One of my favorite parts of getting coffee is the inevitable pastry that I will order. Pastries are a staple in almost every coffee shop, and in Old Town, Fort Collins there are plenty of coffee shops, which means plenty of pastries!
Many of the coffee joints in Old Town are locally owned and make all of their pastries in-house. This means that there is no guilt for spending all of my money at a giant corporation and the pastries are always fresh.
Here is a list of some of the best pastries in Old Town, Fort Collins:
1. Bacon Kolache — The Crooked Cup
I had never heard of a Kolache before I visited The Crooked Cup, but they are my new favorite pastry. The Kolache is a Czech pastry that has become a staple in a region of central Texas known as the Czech Belt. The best way to describe a Kolache is a buttery puff pastry that is filled with something savory or sweet. The bacon kolache from The Crooked Cup is filled with eggs, cheddar cheese, and bacon. All wrapped up in a flaky, buttery, puffy pastry. The Crooked Cup had several different fillings for their kolaches, including ham and jalapeno; french toast and maple; or sausage, egg and cheddar cheese. The kolaches are made fresh every morning at The Crooked Cup, which is an added bonus. The kolache is perfectly satisfying and sounds like a breakfast pastry, but it works as a snack anytime.
2. Cinnamon Roll — The Little Bird Bakeshop
This was not an ordinary cinnamon roll from The Little Bird Bakeshop. It was perfectly portioned with just right amount of icing on it. There was a twist to this cinnamon roll, a hint of orange in the cream cheese frosting.. That little hint of orange makes all of the difference. The Little Bird Bakeshop makes every single one of their pastries on-site daily. So if you want your pick of the pastries get there early because they tend to run out.
3. Strawberry Rhubarb Pie — The Bean Cycle
The Bean Cycle has their pies delivered from Puffin Pastry in Fort Collins, so you are still eating local and the pie is amazing! The strawberry rhubarb pie is topped with a cinnamon oat crumble that perfectly compliments the fruit filling. The crust was buttery and perfectly baked so that it stayed firm and flaky under the fruit.
4. Chocolate Magpie — The Little Bird Bakeshop
This is basically a homemade Double Stuffed Oreo that is to die for. The chocolate cookie is crunchy with a rich chocolate flavor that is offset by the sweet vanilla filling. There are flecks of vanilla bean in the filling so you know its legit. The Little Bird Bakeshop takes their pastries seriously and they don't disappoint.
5. Lemon Cake — Starry Night
The Starry Night Cafe offers a lot of french pastries and croissants but they make all of their cakes on location, making them a little extra special. The Lemon Cake was served chilled, making it a perfect treat on a warm fall afternoon. The cake itself tasted like yellow cake with a subtle hint of lemon incorporated, topped with a sweet cream cheese frosting. The lemon did not overpower the cake; it enhanced the flavor of the cake itself while simultaneously adding its own flavor.
