Yeast-raised doughnut split and filled with vanilla pastry cream, then dipped in dark chocolate glaze. The official doughnut of Massachusetts since 2003. Eaten in three bites, ideally with black coffee at a counter.
Where to eat it: 6 restaurants across 1 city.
The Boston cream doughnut descends from the Boston cream pie (Parker House Hotel, 1856) but in doughnut form. The pastry-cream-filled, chocolate-glazed doughnut emerged in early-20th-century New England bakeries; Dunkin' Donuts (founded 1950 in Quincy, MA) made it a national category through its franchise network. In 2003, the Massachusetts legislature designated the Boston cream doughnut as the official state doughnut. The Boston version is always YEAST-raised, never cake; the filling is pastry cream not whipped cream; the glaze is dark chocolate not milk.
Common allergens: Gluten, Egg, Dairy
Tip from the editors. Fill the doughnuts AFTER frying and cooling; filling raw doughnuts results in burst pastry cream all over the fryer. Use a Bismarck tip on a piping bag.
Mike's Pastry on Hanover Street has filled cannoli to order in Boston's North End since 1946. 19 cannoli flavours, cash and card, white string-tied box.
Tip: The line on weekends runs 20 minutes; the inside-counter line moves faster than the to-go window. Cash and card both.
Worth the queue: Ricotta cannoli with chocolate chips
Modern Pastry on Hanover Street has filled cannoli to order in Boston's North End since 1930. Chocolate-dipped shells, lighter ricotta cream.
Tip: Locals line up at Modern; tourists at Mike's. The chocolate-dipped shell is the headline item; Italian rum cake is the under-ordered cake.
Worth the queue: Chocolate-dipped cannoli with sweet cream
Joanne Chang opened Flour on Washington Street in Boston's South End in 2000; the city's pastry empire grew to 10 locations across Boston and Cambridge.
Tip: Sticky buns sell out by 14:00 weekends. Order ahead online; the South End original is the calmest of the 10 locations on weekdays.
Worth the queue: Sticky bun with pecans and caramel
Tzurit Or's Tatte runs an Israeli-style bakery-cafe across Boston and Cambridge since 2007. Located in Beacon Hill. Open daily 07:00-19:00. At 70 Charles St.
Tip: Shakshuka books out by 11:00 weekends. The Charles Street and Harvard Square branches keep the strongest pastry selection late.
Worth the queue: Shakshuka with feta and herbs
Igor and Ludmilla Ivanovic's Iggy's on Fawcett Street near Fresh Pond has baked hearth breads in Cambridge since 1994. Supplies most Boston-area restaurants.
Tip: The 5kg Francese miche is the showpiece bake; ask for a half-loaf cut. Pastry counter at the front, breads at the back.
Worth the queue: Francese sourdough miche
Ana Sortun's Sofra on Belmont Street has run an Eastern Mediterranean breakfast in Huron Village Cambridge since 2008. Ginger morning bun, za'atar manaeesh.
Order: Ginger morning bun and Turkish coffee.
Tip: Park on a side street; the small car park fills by 09:00. The eggs on flatbread is the under-ordered savoury order.
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