Five Doughnuts To Try For National Doughnut Day, June 3

Once a hard find, today there are literally dozens (get it?) of independent doughnut shops across South Florida. And that's a good thing when you're looking to celebrate National Doughnut Day on Friday, June 3.

But National Doughnut Day isn't just another silly food holiday. It's actually a 78-year-old day of remembrance established by The Salvation Army in 1938 to commemorate "Doughnut Lassies" — women volunteers of the Salvation Army who were sent to France during World War I to help distribute doughnuts in an effort to make soldiers feel more at home.

These days, that usually translates to special deals and plenty of specialty doughnuts when the holiday rolls around each year. Come tomorrow, places like Krispy Kreme will be offering one free doughnut June 3, no purchase necessary (a donation to the Salvation Army’s hallmark red kettles near the cash register are encouraged, however). And Dunkin’ Donuts is giving away one free doughnut (while supplies last) with the purchase of any beverage during the holiday.

Entenmann’s Bakery will also be starting its "Win Free Donuts for a Year" contest on Friday, as well, with a Facebook sweepstakes that will award a year's worth of free doughnuts to 10 grand-prize winners (all entries must be received by midnight on July 2). For each person who enters the contest, $1 will be donated to the Salvation Army.

In the meantime, we've got a rundown for a few of our local favorites and the deals they'll be delivering for the holiday:

5. Jupiter Donut Factory
141 Center St., Jupiter. Call 561-741-5290, or visit jupiterdonuts.com.
At Jupiter Donuts, they say their doughnuts are made using 44% love and 43% passion, with artistry and "know how" ringing in at 12% and 1 percent. Baked fresh each day and usually sold out by early afternoon, it's a safe bet to assume everyone agrees these doughnuts are simply 100% delicious. Owner Chris Stokes has perfected over 40 or so flavors served at his Jupiter and Royal Palm Beach shop (1115 Royal Palm Beach Blvd., Royal Palm Beach). That equals about 200 dozen doughnuts on weekends, when lines form out the door all morning long. Local favorites include his own version of the maple bacon bar, a s'mores-inspired creation, and a red velvet "devil" that is more whoopie pie than doughnut. You'll get a free doughnut when you head into Jupiter Doughnut Factory from 6 a.m. until supplies last on Friday, June 3. 

4. Dandee Donut Factory
1900 Atlantic Blvd., Pompano Beach. Call 954-785-1461, or visit dandeedonuts.com.
Of the 50-plus varieties you can find at this South Florida diner and doughnut haven, open for more than 30 years, try new owner Mark Pontremoli's three specialities: the Mounds Bar (a combination of shaved coconut and chocolate frosting); Snickers (a take on the Snickers bar with caramel icing, chopped peanut, and chocolate frosting); or the Strawberry Shortcake (a cake doughnut drenched in a sublime strawberry glaze with a single tuft of white creamy frosting at the center). Of course, you could always opt for the standard Dandee doughnut, the staple of this longtime establishment: a giant, fluffy raised plain doughnut covered in honey glaze and rolled in cake crumbles. The store offers several "deals" daily, not just on National Doughnut Day, including a free doughnut with the purchase of a large iced cappuccino, or a small coffee and two doughnut special priced at $4.76 (Pompano Beach location only).

3. Green Bar Express
 3429 Galt Ocean Drive, Fort Lauderdale. Call 954-533-7507, or visit greenbarkitchen.com.
Who said doughnuts are only for those willing to cast aside dietary restrictions? Not anymore. This year, celebrate National Doughnut Day at Green Bar Express in Fort Lauderdale where you can snack on health-minded doughnut treats for $3 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, June 3. The restaurant will be hosting a pop-up doughnut party featuring a variety of assorted gluten-free and vegan donuts made by the restaurant's own non-dairy fairy, Mikaela Barnes. 

2. Mojo Donuts
7906 Pines Blvd., Pembroke Pines. Call 954-983-6631.
On any given day you can expect to find a wide assortment of specialty doughnuts at Mojo Donuts in Pembroke Pines. For National Doughnut Day, they'll be bumping up production, making as many as 50 flavors on Friday, June 3 including all the extra doughnuts they plan on selling (that number is projected to reach up to 3,000 doughnuts by the end of the day). That's so many doughnuts, the baker will have to arrive at the shop around 9 p.m. and work through the early morning hours until the shop opens at 6 a.m. Look for Mojo's most popular picks: the Deco Delight (with banana cream filling); the all new Peanut Butter Cup (filled with a sweet, crunchy, buttery peanut butter mousse); and the old standby Maple Bacon (a log-shaped doughnut topped with a maple-chocolate glaze and chopped bits of bacon).

1. Nani's Dough at Bond & Smolders Bakery
1622 S. Federal Hwy., Boynton Beach. Call 561-877-2462.
More than 20 varieties of doughnut — including three new flavors like cotton candy Nani's Dough owner-baker Nani Edry will be debuting for the holiday — will be available at the Bond & Smolders Bakery in Boynton Beach on Friday, June 3 for National Doughnut Day.  That includes favorites like the red velvet, Nutella, S'mores, maple bacon, carrot cake, banana cream, and avocado mousse with a dark chocolate ganache. Or go crazy with Edry's crazy specialty creations, the Doughnnabon (a cinnabon-doughnut hybrid) and the Doughmanatrix (a 99% dark chocolate doughnut topped with sriracha-glaze drizzle).

Nicole Danna is a food writer covering Broward and Palm Beach counties. To get the latest in food and drink news in South Florida, follow her @SoFloNicole or find her latest food pics on the BPB New Times Food & Drink Instagram.