The flavors of Massachusetts are totally unique, and you may wind up missing your old favorite dishes and snacks if you ever roam. Here are some of the most iconic Bay State eats that locals always crave when they spend time away from home.
1. Fluffernutters
Ah, the perfect marriage of peanut butter and Fluff. It’s basically dessert, but somehow makes it into the lunchboxes of all Bay State kids at some point.
2. Fried clams
Is anything better than a perfectly battered and seasoned fried clam?
3. Cider doughnuts
Nothing tastes more like fall in Massachusetts than a hot and sweet cider doughnut. Fresh from your local pick-your-own apple orchard is best.
4. B&M brown bread
Sure, canned bread is weird. But it’s also weirdly delicious. Good luck finding this stuff if you ever move across the globe.
5. Munchkins
Honestly, Munchkins should be considered if the state dessert is ever up for revision. These doughnut holes are an iconic Bay State treat.
6. NECCO Wafers
Ah, NECCO wafers. The candy your grandfather fed you in an attempt to crack your molars. It may be decidedly retro, but you’d be surprised what you miss when you’re homesick.
7. Boston baked beans
If you’ve never moved away from home, here’s a terrible truth: other states cannot do baked beans correctly. Not like our beautiful concoction of molasses, maple syrup, salt pork and bacon.
8. Friendly’s Fribbles
What’s the difference between a frappe and a Fribble? Beats us. All we know is that there’s something about ordering up a massive Fribble made with your favorite ice cream flavor that rockets you straight back to childhood.
9. Hoodsie Cups
I bet every Massachusetts native is imagining the sensation of pulling up a Hoodsie Cup lid as they read this. And when else can you eat with a tiny wooden shovel?
10. Del’s Lemonade
Del’s Lemonade may have been born in Rhode Island, but it’s a Massachusetts staple on a hot, summer day.
11. Boston creme pie
Our official state dessert is a true delight. And we don’t mind the fact that it’s actually more of a cake-pudding combo than a pie.
12. Lobster rolls
Lobster looks darn good on a roll. Whether you like it buttery or dressed in mayo, lobster rolls are a classic.
13. Griddled blueberry muffins
Blueberries are so New England, and tossing two buttery halves of a blueberry muffin onto a hot griddle is as Massachusetts as it gets. If you’ve never tried this breakfast treat, you’re missing out.
14. Cranberry everything.
Cranberry jam, cranberry muffins, cranberry bread, cranberry sauce, cranberry stuffing and even cranberry beer. We love us some cranberries.
15. Cabot cheese
You probably take the rows and rows of Cabot Creamery cheese on your local grocery shelves for granted, but you’ll miss it if you travel far enough from New England.
16. Ben & Jerry’s
When you have as many local mom-and-pop ice cream shops as Massachusetts does, this Vermont ice cream brand is one of the only ice cream stores we’ve fully embraced. Must be the gallons of delicious mix-ins.
17. Clam chowder
No list of Bay State eats would be complete without clam chowder. Thick creamy broth, big chunks of clam and potato and no tomatoes in sight. That’s how we do ‘round these parts.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.