Doughnut vs. Donut

Salvation Army doughnut lassie Stella Young 

Today is the 73rd annual National Doughnut Day. Hooray!

Across the country local Salvation Army units will be passing out doughnuts from their partners Dunkin Donuts, Krispy Kreme, and other local doughnut shops.

National Doughnut Day originated with the Chicago Salvation Army in 1938 as a salute to the women who served doughnuts to U.S. soldiers during WWI.

Below is the Salvation Army’s original doughnut recipe, just like what the “doughnut lassies” used to make on the front lines for American soldiers during WWI and WWII. They say it’s because of these women that doughnuts became such a popular treat in the US.


SALVATION ARMY LASSIES’ DOUGHNUT RECIPE

Yield: 4 doz. doughnuts

5 C flour
2 C sugar
5 tsp. baking powder
1 ‘saltspoon’ salt
2 eggs
1 3/4 C milk
1 Tub lard

DIRECTIONS

• Combine all ingredients (except for lard) to make dough.

• Thoroughly knead dough, roll smooth, and cut into rings that are less than 1/4 inch thick. (When finding items to cut out doughnut circles, be creative! Salvation Army doughnut girls used whatever they could find, from baking powder cans to coffee percolator tubes.)

• Drop the rings into the lard, making sure the fat is hot enough to brown the doughnuts gradually. Turn the doughnuts slowly several times.

• When browned, remove doughnuts and allow excess fat to drip off.

• Dust with powdered sugar. Let cool.