National Doughnut Day is here!

Ahhh, doughnuts!  You don’t have to be Homer Simpson to appreciate all their sweet and tasty varieties. Whether enjoyed with a cup of coffee or just on their own, doughnuts are an indispensable part of breakfast for many people throughout the world.

If you didn’t know, June 5th is National Doughnut Day. That’s right — a full day to enjoy all that doughtnutty goodness!

It wasn’t all cream-filled sunshine and cinnamon-swirled delight when Doughnut Day got its start, though.

The event was set up by the Salvation Army in Chicago, and the first observance was in 1938 during the dark days of the Great Depression. It was intended to both feed the hungry and honor the ‘doughnut dollies', women who’d volunteered on the front lines of World War I to provide baked goods for the troops. 

With the help of the Red Cross, the ‘dollies’ went on to serve in the Second World War as well. To this day, National Doughnut Day is still a big fundraiser for the Salvation Army’s efforts.

That’s right, whether it’s a Boston Kreme or a chocolate éclair frosted with sprinkles, eating your doughnut is not only tasty, it’s also patriotic. 

Even better, National Doughnut Day isn’t the only day of the year you can celebrate your love of doughnuts. There’s also International Jelly-Filled Doughnut Day on June 8th, National Cream-Filled Doughnut Day on September 14 and even Buy a Doughnut Day, which occurs on October 30th.

If those days are too few and far between for you, here are some great recipes you can try at home.