Dunkin'

Dunkin Donuts Munchkins and Their Story of Creation

When we need an occasional fast food fix, we head to Taco Bell or Wendy's. But for our daily existence, we head to Dunkin' Donuts. You can get your hot or iced coffee made just the way you like, a croissant sandwich, or even a chocolate chip muffin. But the wisest customers never leave the building without at least a small box of Dunkin' Donuts Munchkins. And here's why.

When you enter any room with a box of donut holes, faces young and old light up. Munchkins are a welcome sight at those early morning staff meetings. You know, the meetings that could've easily been an email instead. Bagels are great but munchkins are even easier to shove in your face when the boss asks for feedback.

How Were Dunkin' Donuts Munchkins Invented?

Donut baker Willy Vassallo shows how he makes custard filled munchkins at Dunkin' Donuts on Monday, June 20, 2016, in Walnut Creek, Calif..   The Bay Area's very first Dunkin' Donuts shop is opening on Wednesday.

(Photo By Liz Hafalia/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)

America's favorite donut holes were created in the early 1970's as a way to use the leftover dough cut from the middle of the regular donuts. I hope whoever came up with that idea got a big fat raise. The powdered munchkin was the original flavor. Once they became a hit with customers, Dunkin' Donuts developed an automated cutting system for their now famous menu item.

The flavors range from classic to seasonal, rolled in sprinkles or not, and munchkin donut hole devotees swear by their favorite flavors as being the best. According to Dunkin', the jelly, the glazed chocolate cake, and plain glazed are the best sellers. In delicious company with those top flavors, we also have powdered sugar, glazed blueberry munchkins, butternut munchkins, old fashioned, glazed old fashioned, powdered, and cinnamon sugar.

Munchkins even get in on the action at that special time of year when people lose their minds over pumpkin-flavored everything. For a limited time, pumpkin cake munchkins are available at many Dunkin' locations. The donut hole magicians sporadically surprise us with limited-release flavors like red velvet, funfetti, and buttermilk. Dunkin' calls these beloved doughnut by-products "shareable and snackable perfection." America agrees. Dunkin' sells 3.3 billion donuts and Munchkins Donut Holes in total every year.

Munchkins Nutritional Facts

According to the nutrition facts, eating two or three munchkins is better than eating a whole regular donut. One munchkin is equal to one serving size, and a munchkin is between 60 and 90 calories each. There are 6 grams of total carbohydrates, 5 mg cholesterol, and about 4 grams of total fat per munchkin.

Allergens include eggs, milk, soy, and wheat. And for those of you with an unfortunate nut allergy, you may have to avoid munchkins since they can't guarantee they haven't had contact with tree nuts while being made.

Fun Fact! You'd have to eat five donut hole treats to equal eating one regular-sized doughnut. And if you make them all different flavors, it's like a donut buffet, all without blowing your total daily carbs.

So bring some much-needed joy to your family or workplace. Get all those people some munchkins. And if you happen to work at Dunkin' Donuts, thank you! You are doing The Lord's work.

READ MORE: 15 Items on the Dunkin' Donuts Secret Menu