National Donut Day 2018: Deals In The Hudson Valley [VIDEO]

Friday, June 1, is National Doughnut Day, and a few chains are offering deals. In New York, people are most likely to choose doughnuts from Dunkin Donuts, according to a survey that shows it to be our favorite.

You may have other ideas. 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.

Classic glazed doughnuts are Americans’ favorites, according to the 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 the Hudson Valley:

• Cumberland Farms convenience stores are offering customers a free doughnut with the purchase of a beverage from 5-10 a.m. on June 1. Locations are found in Hopewell Junction, Cornwall, Dover Plains, New Windsor and Newburgh.
• 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.
• 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. If you commute into NYC you can find one at Pennsylvania Plaza.
• Tim Hortons will offer a Honey Dip Donut Breakfast Sandwich during breakfast hours on June 1. Find one in White Plains or New Rochelle, or of course on the Thruway.

Of course, you could instead grab a glazed off the tray at your favorite deli. Or check in with your local bakery to see if they're producing the delicious fried sugary glory on Friday.

Photo/ Jenna Fisher

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