National Donut Day (USA) – June 6 2025

On the first Friday of each June, the aroma of fried dough and sugar fills the air as Americans observe National Donut Day with patriotic gusto. In scenes worthy of a New York morning, people line up at bakeries before dawn for their free glazed treat – a ritual both nostalgic and indulgent. This holiday began in 1938 as more than a marketing gimmick; it was born from community spirit during the Great Depression. Today, National Donut Day is a charming paradox: a tongue-in-cheek celebration of fried confections that carries a heartfelt history, evoking the old-fashioned comfort of coffee and doughnuts even as social media buzzes with modern donut trends.

Cultural Roots of National Donut Day

National Donut Day’s origins date back to World War I, when volunteer Salvation Army “Doughnut Lassies” served donuts to U.S. troops in France as a taste of home. The simple act of frying dough brought comfort to soldiers, and the women who made them became fondly known as “Donut Dollies”. In 1938, Chicago’s Salvation Army launched the first official Donut Day as a fundraiser during the Great Depression to honor those volunteer heroines and support the needy. Ever since, the day has been observed on the first Friday of June each year.

Culturally, donuts had already become an American staple – by the 1920s, Adolph Levitt’s automated donut machine was turning out mass-produced doughnuts, making them ubiquitous and beloved. Over time, National Donut Day evolved from its charitable roots into a broader celebration of the donut’s place in American life, symbolizing warmth, generosity, and a bit of guilty pleasure. Many donut shops participate by giving out free donuts, continuing a tradition of generosity even as they delight millions with every sprinkle-covered bite.

How to Celebrate Donut Day Today

At home: Host a DIY donut-decorating party or try frying your own classic treats. Baking enthusiasts can experiment with baked donuts or unusual flavors (matcha, bacon-maple) to put a personal twist on the holiday. Don’t forget to share with neighbors – it’s in the holiday’s charitable spirit.

In the community: Check if local bakeries, cafes, or national chains are offering free donuts or special deals – many do on National Donut Day. You could organize a donut sale or fundraiser for charity, echoing the Salvation Army’s original mission. Some cities hold donut-eating contests, fun runs, or festivals on this day; joining these events can make for a memorable, family-friendly outing.

On social media: Participate in fun trends by posting a photo of your most photogenic donut using hashtags like #NationalDonutDay. Share a story about what donuts mean to you or a memory of enjoying one with family. Bakeries often run contests for best donut photos or recipes, so your creative post might win you a prize (or at least bragging rights). Engaging online helps spread the day’s history and keeps its legacy alive for the digital generation.

Delicious Donut Recipes for Donut Day

You don’t have to rely on shops – making doughnuts at home can be a rewarding (and surprisingly easy) project. Consider these ideas:

• Classic Yeast Donuts: Try a traditional yeast-raised donut recipe, fried golden and dipped in a simple glaze. This replicates that pillow-soft texture everyone loves. For authenticity, remember how WWI “Donut Lassies” fried donuts in soldiers’ helmets when resources were scarce – a fun fact to appreciate as you fry your own!
• Baked Donuts: For a lighter twist, use a donut pan to bake cake-style donuts. Vanilla, chocolate, or cinnamon sugar baked donuts offer a slightly healthier indulgence without sacrificing flavor.
• Creative Toppings: Elevate store-bought plain donuts by adding your own toppings. Spread Nutella or peanut butter glaze, sprinkle with crushed cookies or cereal, or drizzle salted caramel. On National Donut Day, no topping is too over-the-top – have fun with it.
• Donut Hole Treats: Use the dough scraps or specifically make donut holes. These bite-size treats can be glazed, rolled in cinnamon-sugar, or even stuffed (inject jelly or custard inside). They’re perfect for sharing at an office or classroom celebration.

Feel free to combine these ideas – perhaps host a build-your-own-donut bar with various icings and toppings so everyone can craft their perfect bite. The key ingredient is creativity (well, and sugar).

Fun Facts about Donuts

• A Wartime Ruse: During the Vietnam War, American POWs tricked their captors into giving them donuts by claiming November 10 (the Marine Corps birthday) was a second “National Donut Day.” This clever ruse is speculated to be the origin of an unofficial second Donut Day on November 5!
• Record-Breaking Donuts: The world’s largest filled doughnut ever made was a colossal 3,739 lb-pound jelly donut, 16 feet in diameter, created in Utica, New York in 1993. On a more consumable scale, Americans make over 10 billion doughnuts each year – that’s about 33 donuts per person.
• Inventor of the Donut Hole: Legend credits a New England ship captain, Hanson Gregory, with inventing the donut’s hole in 1847. Tired of the raw, greasy centers of fried cakes, he purportedly punched a hole in the dough with a tin pepper box, creating the ring shape that fries evenly.
• Consumption Craze: Americans are truly donut devotees. It’s estimated that over 200 million Americans enjoy donuts, and national chains like Dunkin’ (founded in 1948) have over 10,000 locations. New York State alone boasts more than 1,400 Dunkin’ shops – proving that New York (not just America) runs on Dunkin’.
• Other Donut Holidays: National Donut Day (June) is the most famous, but did you know there’s also a National Jelly-Filled Donut Day (June 8) and National Cream-Filled Donut Day (Sept 14)? Clearly, one day a year is not enough to celebrate all the varieties of this beloved treat!

When Is National Donut Day?

Mark your calendars – National Donut Day is celebrated on the first Friday of June each year. This year (2025) it falls on Friday June 6. Here are the dates for the next five years:

Year	Date	Day of the Week
2025	June 6, 2025	Friday
2026	June 5, 2026	Friday
2027	June 4, 2027	Friday
2028	June 2, 2028	Friday
2029	June 1, 2029	Friday

(Note: National Donut Day is a movable observance based on the day of the week, not a fixed calendar date. It’s always the first Friday in June, so plan accordingly for free treats!)

Whether you’re savoring a classic glazed ring, experimenting with a homemade maple-bacon creation, or simply sharing a dozen with coworkers, National Donut Day is about more than just sugar and nostalgia. It’s a celebration of comfort, community, and a wartime tradition that brought joy in the darkest of times. So this June, embrace the sweet spirit of the holiday — one bite, one sprinkle, and one smile at a time.