Horseshoe Donuts — Restaurant in Colorado

What's sad about this place, especially after reading the reviews, is that there are enough positive reviews to keep them going, just as they are. The average person will see that 4 1/2 stars, stumble in, feel proud supporting a local business and then taste their $16 dollar experiment...and then they'll think "Why didn't we go to Dunkin?" It'll create in their temporary customers, or further enforce, that feeling of small businesses are so hit and miss, why even bother? There are a lot of places like this, of course, all across the country. Here is no exception.

First, we have a review inflation issue, made worse by the owner(s), who seem to selectively comment on only positive or hyper-positive reviews; creating a positive feedback loop. None of that fun drama you can sometimes find when you get a comment disputing with those complaining. Nope. Just affirmations and gratitude to and from loyalists. All of this really equals one thing: nothing will change.

Yes, the donuts are as bad as all the one and two star reviews are saying. Burnt outsides (almost tasting like they fried the fritter with the glaze on prior), uncooked insides, old fryer oil taste (my old fashioned literally smelled bad) and they are way too big and way to overpriced. My bag of three donuts must've weighed 4 pounds! You're paying for a gimmick: A "burger" donut, a donut with literal dyed, white chocolate bulldogs on top from a mold (the cashier confirmed were made from a mold found on Amazon). I was glad to hear that, as it affirmed the gimmicky nature of this place. I suppose the first clue is that it's a themed donut shop based on the owners love of horses. Made evident by their attempt at Western decor, which seems to begin and end on the outside of the store. I suppose having a dog in the store is apart of that, although, a british bulldog doesn't quite give off that Western feel, cute as he may be. Another name for the aesthetic of having a dog in the kitchen is called "health code violation", I believe.

On their websites 'About Us', we get so much detail about their love of horses. We get their bone fides in the form of a divorce lawyer, muffin maker (which is evident by their donut shape and their cake donuts), cake decorator (evident by all the extra stuff that goes on their speciality donuts) and even an MBA in there for good measure. What's missing is in this lengthy CV is any reference to their actual love of, or taste for, donuts.

Certainly, with all of this background, it's an easy conclusion when they go to a place like VooDoo and think "Yeah, we could do this...but better!" Putting aside the hubris and delusion of such a sentiment, the idea that donuts, as opposed to divorce, make people happy, I'd say, is false.

What makes people happy are good experiences and good connections. Upon further reading, I can't deny this establishment has fostered some amazing local connections. There is a local spirit with their ingredients and relationships in selling their glazed, overly decorated briquettes to other establishments that is wonderful to see.

But the good experience side of it speaks to their experience rather than that of their customers. What we have is a love, but a love of horses, gimmicky business tactics and a yearning to do something "better than" a nationally recognized themed brand with what feels like "why the hell not?" attitude. But somewhere along the way, like so, so many of their local contemporaries, they stop once they're in the black and/or have enough good will to rest on laurels. As long as orders are filled and you keep showing up in a community, that's enough. But will it remain enough? Only time will tell. Taste is the only difference between a place becoming an institution to the community or another "For Rent" sign in a strip mall.

If you're a lover of donuts, this isn't the place for you. I say that also feeling that VooDoo themselves have ironically succumb to the same trap of brand over product. But here, it feels like it began with the idea, not the taste, and settled...

Review for Apple Fritter Only. Rating based on Size, Quality of ingredients, Preparation, and Price. For a 0645 arrival there was still more than a rack remaining of these behemoths, but by my guess NLT 1030 on a weekend consider them sold out as these are the real deal. These dark brunette plate sized gut bombs will fuel your need to feed all day guaranteed. Size alone warrants its own bag as smaller inferior donuts would be piled together in a much smaller eco and waist friendly one. Yes size matters, but it’s also how they craft it. 5 ⭐️ Edges are naturally darker than the rest, due to the extra fry time giving it a hardened outer shell. Makes it great for jamming it with other donuts but not so much for the one-handed driving down the interstate operation. The edges were a tad too crisp preventing the perfect tearing of a manageable morsel. Instead you are left with a mangled and messy massive chunk. 4⭐️ Taste is where it’s at, immediately you notice quality ingredients and above average size chunks of Apple towards the center. Even the glaze taste as it was specially made for it with hints of cinnamon. Every reach into the bag delivers a mouthful marvel having you secretly, and guiltily hoping that the bag is bottomless along with your gut. Quality 5 ⭐️ So what gives with the four stars you ask well at $3.59 plus tax I feel it’s excessive. Unless the ingredients are non-GMO, organic, kosher, and offend no one these should be $3 absolute tops, $2.75 realistically. But that’s from my side of the counter where I’ve had comparable contenders for less. Overall, if you are an apple fritter connoisseur like myself or have a long road trip ahead and you want a satisfying breakfast and lunch in one, make the stop. Lastly if you are a 🍩 + 🥛 = 🤤, bring your own thermos full as the ones they sell (vitamin D only) are on the small size...

An almost overwhelming amount of options, but everything I've tried is delicious so far. I'm very lucky to live so close to it because I can get there early before they sell out. I see a lot of negative reviews about this, but I would like to point out that they don't have a kitchen attached to their store front. All of these donuts are made at a different location and brought in when they're done. I understand the frustration, but their location is limiting.

Donut Reviews:

Glazed Horseshoe - Simple, good texture. The glaze isn't disgustingly sweet, but people who don't like sweets won't like the glaze here. A great donut, bonus: It's a horseshoe shape!

Pumpkin Cake Donut - Amazing cake texture with a crisp outside. Glaze was a bit much for what is a more savory flavor in my opinion but it's still delicious, they managed to not overwhelm the pumpkin with spice so you can taste both.

Peach Fritter - The size of the larger pie plates at my home. I highly recommend splitting this one like I did with my roommate. It's delicious but very heavy. Bonus: They use real fruit in their fritters and not flavoring or juice like some places I've been too. Due to the size the outside might be a little overdone for personal preference. I didn't mind it because it gave a delightfully crunchy exterior, but others might find it off putting. I'm only mentioning this because my roommate made a comment about it.

I'll add more per flavor reviews as I get through my massive box. I still missed some flavors there were so many, but it's practically in my backyard so I'll get there. Looking forward to the seasonal shift and seeing what flavors...