National Donut Day

National Doughnut Day History

National Doughnut Day is a day of appreciation of Salvation Army volunteers who distributed doughnuts to servicemen during World War I. Doughnuts are fried circular pieces of dough that are usually topped with sugar syrups, chocolate, nuts and other flavorings.

National Doughnut Day began in 1938 as a fundraiser for Chicago's Salvation Army. The fundraiser aimed to support the needy and honor the Salvation Army volunteers who donated their time during World War I to hand out doughnuts to the soldiers. When the US entered the war in 1917, Salvation Army huts were formed where many female volunteers were deployed to mother the soldiers. During this time, women began to make doughnuts for the servicemen who began to refer to the women as, Doughnut Dollies. This national holiday is celebrated each year on the first Friday in June.

Top 10 Facts for National Donut Day in 2026

• The official origin of National Donut Day dates back to 1938, when the Chicago branch of the Salvation Army established the event as a fundraiser to support those in need during the Great Depression.
• The holiday was specifically created to honor the "Donut Lassies" of World War I, a group of approximately 250 female volunteers who traveled to France to provide spiritual support and home-cooked treats to American soldiers on the front lines.
• Due to the limited equipment available in the trenches, these volunteers famously used actual military helmets to fry their dough, sometimes producing up to 8,000 donuts in a single day.
• One popular legend regarding the invention of the donut hole attributes it to Captain Hanson Gregory, a 19th-century sailor who allegedly used the top of a round pepper tin to punch out the center of his mother's "sinkers" so they would cook more evenly.
• Another whimsical account suggests Captain Gregory invented the ring shape during a storm so he could secure his donut onto the spokes of the ship's steering wheel, allowing him to use both hands to navigate through the rough Atlantic waters.
• The automation of the pastry industry began in 1920 when a Russian refugee named Adolph Levitt invented the first automated donut machine in New York City, leading to donuts being named the "Hit Food of the Century of Progress" at the 1934 World's Fair.
• While the donut is a quintessential American icon, Canada currently holds the record for the highest concentration of donut shops per capita and its citizens consume more donuts annually than any other nation in the world.
• The life of Ted Ngoy, a Cambodian refugee who built a multimillion-dollar pastry empire in California, is chronicled in the award-winning 2020 documentary The Donut King, which explores the "pink box" tradition associated with independent shops.
• Literature also pays homage to these wartime volunteers in works such as the 2023 novel Good Night, Irene by Luis Alberto Urrea, which was inspired by the author's mother's service as a "Donut Dollie" during World War II.
• The current Guinness World Record for the largest donut was set in September 2023 by two creators who produced a pink frosted treat weighing over 225 pounds, which was later donated to a homeless shelter in Boston.

In the News and Trending in the US for National Donut Day

Top things to do in the US for National Donut Day

• Visit your local doughnut store for specials and promotions to celebrate National Doughnut Day. Many doughnut stores offer free doughnuts or specials.
• Try to make your own doughnuts with your favorite toppings, or try new blends of sweet and savory toppings. Some interesting twists include maple bacon doughnut, smoked salmon doughnut and grilled cheese doughnuts!
• Become a volunteer with The Salvation Army. According to The Salvation Army, more than 30 million Americans received assistance from the Salvation Army's officers, employees and 3.4 million volunteers in 2014.
• Pick up a large box of doughnuts on your way to work or school to share with friends, family, colleagues or fellow students
• Watch episodes of the Donut Showdown (2013) to learn about out-of-the-box donut recipes. The show is judged by chefs David Rocco, Maggie McKeown and Zane Caplansky. Each episode consists of contestants competing against each other to create unique donuts.