National Doughnut Day (UK) – June 6 2025

On a bright June morning, Britons have a particularly sweet excuse to indulge: National Doughnut Day. This delightful food holiday invites people across the UK to savor the simple pleasure of a doughnut – or “donut,” as it’s spelled across the pond. While the celebration shares roots with an American tradition dating back to World War I, it has been warmly embraced in the UK in recent years. From classic jam-filled doughnuts dusted with sugar (a British favorite) to the American-style glazed rings, this day is all about enjoying and honoring the doughnut in all its forms.

How to Celebrate Doughnut Day

National Doughnut Day in the UK can be celebrated in fun and charitable ways, much like its American counterpart:

• Morning Treat for All: Pick up a box of fresh doughnuts from a local bakery or supermarket and share them with friends or colleagues. Whether it’s a dozen classic rings or an assortment of gourmet flavors, a doughnut spread can brighten everyone’s day.
• Visit Your Favorite Shop: Many doughnut shops and cafes join the celebration. For instance, Krispy Kreme’s UK outlets have been known to offer a free original glazed doughnut on National Doughnut Daykrispykreme.co.uk. Check if your local bakery has special deals or limited-edition doughnuts to mark the occasion.
• DIY Doughnut Baking: Try your hand at making homemade doughnuts. British-style doughnuts (like the beloved raspberry jam “ball” doughnuts) can be made in your kitchen – a fun activity for families. Children will love cutting out shapes and adding sprinkles or fillings.
• Give Back, Doughnut-Style: Embrace the holiday’s charitable origins by participating in a fundraising event. In the UK, a similar initiative is National Doughnut Week (usually held in May), where bakeries sell doughnuts to raise money for charitiesawarenessdays.com. Even on Doughnut Day, you could donate a portion of your doughnut sales or purchases to a local cause, spreading goodwill as you indulge.
• Share on Social Media: Post a picture of your favorite doughnut with the hashtag #NationalDoughnutDay. It’s a great way to join a global community of doughnut enthusiasts and see the creative confections others are enjoying.

The Origins of Doughnut Day

National Doughnut Day’s concept actually began in the United States in 1938, but its spirit knows no bordersmentalfloss.com. During World War I, American volunteers (nicknamed “doughnut lassies”) served soldiers fresh doughnuts as a taste of home on the front linesmentalfloss.com. To honor these volunteers and support charitable efforts during the Great Depression, The Salvation Army in Chicago established the first Doughnut Day in 1938en.wikipedia.orgmentalfloss.com. Over time, the tradition spread beyond the U.S., and today doughnut lovers in the UK also celebrate this sweet holiday.

In the UK, doughnuts have their own rich history. The classic filled doughnut (often injected with jam or custard) has been enjoyed for generations, even if it wasn’t always honored with a dedicated day. As American food trends like Krispy Kreme and gourmet doughnut shops gained popularity in Britain in the 2000s, the excitement for a National Doughnut Day grew. Now, each year on the first Friday of June (around June 6), UK bakeries and cafes embrace the occasion much like their American peers – with promotions, free treats, and plenty of doughnut cheer. It’s a testament to how a good idea, especially one as universally appealing as free doughnuts for a cause, can cross the Atlantic and find a home abroad.

It’s worth noting a unique UK twist: National Doughnut Week, a separate event usually held in May, has been a fixture in Britain for decades. Founded by a bakery organization, it raises funds for charities like The Children’s Trust by encouraging bakeries to donate proceeds from doughnut sales. This week-long charity driveawarenessdays.com shows the British penchant for pairing philanthropy with pastries – a philosophy very much in line with Doughnut Day’s original purpose. Together, Doughnut Week and Doughnut Day keep the nation’s sweet tooth satisfied for good causes.

 

Favorite Doughnut Recipes; Baking and Enjoying Doughnuts

No matter how you spell it – doughnut or donut – there’s no wrong way to enjoy this treat. In the UK, a popular homemade version is the traditional jam doughnut: a soft, yeasted dough deep-fried to golden perfection, filled with strawberry or raspberry jam and rolled in fine caster sugar. Making these at home fills the kitchen with an irresistible bakery aroma. For a simpler approach, one might bake ring-shaped doughnuts in the oven and glaze them with icing.

American-style recipes have also made their mark in British kitchens. Some enthusiasts try recreating Krispy Kreme-style glazed doughnuts, complete with a sweet vanilla glaze that sets into that thin, shiny coating. Others experiment with trendy flavors – think salted caramel drizzles or matcha-infused doughnut icing – reflecting Britain’s diverse and evolving palate.

Enjoying doughnuts in the UK often means a trip to the bakery. Institutions like Greggs or supermarket bakeries reliably offer jelly-filled doughnuts that many Brits grew up eating (who can forget the powdery fingers and surprise of biting into sweet jam?). Enjoy your doughnut with a proper cup of tea or coffee, or get creative and make an afternoon tea doughnut tower in place of scones. The versatility of doughnuts means they fit right in, whether at an office tea break or a weekend family treat.

Doughnut Day Trivia

• Spelling Difference: In the UK, “doughnut” is the preferred spelling, while “donut” is a popular American simplificationquillbot.com. Both refer to the same delicious thing. (Even Dunkin’ Donuts in the UK keeps the American spelling for branding.)
• A Pair of Holidays: Surprisingly, there are actually two National Doughnut Days each year – the famous one in June and another in November. The June observance (first Friday of June) is the original created by the Salvation Army, whereas a second, lesser-known Doughnut Day on November 5 has appeared in the U.S. since at least the 1930smentalfloss.com. Most Brits (and indeed many Americans) stick to celebrating the June date, but it means doughnut devotees technically have two excuses to indulge.
• Britain’s Doughnut Devotion: A 2020 survey found the humble jam-filled doughnut to be among Britain’s favorite treats, with millions consumed annually. Krispy Kreme’s arrival in the UK in 2003 famously saw huge queues, proving that the doughnut craze is truly global.
• Record-Breaker: The world’s largest doughnut ever made weighed 1.7 tons, an oversized jelly doughnut made in the USA. For something closer to home, the largest box of doughnuts was created in London in 2021, holding 3,000 doughnuts – a tasty record.
• Why Friday?: National Doughnut Day is traditionally a Friday, kicking off the weekend on a sweet note. Perhaps not coincidentally, many offices bring in treats on Fridays – “Doughnut Day” fits perfectly with end-of-week indulgence.

National Doughnut Day Holiday Dates

When is National Doughnut Day (UK) celebrated each year? Mark your calendars – it’s observed on the first Friday of June. Which this year is Friday, June 6. Here are the upcoming dates for the UK (which align with the U.S. celebration as well):

 

National Doughnut Day Calendar

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: The date varies each year because it’s always the first Friday of June. In the UK, as in the US, most celebrations happen on that day.)

National Doughnut Day may have started as an American tradition, but its appeal is undeniably universal. In the UK, it’s a day that combines British generosity with a love for tasty confections – whether you’re biting into a sugar-dusted jam doughnut or a chocolate-glazed ring. It’s an opportunity to enjoy a simple pleasure and also remember the surprisingly meaningful history behind it. After all, a holiday that began by comforting soldiers with homemade treats has become a global celebration of community, charity, and delicious doughnuts. So on June 6, join in the fun: raise a doughnut, share a smile, and savor the sweetness that connects us all.