Sehaj Singh, owner of The Box Donuts shop , stood in the center of his kitchen to share his excitement over square-shaped doughnuts that are attracting customers from across the Victor Valley.
“Our doughnuts are fresh and uniquely shaped and come in a variety of flavors such as Hershey’s Galaxy, Oreo Moment and Fruity Pebbles,” Singh told the Daily Press. “We also have traditional Old Skool, Fancy, Premium and Classic-flavored.”
A smiling Singh explained how he wants to start “The Box Donut Revolution,” by making his tasty square-shaped doughnuts so popular that people across the nation begin talking about the sugary treats from Hesperia.
“When people hear the word doughnut, I want them to think about us,” said Singh, as he displayed several sizes of square dough cutters. “Being square is the thing.”
Singh’s doughnut shop, which opened in mid-August, is sandwiched between AMPM and Jr’s Tires Showroom at the corner of Main Street and Cottonwood Avenue in Hesperia.
Having Oreo Moments
Several customers who visited The Box Donuts told the Daily Press they were impressed by the “friendliness” of store staff and the “quality” of the doughnuts.
“The people are friendly and it was nice to be greeted when I walked inside,” said Oak Hills resident Karina Benson. “I’ve been there three times since they opened and my favorite doughnuts are the Oreo Moment and Smores.”
Customers said they also enjoy the Tiramisu and M&M style doughnuts, and the Snow White, a white chocolate doughnut with shredded coconut.
J.J. Taylor said he’s made the 10-mile round trip from Victorville to the doughnut shop twice for his wife, Jenny, who loves the Reese's flavored and Lemon-filled doughnuts.
The Box Donut shop also serves square-shaped doughnut holes that are “fluffy, crunchy, and glazed,” Singh said.
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All-American doughnut
After operating several gas stations, Singh decided that he wanted to open a store with a unique food concept, he said.
“The doughnut is an all-American dessert that people love,” Singh said. “We decided that we wanted to sell doughnuts but come up with a different concept that reflects the brand, that's why our logo has a box-shaped doughnut."
He also wanted to come up with unique flavors, prepare classic versions, and serve up “old school” doughnuts such as apple fritters, bear claws and cinnamon rolls.
Singh plans to add an expanded coffee menu, breakfast items and a dessert menu that would include cheesecake and mousses.
“We don’t want to disappoint our customers, that’s why we want to be a doughnut shop that serves something for each and every generation,” Singh said. "We want to be everybody’s one-stop cafe shop.”
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Origin of the square doughnut
Decade before The Box Donut, people have debated who created the first square doughnut.
Many attribute the origin of the square doughnut to Richard Comer, a Marine Corps veteran, bowler and college assistant football coach, who once tried out for the NFL, according to Tasting Table.
Some say Comer, a native of Indiana, invented the square doughnut in 1967. The unique shape was so popular that he changed the name of his Terre Haute-based Tasty Creme doughnut shop to Square Donuts.
Blogger Debbie Vanni with The Culinary Cellar said she came across a September 1964 clipping from an old Farm Journal magazine that mentioned a baking contest that was held in Ohio and square doughnuts won the prize.
Vanni said a menu from the Los Angeles-based Randy’s Donuts, which has been around since the 1950s, showed a square raisin doughnut. She added that she was not certain when Randy’s Donuts offered the square doughnut.
The Donut Box is open from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Sunday at 14920 Main Street No. 2 in Hesperia.
Visit The Box Donut online at instagram.com/theboxdonuthesperia .
Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on X @DP_ReneDeLaCruz
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: The Box Donuts shop opens in Hesperia as square doughnut “revolution” takes shape
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