Denver, CODonuts

A South Broadway shop turning out cake and raised donuts along with fritters and glazed rings. Westword folds it into a short list of Denver spots worth a morning drive, calling out the range of flavors and the fresh-fried texture that keeps regulars coming back at 1301 South Broadway.

Part of the cluster Westword dubbed Denver's doughnut district, Anna's pairs classic fried donuts with breakfast burritos at 5999 South University Boulevard. It is a family-run counter where you can grab a dozen and a hot burrito in one stop, and the shop has grown popular enough to plan a second South Broadway location.

A Westminster donut shop at 6030 West 92nd Avenue that Westword includes among the handful of Denver-area spots worth seeking out. Expect a rotating case of raised and cake donuts, with the kind of small-shop consistency that earns it a spot on the paper's short list of places to visit.

Anchoring the south-suburban strip Westword calls Denver's doughnut district, Donut Maker sits at 9625 East Arapahoe Road in Greenwood Village. It is one of several independent shops packed into a short stretch of Arapahoe, drawing early-morning crowds for fresh-fried classics and a familiar neighborhood-counter feel.

A Lakewood mainstay at 7625 West Hampden Avenue that Westword lists among the Denver donut shops worth a visit. The counter keeps a wide case of raised and cake donuts stocked through the morning, the sort of low-key, dependable spot locals fold into their weekend routine.