The dutchie was one of two original baked goods (along with the apple fritter) that had been available on Tim Hortons' doughnut menu since the chain's inception in 1964.

[2] 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.

[3] 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?

The report contrasted the baked from scratch at stores approach of Krispy Kreme and some Dunkin' Donuts locations compared to the "flash frozen" and shipped Tim 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 moms while in Canada they "go after Tim Hortons voters".