Doughnut
Ah, the humble doughnut. Essentially a circle of dough with a hole in the middle, this delectable treat has been satisfying sweet tooths for generations. But there’s more to it than just a simple dessert. Let’s take a closer look at this beloved pastry.
History
Believe it or not, the first doughnuts were actually made by Dutch settlers in the 19th century. They called them “oliebollen,” which means “oily balls” in Dutch. Not exactly appetizing, but hey, they were pioneers. The hole in the doughnut was supposedly invented by a man named Hanson Gregory, who got fed up with the doughnuts he was eating always being raw in the middle. He punched a hole in the middle with a tin pepper box, and voila! The doughnuts cooked evenly and looked pretty snazzy too.
Types
There are so many different types of doughnuts, it’s hard to keep track. You’ve got your classic glazed, your chocolate frosted, your jelly-filled…the list goes on. But there are some weirder varieties out there too. Have you ever heard of a cronut? It’s a croissant-doughnut hybrid that’s all the rage. Or how about a sushi doughnut, which is just a sushi roll shaped like a doughnut? Some people will do anything for a pun.
Fun Facts
- The world’s largest doughnut was made in Utica, NY in 1993. It weighed a whopping 1.7 tons!
- In the 1800s, doughnuts were sometimes called “olykoeks,” which means “oily cakes.” Maybe not the best name for a diet food.
- National Doughnut Day is celebrated on the first Friday in June. As if we needed an excuse to eat more doughnuts.
Controversies
As beloved as doughnuts are, they’ve still managed to spark a few controversies over the years. For one, there’s the age-old debate over whether cake doughnuts or yeast doughnuts are superior. We’re not going to take sides on this one. Then there’s the issue of whether doughnuts are breakfast food or dessert. Again, we’re not going to weigh in. We’ll leave that up to you.
So there you have it, folks. The doughnut. Simple yet complex, sweet yet controversial. We love it just the same.