June 17, 2019

— Krispy Kreme is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing with the launch of a new type of doughnut.

The sweet-treat retailer on Monday (June 17) introduced the "Original Filled," a twist on its classic Original Glazed doughnut now with a choice of two fillings: "Classic Kreme" and "Chocolate Kreme." More than just an anniversary offering, the Original Filled doughnut is now part of Krispy Kreme's permanent menu.

"Krispy Kreme was at the launch of Apollo 11, serving fresh doughnuts to Americans witnessing liftoff of this monumental mission. As America prepares to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the moon landing, we want to give our fans a new taste experience that is out of this world," said Dave Skena, chief marketing officer for Krispy Kreme Doughnut Corporation, in a statement.

Archival footage featured in the NEON and CNN Films' documentary "Apollo 11" shows a snack stand at NASA's Apollo 11 VIP launch viewing area offering guests the choice of Krispy Kreme glazed doughnuts on the morning of July 16, 1969. Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins lifted off atop a Saturn V rocket at 9:32 a.m. EDT (1332 GMT).

"We choose to fill our Original Glazed doughnuts, not because it is easy, but because it is hard (no disrespect intended, JFK). Actually it's not hard, it's melt-in-your-mouth delicious," Skena said, referencing John F. Kennedy's "we choose to go to the moon" speech delivered at Rice University in Houston in 1962.

Mission Control | Original Filled. Click to view and enlarge in a pop-up window. (Krispy Kreme)

A new video promoting the Krispy Kreme Original Filled doughnut continues the company's tie-in to the first moon landing. Interspersed between film from NASA's historic Apollo Mission Control, the new doughnut is shown slowly rotating above the moon and reflected in the visor of an astronaut standing on the lunar surface.

"Tell us what you're seeing," asks Mission Control.

"The surface appears to be glazed, over," replies the astronaut. "Breaking it open now. It's light, airy, fluffy... there's creamy filling inside."

"That's one small bite for man, one giant leap for doughnut-kind."

The online ad ends with the Krispy Kreme logo, the new type-treatment for the Original Filled doughnut and the words, "Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the moon landing." Beneath the text appears the Apollo 11 mission patch and a similarly-styled emblem for the Original Filled.

The new Original Filled doughnut is available beginning Monday at Krispy Kreme stores across the United States. Fans can "experience the launch" of the Original Filled by receiving a free doughnut on Saturday (June 22) as Krispy Kreme's reward to its U.S. customers for meeting the its National Doughnut Day challenge of giving away one million free doughnuts.