When Did “Donut” Truly Take Off? -From Trench Dessert to Global Everyday Icon

Donuts rank among the world’smostcherished ​des​serts,​​yet​ both the name and the treat evolved through distinct phases before gaining worldwide fame. Their journey from humble regional snack to cultural icon weaves together threads of immigration, wartime comfort, and commercial innovation.​​

The donut’s origins reach back to ancient Europe, with fried sweet dough appearing in Greek and Roman cuisines. Medieval Dutch bakers perfected “olykoeks”—lard-fried dough balls often filled with nuts to cook the cen​ter evenly. Dutch settlers carried this tradition to 17th-century New Amsterdam (today’s New York), planting the seed for the American donut.

In 1809, Washington Irving introduced “dough-nuts” to English readers in his History of New York, describing fried sweet dough balls and cementing the term in the language. These early versions were usually solid and prone to undercooking in the middle. Legend credits sea captain Hanson Gregory with creating the ring shape around 1847 by punching a hole in the dough for uniform frying—an innovation that helped ring donuts spread widely in the mid-to-late 19th century.

World War I marked the donut’s leap to national symbol. Starting in 1917, Salvation Army volunteers—nicknamed “Donut Lassies”—fried fresh donuts on the French front lines for American troops. Delivering thousands of warm treats daily, they eased homesickness and forged an enduring association between donuts and American spirit. Veterans carried the craving home after the war, turning an occasional treat into everyday comfort. In 1938 the Salvation Army established National Donut Day (first Friday in June), still observed annually.

The 1920s ushered in mass production. Russian immigrant Adolph Levitt’s 1920 automatic donut machine enabled continuous frying and eye-catching storefront displays, captivating passersby. By the 1933–1934 Chicago World’s Fair, donuts represented the era’s mechanized progress and rising consumer culture.

The shorter spelling “donut” surged mid-century. Traditionally “doughnut,” the abbreviated form gained dominance after William Rosenberg launched Dunkin’ Donuts in 1950 (originally Open Kettle), pairing quick coffee-and-donut service with heavy use of “donut” in branding. Krisky Kreme grew rapidly in the South. By the 1960s “donut” had become standard American English, embodying fast, approachable eating.