There's no better way to start your day than with a freshly made donut or, okay, let's be honest: a baker's dozen. The best donut shops in America range from old-school joints that have been serving them up since the early part of the 20th century to modern places pushing the envelope when it comes to imaginative ingredients and eye-catching toppings. There's no better time to be a fan of great donut shops because no matter where you live there is bound to be one of the best donut places in the country near you. Click on the slideshow to see the list, but do so knowing that you're breakfast plans for the next few days are now doughy with a strong chance of sprinkles.

Known for distinctive pentagon-shaped donuts and their rotating "donut of the day" specials, Heavenly has quickly become beloved in Birmingham. They specialize in both yeasted and cake donuts, with just a few of the favorites being the Caramel Glazed, Strawberry Iced and seasonal Apple Crisp & Pumpkin Spice donuts.

From a range of Old Fashioneds to Maple Cake, Sugar Rings and a variety of fruit and cream-filled classics, Golden has got just what you need to make it through your morning. This is to say nothing of this Anchorage outfit's "Fancy Donut" range that includes interesting flavors and unique twists like a Cream Cheese Danish and the ever-popular Persian Cinnamon Roll.

There's only one place to go in the Valley of the Sun when your watch reads "donut time" and that's the Donut Parlor in Tempe. Relive your childhood with a Fruity Pebbles or Cinnamon Toast Crunch donut or keep it simple with glazed or Vanilla Cake.

This humble shop in North Little Rock has been doing all the little things right since 1978 and the result is a simple menu loaded with classics like glazed, chocolate frosted and coconut-covered donuts.

Opened in San Diego in 2013, Donut Bar has quickly become an icon in the SoCal donut game. Head in for Homer's Donut (a massive fresh yeast donut painted with pink cake batter glaze and topped with sprinkles that would satisfy everyone's favorite animated dad) or a Creme Brulee, Nutella or Caramelized Pineapple.

Head to Glenwood Springs for a bite of the donut good life. Some of Sweet Coloradough's standouts are its creme-filled Bismarcks, Bear Claws, Cherry Pineapple Fritters and legendary 11-Layer Croughnuts.

They've been glazing 'em, frosting 'em, and filling 'em at Neil's in New Haven County for over 20 years and they show no signs of slowing down. Pop in for a Maple Frosted, Glazed Rainbow Sprinkled or-if you're feeling lucky-a Shamrock Cream.

You are never far from a Fractured Prune on the Eastern Seaboard these days and there are now multiple locations throughout Delaware. They're big on creativity here, encouraging customers to come up with their own unique combination of glazes and toppings, with some of the classics concocted over the years being the Creamsicle (orange glaze & powdered sugar), Peppermint Patty (mint glaze & chocolate chips) and Banana Nut Bread (banana glaze, cinnamon sugar and peanuts)

The star of the show at Miami's Mojo is raised, filled 'nuts covered with a mindboggling array of candy, fruit, drizzles and sprinkles. One bite of the Abuelita-a donut sprinkled with cinnamon and filled with arroz con leche-or the Guava & Cheese will have you in donut bliss.

Sublime in Atlanta stuns you with a unique range of shapes (think hearts, stars, rings and rounds), sizes and flavors then sweeps you off your feet with taste. Try the Strawberries & Cream, Orange Dream Star, White Chocolate Peach Fritter or Butter Toffee to get a sample of their donut-making prowess.

Located in the heart of Honolulu, this local's favorite cranks out classics with love for its adoring legions of fans. One visit and one taste of the freshly made donuts here and you're destined to be one of them!

Everybody knows folks from Idaho love being active outdoors, so it should come as no surprise their best donut spot keeps healthy lifestyles in mind while they're crafting their donuts. Sink your teeth into a Chocolate Chip Cookie, Caramel Cream or Mint Hopper at this Meridian shop without a crumb of guilt.

In the Windy City, the early bird grabs the donuts. Doughnut Vault is only open until they sell out and with mouthwatering standard creations and unique specials like Coffee Caramel Old Fashioned and Praline Cream Dream, you're going to want to set the alarm for the crack of dawn.

General American in Indianapolis makes their donuts fresh each morning by hand without pre-made mixtures or preservatives and you can taste the difference. A few favorites are the Cinnamon Sugar Cake, the Coffee & Cream and the Raspberry Key Lime.

This donut and coffee shop in Des Moines mixes excellent donuts with Hawaiian island vibes with sensational results. Mini-donuts are the name of the game here and they come in a dazzling range of flavors like Apple Tiki (apple cobbler, caramel glaze and cinnamon sugar), Blueberry Beach (blueberry glaze & powdered sugar) and Turtle Bay (chocolate glaze, caramel glaze and pecans). Naturally, they're pouring Kona coffee on the side.

They go mad for Varsity's "fluffy and fat" donuts in the cool college town of Manhattan-so much so that the store grabbed some screen time on the recent critically-acclaimed HBO show Somebody Somewhere. Menu rockstars include the K-Stater (raised yeast dipped in purple vanilla frosting and covered in purple sprinkles), the Funnel Cake (buttermilk cake donut covered in glaze and powdered sugar) and the Maple Bacon Bar.

With two locations in Lexington and one in Louisville, North Lime has the Bluegrass State donut game on lock. They know how to hit the classics out of the park-their Funkfetti sprinkled and Plain Glazed are both wonderful- but it's their special donuts that will leave you breathless. A couple of examples of their very special specials include Pecan Blondie Cookie Butter and Cherry Limeade.

One of the grandest dames in the donut game down South, Southern Maid has been serving up sensational donuts in Shreveport since the 1940s. Stop by one of their locations to enjoy timeless cream-stuffed and gooey-glazed delights and revel in the timeless atmosphere served up on the side.

Situated in a quaint little red building with a pinstripe awning in Brunswick, Frosty's famous hand-cut donuts have been satisfying the locals since 1965. Grab a range of vanilla cake donuts-Maple Frosted and Cinnamon Sugar are just two of the topping options-chocolate cake donuts (Butter Crunch is a standout), blueberry cake donuts or raised donuts and you're day is off to an awesome start.

The only family of donut shops to feature twice on the list, Fractured Prune has been serving up donuts on the Ocean City boardwalk since 1976. They've since grown to have multiple locations in the state and all of them give guests the chance to concoct their own special combinations like Peach Pie (peach glaze & graham cracker) or the Key Lime Pie (key lime glaze, graham crackers and powdered sugar). Or, just keep it simple with a vanilla glaze.

Even though they've been frying up donuts since 1955, Kane's stays on top of all the modern trends. One look at their menu shows Creme Brulee, Maple Bacon and Butter Crunch (honey glazed rolled in toasted coconut) sitting next to Plain Glazed and Jelly-filled. In addition, each month there are a minimum of three seasonal flavors, with Eggnog, Pumpkin Ale, and Lavender being three past examples.

Located in the town of Jackson, Hinkley Bakery has been putting smiles on the local's faces since 1913. Stop by to check in with the fourth generation of Hinkleys to run the bakery and pick up a bag of their signature Chocolate Crescents or filled Long Johns and you'll be a fan for life.

Well, they aren't short on confidence at this Grand Marais shop, are they? Luckily for donut lovers, they aren't short on skills, either. Cake donuts are the MVPs here and you can have them glazed, slathered in frosting or dusted in sugar. You won't regret a single thing about their turnovers or twists, either.

They use potato flour in their batter at TatoNut and they aren't apologizing for trying something a little different. You'll be thrilled they did when you're feasting on one of their delicious creations like the "Persian" (glazed donut infused with cinnamon) or a Chocolate Frosted Bavarian Cream and downing a cup of gourmet coffee.

St. Louis hosted the World's Fair back in 1904 and the city is still talking about what a great time it was. This unassuming shop in the South City pays homage to that shindig with its name and has become famous in its own right for its handmade favorites, with World's Fair Buttermilk Cake and Blueberry Cake being two of the most adored flavors.

Granny's may look a little old-fashioned from the outside, but don't get it twisted, this is not your grandmother's donut shop. The fried delights switch according to the seasons, with some of the special flavors that have appeared in the past being S'mores, Fresh Mint and even a Breaking Bad inspired donut that is littered with Pop Rocks.

Sunrize shines with its range of in glazed, raised and cake-style donuts, and as they are more than happy to tell you, "no shortcuts are taken". Head to Omaha for an Iced Bar Vanilla, Blueberry Frosted or Peanut Vanilla. Apple fritters are also a hit here, too.

PinkBox likes to brag that their donuts are "so good you'll lick the box", so consider yourself warned. After all, why would anyone want to waste one crumb of their colorful and decadent range of high-quality, never compromised-on donuts? In addition to all the classics and creative takes on donuts, they offer a mouthwatering Maple Bacon cronut.

Harvey's has been baking sensational goods on the New Hampshire Seacoast since 1932 and they show no signs of slowing down. Folks have been known to come all the way from Boston for one of their Maple Squares or Maple Rounds and one bite will have you hooked on Harvey's too.

Uncle Dood's in Tom's River doesn't ice and top your donut until you place your order, providing the ultimate fresh donut experience. In addition to the standards, there are nutty 'nuts available like the Bed Rockin' (vanilla icing and Fruity Pebbles) the Werewolf Fuzz (maple icing and toasted coconut) and the ever-popular Boardwalk Blitz that features cotton candy icing and rainbow sprinkles.

Whoo's makes their donuts from scratch daily with only "clean" ingredients and the results at this Santa Fe shop are simply sensational. Paramount among customers' favorites is the Blue Corn Blueberry Lavender, with other favorites including the Green Chile Apple Fritter and Lemon Pistachio.

These NYC donut icons use a brioche-style dough that-to ensure freshness-is made in small batches throughout the day and this method pays off big time. Try a Hibiscus, Passionfruit or Lemon Poppy donut off the year-round menu before making your way over to one of the seasonal specials, a list that includes Margarita and Irish Coffee Cream Filled.

Vortex is the spot to go on Asheville's South Slope for your donut fix as in a few short years they've become an absolute staple on the city's food scene. Just a few of the standout flavors offered in the past are Peach Graham Cracker, Espresso and Cream Cheese Key Lime.

Sandy's is synonymous with glorious donuts at all three of their Fargo locations. Try out a Blueberry Cake, Marble Cake or the legendary Maple Bacon Long John before taking down a Dirt and Worms-a donut topped with crushed Oreos and candy gummy worms.

The pride of the Cleveland donut scene, Jack Frost has been making every batch from scratch since 1937. Stop by for a bite of something old-school like a Glazed Twist or something a little more modern like a Banana Split Strawberry Cream or Turtle Cake.

Make no mistake, Oklahoma City's Polar can knock up some of the best glazed, filled or buttermilk cake donuts in OKC, but it's their fritters that have made them famous in these parts. Featured fritter flavors are apple, blueberry, peach and cherry.

Blue Star has grown into a small family of shops in Portland and Southern California, but since their consistency and dedication to the craft are off the charts, you'll be satisfied no matter which location you choose. Just a few of the insanely-awesome donuts you can expect to taste are the Raspberry Rosemary Buttermilk, Orange Olive Oil and Blueberry Bourbon Basil.

The Beaver Falls faithful have been lining up for Oram's since 1938 and they are still serving up many of their original secret recipes-but they aren't afraid to innovate, either. A few of their finest menu items include the famous cinnamon rolls, Blueberry Jelly Filled, Oram's Original Homemade Creme Filled and Blueberry Glazed (Thursdays and Saturdays only).

They roll, cut, dip and top their filled and brioche-style donuts all by hand at this Providence mainstay. The menu changes with the seasons, with recent offerings including gems like Toasted Coconut Pie, Salted Brown Butter, and Orange Creamsicle. PVD is also well known for its Monkey Bread and crullers, too.

You can't say you've truly been to Gaffney until you've gone to Sunny's. Start with the ring donuts first, as they come topped with sprinkles, cookies or fruity cereal before moving on to the oversized-and overstuffed-filled donuts.

How do you take the beloved flavors of a Samoa or Thin Mint to the stratosphere? By smearing them on a donut, that's how. Flyboy has done it, but that's just the start of the donut magic happening at this small family of shops in Sioux Falls. They make everything fresh the old-fashioned way, and in addition to a mouthwatering range of classic and unique 'nuts, serve up apple fritters, caramel rolls, fried cinnamon rolls and turnovers.

Whether you like old-school donuts or prefer something colorful that that's going to rack up the likes on social media, Fox's has you covered. They've been Nashville mornings better since 1973 and in addition to donuts, they own a fantastic reputation for their apple fritters.

Why do you go to Gordough's? Three words: Big. Fat. Donuts. Pounce on a Son of a Peach (peach, sugar, and cinnamon topped covered with cake mix), a Porky's (cream cheese, jalapeno jelly and bacon) or a myriad of other mindboggling choices at their food trailer or public house in Austin.

Featuring a unique mochi recipe (glutinous rice flour, tapioca starch and a touch of wheat flour) which results in a light and chewy donut, Momi is making waves in Salt Lake City's donut scene. Stop in to enjoy one of their daily flavors like Matcha, Guava, Strawberry and Cookies n' Cream or a mouthwatering monthly special.

Head to Essex Junction and find the pink, brown and tan school bus in the back parking lot of the Post Office Square and you'll be richly rewarded. A couple of the standards here are the Vermont Maple Glazed and Strawberry Glazed with Sprinkles while specials like the Ginger-Lime Glaze are always popping up, too.

They've been making donuts for 20 years now and after starting out in the Lone Star State, they've taken their talents to Virginia and the locals are loving it. Go for a classic blueberry cake or cinnamon-dusted donut or dip your toe into the specialties, a list that includes Maple Bacon, Cookies and Cream or extra-large Texas donuts.

Boasting a combination of dreamy donuts, great coffee and cool cafes, it's easy to see how Top Pot has taken over the Pacific Northwest. Pop in for a classic or go big with a Raspberry and Lemon Glaze or Salted Caramel. The seasonal specials here are always a hit too, and that collection includes rockstars like Apple Cider Cake, Peppermint Snowdrift and a Pumpkin Cheesecake Bismarck.

Known for vibrant whimsical donuts, the crew at Paradise adds a bit of fun to every donut they touch. The doughy creations here run the gamut of glazed, sprinkled, and stuffed. They also shine with donut holes and long johns.

This Madison bakery regularly has over 40 donuts on the menu, but none are more popular than the old-school sour cream donuts, which are made from a special sour cream batter and are served up in Sour Cream, Blueberry, Cherry, Chocolate, and Apple Cinnamon flavors. Other standouts are the Blueberry Maple & Double Chocolate cake donut and the Chocolate Caramel buttermilk cruller.

They are proud of saying that they "obsess about the process" at Cowboy Donuts, and their obsession results in unprecedented donut satisfaction. Their location in Rock Springs rocks everything from frosted and sprinkled classic to colorful seasonal selections that celebrate holidays ranging from St. Patrick's Day to Halloween.