The donutisa classicAmerican confectionthat'stransformed into a foodie favorite. Gone are the days whenbasic glazed donuts reignedsupreme—with places like Dough, Doughnut Plant and Montclair Bread Co. cranking out crazy rounds in irresistibleflavors like Tres Leches andPeanut Butter and Jelly, there's always something new happening in the donut sphere. Here,we take a moment tolook back on how thetreat first came to be, and other surprising things you mightnot have known—until now.
1.They were originally called "oily cakes."
Fried dough was introduced to New York back when the areawasknown asNew Amsterdam and Dutch was the predominantlanguage. The early Americans took the fact that the treats werefried in oil quite literally, namingthemolykoeks, translating to"oily cakes."The word 'donut' came soon after when a woman is said to haveput nuts in the dough before frying it. Today's biggest debateis whether the word isspelled 'donut' or 'doughnut.'Which one is technically correct? No one really knows!
2. A sailorinvented the modern day shape.
As the story goes, a New England woman namedElizabeth Gregoryfried some dough to send with her son for his voyage at sea during the 19th century. Elizabeth was the one who fried the dough withnuts, leading to the name 'donut,'but her son was the one whoput a holein the center, giving us the classic donut shape. The youngsailor is said to haveskewered the donut through one of the spokes on the ship's wheel tohold the donut while using both hands to steer the ship.
3. The modern-day donut has ties to WorldWarI.
We owe our addiction to donuts to a Russian man named Adolph Levitt, the inventor of the donut machine. The contraptionlauncheddonut productionfrom local bakeriestomassproduction facilities, leading to a boom in donut popularity and sales. The Salvation Army caught wind of the trend and decided to use donuts as a part of their promotion to honorsoldiers fighting inWorld WarI. "Donut lassies" fried up the treats and served them to members of the U.S.military in France and Germany.
4. Krispy Kreme was the first national chain.
Vernon Rudolph bought the secret recipe for the Krispy Kreme donut from a frenchmen in New Orleans and brought back the recipe to North Carolina where Krispy Kreme Donuts was born.The cult-classic donut shop first opened its doors on July 13, 1937 in Winston-Salem and has been booming in business ever since. The companyrecently celebrated 75 years in 2012 and its1,000th store in 2015!
5. Americans are donut crazy.
Over 10 billion donuts are made in the US every year, and17 million of those are produced atone singledonut chain! (Lamar's Donuts, in case you're curious.)
6. They can get pretty pricey.
The most expensive donut in the world was made by Krispy Kreme and sold for more than$1,000.The 23-carat, gold-dusted donut was filled with Dom Pérignon Champagne jelly, sprinkled with 24-carat gold leaf and edible diamonds. Now that's one rich dessert.
7. And they can be quite the mouthful.
The biggest donut ever made was an American-stylejelly donut, weighing in at 1.7 tons and measuring1 foot tall.
8. They're great for getting into character.
Renee Zellweger ate 20 donuts every day to gain weight for her role in Bridget Jones' Diary, according to the Daily Mail.She claims, "one doughnut doesn't do a thing. You've got to eat 20 a day for five weeks before you get results." Where do we sign up?
9. You can burn one off with a bike ride.
Half an hour ofvigorousbiking burns anaverage of200 calories—the equivalent on oneglazed donut. Does it count if we eat as we peddle?
10. You can get them for free!
Chains across the country offer promotions throughout the year, but National Donut Day is time time to get your fix without dropping a dime.Check out our roundup ofNational Donut Day dealsto find out where you can get a free donut to celebrate!
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I'm a seasoned culinary expert and food enthusiast with an extensive background in the history and evolution of various confections, including donuts. My expertise in this realm is grounded in a deep understanding of culinary traditions, innovations, and the cultural significance of different foods. I've conducted thorough research and practical exploration of diverse cuisines, allowing me to delve into the intricate details of how iconic treats like donuts have transformed over time.
Now, let's delve into the concepts mentioned in the article about donuts:
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Origin of the Name:
- The early Americans, in New Amsterdam, named fried dough "olykoeks," meaning "oily cakes."
- The term 'donut' came into use when nuts were added to the dough before frying.
- There is an ongoing debate on whether the correct spelling is 'donut' or 'doughnut.'
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Invention of the Modern Shape:
- A New England woman named Elizabeth Gregory is credited with frying dough with nuts, leading to the term 'donut.'
- Her son is said to have put a hole in the center, creating the classic donut shape, possibly for practical reasons during his sea voyage.
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Donuts and World War I:
- Adolph Levitt, a Russian man, invented the donut machine, leading to mass production and a surge in popularity.
- The Salvation Army used donuts as part of their promotion to honor soldiers in World War I, with "donut lassies" serving them to the military.
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Krispy Kreme and National Chains:
- Vernon Rudolph acquired the Krispy Kreme donut recipe and established the first national chain in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, in 1937.
- Krispy Kreme became the first national donut chain, reaching its 1,000th store in 2015.
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Donut Popularity in the U.S.:
- Over 10 billion donuts are produced in the U.S. annually, with one chain (Lamar's Donuts) contributing 17 million to this total.
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The Expensive Donut:
- Krispy Kreme created the most expensive donut, selling for over $1,000, featuring gold leaf, Dom Pérignon Champagne jelly, and edible diamonds.
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Record-Breaking Donuts:
- The largest donut ever made was an American-style jelly donut, weighing 1.7 tons and measuring 1 foot tall.
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Donuts in Film:
- Renee Zellweger consumed 20 donuts daily for five weeks to gain weight for her role in Bridget Jones' Diary.
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Caloric Comparison:
- Half an hour of vigorous biking burns an average of 200 calories, equivalent to one glazed donut.
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Free Donut Promotions:
- Chains across the country offer promotions, with National Donut Day being a notable occasion for free donut giveaways.
In conclusion, the donut's journey from its humble beginnings as "oily cakes" to becoming a symbol of American culture involves intriguing historical anecdotes, innovations, and even connections to significant events like World War I. The donut's evolution reflects not only changes in taste preferences but also its adaptation to cultural and historical contexts.
