Donut

Donut

A donut (also spelled doughnut) is a type of fried dough confection or dessert food. The donut is popular in many countries and is prepared in various forms as a sweet snack that can be homemade or purchased in bakeries, supermarkets, food stalls, and franchised specialty vendors.

History

The origin of the donut is widely debated, with some sources tracing it back to the Dutch settlers in early America who brought with them recipes for "olykoeks," or oily cakes. The modern donut, with its distinctive ring shape, is often credited to Hanson Gregory, an American, who claimed to have invented it in 1847 aboard a lime-trading ship when he was just 16 years old.

Types of Donuts

Donuts come in various shapes and sizes, but the most common types include:

• Ring Donuts: These are the classic donuts with a hole in the middle. They can be glazed, frosted, or dusted with sugar.
• Filled Donuts: These donuts do not have a hole and are filled with sweet fillings such as jelly, custard, cream, or other sweet fillings.
• Donut Holes: These are small, bite-sized donuts made from the dough cut out from the center of ring donuts.

Preparation

Donuts are typically deep-fried from a flour dough, but other types of batters can also be used. After frying, donuts can be glazed with sugar icing, spread with chocolate, or topped with powdered sugar or sprinkles. Some varieties are filled with sweet fillings such as jam, custard, cream, or other sweet fillings.

Cultural Significance

Donuts hold a significant place in various cultures and are often associated with certain holidays and traditions. For example, in the United States, National Donut Day is celebrated on the first Friday of June each year. This day was established in 1938 by the Salvation Army to honor the women who served donuts to soldiers during World War I.

Related Pages

• Fried dough
• Pastry
• Bakery
• National Donut Day
• Salvation Army
• World War I