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Warning: Do not read on an empty stomach. We have compiled a list of Denver's best bakeries for your consumption, and these treats are sweet.
Top 5 Guide: Denver’s Best Bakeries
Hi there! My name is Ryland Scholes. You may know me as the host of the “Bucket List Community News Podcast,” along with my other work as a freelance writer for Bucket List. Last December, I shared my guide to Denver’s most underappreciated sports venues. For this guide, I wanted to take a different approach and discuss another of my passions: desserts and baked treats.
My family has a massive sweet tooth. My father has one, my brother has one and so do I. I always gravitate towards sweet desserts, particularly pastries. That sweet tooth had taken me to many bakeries in the Denver area, on my never-ending quest to find the best pastries in town.
Keeping all of that knowledge to myself would be a shame, so let me break down Denver’s best bakeries in this edition of Bucket List‘s Top-5 guide.
Paris Baguette
At first glance, Paris Baguette is probably the most vanilla edition on this list. As a chain that is primarily found in strip malls across the state, Paris Baguette Co. may appear to be your average, everyday bakery, but that could not be further from the reality.
As soon as you walk in, you’ll notice the sleek, modern interior, along with a plethora of bread and pastry options. As the name implies, the authentic Parisian baguettes are delicious, but the sweets are what you really come for. Paris Baguette serves all of the classics, such as fruit pastries, croissants, scones, tarts and danish. You can’t go wrong with any of the picks either; they’re all to die for.
Paris Baguette’s cake elevates the Denver bakery scene to new heights. For my money, it is the best place to get a cake in the entire metro area. Every year for my birthday, I always insist on getting my cake from Paris Baguette. The tiramisu cheesecake is my personal favorite, but everything is tasty.
Another major upside to Paris Baguette is that they have multiple locations across Colorado, so it’s a very accessible option regardless of where you live in the metro area. You can get some delicious treats at its locations in Aurora, Parker, and Colorado Springs!
Paris Baguette, 10601 East Garden Drive, Aurora. HOURS: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Learn more at parisbaguette.com.
Yonutz
With locations in Greenwood Village and Westminster, Yonutz isn’t your typical donut shop. The trendy, colorfully decorated donut shop serves perhaps the most unique pastry item on this list: the smashed donut.
For lack of a better description, a smashed donut is essentially a donut ice cream sandwich. Yonutz employees cut a donut in half, fill the middle with ice cream and put the sandwich inside a heated press. The heat from the press adds the perfect contrast between the cold ice cream, creating one of the craziest desserts I’ve ever had.
Smashed donuts come in a variety of flavors, including animal crackers, Fruity Pebbles and French toast. My personal favorite is the s’mores-smashed donut. They use a blowtorch to toast marshmallows on top for added goodness.
If a smashed donut sounds too crazy and overwhelming, there are plenty of more tame options available. Yonutz’s milkshakes are great, and they have a lot of unique flavors of donuts and ice cream if that’s more up your alley.
Yonutz, 1975 West 120th Avenue, Suite 800, Westminster. HOURS: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday. 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday and Friday. Learn more at yonutz.com.
Moe’s Broadway Bagels
I know that bagels aren’t exactly a dessert, but Moe’s Broadway Bagels is good enough to make an exception plus they are baked after they are boiled and with sweet cream cheese they are grand and gooey. Moe’s is my favorite place to get a bagel in all of Colorado and a must-visit if you’re looking for breakfast in the Boulder/Denver metro area.
Anything you get at Moe’s is a surefire hit, and that is a promise from yours truly. From dozens of bagels to perfectly flavored cream cheese and even breakfast sandwiches, you will find something to satisfy your cravings. They even have killer breakfast burritos for the rare bagel haters out there.
My favorite Moe’s item is the Denver breakfast sandwich, which consists of your choice of bagel (I usually go with asiago or tomato cheddar) with eggs, all-natural ham, onions and green peppers. It’s perfect for any occasion, from grabbing a quick bite heading into work to a hangover cure. If breakfast sandwiches are not your thing, another favorite of mine is their tomato cheddar bagel with jalapeno cream cheese.
If you’re super lucky or go near the end of the day, you may even get a giant bag of free bagels to take home! That’s happened to me on a few occasions and it’s always an amazing surprise. If you’re looking for an east-coast quality bagel without flying over two hours, Moe’s is your spot.
Moes Bagels, find their eight locations here. HOURS: 5:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Learn more at moesbagel.com.
Denver Milk Market
The Milk Market, as one of the most bustling markets in LoDo, is not exactly a hidden gem, but this list would not be complete without it. Since 2018, the building that once housed the Windsor Dairy Company, which was known for producing some of the highest quality dairy in the United States, has been transformed into one of Denver’s best and most unique collective eateries.
The Milk Market serves excellent Italian, Mexican, American Southern and seafood cuisine, but that is not why I enjoy visiting. We’re here for their unprecedented selection of delicious sweets and pastries. One of your three dessert options is Morning Jones, a coffee shop that serves amazing breakfast pastries. You can get everything from donuts to croissants and tiramisu here, with the latter being my personal favorite.
Those looking for an extra sweet treat can visit the ice cream stand connected to Morning Jones, known as Cornicello. Cornicello offers a rotating menu of eight flavors from Little Man Ice Cream, a legendary and well-known Denver establishment. Call me lame and boring, but I’m a big fan of their plain chocolate ice cream. If they’re serving the Little Man Mexican Hot Chocolate flavor, that’s my absolute favorite, but it’s seasonal, so it unfortunately requires a little luck to get your hands on.
Last but not least, the Fuso Italian stand is my personal favorite place to get a sweet treat. I’m a huge fan of cannolis and Fuso’s are to die for. They also have an amazing Lemon Tart that is well worth the money. This stand has the best traditional dessert pastry collection in the market, so I have naturally gravitated towards it.
Milk Market, 1800 Wazee Street, Suite 100, Denver. HOURS: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday to Thursday. 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Learn more at www.denvermilkmarket.com.
Izzio Bakery at Denver Central Market
Our last stop on our quest to find Denver’s best bakery takes us to RiNo, where I think I’ve found the best bakery in the entire state of Colorado: Izzio Bakery at Denver Central Market. Those with a keen eye may recognize the Izzio name, as their sourdough bread is well-known and can be found in most supermarkets across the Centennial State. I’m a giant fan of Izzio’s sourdough, but I’m an even bigger fan of its pasties.
When entering Denver Central Market in RiNo, make a quick right and follow the aroma of delicious sweets to the back right corner. There is the most impressive selection of pastries I have ever seen. Scones, croissants, cookies, muffins, cinnamon rolls, crepes, waffles, cakes—you name it, Izzio’s has probably got it.
Izzio’s has everything you could possibly want. It’s seriously that good. I don’t think they could make a bad pastry even if they tried. Everyone I have ever taken to Izzio’s has been completely amazed and has constantly raved about it, expressing a desire to return.
My personal favorite pastry is the chocolate almond croissant. I’m a sucker for anything almond flavor and it hits the spot. It’s perfectly almondy with gooey chocolate inside, while still maintaining a perfectly flaky crust. Just writing this is making me want to drive to get one now.
One of the best parts about Izzio Bakery is that it is entirely local to Colorado! They source all of its wheat, seeds, and flour from local farmers, so you are supporting local businesses while enjoying your sweet treat.
There’s only one Izzio Bakery in Colorado, in Denver Central Market, so I encourage anyone looking to get their socks knocked off to make the trek. It’s my personal favorite dessert spot in all of Denver and I’m confident this recommendation won’t disappoint.
Izzio Bakery at Denver Central Market, 2669 Larimer Street, Denver, Colorado. HOURS: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Learn more at www.izziocentralmarket.com.
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There you have it! Those are my top five spots to get a sweet little treat in Denver. Whether you’re looking for something more traditional like Izzio Bakery or Paris Baguette or something crazier like the unique smashed donuts at Yonutz, this guide has got you covered. I even threw in a bagel recommendation for good measure!
Do you agree with my picks? Did I leave something off? Did I knock it out of the park? Am I completely wrong? Be sure to let me know on Bucket List’s socials. Thank you for reading my guide, and happy dessert-ing Bucket Listers!
