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The Sweetest Bite: Creative and satisfying donuts | Foodie

The Sweetest Bite: Creative and satisfying donuts | Foodie


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Winchell’s temporarily closed. Photo credit: Faith Elizabeth Hale

Even kids know that holes are supposed to be in the donut, not in the donut shop. But since a car accident late last year caused structural damage to Winchell’s Longmont location, there has been a massive, donut-shaped hole in the lives of Boulder County residents.

As the repairs continue, we’ve got a host of other delicious, unique options to fill your craving. Here are our recommendations for the best donuts in the area, featuring some new spots and some unexpected ones.

Courtesy of Blackbelly

Blackbelly
1606 Conestoga St., Boulder CO
blackbelly.com

In the early morning hours, breakfast seekers know Blackbelly for their burritos or, maybe smothered tater tots. But we’re inviting you not to skip the donuts when they have them. They’re prepared in house, individually crafted, light and yeasted, and, because of the restaurant’s rotating recipe, they’re filled with something more than just the usual grape jelly and feature a variety of toppings.

Landline Doughtnuts interior. Photo credit: Faith Elizabeth Hale

Landline Doughnuts
321 Main St., Longmont CO
landlinedoughnuts.com

Throughout last year, the only way to get one of Landline’s potato doughnuts was at a farmer’s market or pop up booth. Now they’re on Main Street in Old Town Longmont and customers love the cakes, which include mashed potatoes as a prime ingredient and are made from the owners’ 1930s family recipe. The potato makes them delicious and moist. They’re also smaller and prettier than donuts we’ve had from other spots.

Landline Doughnuts. Photo credit: Faith Elizabeth Hale

Nok’s Donuts
400 W. South Boulder Rd., Suite 2300, Lafayette CO
facebook.com/NoksDonuts

Nok’s creative ingredient combinations make it a unique choice for those seeking something sweet. Think rich chocolate, matcha with coconut, and creative holiday icings. But as good as these donuts taste, gentler ingredients and packaging make their texture something special as well. Ingredients are fresh and non-gmo. They also use packaging that breaks down naturally in a way that doesn’t contribute stress to the environment. 

Basta
3601 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder CO
bastaboulder.com

Kelly Whitaker opened Basta in 2010 and while we love the restaurant for a lot of reasons, the doughnuts keep us coming back. Served fresh from the fryer, they’re smooth and hot, silky and feature ricotta. At Basta, there’s no need to save dessert until the end. We like to order them first with a cocktail or a pre-meal drink that can hold up to a sugar hit. 

Habit Donut Dispensary
1553 Platte St., Denver CO
habitdoughnuts.com

As if donuts aren’t habit forming all by themselves, this shop makes them even more addicting. Glazed donuts have a malted milk glaze, and a rainbow sprinkled donut adds chocolate ganache for extra panache. One of the most interesting options on the menu has a gorgonzola cheesecake filling. 

It’s absolutely worth the trip to Denver. Or, if you’re already around the city, consider making a detour. Pair your cake with coffee and tea or craft beer and seltzers to inject a little boozy fun to your trip. 

OMG Donuts
7355 Ralston Rd., Arvada CO
omgdonutsarvada.com

Bright, colorful, friendly, and welcoming, these words don’t just apply to the donuts, but also the staff.  OMG has reliable, decadent donut flavors like red velvet or double chocolate. They’ll also cover their donuts in cereal or put a dozen in a box for you to elevate a special occasion, work party or any other function you want to make an impression on.

Author

Deborah Cameron
Deb brings a passion for community journalism and for the local food scene. She started out as an intern and over the years grew into our current Cuisine Editor. She has appeared in multiple publications including the Longmont Leader, The Left Hand Valley Courier, Ms. Mayhem, Finance101, and Ask.com. When not writing she's eating, road tripping, dog-parking, or watching high school softball. She moved to Colorado from Seattle in the early 2000s after spending a year traveling the U.S. in a teal Ford Escort hatchback. She lives with her husband, two teenagers, and a rescue dog named Charlie.

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