LAKEWOOD, Colo. — There aren't many foods that can bring a smile to our face quite like a doughnut, and a Colorado couple has captured that feeling by launching two businesses.
You're in good company this week with The Dough Bar and The Doughnut Club, baking up whatever kind of goodness your lifestyle needs.
Marquez and Ondrea Fernandez have put a mesmerizing spin on the typical doughnut shop. The two started The Dough Bar six years ago, then launched The Doughnut Club out of their bakery in Fort Collins.
"You walk in — first of all, you see this gold frame with floating shelves, spinning doughnuts in about 24 different flavors," Marquez said.
They started The Doughnut Club as the extravagant answer to their healthier line of protein baked goods called The Dough Bar.
"The Dough Bar is essentially an online business," Ondrea said. "So, we ship our doughnuts and all of our protein baked goods all across the country."
Their nutritious doughnuts and cinnamon rolls burst onto the national scene with an appearance on ABC's "Shark Tank."
And their do-it-yourself kits let you control the amount of toppings.
"We do like to think of them as DIY, but it's super simple," Ondrea said. "You just pop it in the microwave, and then you can pour the glaze and topping on yourself."
The Doughnut Club then allows people to treat themselves with no limits.
"We started The Doughnut Club because we wanted to be able to be extremely creative and decadent and fun, and have nothing hold us back when it came to the ingredients we wanted to use," Ondrea said.
Their toppings include Cherry Coke glaze, cookie butter, and edible gold paint. Or, how about Flamin' Hot Cheetos on top of nacho cheese?
"I personally love our cream-filled doughnuts," Ondrea said. "We have a creme brulee that's delicious. We have a pumpkin cheesecake. We have one that reminds me of a toaster strudel."
Each doughnut comes with their signature piece: the hole.
"Our cookie monster doughnut has Oreo-infused cookie butter glaze that comes with two doughnut holes and half a cookie," Marquez said.
They have three Doughnut Club locations — in Fort Collins, Denver's RiNo District, and Lakewood — and already have plans for more.
In the end, their hope is to build a doughnut empire centered around your daily delight.
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