Donuts are undeniably one of the most quintessentially American foods out there. Are you familiar with how this iconic food came to be? Many foods are associated with America but didn’t originate here. In this article, we will give you a brief history of the best donuts in Chicago so the next time you bite into a hot, sugar-dusted cake, you’ll know exactly where it came from.
The Donut’s Surprising European Origin
Though you might associate the donut as being inherently American, did you know that they were originally created in the Netherlands? That’s right—Dutch immigrants brought their classic recipe for oliekoecken (a Dutch fried cake) to the US with them when they immigrated over in the 1800s. Once Americans began production of the unique sweets, it became clear that the Dutch were onto something. Over time, the shape evolved to the modern form of removing the hole from the center, giving the donut its iconic shape.
What Does the Name Mean?
“Donut” is such a popular word in America that many people have never thought about what it means. The origin of the word “donut” stretches back to the word oliekoecken. In the early 1800s, people in New York City referred to something called doughnuts, a word that was used interchangeably with oliekoecken. However, what was previously labeled doughnuts might be called “donut holes” today since they didn’t have holes in them. As the food evolved, it gained a hole and a new spelling (donut)!
Are you looking for a great place to eat donuts in the Chicago area? If so, check out Stan’s Donuts & Coffee at stansdonuts.com for one of the best local spots!
