Dunkin’ introduced Munchkins doughnut holes in 1972.
Munchkins are small fried dough pieces sold as a branded product by Dunkin’. The name refers to the bite-sized form and is distinct from the generic phrase “doughnut holes,” even though the products serve a similar purpose.
The introduction gave the chain a convenient item that could be sold in boxes and shared easily. It also used dough pieces that might otherwise have been removed when ring doughnuts were shaped.
Munchkins are sometimes incorrectly treated as a universal name for doughnut holes. It is a Dunkin’ trademarked product name, while other chains use different names for comparable bite-sized doughnuts. Dunkin’ began in Quincy, Massachusetts, in 1950 as Open Kettle.