Spudnut
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A Spudnut is a potato flour donut, a folk recipe that traces back to Germany.
When brothers Al and Bob Pelton of Salt Lake City learned of this in 1940, they experimented to see if they could make and sell these donuts commercially, and the nationwide chain of Spudnut Shops was born. It is possible the Pelton Bros. coined the term spudnut, referring to the potato in the donut recipe ("spud" nuts). Originally made with mashed potatoes, the Spudnuts supposedly gained popularity when the Peltons perfected a dry mix recipe, enabling the chain to spread quickly. By 1948, over 200 Spudnut Shops had sprung up across the country. Spudnuts were advertised widely, with the slogan "Coast to coast...Alaska to Mexico". The cartoon character "Mr. Spudnut" frequently appeared in ads, restaurants, and even in parades. By the 1980s, however, the parent company was gone, leaving all the franchisees to fend for themselves. The Spudnuts brand lost significant popularity, but it did not disappear completely; some 35 Spudnut Shops in 9 states are confirmed to exist today.
