Battle of the Square Donuts

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An interesting segment came on the news last week concerning a feud between two bakeries in Indiana.  There is a legal battle rising between a Terre Haute bakery called “Square Donuts” and Valparaiso-based Family Express that sells its own “signature” version of a square-shaped donut.  The Terre Haute bakery has been making square donuts since 1967; Family Express since 2005, and a year later they were sent a cease-and-desist letter to stop making square donuts.  Turns out that Square Donuts first filed to trademark the square donut name as did Family Express, but the first who files usually wins out as was the case.  The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office refused to register Family Express’ “square donuts” trademark filing on the grounds of “likely confusion” with the original Square Donuts bakery.  Now Family Express is asking a federal court to declare that there is no infringement on the “square donuts” trademark, and to cancel the Terre Haute bakery’s trademark.  This battle could take months or even years to resolve.

Now while I find many food stories interesting, this one took even another strange turn.  In my blog last week about Bonnie Slotnick’s Cookbook store in New York City, I mentioned buying these big envelopes of vintage recipes clippings.

Bonnie Slotnick 21

While I was sorting through all the recipes, I came across one that opened my eyes as I remembered the news segment about the donut feud.

Square doughnuts

Hmmm… Square Doughnuts!  It was a clipping from an old Farm Journal magazine from September, 1964.  It talks about a baking contest that was held in Ohio and these doughnuts won the prize.  One of the Farm Journal editors brought the recipe back to their test kitchens.  If you read the last line of the paragraph at the top, it expresses how much they liked the doughnuts in the test kitchen “for its lightness, tenderness, and easy preparation, but also goes on to say, “We created the square shape.”  So square donuts were actually invented in 1964 by the Farm Journal test kitchens.  However, they did not trademark it, so I guess the prize still goes to Square Donuts bakery and its 1967 version.

Square-sized donuts then came up again.  I happened to come across a menu from Randy’s Donuts, the iconic donut shop in Los Angeles that has been around since the 1950’s.  As I was looking at all the luscious-looking offerings from the shop, I suddenly saw a square donut!  And not just any square donut but a raisin square donut.  Now go back up to the clipping above and see again where it says “We invented the square shape,” and it continues to go on, “and raisin variation.”  So now I am wondering did Randy’s long ago get the square raisin donut idea from Farm Journal’s 1964 article?  It seems like this clipping could have been very popular!  Or did the Farm Journal get the square idea and raisins from Randy’s?  I tried to find out if Randy’s served the square raisin donuts before 1964 but had no luck.  If anyone knows the answer, please tell me!

I couldn’t resist making some square donuts, of course.  They were delicious.  I glazed the squares, and tossed the holes with cinnamon-sugar.  The recipe calls for the dough to be rolled out and cut with a knife, which I did, but I also happen to have a square cutter that I will try next time.

Squares 4

 

Squares 7

Squares 8

Square, round, or holes.  Donuts are always good.  But who is the original square inventor and original square raisin inventor?  I guess that will remain a mystery.

Squares 1

Here is the square donut recipe from the Farm Journal article, hopefully easier to read:

Square Donut recipe

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10 Responses to Battle of the Square Donuts

  1. April 11, 2016 at 6:14 am #

    Another great read

    • April 11, 2016 at 6:23 am #

      Thanks, Lisa. Gotta love food stories!

  2. April 11, 2016 at 9:46 am #

    I’ll take fresh donuts in any shape! Love the old recipes.

    • April 11, 2016 at 10:48 am #

      Me too, Helen!

  3. April 11, 2016 at 7:40 pm #

    Thank you for this blog; I enjoy it so much! It’s wonderful to share your experiences through your writing and photos – from bookstores, to travel, to cooking and baking! I love it when you explain where you found a recipe. Three of the cookbooks you’ve featured are now part of my collection!

    My mother-in-law introduced me to Farm Journal cookbooks and recipes over thirty years ago. I’ve always been curious about their test kitchens, but have not been able to find any information about them. Do you know where the test kitchens were located?

    Last, I extend my sympathy to you and your family. It’s obvious that Lisa is a very special person. You wrote so beautifully about her.

    • April 11, 2016 at 10:27 pm #

      Hi Denise- Thank you for taking the time to write such a kind email. It’s letters like yours that keep me going! What a great mother-in-law you have to introduce you to Farm Journal cookbooks. I have been told by used booksellers that they can hardly keep them on the shelves. I found one recently that I had never seen before and was thrilled. They have the best recipes. I especially love the canning and freezing book; mine is almost worn out! I wish I knew more about their test kitchens too. I know they have been around a very long time and based in Pennsylvania, I think, but I don’t know if that’s where the base has always been. I’ll have to do a little research myself. Thank you too for the words of condolence for my niece.

  4. June 23, 2017 at 3:27 pm #

    Ma’am after reading this article I would like to share the knowledge that the square donut was actually patented in 1920 by Severine G Leoffler. Patent number USD 54554.

    Hope this helps. Curious if the violations of this donut design through the life of this patent would result in any royaltys to the existing family? Speaking as a decendant of the inventor of course.

    • July 1, 2017 at 9:37 am #

      Hi Nick- Thanks so much for writing and clearing up the mystery! There is certainly a long saga about the square doughnut. I tried to research the beginnings of it and never came across your information. Thank you! If there is anything you would like to add, please do so. As a descendant of the inventor, no one would know better than you! This is fascinating. I love food origin stories!

  5. August 26, 2023 at 5:04 pm #

    I made these donuts from the original Farm Journal magazine when I was in high school. I still remember them to this day and came looking for the recipe.

    • August 26, 2023 at 11:10 pm #

      Jeanne, so glad you found it here! They are so good. Thanks for writing!

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