Did you know donuts have their own special day? National Donut Day is celebrated every year on the first Friday in June. There are so many ways to enjoy this sweet treat, you can make your own at home with your kids - see some recipes below, or visit a local shop and pick up some of these sweet treats - see the list below. It's also a great opportunity to learn the very special history of National Donut Day, the ladies that started it and how it's connected to the American doughboys of WWI.
National Donut Day was created by the Salvation Army in 1938, the first celebration was held in Chicago, it's been celebrated worldwide ever since. It celebrates not only the Doughnut or Donut as it's known as today, but also honors the Salvation Army donut lassies, a group of women that served donuts to soldiers during WWI. The donuts were created to bring a little joy to the soldiers during difficult times. Only a few ingredients were needed to make these sweet treats, so they could be made with the limited items they had on hand.
Annual National Donut Day Fun Facts from the Salvation Army:
- The Salvation Army started National Donut Day to raise money for its military support programs.
- National Donut Day commemorates the “donut lassies,” female Salvation Army volunteers who provided writing supplies, stamps, clothes-mending and home-cooked meals, and of course, donuts, for soldiers on the front lines.
- Approximately 250 Salvation Army volunteers provided assistance to American soldiers in France starting in 1917 during WWI.
- With limited resources, these treats were fried, only seven at a time. The Salvation Army’s Ensign Margaret Sheldon and Adjutant Helen Purviance cleverly thought of frying donuts in soldiers’ helmets.
Learn more: Incredible war stories underscore importance of National Donut Day
To Quote Huell Howser, "There is a lot more to Donut Day than Donuts." Watch this episode of Visiting with Huell Howser: Doughnut History as he talks to the Salvation Army about how it all started and visits with the legendary Stan of Stan's Donuts.
Watch this video with your kids and learn about the history of the donut.
Visit one of our local Donut Shops, whether you're visiting an old favorite or trying someplace new keep in mind they might be extra busy on National Donut Day, so please be patient. These local shops serve up tasty treats year round, so no need to limit your visit to once a year! Don't forget to tell them Macaroni KID Conejo Valley - Malibu - Calabasas sent you!
Local neighborhood donut shops
Agoura Hills
- Yum Yum Donuts Open 24 hours at 5833 N Kanan Rd
Oak Park
- Gladstone Donuts, 664 Lindero Canyon Rd
Westlake Village
- Best Donuts, 900 E Thousand Oaks Blvd
- Dunkin' Donuts, 30895 E Thousand Oaks Blvd, #101
Thousand Oaks
- Donut Depot, 2354 E Thousand Oaks Blvd
- Foster's Donuts, 1398 E Thousand Oaks Blvd Thousand Oaks
- Fresh Donuts, 409 E Avenida De Los Arboles
Newbury Park
- Judy's Donuts, 2393 Michael Drive
- Sugar Box Donuts (made from premium potato flour), 3303 Kimber Dr.
- Star Donuts, open 24 hours at 2160 Newbury Road
- Newbury Donut, 766 N Wendy Drive
Gluten Free and Vegan:
Karma Baker, 1145 Lindero Canyon Rd, Suite D3, Westlake Village
While they are not a donut shop they do sell donuts, everything they have is baked, gluten free and vegan. Consider placing an online order to make sure they are available.
Not so Nearby donut shops - but not too far
- DK's Donuts & Bakery, Open 24/7, 1614 Santa Monica Blvd
Santa Monica - Blinkie's Donuts, 4884 Topanga Cyn Blvd., Woodland Hills, CA
- Sugar Box Donuts (made from premium potato flour), 21753 Ventura Blvd, Woodland Hills
- Earl's Donut, Open 24 hours, 7 days a week at 20429 Devonshire St, Chatsworth
- Krispy Kreme, 220 River Park Blvd., Oxnard
- coming soon: Primo's Donuts Westfield Topanga at 6600 Topanga Canyon Boulevard, Canoga Park
A bit farther, but worth the extra drive for a special trip
- Primo's Donuts (since 1956), 2918 Sawtelle Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90064 and Westwood Village 10948 Weyburn Ave, Los Angeles CA 90024
- Randy's Donuts (world famous since 1952), locations in Inglewood (with the historic giant donut), Costa Mesa (2 stores), El Segundo, Downy, Pasadena, Torrance, Santa Ana, Burbank, Bakersfield, Santa Monica and Riverside. The Inglewood location is open 24 hours, visit website for more information on specific locations.
- The Donut Hole (2 giant donuts you drive through),15300 Amar Rd, La Puente is also a historic landmark.
Did you know that Los Angeles is the donut capital of the World? It's also where the iconic pink box became synonymous with the donut. It’s due to one man, Ted Ngoy, who paved the way for thousands of Cambodian immigrants to establish themselves while spreading love, one pink box at a time.
From: L.A. in a Minute, Evan Lovett has the scoop on everything L.A. I highly recommend following him.
DONUT RECIPES
Celebrate the day and make these as a treat for your family or better yet, turn donut making into a family fun activity at home.
- Salvation Army WWI Donut
- 2 Ingredient Drop Donut Holes Kids Will Love
- Air Fryer Doughnuts
- How to Make Donuts at Home, that taste just like they came from a donut shop
- Fluffy Glazed Donuts
- Baked Doughnuts three ways
- Churro Donuts (Baked Not Fried)
- Old Fashioned cake Donuts
- Old Fashioned sour Cream cake Donuts
- Maine Potato Donuts
- Triple Chocolate Brownie Donuts
Have a super yummy and fun Donut Day!
Previously Published May 2021 - Updated June 2023
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