Donut Shops Near Me

In countries such as Canada, the donut shop is considered a national institution, and for good reason. Donut shops specialize in the preparation and retail sale of donuts. Aside from offering dozens of flavor and topping options, many donut shops also serve up fresh hot coffee and other confections such as coffee cake and muffins.

Are you interested in finding a donut shop near you? You’re in luck! Simply browse donut shops near me on the map below and find a list of donut shops in your area. Need a bit more information on donut shops? Read on for facts, trivia, and a bit of history on these sweet institutions.

Donut Shops Near Me – Find it on the Map

Donut Shops Near Me – Donut Shops Trivia

How many donuts are produced in the US every year?

Donut shops are abundant in the US and given the country’s love affair with all things donuts, it’s no wonder. According to some statistics, more than 10 billion donuts are made in the United States every year. It goes without saying that the donut industry in this country is massive, with several fast food chains dedicating themselves to only their production. Canada produces fewer donuts than the United States (around 1 billion per year), but it actually has more donut shops per capita than any other country in the world. The donut industry began growing in Canada in the early 1990s with the advent of franchise chains such as Tim Hortons, Dunkin Donuts, and Maple Leaf foods. It wasn’t before long that the donut craze spread across the country. Canada’s long cold, snowing winters and massive commuter population have made donut shops a cozy refuge from the elements. Annual sales for donut shops in Canada typically top out at around $ 1 billion. If you’re searching donut shops near me, consider just how huge of a role the donut plays in the both the United States and Canada!

Donut shops have never been more popular or more revered in the United States.

What exactly is a Spudnut?

Depending on which state you’re searching donut shops near me in, you may come across what is known as a spudnut rather than a donut. This can be a bit confusing to someone who has never heard of a spudnut before. So what exactly is a spudnut? A spudnut is a donut type that is made with mashed potatoes or potato starch rather than flour. They were once so popular in the US that they spawned their own fast food chain known as Spudnuts. The chain is now mostly defunct, but a few independent locations are still holding on for dear life. The parent company no longer exists. Spudnuts was initially founded by two brothers- an appliance salesman and a drug store clerk- back in the 1940s. They claimed to be the first fast food donut chain to ever open in the Los Angeles area. According to sputnut lovers, these potato laden donuts are more dense and delicious than their flour bound counterparts.

Donut Shops Near Me – Donut Shops Facts

The Hit Food Of The Century

Since the beginning, donuts have been welcomed into the American culture with open arms. But did you know that donuts were once declared the hit food of the century? At the Chicago World’s Fair in 1933, which was billed as “A Century of Progress,” donuts were officially given the ambitious title of “Hit food of the Century of Progress. Donuts were fresh and the automated machines involved in their manufacturing allowed them to be turned out very quickly. These machines also involved less human involvement, which meant donuts were cheap and available to the working class citizens of America. So few confections were affordable enough for the average citizen to indulge in, so the fact that donuts were cheap made them an immediate hit. In fact, during the depression, they were dubbed a staple of the working class. Sally Levitt, whose grandfather invented the donut machine, was proud of the availability of the donut thanks to the innovation of her grandpa. As you continue your quest to find donut shops near me, think about how culturally important donuts really are.

The Storied History of the Donut Hole

Obviously if you’re searching donut shops near me, you’re aware that donuts have holes. But the question remains, why do donuts have holes? Well the arrival of the hole came in the 19th century. Elizabeth Gregory was the mother of renowned 19th century ship captain Hanson Gregory. Before her son would depart on a lengthy journey, Elizabeth would make fried dough pastries for her son and his crew to enjoy during their voyages long away from home. She packed these pastries with a bevy of nut and flavored them with a mix of cinnamon and nutmeg. While Elizabeth was clearly the early donut innovator, it was Captain Hanson Gregory who claimed to have invented the donut hole. He dubbed the hole, “the first donut hole to ever be seen by mortal eyes.” Just how did Gregory come up with the idea for the hole? Practicality. Gregory wanted to be able to steer his ship and work without putting his donut down. The hole allowed Gregory to keep a handle on his donut while doing his job.