History of doughnuts

 

The history of doughnuts is a fascinating one, with different variations and names found all over the world.

- The ancient Greeks and Romans ate small cakes that were fried and dipped in honey, which is similar to doughnuts.

- In the 15th century Germany, doughnuts were often cooked savory with fillings like meat or mushroom, as sugar was hard to come by.

- The Pilgrims and Dutch settlers brought doughnuts to America.

- The first recipe for doughnuts seems to have originated in northeastern England around 1750.

- The first doughnut machine was invented in 1920 in New York City by Adolph Levitt, a Russian immigrant.

- Doughnuts became popular in America after William Rosenberg, the son of immigrant Jewish parents, launched a doughnut shop called the Open Kettle in Quincy, Massachusetts in 1948.

- During World War I, American servicemen in France were served doughnuts in trenches by Salvation Army women volunteers, called Donut Lassies, aiming to give them a comforting taste of home. When these men returned home after WWI, they craved more doughnuts, and the product began to thrive.

- The spelling "doughnut" is traditional, while "donut" is the simplified version and is more commonly used in America.

- Doughnuts are a universal dessert and snack that has a history that many people find themselves surprised by. Its status in American culture is undeniable—more than a third of consumers eat doughnuts at least once a month.