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.
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.
6 editor picks for Boston cream doughnut in Boston, ranked by editorial score. All Boston signature dishes · Boston cream doughnut across every city.
Modern Pastry ★ 4.6
north-end · 257 Hanover St, Boston, MA 02113
Modern Pastry on Hanover Street has filled cannoli to order in Boston's North End since 1930. Chocolate-dipped shells, lighter ricotta cream.
Flour Bakery ★ 4.6
south-end · 1595 Washington St, Boston, MA 02118
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.
Sofra Bakery & Cafe ★ 4.6
cambridge · 1 Belmont St, Cambridge, MA 02138
Ana Sortun and Maura Kilpatrick's Sofra on Belmont Street in Huron Village Cambridge has run an Eastern Mediterranean bakery and cafe in Boston since 2008.
Mike's Pastry ★ 4.5
north-end · 300 Hanover St, Boston, MA 02113
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.
Iggy's Bread ★ 4.5
cambridge · 130 Fawcett St, Cambridge, MA 02138
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.
Tatte Bakery & Cafe ★ 4.4
beacon-hill · 70 Charles St, Boston, MA 02114
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.