National Doughnut Day 2018: Where To Find Deals In California

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, CA — Friday, June 1, is National Doughnut Day, and a few chains are offering deals. In California, people are most likely to choose doughnuts from the corner mom and pop doughnut shop, according to a survey.

Who is your favorite? In Rancho Santa Margarita, Patch loves The Doughnut Parlor, which specializes in artisan doughnuts and what they describe as "other delicious stuff."

Though the offers.com survey sample size was small — 1,000 consumers answered a Google Survey asking them about their favorite types of doughnuts and which chains are their favorites— the results were resounding.

Classic glazed doughnuts are Americans’ favorites, according to survey, which showed the lightly frosted doughnuts to be the top choice of 48 percent of respondents. Coming in a distant second were Boston cream doughnuts (17 percent), followed by jelly doughnuts (12 percent), doughnuts with sprinkles (7 percent), powdered doughnuts (6 percent) and twist doughnuts (6 percent).

National Doughnut Day dates back to 1938, when The Salvation Army of Chicago created it to honor the “Doughnut Girls” who served doughnuts to soldiers in World War I. The unofficial holiday is celebrated every year on the first Friday in June.

Though the honorary salute to the “Doughnut Girls” wouldn’t begin until years later, two Salvation Army volunteers — Ensign Margaret Sheldon and Adjutant Helen Purviance — came up with the idea of frying doughnuts in soldiers’ helmets after they and about 250 others were deployed to France to provide spiritual and emotional support for U.S. soldiers.

“These tasty treats boosted morale and won the hearts of many soldiers,” The Salvation Army’s Metropolitan Division in Chicago said on its website.

Also known as the “Doughnut Lassies,” these volunteers are credited with popularizing the doughnut in the United States when troops, who were known as “doughboys,” returned home from the war. The tradition, which provided a link to home and family, continued in World War II.

If you’re looking for some great deals on doughnuts, here are some in California:

Dunkin’ Donuts, which has more than 7,600 locations nationwide, is offering a free classic doughnut — including favorites like Boston Kreme, glazed and Strawberry Frosted with Sprinkles — with the purchase of any beverage on June 1. Don't forget to RSVP!

Entenmann’s, which sells its doughnuts in grocery stores nationwide, has a pretty fun contest going on. The classic pastry company is soliciting applications for the honorary position of Chief Donut Officer, which comes with a year's worth of doughnuts and a $5,000 cash award. Four runners up will receive $1,000 and a one-year supply of doughnuts.

Krispy Kreme, which has more than 300 stores nationwide, is offering a free doughnut of the customer’s choice on June 1. No purchase is necessary.

What's your favorite mom & pop doughnut shop? Let us know in comments!

Photo, courtesy Rancho Santa Margarita's The Doughnut Parlor - Find them on Instagram at TheDoughnutParlor