Sweet-Toothed in Denver? Check Out These Amazing Local Bakeries!

Denver, Colorado, known for its stunning mountain views and outdoor recreation opportunities, is also a well-known hub for small businesses. The city’s vibrant economy and entrepreneurial spirit have attracted a diverse range of businesses, from tech startups to craft breweries, helping to make Denver one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States.

One of the sectors where Denver definitely excels is its thriving coffee and bakery culture. The city offers a wide range of independent bakeries, each with its own personality and atmosphere. Whether you’re looking for some amazing artisan bread, a unique cake for a special occasion, or just a delicious treat to start your day, Denver has something to offer. Here are some of the best independent bakeries in Denver that you might be interested in checking out:

1. Happy Bakeshop

Established in 2006 by three friends, the Happy Bakeshop is definitely a happy place for anyone with a sweet tooth. The bakery makes cupcakes, cakes and cookies, plus a variety of other bakery items, like cheesecake, bars, pies, macarons, and specialty sweet breads, winning the hearts (and the stomachs) of Denverites. Special occasions like weddings or other celebrations can also benefit from an extra touch of happiness from Happy Bakeshop.

 

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2. Victory Love + Cookies

Kristy Greenwood Bortz, the owner of Victory Love + Cookies, started selling her delicious creations in 2008, and she says she sees her work as an equation: love + cookies = victory. The bakery offers a wide variety of cookie flavors, which you can offer as delicious gifts as well, as they come nicely packaged (and with a message included, if you want to).

3. Azucar Bakery

This family-owned bakery first opened in 2007, and the current owners are James and Janet Williams, who are making the lives of people in Denver a little bit sweeter with their excellent selection of desserts. From deep-dish pies and cupcakes to specialty desert trays, you can enjoy plenty of amazing culinary creations here. You can also order tasty and beautifully ornated cakes for any special occasion: weddings, birthdays, baby showers, graduations and so on.

4. Bakery Four

If you’re in the mood for fancy, artisan, naturally leavened breads, croissants, rolls and more, Bakery Four is where you need to be. Started by Shawn Bergin in 2019, the bakery extended to a 3,000-square- foot space on Tennyson Street in March of 2022, which is definite proof of how much Denver residents love this bakery. And no wonder they do, as everything is crafted from scratch daily, using only the best-quality ingredients.

 

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5. Taste of Denmark

This European-style bakery has been serving freshly baked pastries, croissants, strudels and breads to Denverites for almost two decades. They have stayed true to their European roots — you can even enjoy your favorite baked goods al fresco on their small yet charming terrace.

6. Rebel Bread

A passion for food led Zach Martinucci to study culinary anthropology at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), as well as professional bread and viennoiserie at the San Francisco Baking Institute. Nowadays, Zach is introducing Denver residents to the delights of traditional sourdough bread and pastries. He does that not only by baking and selling such products, but also through bakery tours and online classes where those interested learn about the fascinating world of making their own bread, pizza, pasta and more.

7. Cake Crumbs Bakery & Café

Pastries, pies and cookies, cakes and cupcakes, light meals and freshly roasted coffee — the choice is yours at Cake Crumbs Bakery & Café, a place where you can sit down, relax and enjoy your food and desserts. The bakery caters events as well, and their café space can be rented for private celebrations like anniversaries, birthdays or showers.

8. Gateaux Bakery

Offering a very impressive a selection of sweets, Gateaux Bakery can turn any of your gatherings into an event to remember. From cake pops perfect for kids’ birthdays to logo cookies that can help you sweeten the deal during a business-related event, Gateaux Bakery has the right recipe for any occasion.

9. The Makery Cake Co.

Desiree Kelly, owner of The Makery Cake Co., combines her love for food, an artistic streak and passion for science to create her amazing cakes. A former molecular biologist, Desiree decided to learn cake decorating to make her sister’s  wedding cake — and she never looked back. Since 2006, her imaginative, detailed cake creations have been bringing joy to Denver’s residents.

10. French for Sugar

Drop by this boutique bakery to get your sugar fix in the form of macarons, pastries, cupcakes or cookies. You can place orders for custom cakes, including wedding cakes, and should you need an upscale space in the middle of Denver’s historic Capitol Hill district for your special moments, you can rent their enchanting Le Rêve event room.

These bakeries, and many others in Denver, are independently owned businesses that could use an extra hand when it comes to storing baking equipment, appliances, tableware and so on. Fortunately, the local self storage sector in Denver can help with that: renting a 10’x10’ self storage unit in Denver hovers around $133 per month. This service can be a huge help for all small businesses, offering flexibility and affordability in terms of storage space.

What other Denver bakeries or coffee shops would you recommend? Let us know in the comments!