Why is a donut hole called a donut hole?

Asked by: Bruce Lebsack  |  Last update: January 18, 2026
Score: 4.8/5 (24 votes)

Donut holes can be plain, or coated in a topping such as glaze, and are a popular dessert in the United States. The name comes from the idea that the hole in a ring donut could be filled in by an appropriately sized ball.

Are donut holes actually the holes of donuts?

Many people believe that those pieces of cut-out dough are what are used to make donut holes, which are those little round donut pieces that so many kids love to eat with milk. In truth, though, many donuts with holes don't actually have any dough cut out of them to make their shape.

Who invented the donut hole and why?

DONUT HOLE HISTORY

These doughnuts were the same shape and size as our modern donuts, but they weren't shaped like a ring. The honor of “hole inventor” seems to land with Hanson Gregory, an American sailor. Gregory, who went to sea eating “whole doughnuts”, and returned with “holed donuts.”

What do Americans call donut holes?

It depends from where you purchased them. If Dunkin, then they are Munchkins, If Tim Horton's, then Timbits, and anywhere else, they are donut holes. If they are from Dunkin Donuts, I call them Munchkins...

What is the donut hole slang for?

It could stand for your own medical insurance policy. The doughnut hole is the annual deductible for your plan — the uncovered costs that fall below a certain minimum. The doughnut itself is the medical expenses that your insurance company covers once you've met your deductible.

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29 related questions found

What is the real name for donut holes?

In 1973, Dunkin' Donuts added "Munchkins" to their menu, selling them in the various flavors of their donuts as a way to use up the dough cuttings taken from the center of their ring donut. The name reportedly stems from the miniature "Munchkin" characters from the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz.

What does the so called Doughnut hole refer to?

This coverage gap is well known among Medicare beneficiaries as the “doughnut hole.” Once the patient spends $5,100 per year in out of pocket costs, the “hole” closes and all medication expenses above that amount are covered.

What is a fancy name for donut holes?

They are donut (or doughnut) holes. Munchkins are Dunkin Donuts' brand, and Timbits are Tim Horton's brand.

What did Cowboys call doughnuts?

SHARE THIS RECIPE

This recipe borrows from the old fashioned frontier donuts known as bear signs.

Why is calling someone a donut offensive?

Donut/Doughnut - Someone who's done something obviously stupid ("You donut, you're wearing your shirt backwards!") Pillock - A clumsy or foolish person ("I just walked into a glass door like a proper pillock!") Dipstick - Someone who's being particularly dim or slow ("Come on, dipstick, it's not rocket science!")

What is a fun fact about donut holes?

A ship captain invented the holes in donuts

Donuts were then known as fried dough pastries and didn't have any holes. One day, while Gregory was handling the ship, he put a few fried dough pastries through the spokes of the steering wheel. And thus, donut holes came into existence.

What does the hole in the donut mean in AA?

I'll look like the hole in the doughnut.” Hence, the fear of being the hole in the doughnut is the fear of giving over control to our higher power — and the underlying fear that we will disappear, losing our identity and our sense of self.

What is the medicare donut hole in 2024?

In 2024, you would enter the donut hole once you and your Part D plan together spent $5,030 on covered drugs. You'd leave the donut hole when your out-of-pocket costs for covered drugs reached $8,000. As of 2025, there's no donut hole.

Are timbits donut holes?

Timbits is the name of a bite-sized dough confection sold at the Canadian-based franchise Tim Hortons. Almost an exact equivalent to the American "donut hole", however they are baked, rather than fried. They were introduced in April 1976.

What is a donut without a hole called?

A Berliner or Krapfen is a German jam doughnut with no central hole, made from sweet yeast dough fried in lard or cooking oil, with a jam filling, and usually covered in powdered sugar. Berliner.

How many donut holes equal one donut?

As u/yasth mentioned, 6 holes is almost one donut. However, depending on the age of the kid, one donut (or 6 holes) could be equivalent to about 15% - 25% of the calories they need for the day (not the best calorie source and not very filling).

What do cowboys call alcohol?

Bug Juice – Booze, firewater, whiskey.

What is a donut called in New Orleans?

Enjoyed with a hot cup of New Orleans' chicory coffee, the beignet, pronounced “bayne-yay”, is the official doughnut of Louisiana. True to an American migration story, the beignet's journey to Louisiana has roots across the globe.

What was Dunkin donuts originally called?

The story of Dunkin' began in 1948 with a donut and coffee restaurant in Quincy, Massachusetts called “Open Kettle.” Founder William Rosenberg served donuts for five cents and premium cups of coffee for ten cents.

What is a derogatory term donut?

It's slang for someone who is extremely stupid. It means the person's head is like a donut… glazed expression, what is there has little substance, and is completely without anything at the center (where their brains should be).

What are Dunkin Donuts donut holes called?

Our famous Munchkins® donut hole treats come in a variety of delicious flavours the perfect, poppable treats to share with others.

What is the middle of a doughnut called?

donut hole (plural donut holes) The empty space in the center of a donut. (US, Canada) A small ball-shaped pastry, made in the same manner as a donut, roughly the size of the hole in a donut.

What is the origin of the donut hole?

In an interview with the Boston Post at the turn of the century, Captain Gregory tried to quell such rumors with his recollection of the moment 50 years before: using the top of a round tin pepper box, he said, he cut into the middle of a doughnut "the first doughnut hole ever seen by mortal eyes."

What is the donut hole slang?

noun. a funding shortfall in the standard drug benefit offered by many Medicare prescription drug plans.

What is the Canadian word for donut holes?

Doughnut holes • The majority of Canadians generally call them Timbits: wordplay based on Tim Hortons + tidbit. French-speaking Canadians prefer to use the generic term "trous de beigne".