Massachusetts State Donut

Boston Cream Donut

Adopted in 2003.

In 2003 the Boston Creme donut was officially made the Commonwealth donut. (Boston cream pie was adopted as the state desert in 1996).

Massachusetts State Donut or Desert Emblem: Boston Cream Donut

The Boston cream doughnut (sometimes written with "creme" or "kreme") is a round, solid, yeast risen, doughnut with chocolate frosting and a creamy vanilla flavored custard filling: a miniature version of the Boston cream pie. The Boston cream doughnut was designated the official doughnut of Massachusetts in 2003 after the Boston cream pie itself was chosen as the state dessert in 1996.

Boston Creme Becomes Official State Doughnut - Democracy And Doughnuts

Blend In Somerville Ceremony
WCVB Boston ^ | January 31, 2003 | David Harris

Posted on Friday, January 31, 2003 9:08:47 PM by Shermy

BOSTON - State Sen. Charles E. Shannon officially announced Friday that the Boston Creme doughnut has been named the official doughnut of Massachusetts. The celebration was held at the Kennedy School in Somerville, Mass.

"The kids enjoyed the resolution," Shannon said after leaving the ceremony.

Six years ago, four second-grade students wrote Shannon a letter explaining their desire to make the Boston Creme doughnut the official pastry of the state.

"It was a democratic process," explained Shannon, who said that the students originally looked at other doughnut possibilities, but chose the one with the most cream inside. Shannon said he didn't indulge in the delicacies, he just watched from the sidelines.

Former Gov. Jane Swift signed the bill into law last year with little controversy. The bill, part of Chapter 500 of the Acts of 2002, also included a resolution making "Make Way for Ducklings" the official state book.

The Boston Creme doughnut joins the Boston Creme pie and the chocolate chip cookie as another state official dessert.

The doughnut's history is complicated. Some say that the doughnut first appeared in America as a result of pilgrims from Holland. Doughnuts, according to MrBreakfast.com, were originally called olykoeks, or oily cakes.

It is Capt. Hanson Crockett Gregory, some say, who is credited with inventing the modern doughnut, sometime around 1847. Gregory boasted to the Boston Post that he had created "the first dough-nut hole ever seen by mortal eyes."

By the 1920s, mass-produced doughnuts were seen as the future of doughnut making, thanks to Adolf Levitt.

In 1937, Vernon Rudolph began selling doughnuts to local supermarkets in Winston-Salem, N.C. Rudolph's products eventually became part of Krispy Kreme doughnuts, according to the company's Web site.

In 1948, William Rosenberg opened a coffee and doughnut shop called the Open Kettle, which later became Dunkin' Donuts, now an institution in much of the country.

Now, Massachusetts doughnut aficionados have one more reason to go out and have a doughnut after the official proclamation.

"I think it's awesome," said Ed Chavey of Hollywood, Calif., creator of MrBreakfast.com, a breakfast-oriented site. Chavery, 35, said that anytime a state recognizes a food item, it's a good thing for the breakfast food industry. 

Massachusetts Law

The law designating the Boston Cream Donut as the official Massachusetts state donut is found in the General Laws of Massachusetts, Part 1, Title 1, Chapter 2, Section 51

PART I ADMINISTRATION OF THE GOVERNMENT
TITLE I JURISDICTION AND EMBLEMS OF THE COMMONWEALTH, THE GENERAL COURT, STATUTES AND PUBLIC DOCUMENTS
CHAPTER 2 ARMS, GREAT SEAL AND OTHER EMBLEMS OF THE COMMONWEALTH
Section 51 Donut of commonwealth

Section 51. The Boston Cream Donut shall be the official donut of the commonwealth.