Celebrate National Donut Day: History, Recipes, and Sweet Deals!
Hey everyone, it’s National Donut Day! You know what that means? Lots of treats and deals, of course. But do you know the heartwarming story behind the celebration? With Fayetteville being a military town, I thought this would really resonate here! National Doughnut Day is celebrated on the first Friday in June, which is June 7 this year.
The origins of National Donut Day go back over a century. It was created about 86 years ago by the Salvation Army to honor their “Donut Lassies.” These women volunteered with the Salvation Army in 1917, heading to France to care for wounded soldiers during World War I. The Donut Lassies boosted the troops’ morale by making and serving doughnuts, giving them a comforting taste of home amid the tough conditions on the front lines. Their efforts were deeply appreciated and left a lasting legacy, leading to the creation of National Donut Day to honor their kindness and service.
Want to try making the donuts that started it all? Here’s their century-old recipe so you can bake and share these sweet treats with anyone who needs them most.
SALVATION ARMY WWI DONUT INGREDIENTS
Yield: 60 donuts
- 2 large eggs
- 5 cups flour
- 2 cups sugar
- 5 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 tablespoon salt
- 1 3/4 cups milk
- 1 tub lard (you can substitute with butter or vegetable oil)
DIRECTIONS
- Combine all ingredients (except for oil) to make the dough.
- Thoroughly knead the dough, roll it smooth, and cut into rings that are less than 1/4 inch thick. (Get creative when cutting out donut circles! The Salvation Army Donut Lassies used whatever they could find, from baking powder cans to coffee percolator tubes.)
- Drop the rings into the oil, making sure it’s hot enough to brown the donuts gradually. Turn the donuts slowly several times.
- When browned, remove the donuts and let the excess oil drip off. Dust with powdered sugar. Let cool and enjoy!
Various chains across the U.S. are rolling out some sweet deals for all you donut enthusiasts. So, where can you snag those free or discounted donuts? Let’s dive in and find out!
- Duck Donuts
- On June 7, Duck Donuts is offering customers a free cinnamon sugar donut, no purchase necessary. The deal is available in-store only.
- Dunkin’
- Dunkin’ fans can get a free classic donut with the purchase of any drink while supplies last.
- Krispy Kreme
- On June 7, Krispy Kreme is giving away one free donut per customer at participating U.S. locations while supplies last. The deal is in-store only and excludes specialty and limited-time donuts.
- Sheetz
- Get a free donut from Friday through Sunday, June 7-9, when you buy any Sheetz Bros coffee or ready-to-drink coffee at any major mid-Atlantic gas stations, restaurants, and convenience chain locations. Find the deal under the OFFERZ tab on the Sheetz app. Limit one per customer; the offer is good while supplies last.
Enjoy National Donut Day by indulging in a sweet treat, honoring a piece of history, and taking advantage of these delicious deals.
