It's the story of how a simple pastry became an American ritual
The first Friday in June has become one of the country's sweetest traditions — it's National Donut Day!
For many Americans, the day is little more than a welcome excuse to indulge in fried dough and sugar. Yet behind the annual celebration lies a story that stretches from battlefields in Europe to the changing landscape of American food culture, from brands like Dunkin' and Krispy Kreme in the south to Canada's Tim Horton's in the north.
Food historians generally trace its ancestry to fried dough traditions brought to North America by Dutch settlers, whose "olykoeks," or oil cakes, were popular in colonial communities. Over time, recipes evolved. The now-familiar ring shape emerged during the 19th century, helping dough cook more evenly.
By the early 20th century, donuts had become a fixture of American life. The day dedicated them goes back to World War I, when the Salvation Army traveled to France to support American troops. Among them were women who became known as the "Donut Lassies." Working under difficult conditions near the front lines, they prepared donuts for soldiers, often using makeshift equipment and limited ingredients. In 1938, the Salvation Army established National Donut Day to honor those volunteers and to raise funds for its charitable work coming out of The Great Depression.
More than a century after the Donut Lassies served soldiers in France, National Donut Day continues to resonate, as the donut's appeal lay in its simplicity — inexpensive, portable, adaptable and easily customized with glazes, fillings, spices, or toppings. In recent decades, artisan bakeries have pushed the pastry beyond its traditional boundaries. Maple bacon donuts, cereal-topped creations, matcha glazes, and gourmet fillings have transformed what was once a humble breakfast item into a canvas for culinary experimentation.
So what's your favorite donut, and where will you be getting it this morning?
