frame church in the background. (Photo credit: Margit Johnson)

This coming Sunday, February 15, I can try a new type of doughnut, one warmed over a bonfire at the fourth annual Valley Grove Doughnut Hole Roasting Party. Now I’ve never eaten a doughnut hole heated over an open fire on a winter day. But a roasted doughnut hole sounds tastier to me than a roasted marshmallow.

(Promo credit: Valley Grove Preservation Society)

From 1-3 p.m., the Valley Grove Preservation Society will host this unique food event at the two historic Valley Grove churches located atop a hill in rural Rice County near Nerstrand. The Society, tasked with preserving these Norwegian immigrant churches and managing the surrounding prairie and 50-acre oak savanna, will provide the doughnut holes, roasting sticks, toppings and the firepits.

Attendees are encouraged to bring their own beverages and chairs (to sit and visit outdoors) and proper gear for walking on the prairie. Temps are predicted to be a balmy 50 degrees, unseasonably warm for February in Minnesota and perfect weather for roasting doughnuts outside two country churches.

FYI: Valley Grove is located northwest of Nerstrand or southeast of Northfield at 9999 155th Street East, Nerstrand. The two churches are on the National Register of Historic Places.

© Copyright 2026 Audrey Kletscher Helbling

 

Experiencing a Northfield, Minnesota apple orchard October 23, 2019

Filed under: Uncategorized — Audrey Kletscher Helbling @ 5:00 AM
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THE CARNIVAL SCENT of donuts permeated the autumn air as I stepped from the van in the gravel parking lot of Fireside Orchard & Gardens. For years I’ve wanted to visit this Northfield area orchard and try the fresh-from-the-fryer apple cinnamon donuts. Apples were secondary to this first-ever visit.

 

Numerous rose gardens grace the property.

 

While many of the roses were no longer blooming, I found enough to dip my nose into.

 

Walking toward the retail store, I spotted this sign.

 

After stopping to smell a few roses in the frontyard rose garden, I aimed straight for the retail store and the source of that sugary cinnamon scent. The place was busy with people buying bags of apples, cups of apple cider, fudge, caramel apples and those donuts that couldn’t come off the fryer conveyor fast enough. Fireside also offers a lot more foods, including bacon ketchup (not made on-site).

 

Most of the apple trees we saw, but not all, were picked clean of fruit.

 

I figured I better sample a few apples first. I tried SnowSweet and Sugar Bee, both new apples to me, and the familiar Honey Crisp. Hands down, Honey Crisp remains my favorite apple, developed right here in Minnesota.

 

There are lots of apple varieties filling these coolers.

 

I watched donuts roll off the fryer.

 

The hardworking young employee.

 

By the time I’d finished my third apple slice, Randy had already purchased a half dozen of those coveted donuts. We headed out the back door, right behind the kid pushing a cart holding a crate of apples. His job seemed that of keeping apples in stock as I watched him several times hustle between nearby storage building and retail store.

 

A pond centers the grounds.

 

Ornamental berries pop color into the landscape.

 

An overview of the pond looking toward the orchard.

 

This place was abuzz with people enjoying a beautiful fall Sunday afternoon in rural Minnesota. Fireside is a truly welcoming place with assorted sitting areas, yard games and property open to wandering—from orchard to rose gardens.

 

Pumpkins aplenty…

 

Apples aplenty…

 

Gourds aplenty…

 

Pumpkins and gourds for sale add to the seasonal appeal.

 

I considered for a moment asking Randy to take a picture of me by the tractor.

 

Two parked vintage tractors present fun rural photo ops. This is just a relaxing family-friendly and dog-friendly place that is family-run.

 

The barn style building design is especially welcoming with covered open air spaces.

 

Within a half hour drive of the south metro, just 1.5 miles east of Interstate 35 along Minnesota State Highway 19, Fireside Orchard is conveniently-located, easy to find. A fun and beautiful place to visit.

 

A note posted inside the retail store from a grateful teacher.

 

As for those apple cinnamon donuts, they were a tad greasy, just as one would expect from a fair-type food. I’m certain I’ll return to Fireside. I love orchards like this that realize folks today want more than just a place to buy apples. They want an experience.

TELL ME: Do you have a favorite apple orchard? If yes, tell me why it’s your favorite.

© Copyright 2019 Audrey Kletscher Helbling