National Donut Day

National Doughnut Day History

National Doughnut Day is a day of appreciation of Salvation Army volunteers who distributed doughnuts to servicemen during World War I. Doughnuts are fried circular pieces of dough that are usually topped with sugar syrups, chocolate, nuts and other flavorings.

National Doughnut Day began in 1938 as a fundraiser for Chicago's Salvation Army. The fundraiser aimed to support the needy and honor the Salvation Army volunteers who donated their time during World War I to hand out doughnuts to the soldiers. When the US entered the war in 1917, Salvation Army huts were formed where many female volunteers were deployed to mother the soldiers. During this time, women began to make doughnuts for the servicemen who began to refer to the women as, Doughnut Dollies. This national holiday is celebrated each year on the first Friday in June.

National Donut Day facts

• The word "donut" is an American English variant of "doughnut." The shortened form became popularized by the Dunkin' Donuts chain in the mid-20th century.
• The largest donut ever made was created in 1998 in Utica, New York, USA. It weighed approximately 1.7 tons (3,739 pounds or 1,690 kilograms) and measured 16 feet (4.88 meters) in diameter.
• The origin of the donut shape is credited to a New England ship captain named Hanson Gregory, who in the mid-19th century reportedly removed the dough's center to ensure even cooking.
• According to IBISWorld, in 2022, the doughnut store industry in the U.S. is worth $8.7 billion.
• In the United States, there are more than 8,500 Dunkin Donuts restaurants, 1,000 Krispy Kreme Doughnuts restaurants, and more than 800 Tim Hortons locations.
• In 2014, Krispy Kreme UK created the world's most expensive doughnut. The doughnut was filled with Dom Pérignon jelly and iced in a passion fruit glaze. The doughnut was placed on a handmade lotus flower carved from Belgian white chocolate and dusted with edible 23-karat gold. A 24-karat gold leaf and edible diamonds brought the cost of the doughnut to £1,000

In the News and Trending in the US for National Donut Day

Top things to do in the US for National Donut Day

• Visit your local doughnut store for specials and promotions to celebrate National Doughnut Day. Many doughnut stores offer free doughnuts or specials.
• Try to make your own doughnuts with your favorite toppings, or try new blends of sweet and savory toppings. Some interesting twists include maple bacon doughnut, smoked salmon doughnut and grilled cheese doughnuts!
• Become a volunteer with The Salvation Army. According to The Salvation Army, more than 30 million Americans received assistance from the Salvation Army's officers, employees and 3.4 million volunteers in 2014.
• Pick up a large box of doughnuts on your way to work or school to share with friends, family, colleagues or fellow students
• Watch episodes of the Donut Showdown (2013) to learn about out-of-the-box donut recipes. The show is judged by chefs David Rocco, Maggie McKeown and Zane Caplansky. Each episode consists of contestants competing against each other to create unique donuts.