Blackbird Doughnuts has been preparing for Friday’s National Doughnut Day all year long.

“It’s exciting,” said Blackbird chef Anna Perna. “This is like our Christmas. It’s always, always busy. I would say come early for the best selection. But we’re going to be making as many doughnuts as we can.”

Doughnut mania happens on the first Friday in June each year to honor the female Salvation Army volunteers who provided doughnuts to soldiers during WWI.

Some shops will offer free doughnuts; others will debut new flavors created especially for National Doughnut Day. For example, Blackbird will serve up German chocolate cake and chocolate-covered banana doughnuts.


Here’s a list of deals and specials you can find across New England on Friday.

Dunkin’ Donuts

Dunkin’ Donuts is all about the classics this National Doughnut Day. Customers at participating locations can pick out a free classic doughnut with the purchase of a beverage throughout the day on Friday. Those classics include Boston Kreme, chocolate frosted, glazed chocolate cake, glazed, jelly, strawberry frosted, vanilla frosted, cinnamon, blueberry cake, old fashioned, powdered, sugared, vanilla cake batter, and a Dunkin’ Donuts sprinkles doughnut. (Multiple locations)

Union Square Donuts

On Friday only, Union Square Donuts in Somerville and Brookline will offer a chicken and waffles-inspired doughnut called “Chicken n Donuts” for $4. It’s topped with—you guessed it—fried chicken. Owner Josh Danoff said his Somerville location, which usually closes at 1 p.m. on Fridays, will stay open until 6 p.m., just like the Brookline location. “In the four years that we’ve had Union Square Donuts, [National Doughnut Day] has really grown in popularity every year,” Danoff said. (20 Bow St., Somerville; 409 Harvard St., Brookline)

Maple bacon doughnuts at Union Square Donuts in Somerville. —Aram Boghosian for The Boston Globe

Blackbird Doughnuts

Blackbird will debut two brand-new flavors, only available on Friday: German chocolate cake and chocolate-covered banana. The German chocolate cake doughnut, which is topped with a caramel glaze, toasted coconut, and mini chocolate chips, is “super decadent and delicious,” Perna said. The chocolate-covered banana is a vanilla doughnut with banana cream glaze and chocolate ganache. Both will cost $3 each. (492 Tremont St., Boston; 20 Kilmarnock St., Boston)


Kane’s Donuts

Customers at Kane’s will get three free doughnuts for every dozen they order on Friday. Kane’s will also introduce the customer-created blueberry lemon zest doughnut, which beat out finalists maple bacon apple pie and banana coffee toffee via customer voting. The winning doughnut is available for purchase throughout the month of June. (90 Oliver St., Boston; 120 Lincoln Ave., Saugus)

Honey Dew Donuts

Honey Dew customers who buy a medium beverage or larger will receive a free “coco loco” doughnut, a doughnut made with chocolate almond-flavored frosting and sprinkled with both coconut and chocolate. (Multiple locations)

Cumberland Farms

Cumberland Farms customers who buy either a hot or iced Farmhouse blend coffee, a frozen drink called a Hyperfreeze, or a fountain soda between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m. will get a free doughnut. The deal is only available at newly remodeled locations throughout the Northeast and Florida. (Multiple locations)