National Donut Day – A Stack of Krispy Kreme Tradition

🍩 Today is National Donut Day.

First established in 1938 by The Salvation Army to honor the “Donut Lassies” who served donuts to soldiers during World War I, National Donut Day has grown into a celebration of a uniquely American indulgence.

For the occasion, I photographed an assortment of Krispy Kreme donuts—stacked and unstyled, just as they came out of the box. Glazed, chocolate frosted, pink with rainbow sprinkles, maple, cinnamon sugar, and a few others. No tricks or props, just donuts on a black background.

It’s part of my ongoing “From Bag to Background” project—photographing fast food exactly as it is, isolating it from branding and context, letting it stand on its own.

Krispy Kreme began in 1937 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, when Vernon Rudolph bought a yeast-raised donut recipe from a New Orleans chef and began selling hot glazed donuts through a hole cut in his bakery wall. The brand became known for its light, airy donuts and the signature “Hot Now” neon sign that still draws crowds.

More food images from this series can be found on my website at:
https://www.secondfocus.com/index/G0000wQ3fbeEezF0/I0000nUG8tfk8Gdc

June 6, 2025 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: American food, assorted donuts, black background photography, chocolate donuts, dessert, donut history, donut photography, donut stack, donuts, fast food, food art, food culture, Food Photography, from bag to background, glazed donuts, jelly donuts, Krispy Kreme, National Donut Day, pink frosted donut, Salvation Army, sprinkles, Vernon Rudolph | Leave a comment