Donuts Make Us Go Nuts: Celebrating National Donut Day!

Indulging in a mouthwatering donut is a universally loved experience that brings joy to people of all ages. Every year on the first Friday in June, donut enthusiasts and food lovers alike come together to celebrate National Donut Day. From jelly or cream-filled, to maple bars and classic glazed, donuts have a long history of delighting the palates of people worldwide.

The History of Donuts

National Donut Day was established by The Salvation Army in 1938 to honor the brave women, known as "Donut Lassies," who served donuts to soldiers on the front lines of World War I to boost morale and provide comfort to soldiers during challenging times. While donuts were already a beloved treat before their association with the war, their role in supporting soldiers overseas solidified their status as an iconic American treat. Since then, National Donut Day has been celebrated on the first Friday of June.

Donuts have a rich global history, too. Ancient Greeks and Romans enjoyed fried dough pastries, while the Dutch brought their "olykoeks" (oily cakes) to America, which laid the foundation for the modern donut.

In 1920, a Russian immigrant named Adolph Levitt invented the first automated donut machine. This invention revolutionized the donut production, making them more accessible to the masses.

Modern Times

To celebrate this year, we here at Fischer Group, used the Belshaw Donut Robot Mark II to make fresh mini and regular sized cake donuts. The Mark II can make approximately 36 dozen donuts per hour. The batter needs to be temped at 74°F before going into the hopper to get the perfect consistency. The vegetable shortening heats up to 375°F, and total fry time is 2 minutes from batter drop to finished product.  

Watching those donuts float down that river of melted shortening to emerge golden and crisp was *chef’s kiss* incredible. Check out the gallery below.  Or, check out the fun we had on Instagram - Video Here