They're not just for breakfast anymore. Coming in an assortment of flavors, shapes and sizes, donuts can be just as easily devoured and enjoyed in the afternoon and evening as in the early morning hours.
Quite possibly originating from the Dutch Olie-Koechen, meaning "fried cake," donuts now are a popular and comforting American snack food. This foreign, square fried cake was officially Americanized when the Pennsylvania Dutch decided to cut holes in the treat.
For many people, the word "donut" has become synonymous with the popular Dunkin' Donuts chain. And, although they may boast more varieties of this calorie-laden treat, Dunkin' Donuts lack the same unbeatable freshness that their rival, Krispy Kreme unfailingly delivers to customers each day.
Founded by Vernon Rudolph, the first Krispy Kreme store opened in 1937 in Winston-Salem, N.C. And since then, donuts have been made fresh to order.
The steps involved in creating these hand-sized confections often receive little thought from the average customer.
At the Krispy Kreme store on Emmet Street, the transformation of a few simple ingredients into a mouth-watering delight occurs daily. Bob Downes, a production specialist who has worked at Krispy Kreme for about two years repeatedly explains the creative process to inquiring customers.
The first step in the procedure involves combining 20 pounds of yeast and a mixture known as "brew" for 14 minutes. The resulting creamy, white orb then is placed in a large metal bowl for 12 minutes. If yeast donuts are being crafted, an employee places the dough into a contraption known as an extruder, which makes the dough air-tight. (Don't you all remember the play-dough extruder from childhood oozing out a myriad of brightly colored shapes?).
With the pull of a lever, a maximum of four tasty confections ranging from one fourth to one half inches thick can be cut at one time.
The next step involves placing the dough shapes into a warm proofer for 30 minutes to rest and rise. Then, after spending a matter of seconds in the sizzling 310-degree oil, the hot, fresh donuts eager for glazing, journey down a metal conveyor belt.
This glistening and delicious outer coating, known to employees as a "75-pound glaze," consists of 57 pounds of water, 25 pounds of granulated sugar and 50 pounds of powdered sugar. These ingredients are boiled into a smooth syrup and then draped over the warm donuts. Although Downes creates donuts daily, he has yet to grow tired of the treats, but chooses "just not to eat them."
In contrast to the yeasty variety, cake donuts, some of which include glazed blueberry, devil's food, crullers (fried dough that is twisted or curled) and glazed sour cream, do not have to proof. Cake donuts, composed primarily of a cake batter devoid of yeast, immediately enter the oil after being cut.
While all the donuts have a robe of shimmering glaze, each one is individualized to create an appealing, delectable treat. Some glazed donuts are injected with oozy, delicious fillings that include cream, custard, apple, strawberry, lemon and blueberry. These colorful and delicious donut fillingsare held in clear canisters that culminate in a silver needle. An employee simply pushes a donut up to the needle and with the press of a button selects the 1.30 ounces of filling that gushes into each treat.
The crispy white powdering on some donuts results from a quick rolling around in a bowl of confectioner's sugar.
Open every day of the week from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. and to midnight on Friday and Saturday, any time is a good time to stop in for a quick, satisfying munch. Instead of purchasing one or two donuts, most customers opt to pay $4.79 for a box of a dozen assorted treats.
Patron Tom Wilson from Amherst, Va., laughingly attests that he "likes all the varieties, so it's just easier to buy a box."
While employees say they see the most University students in the store on Saturday nights, 6 p.m. generally seems to be Krispy Kreme's most popular time - understandably since the original glazed donuts are guaranteed fresh and hot from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.
In fact, this "just-baked taste" sets the Krispy Kreme franchise apart from other competitors.
First-year College student Stephanie Brown noted that the donuts "don't taste as though they've been sitting around for days. You can definitely notice the difference."
Krispy Kreme also generously donates dozens of donuts to charitable activities and organized events such as University basketball games.
In addition, this April will be the sixth straight year that the company will be participating in Easter festivities at the White House, serving over 10,000 donuts to children and adults.
Similar to the popular Girl Scout cookies, Krispy Kreme donuts are becoming more common items to sell for fundraising.
Using Krispy Kreme's order forms, donut-lovers can request a specific number and variety of confections while helping a worthy cause at the same time. Around Grounds, many student organizations set up tables selling Krispy Kreme donuts individually or by the box in hopes of profiting from a hungry passer-by.
With its popular presence both on Grounds and in town, the store occupies a prominent place in the hearts and stomachs of area residents.
"The service here [at Krispy Kreme] makes this chain unique," Charlottesville resident Susan Edwards said. "Making the customer happy seems to be a big priority." Susan's 8-year-old daughter beams with anticipation as she excitedly points to her favorite donut, an iced chocolate with rainbow sprinkles.
In fact, children's growing penchant for donuts has been a major factor in the success of this industry. Instead of the classic cupcakes, donuts now are becoming more popular as birthday goodies.
"It's easy to just go to the store and buy a couple dozen [donuts]," said Marian Sassi, a mother of two boys who was visiting Charlottesville from New York. "For my son's last birthday, I brought in donuts to his class at school. All the kids loved them."
Depending on which variety you opt for, Krispy Kreme donuts may or may not completely live up to their artery-clogging reputation. At only 210 calories and nine grams of fat per snack, the glazed yeast twist would be the best bet for the calorie-conscious, while the glistening devil's food donut weighs in at 390 calories and 24 fat grams.
Still, those numbers don't deter Krispy Kreme's committed clientele, who eat up all that the donut giant whips up in its famous glaze of glory.
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