11 Things That Will Change the Way You Think About Krispy Kreme
Donuts continue to be re-invented with crazy toppings and even expensive fillings, but is there anything better than sinking your teeth into an Original Glazed? Krispy Kreme has been getting that right since the '30s, and showing up with a box of their famous donuts is guaranteed to win you friends anywhere. Read up on the secret behind that sinful glaze and channel your inner Homer Simpson—the chain's history will make you say "Mmm... donuts!"
1. Krispy Kreme has been making donuts for almost 80 years.
Vernon Rudolph founded Krispy Kreme on July 13, 1937 in Winston-Salem, NC. He rented a building in Old Salem to make donuts by the dozen and initially he sold them to local grocery stores, but the demand soon led him to sell his sweets directly to customers on the sidewalk through a window.
2. The Original Glazed are the top sellers.
Since the beginning, customers have been lured to Krispy Kreme shops by the smell of the original, no-frills donuts. The yeasty dough goes through the company's proprietary air-pressurized extruder and gets formed into perfect rings, which then proof for about 30 minutes. They're fried in vegetable shortening before passing beneath a waterfall of warm sugar glaze—a process that Rudolph's engineers invented back in the '60s. Before that, they were hand-glazed in a galvanized wash tub!
3. The recipe is a Southern secret.
Vernon Rudolph is said to have bought the special donut recipe from a New Orleans French chef, and now it's locked away in the company vault at the Winston-Salem plant. There's been plenty of speculation about the ingredients, but according to historians, the historic recipe likely consisted of cream of fluffed egg whites, mashed potatoes, sugar, shortening, skim milk and flour. What's really in them? The world may never know.
4. The donuts taste best at a very specific temperature.
After frying, Krispy Kreme donuts are bathed in a cascade of glaze that's 120 degrees F. The glaze cools and sets as the donuts make their way to the end of the assembly line, where they're boxed by shop employees. It's at this very moment that the treats are prime for eating, which is where the Hot Light comes in. Starting in 1992, shops began turning on neon "Hot Donuts Now" signs to alert customers that fresh donuts are available for purchase.
5. Krispy Kreme is big on coffee, too.
What goes better with an airy donut than a hot cup of joe? The chain has been serving coffee in its signature green cups for decades, but now iced coffee and new coffee drinks are on offer as well. You can even brew Krispy Kreme Signature Coffee Blends at home, or pop Krispy Kreme K-Cups into your Keurig on the way to work.
6. The lines can get insane.
Any time the chain opens a new location, people line up around the block to be one of the first customers through the door. Starting at 3pm the night before the grand opening, the first 100 guests can register for a chance to win free donuts for the entire year—that's one free dozen each month. The very first person in line gets one free dozen every week for a year! Talk about a sugar high.
7. You can participate in the Krispy Kreme Challenge.
NC State University holds an annual race requiring competitors to run 5 miles through Raleigh and consume 12 donuts (2,400 calories) along the way, all within 1 hour. The race is run by students and the proceeds benefit the North Carolina Children's Hospital.
8. There are limited-time flavors and shapes.
If there's a holiday or special occasion coming up, there's probably a donut for that! The chain releases limited-edition treats celebrating everything from Easter to baseball season, as well as new flavors.
9. Krispy Kreme is in the Guinness Book of World Records.
The world's largest box of donuts is a Krispy Kreme box weighing in at 297 pounds, 10 ounces. The Kuwait Food Co. Americana built the massive box (an exact replica of the ones used in stores) in 2009, filling it with 2,700 Krispy Kreme donuts.
10. Krispy Kreme is tied to race car driving.
If you've ever wondered why the Krispy Kreme logo can be seen on professional race car tracks, it's because the company sponsors some top-notch drivers. We hear donuts make you drive fast!
11. There are a lot of opportunities to get free donuts.
Throughout the year, the chain offers tons of promotions that allow customers to snag free sweets, such as #DayOfTheDozens. Pay attention so you don't miss out!
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