People of all ages have traditionally enjoyed eating donuts as a treat. They come in many different colors, sizes, and flavors, but they all share a hole in the middle. Have you ever wondered why holes are present in donuts? Let’s explore the past to get the fascinating explanation for it.
The Dutch settlers are responsible for the invention of donuts because they introduced a fried delicacy known as “oliebollen,” which is Dutch for “oil spheres.” These oil-fried pastries were generally stuffed with fruits and nuts. The core, however, was undercooked because they were more difficult to properly cook. They began punching a hole in the center of the crust to address this issue, which enabled the pastry to cook uniformly.
In the 1800s, a guy by the name of Hanson Gregory invented the first donut with a hole in the center. According to the legend, Hanson wanted to eat his doughnut without the doughy middle while he was on a ship. He therefore made the first donut with a hole by scraping out the center with a round tin. The central hole immediately gained popularity and established donuts as having this particular design.
Donuts now exist in many different sizes and shapes, but the holey variety is still the most widely consumed. There are, however, doughnuts without holes, which are referred to as “filled donuts” or “jelly donuts.” The pastry is filled with a filling, like cream or jelly, to create these donuts.
One of the most well-known chains of donut shops is Krispy Kreme. The distinctive glaze that distinguishes Krispy Kreme donuts from other donuts is created using a proprietary recipe. Due to the use of yeast in their production, they also have a lighter, fluffier texture. The donuts at Krispy Kreme are made in about three hours. The dough is combined first, then allowed to rise for an hour. It is then sliced into the traditional donut shape and given another hour to rise. The donuts are finally fried, glazed, and allowed to cool before being prepared for serving.
So what do you name a donut that doesn’t have a hole in it? An unholed doughnut is referred to as a “filled donut” or “jelly donut.” Typically, jelly, cream, or other sweet fillings are used to stuff these doughnuts.
In conclusion, a donut’s central hole serves a functional purpose in addition to being a design option. It enables the donut to cook thoroughly and uniformly. The first donut with a hole was made by Hanson Gregory, although the Dutch settlers actually launched the craze. Even though Krispy Kreme donuts are perhaps the most well-known, there are lots of different varieties to try, such as filled donuts, cake donuts, and more.