Donut hole explained

Donut holes
Type:Fried dough
Course:Dessert
Associated Cuisine:American cuisine

A donut hole (also doughnut hole) is a type of donut formed out of small round pieces of dough. Donut holes can be plain or coated in a topping such as glaze, and are a popular dessert in the United States.

History

Origins

There are several purported origins for donut holes and the "ring" shaped donut. The concept of forming donuts with a hole in the center is commonly attributed to Captain Hanson Gregory,[1] [2] who claimed to have invented the first ring donut after cutting the center of his mother's donut out in 1847.[3]

Many early recipes called for the donut to be formed in the shape of a jumble, a circular cookie with a hole in the center. It has also been suggested that this was invented because donuts cook more quickly when they have a hole in the center.[4]

Popularity

In 1973, Dunkin' Donuts added "Munchkins" to their menu, selling them in the various flavors of their donuts as a way to use up the dough cuttings taken from the center of their ring donut. The name reportedly stems from the miniature "Munchkin" characters from the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz.[5] The chain had previously unsuccessfully attempted to market them as donut holes before changing their strategy to appeal to younger consumers.[6] However, as of 2021, the company produces donut holes separately from full size donuts.[7] This is common for most donut producers in the 21st century.[8] In 1976, Canadian coffee chain Tim Hortons introduced donut holes called "Timbits" to their menu.[9]

Description

Like regular donuts, donut holes can come in many varieties. The dough itself can fall under the categories of either cake or yeast style. The main difference between the two is that cake style donut holes use a leavener like baking soda or baking powder to bring rise to the bread, while a yeast style donut uses yeast.[10]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Maine Ship Captain Who Invented the Modern Donut. Leslie. Landrigan. May 22, 2014. New England Historical Society.
  2. Web site: Magazine . Smithsonian . Taylor . David A. . The History of the Doughnut . 2023-07-11 . Smithsonian Magazine . en.
  3. News: Sagon . Candy . The Hole Story . .
  4. Web site: Everything You Need to Know About the Great American Doughnut. Daniela. Galarza. May 28, 2015. Eater.
  5. Web site: This Is Where Dunkin's Munchkins Got Their Iconic Name. February 23, 2021. Mashed.
  6. Web site: Retroist . A History of Dunkin' Donuts Munchkins . 2023-07-11 . www.retroist.com . en.
  7. Web site: How Dunkin' Munchkins Really Get Their Shape . 10 May 2022 .
  8. Web site: Nelson . Brooke . 2017-06-01 . Where Did the Donut Hole REALLY Come From? . 2023-07-11 . Reader's Digest . en-US.
  9. News: 2007-09-22 . Those were the days . en-CA . The Globe and Mail . 2023-07-11.
  10. Web site: April 26, 2016 . You're Either a Cake Doughnut Person or a Yeast One . Bon Appétit.