National Doughnut Day 2019: Deals At Maryland Stores

MARYLAND — Friday, June 7, is National Doughnut Day, and some chains are offering deals on sweet treats. In Maryland, people are most likely to choose doughnuts from their neighborhood doughnut shops rather than a chain like Dunkin' Donuts or Krispy Kreme, according to a survey. Although folks did pack into Duck Donuts when it opened locations in Rockville and Gaithersburg in the last two years.

A survey by Offers.com asked customers about their favorite types of doughnuts and which chains they prefer.

Classic glazed doughnuts are Americans' favorites, according to survey, although the variety lost ground from a year and all other types of doughnuts gained in popularity. The survey showed the lightly frosted doughnuts to be the top choice of 36 percent of respondents. Coming in second were Boston cream doughnuts (23 percent), followed by jelly doughnuts (15 percent), doughnuts with sprinkles (10 percent), powdered doughnuts (9 percent) and twist doughnuts (8 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.

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 Maryland:

Duck Donuts locations, found primarily on the East Coast, but also in the Midwest, California and Texas, will offer each customer a free bare, cinnamon sugar or powdered sugar doughnut on June 7. In Maryland the chain has shops at: 1327 Rockville Pike, Rockville; Firstfield Shopping Center, 511 Quince Orchard Road in Gaithersburg; and 5272 Campbell Blvd D, in Nottingham.

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 7.

Entenmann's, which sells its doughnuts in grocery stores nationwide, has a contest going on. Enter the National Donut Day sweepstakes for a chance at $5,000 and free donuts for a year. Enter by using the online donut maker to create your dream donut.

Hardee’s: Use this printable coupon to get free Froot Loop Mini Donuts with any purchase June 7 to 9.

Krispy Kreme, which has more than 300 stores nationwide, is offering a free doughnut of the customer's choice on June 7. If a million donuts are given away, Krispy Kreme will launch another giveaway — a free taste of the brand’s newest doughnut later in June.

Tim Hortons is celebrating Donut Day by launching a churro donut at select locations for a limited time. The Canadian coffee chain has U.S. locations in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and other states.

Walmart, with more than 6,300 stores across the country, will be celebrating National Donut Day with free sample coffee and donuts at select stores. Find a participating location.

See the full list of national Doughnut Day deals on the Offers.com site.