Time to make the doughnuts…

Although the exact place, time, and person responsible for creating the doughnut are unknown, there are a few events in the history of the doughnut that stand out.

History shows that the Dutch were making olykoeks, or “oil cakes,” as early as the mid 19th century. These were simply balls of cake fried in pork fat until golden brown. Because the center of the cake did not cook as fast as the outside, the cakes were sometimes stuffed with fruit, nuts, or other fillings that did not require cooking.

As Dutch immigrants began to settle in the United States, they continued to make their olykoeks, where they were influenced by other cultures, and the olykoeks continued to morph into what we call doughnuts today.

The Dutch solution to the gooey, uncooked center of the doughnut was to stuff it with fillings that did not require cooking but Hansen Gregory, an American ship captain, had another solution. In 1847 Gregory punched a hole in the center of the dough ball before frying. The hole increased the surface area, exposure to the hot oil, and therefore eliminated the uncooked center.

More colorful versions of Gregory’s invention of the doughnut hole include him impaling a doughnut on the ship’s steering wheel so that he could use both hands to steer, or the idea for the shape being delivered to him in a dream by angels. However Gregory came up with putting a hole in the middle of his olykoek, he is the man credited with inventing the classic hole-in-the-middle shape.

At Lulu City, our doughnuts are made to order by our wonderful pastry team every day.  Choose our classic glazed cake doughnut or make your own by mixing toppings and frostings! 

Love love love!!