National Donut Day falls on the first Friday in June each year and we are getting geared up to savor our best-loved fried dough confections. Have you ever resisted eating one? It’s certainly an uphill battle. Fortunately, National Donut Day falls on June 2 this year. Be sure to visit your favorite donut shop, choose a variety of chewy deep-fried goodness, and enjoy.
When is National Donut Day 2025?
The favorite treat of Barack Obama, Homer Simpson, and the cops is celebrated on National Donut Day on June 2.
History of National Donut Day
At one point or another in our lives, we’ve found ourselves craving a donut. When we think about it, it’s not really a surprise that this treat hits the spot like no other. They pair exceptionally well with tasty hot beverages, they can be had as a quick snack or to accompany a long conversation. Most of all, there’s a donut out there for all of us; from traditional glaze to daring recipes such as maple-bacon donuts. The origins of National Donut Day are traced to the Salvation Army’s involvement in World War I. During this time, a group of volunteers was dispatched to the frontlines with the mission of providing comforting meals for the troops. They soon found out that donuts were an effective way to provide food while navigating the difficulties of cooking in very dire circumstances. These brave volunteers would later be known as “donut lassies”. They would even use war helmets as a utensil to fry up seven donuts at a time. In 1938, National Donut Day was established as a way to honor the members of the Salvation Army that came to the aid of soldiers during World War I. Nowadays, National Donut Day is widely celebrated on the first Friday of June. Many donut shops are known to give them out for free, giving a good reason to take some time out of the day to enjoy this most cherished treat.
National Donut Day timeline
One of the earliest accounts of donuts are attributed to Dutch settlers that brought them over to New York.
The Salvation Army sets up canteens in the frontlines of World War I to provide care and donuts for soldiers.
Adolph Levitt, a refugee from Russia designs a gadget to help him keep up with the demand for donuts at his shop.
The Simpsons" is aired for the first time and the world is introduced to Homer, a true donut lover.
Traditions of the Day
The traditions for National Donut Day are simple; eat as many donuts as you can, in as many varieties and flavors as possible. But seriously, this is exactly how the day is traditionally celebrated every year. The donut has come a long way, and is now available in so many delightful variations, how can one resist not trying them all? Whether it is jam-filled donuts, or Bavarian cream, or a good old chocolate glazed original, donuts are enjoyed and celebrated by children and adults alike all over the country. Food marketing agencies love National Donut Day and donut franchises have deals on their menu as well as special donut flavors prepared just for this day. There is a lot of competition for cops at donut shops, with lines of people clamoring to get their donut fix. Donuts are also cooked at home — a great activity for the family, especially for the kids, who get to decorate their donuts with different icings and toppings.
By the Numbers
10 billion – the number of donuts made in the U.S. each year.
10 – the number of people living in America with ‘Donut’ as their surname.
13 – the number of people who have ‘Donut’ as their first name.
2480 – the city of Boston has one donut shop for every 2,480 people.
20 – the number of donuts Renée Zellweger ate every day to gain weight for the sequel of “Bridget Jones’s Diary.”
9 – the Guinness World Record for the most powdered donuts eaten in three minutes.
201.02 million – the number of donuts consumed by Americans in 2020.
100,000 – the number of donuts churned out by Entenmann’s every hour.
3,660 – the number of donuts it will take to reach the top of the Statue of Liberty.
55 million – the number of donuts it would take to get from Long Beach, California, to Long Island, New York.
National Donut Day FAQs
Can donuts be healthy?
Nowadays many donut recipes are created with an awareness of their nutritional content. Check with your favorite shop if they offer any of these varieties.
Do all shops give away free donuts on National Donut Day?
While this has become a tradition for some larger-scale chains, you should always check if these giveaways are happening.
Can you bake donuts?
Although donuts are technically deep fried, baking is also an alternative. Make sure to follow a recipe for baked donuts as ingredient quantities may be different when using an oven.
National Donut Day Activities
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Go on a donut adventure
Visit a local donut shop but don’t go for your usual, instead allow yourself to experiment with different flavors
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Share the love
Pick out a variety of donuts to share with your teammates, neighbors or clients that visit your business. A sweet treat queue can go a long way.
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Fry ‘em up
Making your own donuts can be an exciting experience to share with friends and family. Tap into your creativity by choosing an array of toppings.
5 Delicious Facts About Donuts
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Dutch settlers had a different name for them
They called them “olykoeks”, which translates to, oily cakes.
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They didn’t always have a hole
These first versions were simply made up of a fried dough, omitting their now characteristic shape.
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They exist in math
In geometry, the shape of a donut is known as a Torus.
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There’s a lot of them
It’s estimated that 10 billion donuts are sold in the United States.
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Donuts can be luxurious
A donut filled with champagne and topped with 24 karat gold can be purchased for hefty fee.
Why We Love National Donut Day
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The possibilities are endless
Specialty donut shops keep opening throughout the world, each one combining local tastes and ingredients to this timeless masterpiece.
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They’re kind to your pocket
Even though donut prices can vary greatly, they are generally still an affordable simple pleasure.
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Donuts go with the fashion
It doesn’t matter what time of the year it is, you can always find a donut that fits the season. A few examples are candy cane topped for Christmas or summery lemon meringue donuts.
National Donut Day dates
Year | Date | Day |
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2021 | June 4 | Friday |
2022 | June 3 | Friday |
2023 | June 2 | Friday |
2024 | June 7 | Friday |
2025 | June 6 | Friday |