The Sweet Journey of Donuts: From Traditional Heritage to Global Phenomenon

Doughnuts with various fillings and crunchy nut toppings are perfect for enjoying with friends. Have you ever wondered where this sweet treat comes from? Why is the center part empty? Let’s explore the history of doughnuts below.

In the early 19th century, the Dutch made olykoeks or oil cakes. Olykoeks were made from dough shaped like balls and fried in animal fat until golden brown. Because the center didn’t cook as quickly as the outer part, this part of the cake was usually filled with nuts, fruits, and other fillings that didn’t need to be cooked. When the Dutch people migrated and settled in the United States, these traditional doughnuts were also brought along.

Unlike the Dutch, who fill the center of a donut, Americans prefer to remove the center to ensure the donut cooks perfectly. This solution was first implemented by a ship captain named Hansen Gregor in 1847. Gregory pierced the center of the donut dough before frying it. When exposed to hot oil, the hole in the center expanded, forming the shape of the donut we know today.

In English, “donut” has two spellings, “doughnut” and “donut”. Some people use “doughnut” because it refers to the nut placed in the center of the dough, while others refer to “dough knots”, which are another form of olykoeks. In the early 1900s, many people shortened the word to “donut”. The name first appeared in Washington Irving’s work in 1809, A History of New York. Although different, both spellings can be used.

In 1920, a Russian immigrant named Adolph Levitt invented the first automatic donut-making machine. The process of making automatic donuts was showcased at the 1934 World’s Fair in Chicago. Donuts became increasingly popular, even having their own national day established in 1938. Nowadays, donuts have become a popular choice for breakfast or snacks for everyone.

Isn’t the history of this donut interesting? Now I crave donuts. Let’s make donuts using ready-to-use flour from Gusto. You just need to add additional ingredients like butter and eggs to the ready-to-use flour. Easy and fail-proof.

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Source:

https://www.thespruceeats.com/the-history-of-doughnuts-1328766

https://www.shipleydonuts.com/the-history-and-origin-of-the-donut/

https://allthatsinteresting.com/history-of-doughnuts