TAMPA, Fla. — Friday is one of the sweetest days of the year. That is because June 5 is National Donut Day.
The "holiday" is always celebrated on the first Friday in June.
A number of local and national donut retailers are offering free deals for customers in the Tampa Bay area on Friday.
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Frida's Cafe & Bakery
9700 Ulmerton Rd, Largo
6:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Customers can receive a free doughnut with the purchase of coffee.
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The Donut Experiment (Indian Shores)
19705A Gulf Blvd., Indian Shores
7:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Receive one free Cinnamon Sugar donut with any purchase.
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Dunkin' Donuts
Multiple Tampa Bay area locations
Store hours vary
Customers can receive a free classic donut of their choice with the purchase of any beverage.
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Krispy Kreme
2128 W. Brandon Blvd., Brandon
4209 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland
9100 4th Street North, St. Petersburg
3113 Kennedy Blvd., Tampa
8425 North Florida Ave., Tampa
Store hours vary by location
Customers can select one free doughnut from the entire menu all week
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National Donut Day was established by the Chicago Salvation Army in 1938 to raise money for the Great Depression and commemorate the work of Salvation Army volunteers who helped feed soldiers during the First World War.
During World War I, Salvation Army "lassies" traveled to the front lines in Europe making home cooked foods, including doughnuts for troops. They were the only women outside of military personnel allowed to visit the front lines.
The "lassies" often put cooked the doughnuts in oil using soldiers' metal helmets.
On the Salvation Army's website, the organization posted the following original doughnut recipe used by "lassies" during World War:
Salvation Army Lassies' Doughnut Recipe
Yield: 4 dozen doughnuts
- 5 cups flour
- 2 cups sugar
- 5 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 ‘saltspoon’ of salt
- 2 eggs
- 1 3/4 cups milk
- 1 tablespoon lard
Directions:
Combine all ingredients (except for lard) to make dough.
Thoroughly knead dough, roll smooth, and cut into rings that are less than 1/4 inch thick. (When finding items to cut out doughnut circles, be creative! Salvation Army doughnut girls used whatever they could find, from baking powder cans to coffee percolator tubes.)
Drop the rings into the lard, making sure the fat is hot enough to brown the doughnuts gradually. Turn the doughnuts slowly several times.
When browned, remove doughnuts and allow excess fat to drip off. Dust with powdered sugar. Let cool and enjoy.
To learn more about National Donut Day, visit www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/national-donut-day/.
