Nationale Donutdag (VK) – 5 juni 2026

Op een stralende ochtend in juni hebben de Britten een bijzonder zoet excuus om zich te verwennen: Nationale Donutdag. Deze heerlijke culinaire feestdag nodigt mensen in het hele Verenigd Koninkrijk uit om te genieten van het simpele plezier van een donut - 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.

Hoe je Donutdag viert

Nationale Donutdag kan in het Verenigd Koninkrijk op een leuke en liefdadige manier worden gevierd, net als de Amerikaanse variant:

• Ochtendtraktatie voor iedereen: 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.
• Bezoek uw favoriete winkel: 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.
• Zelf donuts bakken: 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.
• Geef iets terug, in donut-stijl: Embrace the holiday's charitable origins by participating in a fundraising event. In the UK, a similar initiative is Nationale Donutweek (meestal gehouden in mei), waar bakkerijen donuts verkopen om geld in te zamelen voor charitiesawarenessdays.com. Zelfs op Donutdag kun je een deel van je donutverkoop of -aankopen doneren aan een lokaal goed doel, en zo goodwill creëren terwijl je je tegoed doet aan de lekkernijen.
• Delen op sociale 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.

De oorsprong van Donutdag

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: Nationale Donutweek, 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.

 

Aftellen naar Nationale Donutdag in het VK

zich afvragen Hoeveel dagen nog tot Nationale Donutdag in het Verenigd Koninkrijk?? Here's the live countdown to the next celebration on the first Friday of June:

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Favoriete donutrecepten; donuts bakken en ervan genieten

No matter how you spell it - donut of donut - there's no wrong way to enjoy this treat. In the UK, a popular homemade version is the traditionele jam donut: een zacht, gefrituurd gistdeeg, goudbruin gefrituurd, gevuld met aardbeien- of frambozenjam en gerold in fijne kristalsuiker. Thuis bereid, vult de keuken met een onweerstaanbare bakkerijgeur. Voor een eenvoudigere aanpak kun je ringvormige donuts in de oven bakken en ze met glazuur glazuren.

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.

Donuts eten in het Verenigd Koninkrijk betekent vaak een bezoek aan de bakker. Instellingen zoals Greggs of supermarktbakkerijen bieden betrouwbaar donuts met geleivulling aan, waar veel Britten mee zijn opgegroeid (wie kan de poederachtige vingers en de verrassing van het bijten in zoete jam vergeten?). Geniet van je donut met een goede kop thee of koffie, of wees creatief en maak een middagthee donuttoren in plaats van scones. De veelzijdigheid van donuts zorgt ervoor dat ze perfect passen bij een theepauze op kantoor of een weekenduitje met het gezin.

Donut Dag Trivia

• Spellingverschil: 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.)
• Een paar vakanties: Verrassend genoeg zijn er eigenlijk twee 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.
• Recordbreker: The world's largest doughnut ever made weighed 1,7 ton, 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.
• Waarom vrijdag?: 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.

Vakantiedata voor Nationale Donutdag

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 5. Here are the upcoming dates for the UK (which align with the U.S. celebration as well):

 

Nationale Donutdagkalender

Jaar	Datum	Dag van de week
2026	5 juni 2026	Vrijdag
2027	4 juni 2027	Vrijdag
2028	2 juni 2028	Vrijdag
2029	1 juni 2029	Vrijdag
2030	7 juni 2030	Vrijdag

(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.