The Twin Cities' To-Die-For Donuts

Move over, cupcakes! Donuts are the hottest food trend these days. Sure, those desirable puffs of dough dripping with glaze have been around for decades, but the Twin Cities has come a long way since the simple Old Fashioned was introduced; donuts are now a chic, fun, and, in some cases, health-conscious food. These local bakeries each have their own twist on the popular breakfast treat; whether it's a banana fritter, a maple bacon long john, a fluffy cruller or even an orange creamsicle pastry you're craving, we've got you covered.

• Chef Shack: One of the first food trucks in the Twin Cities fleet, Chef Shack was quickly pegged as the place to get donut holes in downtown Minneapolis. The popularity of these poppable balls of dough lies in this not-so-secret ingredient: cardamom spice.

• Eli's Donut Burgers: For those who can't decide between breakfast or lunch fare, well, there's a food truck for that. Eli's serves ridiculously indulgent items that satisfy all your sweet and salty cravings in one bite. Locations, times, and season vary; check the truck's Twitter feed for details.

• Glam Doll Donuts: The new kid on the donut block features modern flavors in a pinup vintage style setting. While there's plenty of cosmetic enhancement from food coloring on their pastries, the décor of this Eat Street bakery is so authentic, it even smells like your grandparent's house. Luckily, the donuts are fresher than the back copies of LIFE Magazine and the kitchen at Glam Doll is open until 1 a.m. on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights.

• Granny Donuts: One of the rare remaining mom-and-pop bakeries in the Twin Cities, Granny Donuts has been serving pastries that harken back to the good ol' days for 26 years. Here you'll find raised and glazed and just as delicious as you remember them from childhood.

• Mojo Monkey Donuts: A neighborhood bakery with a retro twist, this West Seventh Street gem serves a quirky variety of hand-crafted pastries paired with organic coffee. Baker Lisa Clark is not monkeying around when it comes to pleasing her customers' palates.

Erica Rivera is the author of the memoir "Insatiable" and the e-cookbook "Man Eater." She is the co-owner of the Twin Cities mobile bakery MILF and Cookies and blogs at crazysexydelicious.com.