The Salvation Army’s Best Kept Secret
By: June Li
National Doughnut Day is coming up on Friday, June 1st, but do you know the history behind this special day?
The Salvation Army’s ‘Doughnut Lassies’ with doughnuts.
Celebrated on the first Friday of June, National Doughnut Day began in 1938 to honour the ‘Doughnut Lassies’ who served sweet delicious treats to soldiers who were on the frontlines of war. During this time, many brave Salvation Army volunteers also travelled overseas to serve baked goods to soldiers. But National Doughnut Day was much more than handing out sweet treats; it was also a day of fundraising to help those in need during the Great Depression.
The Salvation Army’s Doughnut Team handing out doughnuts.
Today, many individuals celebrate this day by eating, baking or even giving out doughnuts. True to its tradition, The Salvation Army will be handing out free Krispy Kreme doughnuts on National Doughnut Day! For more information regarding this wonderful event, click here.
We hope that everyone will be able to join us for this great day. Unable to join us? Don’t worry! Here is the top-secret Salvation Army doughnut recipe for you to enjoy at home!
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 and enjoy.