National Doughnut Day originally began as a way to celebrate the female volunteers for the Salvation Army who were serving doughnuts to soldiers in World War I (known as The Doughnut Lassies), and now it’s become a national phenomenon, with many of the country’s top doughnut shops offering special deals to commemorate the holiday. If you’re looking to score a free doughnut or two, swing by these restaurants and retail stores.
Dunkin’ Donuts
Along with welcoming two new doughnut varieties to their limited-edition summer menu (vanilla cake batter and chocolate cake batter), this coffee and donut shop is offering customers a free classic doughnut of their choice with the purchase of any beverage. Choose between Boston Kreme, Glazed, Glazed Chocolate and Strawberry Frosted with Sprinkles.
Krispy Kreme
Swing by your nearest location and receive any doughnut on the menu completely complimentary, no purchase necessary.
Papa Johns
Purchase a pizza from this nationwide chain and receive an order of free doughnut holes for dessert. A new menu addition, these warm treats are coated in cinnamon sugar and filled with caramel crème. If you aren’t craving pizza on National Donut Day, beginning on June 2, you can use the promo code DONUT to add a complimentary side of these with the purchase of any two pizzas through the app. The pizza chain is also holding a contest for one of their customers an eight-day, seven-night, all-expenses-paid trip for two to New Zealand’s Donut Island, which is shaped like a doughnut. Any customer who orders the new Donut Holes online or via the Papa John’s app between June 2 and June 30 can opt-in to the sweepstakes.
Salvation Army
This charitable organization will be partnering with Entenmann’s, to host a series of “Do Good Donut Parties,” where they will serve over 10,000 doughnuts to 8,500 veterans across America. These parties will be alongside other Salvation Army events, including a Donut Eating Championship in Los Angeles and an annual free doughnut celebration in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Tim Horton’s
At five locations of this fast food chain across Buffalo, NY, Columbus, OH, and Detroit, MI, the first in-restaurant guests on June 1 who ask for “Gold Timbits” will get them for free and win the prize of free doughnuts for a year. Their Timbits are covered in edible 24k gold and dipped in honey.
Walmart
All retailers nationwide are giving away complimentary whole glazed donuts to customers who enter their store on Friday.
Edible Arrangements
At 1,200 Edible stores worldwide, customers can get one of the chain’s fruit “donuts”—actually a cored Granny Smith apple covered in chocolate and other toppings—for free on National Donut Day 2018.
The website Thrillist put out a list of all the best doughnut shops in America, what do you think of this list?