National Doughnut Day is a real thing! And we may as well enjoy every bite of it. We’ve rounded up a collection of our favorite independent donut shops and bakeries throughout the Twin Cities – two of which are offering sweet specials – including FREE DONUTS! – on the first Friday in June–June 2, 2023
Don’t just enjoy doughnuts once a year – use this as your go to list for Twin Cities Doughnut Shops year round!
History of National Doughnut Day
National Doughnut Day actually started with the Salvation Army. During World War I, Salvation Army’s Doughnut Lassies, nicknamed “Donut Girls,” made fresh complimentary donuts for the American soldiers in France. They served them daily from a hut that would draw the homesick and hungry soldiers. In these huts, they also provided a clothes-mending service and writing supplies and stamps. To honor these brave women, the Salvation Army created National Donut Day on the 1st Friday of June.
The first National Donut Day was a fundraiser during the Great Depression. Since then, it’s become a way to honor soldiers and the Donut Girls who served them. You can learn more about the story at the Minnesota Salvation Army website.
Celebrate National Doughnut Day at Local Bakeries
MINNEAPOLIS & ST PAUL BAKERIES
Bogart’s Doughnuts
904 West 36th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55408
Cardigan Donuts
City Center, 40 S 7th St #207, Minneapolis, MN 55402
Glam Doll Donuts
2605 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55408
Donut day special: First 50 customers get a FREE and fresh glazed donut.
Mojo Monkey Donuts
1169 7th St W, St Paul, MN 55102
Mel-o-Glaze Bakery
4800 S 28th Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55417
La Boulangerie Marguerite
1279 Randolph Ave, St Paul, MN 55105
Sarah Jane’s Bakery
2853 Johnson St NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418
TWIN CITIES NORTH METRO BAKERIES
Donut Hut
31 Little Canada Rd E, Little Canada, MN 55117
Grandma’s Bakery
2184-B 4th street, White Bear Lake, MN 55110
Hans’ Bakery
1423 5th Ave, Anoka, MN 55303
Heights Bakery
4925 NE Central Ave, Columbia Heights, MN 55421
TWIN CITIES SOUTH METRO BAKERIES
Denny’s 5th Avenue Bakery
7840 5th Ave S, Bloomington, MN 55420
Puffy Cream Donuts
3390 Coachman Rd, Eagan, MN 55121
Sunrise Doughnuts
9032 Lyndale Ave S, Bloomington, MN 55420
TWIN CITIES EAST METRO BAKERIES
Duck Donuts
7455 Currell Blvd Suite 107, Woodbury, MN 55125
Donut day special: Grab one FREE cinnamon sugar donut (in-shop only). Verified May 2023.
TWIN CITIESÂ WEST METRO BAKERIES
YoYo Donuts & Coffee Bar
5757 Sanibel Dr, Minnetonka, MN 55343
Valley Pastries
2570 Hillsboro Ave N, Minneapolis, MN 55427
National Deals for National Donut Day:
Dunkin Donuts
in 2022, Dunkin Donuts offerde a FREE donut with the purchase of any beverage on the first Friday in June. There are 32 Dunkin Donuts Stores in Minnesota, including several in the Twin Cities. Stay tuned to see if this deal is offered again in 2023.
Krispy Kreme
There are STILL no Krispy Kreme stores in Minnesota despite their loyal fan base here. If you happen to be traveling to Iowa, Milwaukee Wisconsin or the Chicago area on National Donut Day, you can grab a free donut.
Find FREE Donuts in the Twin Cities
Celebrate National Doughnut Day by Making Doughnuts
Cake Doughnuts
- Doughnut tin or 2
- 1 cup flour
- ½ cup whole wheat flour
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 egg (large, at room temp)
- â…“ cup packed light brown sugar
- ½ cup buttermilk
- 2 Tb unsalted butter (melted)
- 2 tsp vanilla
Icing
- 1 cup confectioners sugar
- 1-2 Tb buttermilk
- ½ tsp vanilla
- Pinch of salt
- Sprinkles, if desired
Preheat oven to 350°. Spray a doughnut pan with non-stick spray.
To make the doughnuts:Â
Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, nutmeg and cinnamon together in a medium bowl. Set aside. Whisk the egg, brown sugar, milk, and yogurt together until smooth. Add the butter and vanilla, whisking until fully combined. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Do not over mix. The batter will be pretty thick.
You may spoon the batter directly into the doughnut rings. For an even easier way to get them in the pans, spoon the batter into a large zipped-top bag, cut a corner off the bottom of the bag and pipe the batter into each doughnut ring, fill about ¾ full.
Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the edges are lightly browned. Allow to cool for about one minute and tip onto a wire rack set on a large baking sheet or waxed paper (this is to catch the icing drips)!. Bake the remaining doughnut batter. Let doughnuts to cool down until you can handle them.
Ice the doughnuts:
In a small bowl, mix confectioners sugar, buttermilk, vanilla and salt until smooth (add more or less buttermilk/sugar to make a nice smooth icing), Dip the doughnuts in the icing, and place back on the rack and sprinkle with sprinkles. Let set. Leftovers keep covered tightly at room temperature for up to 2 days.
PJ Murphys in St Paul is now La Boulangerie Marguerite
Thank you for letting us know, Gene. We’ve made that update.
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