New Delhi, Delhi
Round in shape, with a hole in the centre and often covered with a sweet glaze, the donut is one of the world’s most popular sweet treats. In India, its appearance can remind many people of gulgula or pua, traditional sweets made by frying sweetened dough in oil. Although the preparation methods are not exactly the same, both reflect an old culinary tradition of sweetening dough and frying it.
But have you ever wondered why donuts have a hole in the middle? If they could be made without one, why were they given a ring-like shape? Behind this familiar design lies an interesting history, including a popular story involving an American sailor and a storm nearly 175 years ago.
The Tradition of Frying Dough Is Very Old
The history of the donut is not limited to the United States. For centuries, different cultures around the world have prepared dishes by frying dough or mixtures made from flour in oil. Evidence of fried dough-based foods can also be found in ancient Roman and Greek culinary traditions, where fried preparations were sometimes sweetened or flavoured.
India also has a long tradition of sweets such as pua and gulgula. These preparations commonly use flour along with sugar or jaggery and are deep-fried in oil.
The modern history of the donut, however, is generally associated with European culinary traditions that eventually travelled to America.
The Connection With Dutch ‘Oly Koek’
Early versions of the donut are often linked to a Dutch preparation known as ‘Oly Koek’ or ‘Oliekoek’, a name broadly meaning an “oily cake.”
The Dutch traditionally fried dough mixtures in oil. When Dutch immigrants arrived in America, their food traditions travelled with them. Over time, changes in ingredients and preparation techniques contributed to the development of what eventually became the modern donut.
Early donuts did not necessarily have the familiar ring shape seen today. They were often prepared as round or ball-like pieces of dough.
Why Was a Hole Made in the Donut?
There are several stories about the origin of the donut hole. One of the most famous is associated with an American sailor named Hanson Gregory.
According to the popular account, Gregory suggested in the 1840s that the uncooked centre of the donut be removed, creating a ring shape. The reasoning was practical: the thick centre of the dough could remain undercooked while the outside became overcooked.
Removing the centre reduced the thickness of the dough and made it easier to fry the donut more evenly. It also helped address the problem of the middle remaining raw.
How Accurate Is the Storm Story?
Another popular story about the donut hole involves a severe sea storm. According to the tale, Gregory placed a donut on part of the ship, such as the wheel or another fitting, during a violent storm to prevent it from falling around. He later decided to remove the centre of the donut.
However, historians do not agree on every detail of this story. Therefore, it is best understood as a popular historical account rather than a completely verified fact.
Over time, the ring-shaped donut became so popular that the hole itself became one of its defining characteristics. Its flavours, sizes and decorations have evolved across different countries, but the central hole remains one of its most recognisable features.
In this way, Indian gulgulas and Western donuts may have developed through different culinary traditions, but both reflect the much older practice of sweetening dough and frying it. The hole in a donut is therefore not merely decorative—it is also associated with the practical purpose of helping the dough cook more evenly.
