November 22, 2021

It’s National Doughnut Day!

We’ve got a few ways for you to celebrate

If you’re a doughnut person, then it’s your time in the spotlight. Yes, today is National Doughnut Day. I think this is a food holiday that most of us can get behind.

Like most kids that grew up in a city suburb, I had a Dunkin’ Donuts in my neighborhood. It was within biking distance. I’ll admit that once I had a driver’s license, biking distance wasn’t a thing anymore. On my way to high school, I used to stop in pretty much daily with friends for a little early morning sugar fix.

One morning, seemingly out of nowhere and without warning, Munchkins just appeared. This is how I remember it. One day you’re staring at the case pondering your selection. It was loaded with ring or filled doughnuts; pretty basic stuff. Then, the next day, BOOM! Munchkins. They were so portable, so delicious and so hard to resist.

I recall having the discussion at the time, “what the heck were these things?” Were these the actual centers from a ring doughnut, or were we being duped in our teen years by the DD marketing people?

To a teenager, it seemed entirely possible that these were the punchouts from the doughnut making process. But could that really be the case? At the time, there was no Google. So unearthing Dunkin’s secret Munchkin making method wouldn’t be a piece of cake. And honestly, it didn’t really matter. More importantly, I don’t think I had a “regular” doughnut until well after high school graduation. It was all Munchkins, all the time.

The marketing and packaging concept behind this mini doughnut creation was nothing short of incredible. Think about it for a minute. These were exactly the same doughnuts that we were already snapping up by the dozens. But somehow, they seemed like a new invention. Same exact doughnut, different shape!!

When you bought a dozen boring pre-munchkin doughnuts, they packaged them in a nice flat cardboard box. The box was just tall enough to hold a dozen without flattening them. Munchkins were different. They came in a new, cooler box. This box had a handle! Easy for carrying just about anywhere your adventures would take you.

If you were on a diet, Munchkins didn’t seem like you were cheating. They were small. Here’s a little DD Munchkin trivia for you to amaze your friends and family with. By weight, there are approximately five munchkins to one regular size ring doughnut. There you have it. You could have a Munchkin (or two) and not trash the whole diet day. Let’s be honest, you’re not just going to eat one fifth of a regular doughnut. Once you start down that path, well…

Dunkin’ does an enormous doughnut business. It’s reported that they sell a touch under three billion combined doughnuts and Munchkins per year. Yes, that’s billion with a B.

OK, so yes, it’s National Doughnut Day. And of course you want to celebrate in the most doughnut way possible. I get that, and I’m here to help.

If you want to stay with the Munchkin theme, you’ve got a fantastic option on Siesta Key or St. Armands circle. Meaney’s Mini-Doughnuts (205 Canal Rd., (941) 960-1133). Meaney’s can be challenging during season on Siesta. Have a look at what I mean.

Yes, that is the line just to get a bag of mini doughnuts. I know, it’s insane. If you’re there when they open at 8am, you can stand in line with lots of toddlers still in their Spiderman PJ’s wiping sleep out of their eyes. It’s a thing. Here’s a look at what you’ll get if you brave the line.

You may be thinking, “that’s OK, I’m more of a traditional doughnut person anyway.” Then this is your lucky National Doughnut Day. Five-O Donut Co. (7119 S. Tamiami Trl., (941) 312-4744) has got you more than covered. They have stores spread out around Sarasota. Their newest location, close to UTC, is opening in 2022. They are probably the best all-around doughnut operation in town. They offer what they call “simples” and “fancies”. I think you can guess what the differences are between the two types. We’ve got a little visual clue for you in case you need a nudge.

OfKors Bakery (1359 Main St., (941) 330-2220) is more along the lines of your traditional bakery. Yes, they’ve got doughnuts, lots of them. But if you’re not in a doughnut mood, they’ll have some options for you. They offer everything from freshly baked bread to homemade croissant sandwiches.

We’ve got one last delicious doughnut stop for you, Peachey’s Baking Company (peacheysbakingco.com). You’ll notice that we gave you the website versus the usual address and phone number. That’s because Peachey’s is a doughnut food truck. And it’s a pretty great one at that. Until recently, you may have known them as The Amish Baking Co. Here’s what we’re talking about.

The easiest way to catch them around Sarasota is on Wednesdays at the Phillippi Farmhouse Market. They’re usually there selling decadent doughnuts and some of the best homemade pretzels you can find anywhere. They even sell their doughnuts and pretzels at the Bonnaroo Music Festival each summer. That’s big time! Oh, there’s a line for Peachey’s too! Sorry.

Time for the recap. It’s National Doughnut Day! And you want and need to celebrate in a festive, but responsible way. It’s pretty easy here in Sarasota. All you have to do is pick from one of our many sweet choices!

Before we go, and you head out for your doughnut fix, let’s remember Fred the Baker (whose words ring as true today, National Doughnut Day, as they did in 1981)…