“Gefüllte Krapfen, Olykoeks, Donuts”
No one really knows who invented the donut—or even when. One of its earliest ancestors may be the 15th-century German dessert gefüllte krapfen, a fried-dough pastry made without sugar. Others point to Dutch settlers in early New York, whose olykoeks (“oily cakes”) resembled modern donuts but were often square instead of round. For centuries, the donut drifted quietly through history, appearing in forms like bread twists, small fried dough balls, or simple cakes.
The donut’s iconic hole, however, reportedly didn’t appear until the 19th century. Legend has it that American sailor Hanson Gregory, frustrated by undercooked centers in his donut cakes, used a tin pepper box to punch out the middle while aboard a steamship in 1847—giving birth to the ring-shaped donut we know and love.
Whether donuts began as a German goodie, a Dutch treat, or an American innovation, they remained a relatively humble dessert—until World War I. When the U.S. entered the war, the Salvation Army began setting up “huts” near Army training centers to serve baked goods, offer writing supplies, and care for servicemen. When baking proved difficult in war-torn France, two volunteers had the brilliant idea to fry donuts instead. They were an instant hit. This success earned the women who served them the affectionate title of “Donut Girls,” or the even more charming “Donut Dollies.”
In 1938, the Salvation Army of Chicago revived the image of the Donut Girls during a fundraiser to support those affected by the Great Depression. That fundraiser laid the foundation for what we now know as National Donut Day—originally created not to celebrate donuts themselves, but to honor the brave women who served them to soldiers during WWI.
The tradition continued through World War II, with Salvation Army and Red Cross volunteers once again delivering donuts to troops overseas.
And while National Donut Day may have evolved into a celebration of glaze, frosting, sprinkles, and sugar rushes, we at Hurts Donut remember where this tradition began.
So this year, on Friday, June 6, 2025, as you enjoy your favorite flavor, take a moment to remember the courage and compassion of the Donut Dollies. 🍩
From all of us at Hurts Donut—thank you to the heroes who brought a taste of home to those far from it.