There’s innovative stuff going on up in Mill Creek. Frost does all the standards — even a picture-perfect rendition of Homer Simpson’s famous pink frosted doughnut — but what makes this bakery stand out is the flavors it achieves without having to resort to gimmicks like bacon toppings. The salted caramel version of the old fashioned has an impressive caramel-like chew to it, and the Aztec Chocolate will expand your mind: It’s got real cayenne-style heat that perfectly cuts the richness of the chocolate cake doughnut. 

There’s no shortage of playfulness at this Black- and veteran-owned Lynnwood “dezzert bar,” which likes to experiment with different flavors and toppings, such as Lucky Charms on maple bars. There are dalliances with savory items — garlic chili chicken doughnuts — and an infinite number of flavor selections (mango chili, ube, horchata, and more) in the “Zuriverse” of sweets. There are plenty of gluten-free and vegan options as well.

This combination doughnut/ice cream shop has seen better days, and doesn’t look like much as you whizz by on Aurora. But don’t worry, the doughnuts lining the trays are reliable as they come — classic glazed and cake treats, wonderfully soft with just the right amount of resistance as you bite into them. This is the place to come when you’re fed up paying $5 for a fancy brioche doughnut, and there’s even an after 5 p.m. special offering six doughnuts for $7, or as we call it the Only God Can Judge Me Special.

Known for its over-the-top cookie doughnut sandwiches that have graced plenty of Instagram accounts, this U District bakery (with a Lynnwood offshoot) offer doughnuts topped with candy like Ferrero Rocher, Butterfinger, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, and more. Those celebrating a special occasion can pre-order treats in the shapes of letters and numbers.

Mochi doughnut chain Mochinut offers plenty of inventive flavors. Made with rice flour, mochinuts have a chewy texture, setting them apart from traditional cake or yeast-raised doughnuts. The South Lake Union location has plenty of seasonal selections (recently mango puree, sesame balls, and churro with caramel), as well as boba tea and fried Korean rice hot dogs.

Fans of the popular former pop-up can now find creations such as plain glazed, apple fritters, crullers, and chocolate bars — as well as seasonal and weekend specials — at this Central District outpost. They even have dougnuts for your dog!

Right in the center of Pike Place Market is the iconic Daily Dozen Doughnut Company, slinger of mini doughnuts fresh out of the fryer. Market shoppers lured by the ubiquitous smells of fried, sugary dough form long lines to wait for a bag of these doughnuts. Grab a half or full dozen of powdered, plain or rotating seasonal specials while they’re hot.

It may not be the flashiest shop in the city, but this bakery tucked into a SoDo mini mall has a reliable array of glazed, filled doughnuts, fritters, and cinnamon twists. They work perfectly as a sweet complement to the spicy bulgogi and other savory items from the deli side of the operation, and hold up well, even later in the afternoon.

Named after a lyric from a Tom Waits song, 9th and Hennepin is based out of a kitchen in West Seattle, serving doughnuts hot, as they were meant to be served. Eschewing the candy crumble genre of doughnuts, this operation serves an ever-rotating selection of flavors based on what’s in season at local farmers markets. Past standouts include a Yukon potato brioche long john, and honeycrisp apple and dried cherry fritter.

This Rainier Beach destination used to be a hybrid bakery, laundromat, and teriyaki restaurant, but recently dropped the latter two services due to limited resources and move a few blocks down Rainier. Luckily, the doughnuts are still here. Styles range from chocolate- and sprinkle-coated cake doughnuts to glazed or cinnamon sugar-coated rounds, available fresh daily.

This wonderfully welcoming White Center shop is versatile. In addition to a selection of sweet classics, such as cinnamon twists, glazed cake doughnuts, and apple fritters (at inexpensive prices), it hosts pop-ups and features savory dishes as well, such as breakfast sandwiches and Italian subs.