National Doughnut Day is almost upon us! This most awesome of days always falls on the first Friday of June, which comes on June 2nd this year. Beyond the simple joy of having a day dedicated solely to doughnuts, the most delicious of fried, sugary breads, there’s also ways to profit from this holiday if you know where to go. There are several doughnut shops around the US that will have special deals to celebrate. If you plan your day out just right, you can come away with several tasty treats, all for free! These deals are only good at the big chain stores, though you still might want to check with your smaller, local doughnut shops to make sure you’re not missing out on other sweet deals.
Your first stop in the morning should definitely be at Dunkin’ Donuts. If you buy a beverage (like a yummy iced coffee), you get a free, classic doughnut. Seriously, is there any better way to start off your morning? Later in the day, when you’re ready for round two, it’s definitely time to stop by Krispy Kreme. They’re giving out a free doughnut, all day, no purchase necessary. And the best part? You get to choose whichever kind of doughnut you want, no restrictions! So if you’ve been dying to try a new flavor, this would be a great time to treat your taste buds to something totally different. Lastly, on your way home from work, be sure to stop by your local supermarket to pick up a box of Entenmann’s doughnuts. This way can enjoy a doughnut (or five) as you sign up for their National Doughnut Day Sweepstakes, with a chance to win free doughnuts for a year! And even if you don’t walk away a winner, you’ll still be helping a great cause. Every entry sends a dollar straight to Feeding America, up to $10,000 total.
With all these wonderful deals, it seems a shame that National Doughnut Day only comes once a year. Oh, wait, it doesn’t, as there’s actually a second National Doughnut Day that’s celebrated on November 5th! But how can there be two you may ask? Well, the one in June has a bit of history behind it. The Salvation Army established the June National Doughnut Day in 1938 as a way to honor the “Dough Lassies,” who were female volunteers who brought doughnuts to American soldiers serving overseas during World War I. They did so in order to give their morale a boost. Doughnuts make us feel better on a bad day, so it makes sense that these fried treats had such an effect on the soldiers. There aren’t clear details on how the second, November 5th National Doughnut Day came to be, though some speculate that it was created by John-Bryan Hopkins, a food writer who runs a blog called Foodimentary. Hopkins noticed in 2006 that there were 175 official, food related holidays. He decided to fill in the rest and it’s entirely possible, but not proven, that he’s the genius responsible for our second National Doughnut Day (and if so, we thank him!).
While it might not be the healthiest or most waistline friendly, there is no denying that doughnuts are a delicious treat that seems perfect to eat any time of day. So after a week of hard work, it’s time to #TreatYourself to something sweet, all for free. So throw that diet out the window (for the moment), head to your favorite local or national chain, and indulge yourself. Hey, it’s for a holiday, so the calories totally don’t count.