Today is National Donut Day!

by poolparty | June 6, 2008 at 09:18 am

9971 views | 27 Recommendations | 107 comments

It’s National Donut Day! National Donut Day is celebrated on the first Friday in June every year.

Here is my personal top 5 list of the best donuts across North America.
Please feel free to list your own in the comments field and check out the slide show here.

1. Round Rock Donuts
106 West Liberty Round Rock, TX

Round Rock Doughnuts, made from the original owner’s recipe, are created with as much care and finesse as they were years ago. The yeast-risen doughnut originates from a bread-like dough; its distinct yellow color (from fresh eggs) immediately sets it off from any other doughnut. Unlike baking powder doughnuts, this yeast doughnut cannot be machine-made; it must be hand-rolled, cut, fried and iced. On busy days, now as in the past, the bakery turns out 200 dozen of these popular originals.

2. Honey’s Doughnuts
4373 Gallant Ave North Vancouver, BC

Honey's soft and sweet doughnuts are a Deep Cove institution. They are baked in small batches throughout the day and are snatched up very quickly.

3. Randy’s Donuts
805 West Manchester Avenue Inglewood, CA

"Built in 1952 as part of the Big Donut Drive-In hain, it has dispensed donuts ever since. Current owners Lary and Ron Weintroub keep it in top condition for occasional cinematic appearances." - Westways Magazine

4. Dunkin’ Donuts

Dunkin' Donuts is the world's largest coffee and baked goods chain, serving more than 3 million customers per day. Dunkin' Donuts sells 52 varieties of donuts and more than a dozen coffee beverages as well as an array of bagels, breakfast sandwiches and other baked goods.

5. Krispy Kreme (giving away freebies at select locations across the country)

When people talk about a Krispy Kreme doughnut, they're usually referring to our signature treat: the Original Glazed. Made from a recipe dating back to the 1930s, our Original Glazed doughnuts have helped set us apart. And if you haven't had an Original Glazed HOT off the line, you need to try one!

National Donut Day History and Fun Facts:

In 1917, Salvation Army female volunteers known as “lassies” prepared thousands of fresh donuts to the homesick soldiers that served in France during World War I. National Donut Day was officially established in 1938 by the Chicago Salvation Army to raise much-needed funds during the Great Depression.
Donut Glossary from Around
the World

    * Italy = fritole
    * Montenegro = ustipci
    * Mexico = churrro
    * Turkey = lokma
    * France = beignet
    * Germany = krapfen
    * Hungary = langos
    * India = balushai
    * Netherlands = oliebollen

Donut Facts

    * In the U.S. alone, more than 10 billion donuts are made every year.
    * The largest donut ever made was an American-style jelly donut weighing 1.7 tons, which was 16 feet in diameter and 16 inches high in the center.
    * Per capita, Canada has more donut shops than any other country.
    * The hole in the donut's center appeared in the first half of the 19th Century.
    * Adolph Levitt invented the first donut machine in 1920.

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michelle.sundvick

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 09:33 on June 6th, 2008

Steph02, I like this story. It's good stuff.

yummmmm donuts.

For all my fellow donut lovers, I've heard Krispy Kreme stores are giving away free donuts all day to celebrate! Great donuts but apparently a bad investment option...

dr_dubXXX

at 10:49 on June 6th, 2008

In Italian I'd call them "Ciambelle". They are slightly different, but the shape is definitely that of a "ciambella"! :)

Happy Donut Day!

Amy Judd

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 13:35 on June 6th, 2008

Steph02, I like this story. It's good stuff.

Gotta love those Krispy Kremes! The originals are my all time favourite...

Jennings David L

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 13:54 on June 6th, 2008

Steph02, I like this story, it made me hungry for a glazed or cinnamon cake donut. What a good idea.

Heiky

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 15:33 on June 6th, 2008

Krispy Kremes will always be my favourite.

dunkelberg

at 15:38 on June 6th, 2008

Once upon a time, there were no big malls, and people went to a place called "downtown" to do their shopping. Downtown was just like a mall, except it had traffic and no roof. There were stores and shops of all kinds down there.

The big department stores had more than just clothes, scents, kitchen stuff, appliances and electronics. They had big book sections and food.

Stripling's in downtown Fort Worth had what would be called today a food court. It's Pink Rooster (talk about gender identity problems) Tea Room had a big sit down eating area. It also had a full-service counter section, a soda counter (with the "Tall Texan" soda), candy counter, nut stand and a donut stand.

The doughnut machine was out in the open, unlike the new suburban donut shops. You could stand there and watch the machine spit out cake dough into the hot grease, flip the doughnuts and eventually remove them from the oil all by itself.

It was fascinating to watch and held its own well in the cornucopia of scents that surrounded the area (they wisely put the doughnuts, nuts and candy near the door).

However, we usually ended up with bags of Spanish Peanuts, deemed to be the healthiest thing being offered there.

angelknight

at 18:48 on June 6th, 2008

Tim Hortons- Timbits or donut holes. Very tasty

angelknight has contributed a photo to this story.

Nanayof2

at 20:24 on June 6th, 2008

Happy National Doughnut Day!

* Thanks for using my photo :)

Nanayof2 has contributed a photo to this story.

rhoge

at 20:54 on June 6th, 2008

I am visiting Tokyo and happened to walk by the one and only Krispy Kreme in Japan. It's so popular they had ropes setup like a security line at the airport and signs letting you know how long it will take from a certain spot in line before you get to order. Too bad KK isn't having the same continued success in the US.

rhoge has contributed a photo to this story.

guinnesssteve

at 21:04 on June 6th, 2008

This is a Donut King and Queen's Grill both combined into one business. They have been a fixture and hotspot in Kensington, Maryland for decades and make some of the very best donuts in town!

guinnesssteve has contributed a photo to this story.

scottwmoore

at 21:15 on June 6th, 2008

we heard a rumor that Krispy Kreme had arrived in Mexico. It's true! This photo was taken at the Parque Lindavista Mall in Mexico City. If you look closely, you can see the Spanish on the Krispy Kreme hat.

scottwmoore has contributed a photo to this story.

gracelee166

at 21:33 on June 6th, 2008

I took these pictures @ Voodoo Donuts located in Portland, OR. Some of the best donuts ever! They come in all sorts of flavors, from Chocolate MArshmellow to Bacon Maple to Mango! All that are delicious.

gracelee166 has contributed a photo to this story.

MiniMac2005

at 22:32 on June 6th, 2008

we used this former Krispy Kreme location in Maple Grove, MN as a staging area on our way to a rally. From what I've heard, KK closed many locations in MN recently. Too bad.. love their fresh donuts!

MiniMac2005 has contributed a photo to this story.

B a r s h o ™

at 22:35 on June 6th, 2008

Krispy Krime is so delicious :D
thanx for this lovely site ..
i feel so hungry now :P

B a r s h o ™ has contributed a photo to this story.

doomsdayblaze

at 22:51 on June 6th, 2008

If I remember correctly, these were fried taro balls at a Chinese restaurant, hanging with some Chinese friends. Good times!

doomsdayblaze has contributed a photo to this story.

[ Miss Loading™ * L o a d i n g e y a *

at 23:04 on June 6th, 2008

Ohhh ..
krispy kreme !!
I think it is the best doughnuts eva =D

[ Miss Loading™ * L o a d i n g e y a * has contributed a photo to this story.

susanfurber

at 00:45 on June 7th, 2008

Krispy Kremes are internationally adored. They don't have a store in Adelaide (Australia), so people buy up boxes at the airport and bring them in on plane trips from Melbourne. Our workplace even shipped in 100 boxes for a charity event!
I have spotted them on my travels in places like Oxford and Reading (where this photo was taken). Love the Krispy Kremes!

susanfurber has contributed a photo to this story.

man7drake

at 01:10 on June 7th, 2008

Krispy Kreme as bought from Hong Kong. Love em' very much!

man7drake has contributed a photo to this story.

Flown Away

at 01:51 on June 7th, 2008

The best donuts in the world!

Flown Away has contributed a photo to this story.

your_cherry_bomb

at 02:00 on June 7th, 2008

Krispy Kremes - the best donuts in the world!

your_cherry_bomb has contributed a photo to this story.

Sang-eun Kwon

at 02:15 on June 7th, 2008

these are Krispy Kreme Doughnuts' original glazed doughnuts.
i fascinated by their taste.
so nice doughnuts.
정말맛있어요^_^

Sang-eun Kwon has contributed a photo to this story.

C.G. Majah

at 02:53 on June 7th, 2008

I don't know what it is about krispy kreme donuts, but they are completely addicting. I don't have much of a sweet tooth but for their donuts, I'll make an exception any time.

Yey, for donut's day!

C.G. Majah has contributed a photo to this story.

lorilyn

at 03:14 on June 7th, 2008

I love Krispy Kremes but in Lexington, Ky., it's hard to beat Spaldings.

bobbyneng

at 03:23 on June 7th, 2008

Heathrow celebratory donuts! yay! celebrate the loss of your luggage with a donut!

bobbyneng has contributed a photo to this story.

Cindy Funk

at 04:10 on June 7th, 2008

The photo of donuts on the rack is from Schuler's Bakery in Springfield, Ohio. Not a chain...a hometown favorite. Donuts made by people - not a factory. If you've never had a whole wheat donut, then you've never lived! So moist and goooood. Public consensus votes for Schuler's glazed donuts, but our family favorite is the whole wheat. Nothing like 'em. Krispy Kreme? Not even a contender......

spellnights

at 04:14 on June 7th, 2008

We love our Krispy Kreme Doughnuts!! What a great experiece to bring my sons to my home town to watch the doughnuts being made just like I had done with my parents as a kid. Unfortunately the chain didn't make it here in the Boston Area so this is a extra special treat for us when we travel south to visit family.

spellnights has contributed a photo to this story.

Missy Qatar ولاتسوىحياتي بعد منك

at 04:31 on June 7th, 2008

The reason why i took this picture is because Krispy Kreme had just opened in Qatar and because they have the best doughnuts ever.

Missy Qatar ولاتسوىحياتي بعد منك has contributed a photo to this story.

ananassa

at 04:43 on June 7th, 2008

I'm Japanese and living in Japan. I didn't know about National Donut Day! until Michelle of NowPublic.com e-mailed me today. I hope you enjoy my photo. You can't eat my homemade doughnuts, though... :)

ananassa has contributed a photo to this story.