How Donuts Became A Breakfast Food In The US

Long, long ago, people didn't dash into their closest Dunkin' for a coffee and donut breakfast. In fact, while the caffeinated beverage met breakfast-dom in 1772 with the Boston Tea Party, its sweet other half didn't become known as an iconic morning snack until the 20th century. The truth is, technology and coffeehouse chains are behind the evolution of the humble donut as a U.S. breakfast food.

It was in 1920 that the ball started rolling when Adolph Levitt brought America's first donut machine to the streets of New York City. By 1934, he was selling them to bakeries nationwide. And by the 1940s, the snack and drink duo had taken hold. Facilitated by this huge technological jump, larger coffee chains like Dunkin and Krispy Kreme took advantage, upselling their handy-to-produce sweet treat. Naturally, when customers sought out their morning coffee, a temptingly displayed donut or two would sway their purse strings. A donut and a cup of coffee gradually became synonymous. 

Dunkin' even held the name Dunkin' Donuts until 2019, a nod to the trend of dunking the dessert into coffee that lasted nearly 70 years. Putting aside the Dutch immigrant origins of donuts, their rise to the breakfast table is a marketing legend.

We can't imagine this ever happening, but what if you're tired of your regular morning donut? If you haven't tried mixing things up already, we suggest taking matters into your own hands (or oven). There are dozens of great donut recipes to satisfy your sweet tooth, and it's true that "variety is the spice of life." Our glazed mini-baked donuts are a great example, and throwing together this breakfast treat at home provides endless outlets for creativity. Glaze, sugar, powder, and crumble are all toppings you could try, and that's before we get to coatings like chocolate or strawberry icing or cream and fruit fillings. 

Alternatively, go for a ready-made upgrade by heading to a different store (check out our ranking of popular donut chains). Krispy Kreme's classic glazed option comes to mind, perfect if you're craving simplicity. In contrast, Dunkin' has over 50 kinds, offering flamboyant flavors from Strawberry Rainbow Sprinkles to Bavarian creme-filled Boston Cremes. 

Consider how you pair donuts, too. The sweet snack is tastily combined with your standard breakfast offerings like bacon, eggs, cereal, and yogurt. Sure, a coffee and donut to go has a ring to it, but bulking up your breakfast could be the key to upgrading your mornings.