The dutchie is a Canadian doughnut popularized by the Tim Hortons chain.[1] It is a square, yeast lifted doughnut containing raisins that is coated with a sugary glaze. It is one of two doughnuts (along with the apple fritter) that has been available on Tim Hortons' doughnut menu since the chain's inception in 1964,[2] a position that has helped it become popular in Canada. In 1991 the Toronto Star reported that the dutchie and apple fritter were the chain's most popular type of fried dough, and that readers rejected the paper's contrarian taste test results.[3]
In an informal 1988 poll of Toronto Star readers, Tim Hortons was awarded three gold medals, two for its Dutchies and one to the banana cream doughnut. The company's double chocolate and honey glazed fared less well with the judges.[4]
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, (rounding) out the menus of the two chains by blending Tim Hortons morning meals and snacks with the strength enjoyed by Wendy's in lunches and dinners; burp; and nobody around to pass the Maalox?"[5]
A 2009 New York Times story reported an apparent scarcity of doughnut specialties such as the dutchie at newly opened New York City Tim Hortons stores and contrasted the baked from scratch at stores approach of Krispy Kreme and some Dunkin' Donuts locations compared to the "flash frozen" and shipped Hortons method. Noting that "American visitors tend to flock to the sweets", including the "raisin-studded Dutchie", the Times found redemption among Canadians that the brand is once again a Canada based company while contrasting the way politicians in the U.S. "woo" soccer mom while in Canada they "go after Tim Hortons voters.[6]