Donut hole

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,{{Cite web|url=https://newenglandhistoricalsociety.com/maine-ship-captain-invented-modern-donut/|title=The Maine Ship Captain Who Invented the Modern Donut|first=Leslie|last=Landrigan|date=May 22, 2014|website=New England Historical Society}}{{Cite web |last=Magazine |first=Smithsonian |last2=Taylor |first2=David A. |title=The History of the Doughnut |url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-history-of-the-doughnut-150405177/ |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=Smithsonian Magazine |language=en}} who claimed to have invented the first ring donut after cutting the center of his mother's donut out in 1847.{{Cite news |last=Sagon |first=Candy |title=The Hole Story |work=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/food/2002/03/06/the-hole-story/ce8a94e0-05c7-4639-8ff7-60c6fd46eeee/}}

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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.eater.com/2015/5/28/8672939/doughnut-guide-cake-yeast-cruller-donut-history|title=Everything You Need to Know About the Great American Doughnut|first=Daniela|last=Galarza|date=May 28, 2015|website=Eater}}

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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mashed.com/339794/this-is-where-dunkins-munchkins-got-their-iconic-name/|title=This Is Where Dunkin's Munchkins Got Their Iconic Name|date=February 23, 2021|website=Mashed}} The chain had previously unsuccessfully attempted to market them as donut holes before changing their strategy to appeal to younger consumers.{{Cite web |last=Retroist |title=A History of Dunkin' Donuts Munchkins |url=https://www.retroist.com/p/a-history-of-dunkin-donuts-munchkins |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=www.retroist.com |language=en}} However, as of 2021, the company produces donut holes separately from full size donuts.{{cite web | url=https://www.mashed.com/859352/how-dunkin-munchkins-really-get-their-shape/#:~:text=How%20are%20they%20so%20round,their%20fans%20%E2%80%94%20young%20and%20old | title=How Dunkin' Munchkins Really Get Their Shape | date=10 May 2022 }} This is common for most donut producers in the 21st century.{{Cite web |last=Nelson |first=Brooke |date=2017-06-01 |title=Where Did the Donut Hole REALLY Come From? |url=https://www.rd.com/article/history-of-doughtnuts/ |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=Reader's Digest |language=en-US}} In 1976, Canadian coffee chain Tim Hortons introduced donut holes called "Timbits" to their menu.{{Cite news |date=2007-09-22 |title=Those were the days |language=en-CA |work=The Globe and Mail |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/those-were-the-days/article963738/ |access-date=2023-07-11}}

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.{{Cite web |date=April 26, 2016 |title=You're Either a Cake Doughnut Person or a Yeast One |url=https://www.bonappetit.com/entertaining-style/trends-news/article/difference-between-cake-yeast-doughnut |website=Bon Appétit}}

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Category:American doughnuts