History of Donuts
DONUT pass up checking out this infographic on donut history!
DONUT PUN HAD TO NOT SORRY.
According to history, people have been deep frying dough for what seems like the beginning of time. Or at least fire.
Let’s fast forward to early America where the journey of the modern donut really began.
1700s
Marked the USA debut of some fried dough! Dutch settlers brought olykoeks aka “oily cakes” to New Amsterdam which would later be called New York.
Fun fact
Dough-”nut” might refer to nuts placed in the middle of the dough to prevent the center being uncooked!
1803
First printed recipe of doughnuts is found in an English cookbook under the appendix American recipes.
1847
Captain Gregory makes the first ever donut hole.
The actual legend behind how the first donut hole came to be is romanticized by many. Some say the Captain speared the doughnut on the ship’s wheel during a storm, making the hole in the middle. Other such deliberate and varying stories can be found on the Internet, but in an actual interview with Captain Gregory he was far less previous about the memory.
…he was on a schooner eating tough, greasy fried cakes and had used the round cover of the ship’s tin pepper box to cut a hole in the middle of the “greasy sinkers.”…
So basically it sounds like they were kind of gross and he used what he could find to make it more edible. YUM.
1917
During WW1 donuts got patriotic on the front lines. Salvation Army volunteers called “doughnut girls” or “donut lassies” served donuts to soldiers. I that it was worth mentioning this source said that the donuts were even fried IN helmets. IN THEM! I think this was pre-knowing that germs were on everything and that is v unsanitary.
1920
Adolph Levitt invents the first automatic donut machine – donuts for everyone!
1937
In North Carolina, founder of Krispy Kreme Vernon Rudolph starts making donuts to sell in local grocery stores. It’s said that the lovely smell of donuts being made was attracting people off the street so Vernon decided to make a hole in the wall of the building to sell to people.
Inadvertently establishing the first Krispy Kreme donut shop.
1938
The Salvation Army creates National Donut Day – this was actually to raise funds during the Great Depression. But man, we love random national holidays – so it stuck!
1948
A doughnut shop, Open Kettle, is opened in Massachusetts
1949
Surprise – Open Kettle becomes Dunkin Donuts!
1963
There were 100 Dunkin’ Donuts shops, and by 1979, there were 1,000!
1972
The first cake-like donut is made, the Rich Frosted Donut by Entenmann’s, which was cake like and covered in chocolate. Entenmann’s – we salute you.
2008
Crème Brulée Doughnut is born at Mark Isreal’s Doughnut Plant in New York City.
2011
Voodoo Donut breaks the world record for biggest box of donuts. 3880!
2013
The Cronut is born at Dominique Ansel Bakery in New York City.
Present Day
Donuts are now very trendy and not just about sustenance and serving.
Hipsters everywhere are adding insane things like matcha and basil.
Sources
http://mrnussbaum.com/readingcomp/doughnuts/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-history-of-the-doughnut-150405177/
https://toriavey.com/history-kitchen/the-history-of-doughnuts/
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/institute/a18569/history-donuts-in-america/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/food/2002/03/06/the-hole-story/ce8a94e0-05c7-4639-8ff7-60c6fd46eeee/?utm_term=.1c9b5e21cdf8
Image Creds
https://www.voodoodoughnut.com/the-voodoo-doughnut-story/
http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2015/06/this-day-in-history-june-22nd-captain-gregory-and-the-invention-of-the-doughnut/
http://archive.boston.com/business/gallery/dunkin_donuts_history/
https://www.zoetenlekker.com/product/oliebol-zonder-rozijnen/
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Krispy_Kreme_Ponce_de_leon_atlanta_ga.jpg
