Dutchie (doughnut)

Lore & Background

In an informal 1988 poll of Toronto Star readers, Tim Hortons was awarded three gold medals, two for its dutchies and one for the banana cream doughnut. The company's double chocolate and honey glazed fared less well with the judges. In 1995, the Toronto Star had a story reflecting on Tim Hortons 'selling out' to Wendy's with 'the spectacle of another great Canadian icon, one more priceless chocolate coconut cream-filled dutchie glazed cruller Timbit of our precious heritage, gone to Yankee burgerfat.'

Reader's Guide

The dutchie holds a notable place in Canadian food culture as a signature item of Tim Hortons, a chain that has become a national institution. It was one of the two original doughnuts offered when the chain opened in 1964, alongside the apple fritter. Its popularity was evident in a 1988 Toronto Star reader poll, where dutchies earned two gold medals. The doughnut also became a symbol of Canadian identity, as seen in a 1995 Toronto Star lament over the chain's acquisition by Wendy's. A 2009 New York Times article noted the dutchie's scarcity at New York City Tim Hortons stores, contrasting the chain's flash-frozen shipping method with competitors' in-store baking. The dutchie was removed from the permanent menu but temporarily returned in June 2017 for Canada's sesquicentennial and again in January 2024 for Tim Hortons' 60th anniversary. A smaller version, the Dutchie Timbit, was discontinued in February 2014 due to low popularity.

Did You Know?

• The dutchie was one of several original baked goods on Tim Hortons' menu when the chain opened in 1964.
• In a 1988 Toronto Star poll, Tim Hortons won two gold medals for its dutchies.
• The dutchie was temporarily re-introduced in June 2017 for Canada's sesquicentennial and in January 2024 for Tim Hortons' 60th anniversary.