Celebrate National Donut Day: History, Recipes, and Sweet Deals!
Hey everyone, it’s National Donut Day! You know what that means? Lots of treats and deals, of course. But do you know the heartwarming story behind the celebration? With Fayetteville…
Fayetteville’s Superior Bakery has been named one of the Top 100 Donut Shops in the country, according to Yelp.
Photo by Julian Finney/Getty ImagesHey everyone, it's National Donut Day! You know what that means? Lots of treats and deals, of course. But do you know the heartwarming story behind the celebration? With Fayetteville being a military town, I thought this would really resonate here! National Doughnut Day is celebrated on the first Friday in June, which is June 7 this year.
The origins of National Donut Day go back over a century. It was created about 86 years ago by the Salvation Army to honor their “Donut Lassies.” These women volunteered with the Salvation Army in 1917, heading to France to care for wounded soldiers during World War I. The Donut Lassies boosted the troops’ morale by making and serving doughnuts, giving them a comforting taste of home amid the tough conditions on the front lines. Their efforts were deeply appreciated and left a lasting legacy, leading to the creation of National Donut Day to honor their kindness and service.
Want to try making the donuts that started it all? Here’s their century-old recipe so you can bake and share these sweet treats with anyone who needs them most.
Yield: 60 donuts
- 2 large eggs
- 5 cups flour
- 2 cups sugar
- 5 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 tablespoon salt
- 1 3/4 cups milk
- 1 tub lard (you can substitute with butter or vegetable oil)
DIRECTIONS
- Combine all ingredients (except for oil) to make the dough.
- Thoroughly knead the dough, roll it smooth, and cut into rings that are less than 1/4 inch thick. (Get creative when cutting out donut circles! The Salvation Army Donut Lassies used whatever they could find, from baking powder cans to coffee percolator tubes.)
- Drop the rings into the oil, making sure it’s hot enough to brown the donuts gradually. Turn the donuts slowly several times.
- When browned, remove the donuts and let the excess oil drip off. Dust with powdered sugar. Let cool and enjoy!
Various chains across the U.S. are rolling out some sweet deals for all you donut enthusiasts. So, where can you snag those free or discounted donuts? Let's dive in and find out!
- Duck Donuts
- On June 7, Duck Donuts is offering customers a free cinnamon sugar donut, no purchase necessary. The deal is available in-store only.
- Dunkin’
- Dunkin’ fans can get a free classic donut with the purchase of any drink while supplies last.
- Krispy Kreme
- On June 7, Krispy Kreme is giving away one free donut per customer at participating U.S. locations while supplies last. The deal is in-store only and excludes specialty and limited-time donuts.
- Sheetz
- Get a free donut from Friday through Sunday, June 7-9, when you buy any Sheetz Bros coffee or ready-to-drink coffee at any major mid-Atlantic gas stations, restaurants, and convenience chain locations. Find the deal under the OFFERZ tab on the Sheetz app. Limit one per customer; the offer is good while supplies last.
Enjoy National Donut Day by indulging in a sweet treat, honoring a piece of history, and taking advantage of these delicious deals.
U.S. News & World Report has released their new Best Places to Live rankings for 2024-2025, and the Tar Heel state got some major love! In a list of 150 major cities, two North Carolina cities were ranked among the top 10 best places to live in the US.
How Cities Were Ranked
According to U.S. News & World Report, the ranking was compiled using data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the FBI, the U.S. Department of Labor, and some of the publication's own internal resources. The data was then sorted into four different categories by which each major city would be scored.
The categories were assigned different weights depending on how strongly Americans felt each factor mattered when choosing a place to live. The four categories in order of weight are as follows:
Which North Carolina Cities Are The Best Places To Live?
According to the official rankings, Charlotte and Raleigh are the two best places to live in North Carolina. The two cities made it to #5 and #6 respectively.
Charlotte scored extremely well overall, with the Queen City's quality of life and economic value placing it among the top places in the country to live. Charlotte was also commended for its sprawling metro area and bustling downtown scene, while still maintaining its southern charm.
Raleigh ranked almost neck-and-neck with Charlotte, with North Carolina's capital scoring highly in the Quality of Life category. The publication highlights Raleigh's bustling art and music scenes, as well as its beautiful green spaces and activity space. The city of Raleigh also received high marks for its strong sense of community among the residents.
Additional Ranking Information
The full rankings (seen here) reveals some interesting information about other major cities in the US, including other cities in North Carolina. Here are some of the key takeaways.
The Top 4 Best Places To Live In The US
1. Naples, Florida
Ranked #1 overall, Naples, Florida was determined to be the best city to live in the US. The city scored highly for its overall quality of life, especially among retirees who desire a pristine beachfront view in their twilight years.
2. Boise, Idaho
It's certainly a surprising #2, but Boise, Idaho has much to offer for outdoorsy types. Boise offers a plethora of different terrains for adventurers, including mountain ranges, canyons, deserts and lakes.
3. Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs, Colorado was ranked as the #3 best place to live for its blend of natural beauty and rustic modernism. Despite its endless array of events and activities, Colorado Springs maintains a small town charm that residents find intoxicating.
4. Greenville, South Carolina
North Carolina's sister state did just a hair better in the ranking, with the South Carolina city of Greenville landing at #4 in the overall ranking. Greenville's downtown area is a central hub for local businesses, bars, restaurants and boutiques. The city is also quite lively during the summer season.
5. Charlotte, NC
6. Raleigh, NC
Other North Carolina Cities Ranked
- Asheville (#17)
-Greensboro (#23)
-Hickory (#26)
-Winston-Salem (#60)
-Fayetteville (#113)
