Did you know that people have been frying dough for thousands of years? While many cultures have their own versions, the donut as we know it today, with a hole in the middle, might have been invented in 1847. An American sailor named Hanson Gregory claimed he came up with this idea. Back then, donuts were just solid pieces of dough that were crispy outside but often raw inside. At 16, while working on a ship, Gregory used a tin pepper box lid to cut out the middle of the dough, creating the first donut hole. He later shared this story with the Washington Post, and his ring-shaped donuts became a hit in his hometown of Maine, changing the world of fried pastries forever.
Frying dough is not a new idea. It goes back thousands of years, even mentioned in the Bible in Leviticus. The ancient Greeks and Romans enjoyed fried cakes with honey, and these treats spread across Europe over time. The history of the donut is a bit tricky to trace because many cultures have similar foods. However, many believe that the donut has roots in Dutch cuisine. When Dutch immigrants came to New York City, then called New Amsterdam, they brought “olykoeks” or oil cakes, which were lumps of fried dough.
In 1809, Washington Irving wrote about sweetened dough balls fried in fat, calling them donuts or olykoeks. While the Dutch origin is widely accepted, some historians think donuts might also have English and German influences. The word “donut” itself has an interesting history. Some say it refers to the original small, round shape like nuts, while others think it comes from culinary nuts like almonds used to fill the dough.
By the early 1900s, the spelling “d-o-n-u-t” became popular, especially after Dunkin’ Donuts opened in 1950 in Quincy, Massachusetts. Today, there are over 18,000 donut shops in the U.S. However, donuts weren’t always popular nationwide. During World War I, the Salvation Army sent volunteers to France to make donuts for U.S. troops, earning them the nickname “donut lassies.” After the war, soldiers brought their love for donuts back home, making them a beloved American treat.
Donut history varies by region in the U.S. While Dunkin’ Donuts is big on the East Coast, smaller shops thrive on the West Coast. In California, Ted Noy, a Cambodian refugee, opened his own donut shop in 1975. His success helped other Cambodian refugees start their businesses, and he popularized the pink donut box, a cost-effective choice that became iconic.
While ring-shaped donuts are an American creation, fried dough is enjoyed worldwide. In Israel, people eat jelly-filled donuts called sufganiyot during Hanukkah. In China, crispy sticks called youtiao are popular, and churros are loved in many countries. The French have light dough fritters known as “pets de nonne” or “nuns’ farts.”
Thanks for exploring the history of donuts with us! Stay tuned for our next episode about gummy bears. Feel free to share your favorite gummy bear color or if you think they all taste the same. Now, it’s time to enjoy some delicious fried dough!
Create a timeline that traces the history of donuts from ancient times to the present. Include key events such as the invention of the donut hole by Hanson Gregory and the introduction of donuts to American soldiers during World War I. Use drawings or digital tools to make your timeline visually appealing.
Research and present on a type of fried dough from a different culture, such as sufganiyot from Israel or youtiao from China. Share your findings with the class, including how these treats are made and their cultural significance. You can even bring in samples or recipes to share!
Design your own unique donut. Think about the shape, flavor, and toppings. Draw your design and write a short description of what makes your donut special. Present your creation to the class and explain why it would be a hit in a donut shop.
Use math to explore donuts! Calculate the area and circumference of a donut using its diameter. Then, compare it to other circular objects. You can also create a word problem involving donuts, such as figuring out how many donuts can fit in a box of a certain size.
Write a short story from the perspective of a donut. Consider its journey from being dough to becoming a delicious treat. Include historical elements from the article, such as being served to soldiers during World War I or being sold in a small shop on the West Coast.
Here’s a sanitized version of the provided YouTube transcript:
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While cultures around the world have fried dough for centuries, the ring-shaped treat with a hole in the middle may not have appeared until 1847. That’s when an American sailor named Hanson Gregory claimed he came up with this culinary innovation. He noted that donuts in those days were just solid pieces of dough, and while they were crispy on the outside, they would still be raw in the center. At age 16, while working aboard a lime trading schooner, he had the idea to remove the middle of the cake altogether. Using the lid of a tin pepper box, he cut into the middle of the donut, creating the first hole ever seen. Nearly 70 years later, he shared this story with the Washington Post. When he returned home to Maine, he showed this new donut method to his mother, and her ring-shaped donuts became a local sensation, changing the world of deep-fried pastries forever.
Hi, I’m Justin Dodd, and welcome to Food History. Humans first started frying dough thousands of years ago. One of the earliest records of this combination appears in the Bible; Leviticus chapter 7, verse 12 mentions possibly fried cakes mingled with oil and fine flour as an acceptable offering. The ancient Greeks and Romans enjoyed fried cakes with honey, and different versions of this sweet treat eventually spread throughout Europe. However, tracing the history of the donut is complicated due to the many possible origins. Traditionally, the dish has been traced to Dutch cuisine. When Dutch immigrants arrived in New York City, formerly known as New Amsterdam, they brought food from the Netherlands with them. One popular recipe was “olykoeks” or oil cakes, made by frying lumps of dough.
An early connection between oil balls and donuts is found in Washington Irving’s 1809 book, “A History of New York.” He wrote of balls of sweetened dough fried in hogs’ fat and called them donuts or olykoeks. While the most widely accepted version of the American donut’s history points to this Dutch origin, some food historians believe donuts could also stem from English fried dough traditions, possibly being a mix of English, Dutch, and German influences.
The term “donut” has an interesting etymology. Some etymologists think it refers to the original shape of the snacks, which were small and round like nuts, before they gained their distinctive hole. Another theory suggests that the “nut” comes from culinary nuts like almonds and pecans, which were sometimes used to stuff the dough to solve the problem of undercooked centers. By the early 1900s, many donut vendors had shortened the name to “d-o-n-u-t.” This alternate spelling became nearly as common as the original, but it took time to gain popularity. The version starting with “d-o-u-g-h” remained dominant until around 1950, when the simplified spelling began to rise in use. The first Dunkin’ Donuts opened in Quincy, Massachusetts, that same year, adopting the snappier spelling for its name. The growth of the chain in the latter half of the 20th century coincided with the popularity of the shorter word.
As of 2020, there were more than 18,000 donut shops in the U.S., but they weren’t immediately embraced nationwide. Fried treats were largely considered a regional food throughout the 19th century. It took a stint overseas during World War I for them to earn their all-American reputation. The Salvation Army sent volunteers to France to provide snacks and supplies to U.S. troops stationed there. The female volunteers initially planned to bake cakes and pies, but as ovens became harder to access near the battlefield, they switched to making donuts, using what they had on hand to shape them. These dedicated volunteers, known as “donut lassies,” were committed to their work, even risking their lives to serve the troops.
After the war, soldiers returned home with a taste for fried dough, helping to cement the donut’s place in American cuisine. The association between donuts and the military was strong, and during hard times, frying donuts was seen as a patriotic act. The Salvation Army declared the first Friday in June as National Donut Day in 1938 to promote its charity work, while a second National Donut Day on November 5th is thought to have military ties.
Donut history in America varies by region. While Dunkin’ has dominated the East Coast for decades, it never really took off on the West Coast, allowing smaller donut shops in California to thrive. An entrepreneur named Ted Noy, a Cambodian refugee who arrived in Southern California in 1975, capitalized on this opportunity. After trying his first donut, which reminded him of a similar pastry from his homeland, he trained at a donut chain and eventually opened his own store. Noy’s success led to the establishment of a local chain, and he supported other Cambodian refugees in starting their own businesses.
Noy is also credited with popularizing pink donut boxes, which were originally chosen as a cost-effective alternative to standard white boxes. Today, many independent donut shops in Southern California are still owned by Cambodian immigrants and their descendants.
While ring-shaped donuts are an American invention, sweetened fried dough is enjoyed worldwide. In Israel, over 15 million jelly-filled donuts, known as sufganiyot, are consumed during Hanukkah. In China, crispy golden sticks called youtiao are popular, and churros are enjoyed in many countries. The French savor light dough fritters known as “pets de nonne” or “nuns’ farts.”
Thank you for watching Food History! Our next episode will be about gummy bears. Comment below with your favorite color or let us know if you think they all taste the same. Now, if you don’t mind, I think it’s finally time for some all-American fried dough!
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This version removes any inappropriate language and maintains a focus on the historical content.
Dough – A mixture of flour, water, and other ingredients that is kneaded or rolled and used as a base for baked goods. – In ancient times, people would prepare dough by hand to make bread and other baked goods.
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs. – The history of food reveals how different cultures have influenced each other’s cuisines over time.
Donut – A small fried cake of sweetened dough, typically in the shape of a ring or ball. – Donuts became popular in America during the early 20th century as a delicious breakfast treat.
Fried – Cooked in hot fat or oil. – Many traditional foods, like donuts and fritters, are fried to give them a crispy texture.
Cultures – The ideas, customs, and social behaviors of particular people or societies. – Different cultures have their own unique recipes and cooking methods that contribute to the world’s diverse food history.
America – A continent in the Western Hemisphere, consisting of North and South America, or often referring specifically to the United States. – The introduction of new ingredients from America, such as corn and potatoes, changed European diets significantly.
Sweetened – Made sweet by adding sugar or another sweetener. – In medieval times, honey was often used to sweeten foods before sugar became widely available.
Pastries – Baked goods made from dough rich in butter and often filled with sweet or savory ingredients. – Pastries have been enjoyed since ancient times, with each region developing its own special varieties.
Recipes – Instructions for preparing a particular dish, including a list of the ingredients required. – Historical recipes give us insight into the diets and cooking techniques of past civilizations.
Treats – Items of food that are considered special and enjoyable, often sweet. – In many cultures, treats like cakes and cookies are made for celebrations and special occasions.
