How did the doughnut become the donut?
Whether you’ve had it for breakfast or as a snack between meals…have you ever wondered why this popular pastry is also spelled short? Natasha Abellard of Buzz60 has the story.
Buzz60
Sehaj Singh, owner of The Box Donuts, stood in the center of his kitchen to share his enthusiasm for the square doughnuts that attract customers from all over the Victor Valley.
“Our doughnuts are fresh and uniquely shaped and come in a variety of flavors like Hershey’s Galaxy, Oreo Moment and Fruity Pebbles,” Singh told the Daily Press. “We also have the traditional flavors of Old Skool, Fancy, Premium and Classic.”
Smiling, Singh explained how he plans to start the “Box Donut Revolution” by making his delicious square donuts so popular that people across the country start talking about Hesperia’s sweet treats.
“When people hear the word donut, I want them to think of us,” Singh said, demonstrating various sizes of square dough cutters. “Square is the most important thing.”
Singh’s donut shop, which opened in mid-August, is located between AMPM and Jr’s Tires showroom at the corner of Main Street and Cottonwood Avenue in Hesperia.
Experience Oreo moments
Several customers who visited The Box Donuts told the Daily Press they were impressed by the “friendliness” of the store staff and the “quality” of the donuts.
“The people are friendly and it was nice to be greeted when I came in,” said Oak Hills resident Karina Benson. “I’ve been there three times since they opened and my favorite donuts are the Oreo Moment and Smores.”
Customers said they also enjoyed the tiramisu and M&M-style doughnuts, as well as the Snow White, a white chocolate doughnut with shredded coconut.
JJ Taylor said he has made the 10-mile trip from Victorville to the doughnut shop twice, round trip, for his wife, Jenny, who loves the Reese’s-flavored, lemon-filled doughnuts.
The Box Donut shop also serves square doughnuts that are “fluffy, crispy and glazed,” Singh said.
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Typical American donut
After operating several gas stations, Singh decided to open a store with a unique food concept, he said.
“The doughnut is a quintessential American dessert that people love,” Singh said. “We decided to sell doughnuts, but developed a different concept that reflected the brand. That’s why our logo is a box-shaped doughnut.”
He also wanted to create unique flavors, prepare classic versions, and serve “old-fashioned” doughnuts like apple fritters, bear claws, and cinnamon rolls.
Singh plans to add an expanded coffee menu, breakfast dishes and a dessert menu that would include cheesecake and mousse, among others.
“We don’t want to disappoint our customers. That’s why we want to be a doughnut shop that offers something for every generation,” Singh said. “We want to be everyone’s go-to coffee shop.”
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Origin of the square donut
A decade before The Box Donut, there was already debate about who invented the first square donut.
Many trace the origin of the square doughnut to Richard Comer, a Marine Corps veteran, bowler and assistant college football coach who once attended an NFL tryout, according to Tasting Table.
Some say Comer, an Indiana native, invented the square doughnut in 1967. The unique shape was so popular that he changed the name of his doughnut shop, Tasty Creme, in Terre Haute to Square Donuts.
Blogger Debbie Vanni of The Culinary Cellar said she came across a clipping from an old Farm Journal magazine from September 1964 that mentioned a baking contest in Ohio where square doughnuts won the prize.
Vanni said a menu from Los Angeles-based Randy’s Donuts, which has been in business since the 1950s, features a picture of a square raisin doughnut. She added that she doesn’t know exactly when Randy’s Donuts started offering the square doughnut.
The Donut Box is open Monday through Sunday from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at 14920 Main Street #2 in Hesperia.
Visit The Box Donut online at instagram.com/theboxdonuthesperia.
Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on X @DP_ReneDeLaCruz
