DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette Orlando and Jessica Rodriguez are seen here during with their new food truck “The Donut Hole” during a recent event their business catered at Camp Susque. The previous food truck they had was the “Empanada Shack” which taught them a lot about running a food truck.

A new food truck has made its way into the local scene with fresh, homemade desserts. The Donut Hole is a veteran- and family-owned business that offers exactly what the name implies: donut holes.

Their core flavors are glazed, cinnamon sugar and powdered sugar. They debut a special flavor each week. Recent offerings include banana bread, lemon glaze and strawberry.

Christian Hoch and Orlando Rodriguez, both of Muncy, are friends-turned-business partners who share a love for food truck culture.

“I’m a firm believer that the best food trucks have a niche,” Rodriguez said. “It’s not a specialty donut truck, it’s just donut holes.”

Both hope to become a staple in the food truck circuit. They aim to create a positive environment for customers to enjoy delicious baked goods with their families.

“Food trucks create a bigger sense of community,” he said. “People will go once for the food but twice for the welcoming atmosphere.”

Returning customers are considered a part of the Donut Hole family.

Christian Hoch is passionate about building relationships with customers. One of the business’s goals is to positively contribute to the community in which they live.

“Taking the chance to start something new that pours back into the community is a great way to serve others,” he said.

Rodriguez’s three years of experience running the Empanada Shack were essential to laying the foundation for this new venture. He already had the equipment and licensing from his first truck, which laid the groundwork for the Donut Hole.

He said opening the shack was challenging, but having that knowledge made it a smoother process the second time around.

Sorting out all of the logistics and general preparations took a handful of months. They made the decision to follow this path in January, then held their grand opening in April.

During those months, they developed a donut recipe that would attract customers.

Alyson Hoch, Christian Hoch’s wife, is the master baker for the truck. She spends hours in the kitchen making the dough, frying the donut holes and putting on the glaze.

Before she decided to become a nurse, she started her college years in a pastry chef course.

“I feel like that [class] helped me with the techniques for finding the best donut [recipe],” she said in an email.

To craft the right recipe, she researched different dough recipes to find the most delicious one. She tested five recipes, then hosted a tasting party to pick the winner.

The most important factors in making a high-quality donut hole are butter and sugar, she said. During her testing period, she found key techniques that made a big difference.

“We tried frying and baking them, but frying was the best,” she said. “Also, letting the dough sit for an hour or two … makes the donut fluffy once it’s fried.”

She looks forward to the new flavors she is preparing for the summer season.

With everything ready to go, they opened for business at Wagging Tail Coffee Company. Donuts and coffee are the perfect pair. This decision set the tone for the goal to develop close relationships with other vendors.

Having a curated menu allows the owners to make connections with other local businesses. The goal is to elevate and complement one another.

“There’s no competition,” Christian Hoch said. “We’re trying to partner as a body of community organizations. We want to make each other better.”

The Donut Hole has also teamed up with Little Pine Coffee Company, Bucking Bean Coffee Truck and Eder’s Ice Cream.

The owners are anticipating the upcoming festivities this summer. They plan to attend popular events like Williamsport Coffee and Cars, First Fridays in Williamsport, Fourth Fridays in Muncy and much more.

The Donut Hole’s schedule and weekly specials are available on its Facebook page. All booking inquiries can be submitted through Facebook or by email at thedonuthole.pa@gmail.com.