Dunkin' Donuts' Used to Have a Namesake Donut with a Handle (2024)

Dunkin' Donuts' Used to Have a Namesake Donut with a Handle (1)

Dunkin' Donuts used to actually offer a donut called "The Dunkin' Donut" and it came with a handle that you could hold onto to dunk the donut in your coffee (per the chain's name).

Now dunking a donut in coffee doesn't quite hold the popularity that it used to (and is more difficult these days due to the tall and narrow to-go cups that coffee tends to be served in now), but back in the day, you'd actually sit down with a wide-rimmed cup of coffee that was a perfect fit to ease your donut in.

The chain didn't initially offer the donut when it first started. So how did the donut with a handle come to be?

According to an excerpt from Dunkin’ Donuts’ founder William Rosenberg’s book, Time to Make the Donuts:

“Johnny was a fantastic donut man. One day we were talking in my office and I said, "You know, Johnny, the name of our company is Dunkin' Donuts. You know how you cut out the round donuts? Can't you make a cutter with a handle on it, so you can dunk the donut and we'll call it the Dunkin' donut? He said, "Oh no, no, no Bill. You can't do that." I persisted, of course. I thought it seemed like a pretty simple thing to do. He started giving me all kinds of stories -- how the shortening wouldn't circulate properly if the donut wasn't round. But I wasn't convinced. I told him to go to the man who made the cutters and tell him to make a round cutter with a handle on one end of it. See what happens. "Try it out," I said. That's what he did and wouldn't you know it, now we had a donut with a handle!”

The Johnny referenced here is Johnny Spartos, who was one of the men running the original Dunkin' Donuts location in Quincy, MA for William Rosenberg.

So what happen to The Dunkin' Donut? Well, it was discontinued back in 2003 because it had to be cut by hand and was replaced by a handle-less old-fashioned donut that was cut by machine. By this time, it was actually easier to dunk the handle than the donut into your coffee, so that might have played into it as well. I guess you could say it was an old-fashioned donut for an old-fashioned era.

While you can't get the original Dunkin' Donut anymore, if you're willing to travel, you can still get a Dunkin' Donut with a similar handle (pictured above) over in Singapore (in several varieties to boot). It's a bit different from the original though, which by accounts, was an old-fashioned donut while the Singapore version is a yeast donut.

Image via Dunkin' Donuts Singapore.


Dunkin' Donuts' Used to Have a Namesake Donut with a Handle (2024)

FAQs

Dunkin' Donuts' Used to Have a Namesake Donut with a Handle? ›

As the story goes, Rosenberg approached his top “donut man” Johnny Spartos with the idea, telling him that a doughnut with a handle would be easier for patrons to dunk in coffee.

What happened to the Dunkin donut with the handle? ›

At some point, the chain produced a donut specifically designed for dunking, with a handle. This was discontinued in 2003 (except in Singapore) because it was hand-cut and uneconomical compared to machine-cut donuts.

Did Dunkin Donuts take donuts out of their name? ›

Why did they change their name? The name change brought some backlash from customers who had become accustomed to the donut branding for Dunkin'. However, the company defended the decision, claiming it was a part of the new multi-year growth plan to transform the company into an on-the-go beverage-led brand.

When did Dunkin Donuts change their name? ›

Dunkin' began to move away from the donut side of its menu, slashing 12 varieties from stores in 2011 (via Thrillist) before officially changing its name the following year.

What was the original Dunkin Donut? ›

The First Dunkin' Donuts Restaurant is Still in Operation: When founder William Rosenberg opened his first coffee and donut shop in Quincy, Massachusetts in 1948, it was originally named Open Kettle and served coffee, pastries and sandwiches.

Why did Dunkin remove donuts from their name? ›

In 2013, Dunkin' Donuts began moving away from a doughnut-based identity, declaring itself a "beverage company," when beverage sales reached 58 percent. According to the New York Times, that figure has gone up slightly to 60 percent.

What ever happened to Mister donut? ›

After Mister Donut was acquired by Dunkin' Donuts in 1990, most either closed or became Dunkins.

What did Dunkin Donuts discontinue? ›

Dunkin' has officially retired the Dunkaccino. In a statement to TODAY.com, a Dunkin' spokesperson confirmed what many had been speculating: "As we focus on innovation and finding new ways to delight guests, we continually evolve our menu in an effort to deliver a fast, frictionless experience.

What did Dunkin remove from menu? ›

The Dunkaccino has left the building. Dunkin' has officially removed the drink, a combination of coffee and hot chocolate, from its menu, the restaurant chain says.

Why did Dunkin Donuts rebrand? ›

As mentioned, Dunkin' is a hugely successful company, meaning there was no crisis that it needed to solve with a new brand identity. This means the underlying reason for the rebrand was a positive one – the company had outgrown its original name and needed to modify its corporate identity to continue growing.

Where is the original Dunkin Donuts? ›

What name did Dunkin Donuts decide to use as a translation of the brand name Dunkin Donuts? ›

The restaurant was located in Quincy, Massachusetts and was given the name Open Kettle. At that time, he sold the premium cup of coffee for 10 cents while a serving of doughnut cost five cents. Two years later, after meeting with his company executives, the restaurant's name changed to Dunkin' Donuts.

Why does Dunkin Donuts coffee taste different? ›

In part, perhaps it is the influence of the aroma and atmosphere in a coffee shop. There's something about the strong aroma of fresh-brewed coffee that just permeates the whole place. The environment of coffee-making, donuts and people likely combine to make the coffee taste a little bit better.

What were the original donut names? ›

"Dough nut"

Washington Irving described "dough-nuts", in his 1809 History of New York, as "balls of sweetened dough, fried in hog's fat, and called dough-nuts, or olykoeks." These "nuts" of fried dough might now be called doughnut holes (see holes section).

What did the original donut look like? ›

These early doughnuts were simply balls of cake fried in pork fat until golden brown. Because the center of the cake did not cook as fast as the outside, the cakes were sometimes stuffed with fruit, nuts, or other fillings that did not require cooking.

What is America's first donut? ›

Fried cakes of dough date back to ancient Native American cooking traditions, but the first American doughnut that we'd recognize as a doughnut hit New York City (then New Amsterdam) in the 17th century, when Dutch colonials started cooking olykoeks, literally “oily cakes.” These proto-doughnuts were exclusively yeast- ...

Why are people boycotting Dunkin? ›

Coffee drinkers have announced plans to boycott Dunkin' after the popular coffee chain launched a new iteration of their popular rewards program that devalues points.

Why did Dunkin Donuts get sued? ›

A Dunkin' regular is suing the chain over allegedly undisclosed charges for add-ons like cream cheese and butter. A Boston man is suing local coffee giant Dunkin' in a battle over add-ons, and not of the sugar and cream variety.

Why is Dunkin Donuts not selling donuts? ›

As part of a rebranding effort, the donut makers are changing up their store design, adding new beverage choices, providing customers with digital kiosks to order from and… changing their name to Dunkin'. That's Dunkin', minus the Donuts—you know, that thing its pretty much known for.

What is the best seller Mister Donut? ›

Firstly one of the most popular flavors at Mister Donut is the Strawberry Cream doughnut. This sweet and tangy treat is made with a fluffy doughnut base, topped with a generous helping of creamy, sweet strawberry frosting. Making the flavor so light and refreshing!

What is the donut scandal? ›

On July 7, 2015, Ariana Grande licked a donut and said, "I hate America," as TMZ reported at the time. Grande was apologetic, taking to Twitter with a lengthy iPhone notes screenshot apology.

What is the oldest donut company? ›

Krispy Kreme
Krispy Kreme in Cannington, Western Australia
Traded asNasdaq: DNUT Russell 2000 component
IndustryRestaurant
FoundedJuly 13, 1937
FounderVernon Rudolph
15 more rows

Why was the French Cruller discontinued? ›

In 2003, the Dunkin' Donuts chain of doughnut shops stopped carrying traditional crullers, claiming that the hand-shaped rectangular treats were too labor-intensive, and couldn't be simulated with new machines for mixing doughnut batter.

Why did DD get rid of Dunkaccino? ›

Dunkin' is officially retiring the hot drink after featuring it on its menu for 23 years. “As we focus on innovation and finding new ways to delight guests, we continually evolve our menu in an effort to deliver a fast, frictionless experience,” the company confirms to CNN.

Did Dunkin get rid of Cruller? ›

The French Cruller is still on the menu, but hard to find

If you're craving a French cruller, you might be disappointed the next time you make a Dunkin' run.

What is the most unhealthy thing at Dunkin Donuts? ›

Navigating the Menu
What to Order & Avoid at Dunkin' Donuts
Most Nutritious OptionsLeast Nutritious Options
Hash Browns (Snacks & Wraps)Stuffed Bagel Minis (Snacks & Wraps)
Multigrain Thin (Bagels & Muffins)Coffee Cake Muffin (Bagels & Muffins)
Sugared Donut (Donuts)Glazed Jelly Stick (Donuts)
4 more rows
Feb 13, 2022

Is butter pecan discontinued at Dunkin? ›

No matter how you pronounce “pecan,” all fans can get excited because Butter Pecan Swirl is officially back and here to stay! We're celebrating its return with an all-star Butter Pecan lineup, with three brand-new offerings that double down on the decadence of Butter Pecan.

Why did Dunkin get rid of onion bagels? ›

Why this petition matters. Dunkin' Donuts got rid of Onion Bagels to “simplify their menu”. Since then, they have continued to bring in a myriad of new/different menu items.

Who did the Dunkin Donuts rebrand? ›

The new branding, developed in partnership with new creative and branding agencies Jones Knowles Ritchie (JKR), BBDO New York and Arc Worldwide, is one part of Dunkin's multi-faceted blueprint for growth, a plan designed to transform the company into the premier beverage-led, on-the-go brand.

How much did the Dunkin rebrand cost? ›

The move, effective in January 2019, is the centerpiece of a new strategy to appeal to younger consumers by upgrading its image and technology, the company told NBC and Fortune. The overall rebrand will cost the company about $100 million, according to the Wall Street Journal (paywall).

Is Starbucks or Dunkin better? ›

Starbucks has also built a more premium brand, has stores that look more like a comfortable coffee house, has a more extensive menu, and greater product customization. Dunkin' stores resemble more traditional fast-food eateries and they offer more competitive pricing relative to Starbucks.

Does Dunkin still make the original Dunkin Donut? ›

So the Dunkin' Donut lost the handle and became the old-fashioned donut that you see today. There's still one place in the world you can get a Dunkin' Donut with a handle: Singapore. Their stores sell it in three varieties. Glazed, sugar raised and cinnamon, but no old-fashioned to be found.

What state has the most Dunkin Donuts? ›

Dunkin Donuts Locations by State

New York is the state with the most Dunkin' Donuts locations. There are a total of 1,414 Dunkin Donuts across the Empire State.

Where was the largest Dunkin Donuts store in the world located? ›

Largest Dunkin' Donuts restaurant in the world opens in Bangkok, Thailand with seating for 130. Allied Domecq PLC purchases Dunkin' Donuts. 2,000th U.S. Dunkin' Donuts opens. 1992 3,000th U.S. Dunkin' Donuts opens. 1995 1,000th international Dunkin' Donuts restaurant opens in Thailand.

What is slang for Dunkin Donuts? ›

Dunks or Dunkies: Dunkin Donuts.

What was the name of the Dunkin Donuts guy? ›

Michael Vale, the character actor best known for his role as Fred the Baker in television commercials for Dunkin' Donuts, was born in Brooklyn, New York on June 28, 1922.

Why does Dunkin use orange in their logo? ›

Why is the Dunkin logo pink and orange? Lucia DeRespinis, the designer of the logo, suggested that the colors were too “toasted” and that since donuts are meant to be fun, so should the brand and logo design. She suggested keeping the design but adding in her daughter's favorite colors, pink and orange.

Is Folgers and Dunkin Donuts coffee the same? ›

The grocery store Dunkin Donuts coffee is produced by J.M. Smucker which is the same as Folgers.

Why is DD coffee so good? ›

We use 100 percent Arabica coffee beans and have our own coffee specifications, which are recognized by the industry as a superior grade of coffee. Based on Dunkin' Quality (DDQ) specifications, coffee is milled and processed specifically for Dunkin'.

How to order Dunkin so it's not so sweet? ›

Say "easy sugar" to get less sugar than normal.

Saying “easy sugar” shows that you want your coffee with a little less sweetness than the standard cup. It will still have some sugar unless you say you want none.

What is the forbidden donut? ›

Forbidden Doughnuts

(aka Iced Pumpkin Cake Donuts, inspired by King Arthur Flour) Makes 12 to 18, depending on the size of your donut pans. 1 1/2 cups pumpkin puree. 1 cup sugar. 3 eggs.

What is the rarest donut? ›

The world's most expensive donut is crowned by a gold-plated fleur de chocolat in the shape of a cattleya orchid - and the corresponding engagement ring. "There are no upper limits, the customer can of course also express wishes about the ring, such as whether the diamond should have more carats.

What is a donut with a hole called? ›

Synonyms. (pastry ball the size of the hole in the center of a donut): munchkin (genericization of Munchkin) timbit (genericization of Timbit)

What was the heaviest donut? ›

The largest donut ever made was an American-style jelly donut weighing 1.7 tons, which was 16 feet in diameter and 16 inches high in the center.

What was the largest donut ever made? ›

On the 21st of January in 1993, Hemstrought's Bakeries, Donato's Bakery, and radio station WKLL-FM made a record-breaking donut. In Utica, New York, representatives from these two bakeries came together to make a giant 3,739 pounds 16ft wide donut. To this day, this is the largest donut ever made.

Did the original donut have a hole? ›

One of the most popular credits American seafarer Hanson Gregory with inventing the donut's hole in 1847 while aboard a lime-trading ship. He was just 16 years old at the time.

What is the most expensive donut in the US? ›

While they usually cost a couple bucks at the most, the Golden Cristal Ube Donut the Manila Social Club in Brooklyn, New York will put you back more than $100. Even more remarkable? The chef who makes 'em, Björn DelaCruz, says people are buying them by the dozen (that's $1,200 a box, people — #onlyinnewyork).

What is America's favorite doughnut? ›

According to Google users, glazed donuts reign supreme as the most popular donut.

What were donuts called in 1933? ›

Donuts were once called “oily cakes

What happened to the Dunkin Donuts guy? ›

Vale also reprised the role for commercials for the short-lived Dunkin' Donuts Cereal. He died of complications from diabetes at age 83 in Manhattan at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, and was cremated. New York City, U.S.

Is the dunkaccino being discontinued? ›

The Dunkaccino is retired for now, but there's always the chance for its return in the future.” Introduced in 2000 as “a unique blend of coffee and hot chocolate flavors,” the Dunkaccino was once also served as a frozen beverage.

What happened to Fred the Baker Dunkin Donuts? ›

The Dunkin' Donuts ads featuring his character Fred, whose signature line was "Time to make the doughnuts," ran for 15 years from 1982 until 1997, when Vale retired. Michael Vale died on December 24, 2005 in New York City of complications from diabetes. He was 83 years old.

Where is the old Dunkin Donuts? ›

He established a new location at 543 Southern Artery, Quincy, named “Open Kettle.” This was the predecessor to Dunkin' Donuts and sold only coffee and doughnuts for 10 cents and 5 cents respectively.

Who was the villain in Dunkin donuts? ›

Fred the Baker was so popular with consumers that when Dunkin' Donuts decided to retire the character, the chain surveyed customers to determine the reaction to the move.

Which famous singer worked at Dunkin donuts? ›

Before shooting to fame and after her nude modelling stint, Madonna worked at Dunkin' Donuts in Time Square, New York City. But her donut serving stint didn't last long because she was quite a mischievous employee by all accounts.

What happened to cinnamon munchkins? ›

The idea behind this program was to make all Dunkin' Donuts locations nationwide consistent from location to location. As part of that program, Dunkin' Brands decided to cut out most donuts that contained an allergen, cinnamon being one of them.

What drink did Dunkin Donuts discontinue? ›

Dunkin' Donuts confirms it has discontinued fan-favorite drink – and customers are devastated. DUNKIN' has confirmed that the Dunkaccino, a longtime favorite menu item, has been discontinued, leaving fans devastated. The news was confirmed by a spokesperson for the beloved coffee chain.

Who did Dunkin Donuts merge with? ›

Inspire Brands

Who recently bought Dunkin Donuts? ›

ATLANTA– December 15, 2020 – Inspire Brands, Inc. (“Inspire”) today announced the completion of its $11.3 billion acquisition of Dunkin' Brands Group, Inc. (“Dunkin' Brands”).

Who has been around longer Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts? ›

Starbucks vs. Dunkin': An Overview
  • Despite being founded 20 years after Dunkin' Donuts, Starbucks grew aggressively and is a substantially larger company. ...
  • Starbucks has a larger footprint, with over 30,000 locations worldwide, compared to Dunkin' Brands' 13,000 locations.

Where is Dunkin Donuts most successful? ›

Dunkin's most loyal customer base is in the Northeast, where it was originally founded in 1948 by William Rosenberg in Quincy, Massachusetts under the name “Open Kettle.” Donuts were five cents, and coffee was ten cents, if you can even imagine that.

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