This Indiana Bakery Has Been Hiding a Massive “Cannonball” Pastry for Over 90 Years

I grew up hearing stories about the old bakeries in Indianapolis, the ones that have been around longer than most of us can remember. Boyden’s Southside Bakery on South Meridian Street is one of those rare treasures that has survived since 1933, and honestly, I think it’s one of the best-kept secrets on the southside.

Walking through those doors feels like stepping back in time, when bakeries were neighborhood gathering spots and everything was made fresh before sunrise. The famous cannonball pastry has been their signature creation for more than 90 years, and it’s just one of the many reasons locals keep coming back generation after generation.

From their perfectly glazed yeast donuts to seasonal cookies that people order from out of state, this family-owned bakery proves that some traditions are worth preserving. If you haven’t made the trip yet, you’re missing out on a genuine piece of Indianapolis history that still tastes as good today as it did when your grandparents were kids.

The Legendary Cannonball Pastry That Started It All

For over nine decades, Boyden’s has been crafting their famous cannonball pastry, a massive cream-filled creation that looks exactly like its name suggests. This isn’t your average donut from a chain shop.

It’s a hand-made masterpiece that weighs about as much as three regular donuts combined and bursts with rich, sweet cream filling that never tastes artificial or overly sugary.

The cannonball has become such an iconic part of Indianapolis bakery culture that families have been ordering them for special occasions since the 1930s. I’ve heard stories from customers in their seventies who remember their grandmothers bringing these home on Sunday mornings.

The recipe hasn’t changed much over the years, which is exactly what makes it special in a world where everything seems to get modified for mass production.

What makes this pastry truly remarkable is the balance between the soft, pillowy dough and the generous cream center. The chocolate glaze on top adds just enough sweetness without overwhelming your taste buds.

When you bite into one, you understand immediately why this bakery has survived nearly a century while so many others have closed their doors forever.

Family Recipes Passed Down Since 1933

Walking into Boyden’s means experiencing recipes that have been carefully guarded and passed down through multiple generations of the same family. The current owners still use many of the original formulas from 1933, tweaking them only slightly to account for modern ingredient availability.

This commitment to tradition shows in every bite, whether you’re trying their apricot danish or their famous molasses cookies that taste like something your great-grandmother would have baked.

Family-owned businesses like this are becoming increasingly rare in Indianapolis. Most bakeries have either sold out to corporate chains or closed completely because younger generations didn’t want to wake up at three in the morning to start mixing dough.

The folks at Boyden’s understand that preserving these recipes means preserving a piece of Indianapolis culture that can’t be replicated anywhere else.

Their springerle cookies are so beloved that people literally call from other states to have them shipped during Christmas season. One customer who retired to Florida still orders them every year for his brother in Colorado.

That kind of loyalty doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because the bakery has maintained the same quality and care for nearly a century without cutting corners or chasing trends.

Chocolate Eclairs That Customers Remember for Decades

According to longtime customers, Boyden’s chocolate eclairs might be the finest in all of Indianapolis. One reviewer who is now 76 years old said these are the best eclairs he’s ever eaten in his entire life, and he’s been buying them since he was a child.

That’s not just nostalgia talking. These eclairs are made with real cream filling, not the artificial stuff you find in grocery store bakeries, and the chocolate coating has a deep, rich flavor that tastes like actual chocolate instead of brown-colored sugar.

The eclairs get mentioned almost as often as the cannonball in customer reviews, which tells you something important about their quality. People don’t rave about pastries for 70-plus years unless they’re genuinely exceptional.

The bakery makes them fresh every morning, and if you arrive late in the day, there’s a good chance they’ll already be sold out because regulars know to grab them early.

What sets these apart from other eclairs is the ratio of cream to pastry and the quality of each component. The choux pastry has the perfect texture, crispy on the outside but light and airy inside.

The cream filling is smooth and not too sweet, and the chocolate glaze has just enough cocoa to balance everything perfectly.

Seasonal Cookies That Bring Families Together

Boyden’s seasonal cookie selection has become a family tradition for generations of Indianapolis residents. Their snickerdoodles are so popular that multiple reviewers called them the best they’ve ever tasted, and their springerle cookies have such a devoted following that people order them from across the country.

These aren’t just cookies. They’re edible memories that connect families across time and distance.

During Christmas season, the bakery creates special holiday cookies that sell out quickly despite the bakery making large batches. The attention to detail on their decorated cookies is impressive, with careful icing work that shows someone actually cares about the final product.

Parents bring their kids in to pick out cookies the same way their own parents brought them in decades ago, creating a continuous thread of shared experience that’s increasingly rare in modern life.

The molasses cookies deserve special mention because they taste exactly like the ones your grandmother might have made if she was an expert baker. They have the right amount of spice, the perfect chewy texture, and a deep molasses flavor that isn’t bitter or overwhelming.

The pecan sandies are equally impressive, with real butter and fresh pecans that make store-bought versions taste like cardboard in comparison.

Fresh Donuts Made Before Dawn Every Morning

Every morning before most of Indianapolis wakes up, the bakers at Boyden’s are already hard at work creating both yeast donuts and cake donuts from scratch. The glazed yeast donuts have earned a reputation as some of the best in the area, with a light, fluffy texture that melts in your mouth instead of sitting heavy in your stomach like mass-produced versions.

The glaze has the perfect sweetness level and doesn’t leave that weird chemical aftertaste you get from chain donut shops.

Their red velvet cake donuts have developed their own cult following, with customers specifically requesting them and being genuinely disappointed when they sell out. One reviewer mentioned tasting hints of blueberry in the red velvet, which shows the kind of creative touches that make these donuts special.

The apple fritters are another standout, packed with real apple pieces and cinnamon instead of just apple-flavored filling.

What really sets these donuts apart is freshness. Because Boyden’s makes everything in small batches throughout the morning, you’re getting donuts that were probably made within the last few hours.

The difference between a truly fresh donut and one that’s been sitting around is enormous, and once you’ve experienced the real thing, it’s hard to go back to the alternatives.

Custom Cakes That Make Special Occasions Memorable

Beyond their daily pastries and donuts, Boyden’s has built a strong reputation for custom cakes that turn ordinary celebrations into memorable events. Multiple customers have mentioned being absolutely speechless when they saw their finished cakes, with one person saying the decorator was absolutely amazing at what they do.

This isn’t just basic sheet cake decoration. These are carefully crafted creations that show real artistic skill and attention to what customers actually want.

The bakery can handle last-minute orders better than most places, with one family successfully ordering a birthday cake for their 14-year-old with very short notice. The cake arrived on time, looked exactly like what was requested, and tasted delicious enough that the teenager was genuinely pleased.

Getting a teenager to be happy about anything is an achievement in itself, so that tells you something about the quality.

Their red velvet cakes get particularly high praise, described as moist and juicy with beautiful icing that looks professional without being overly fussy. The sheet cakes are popular for larger gatherings because they serve many people without sacrificing flavor or quality.

Prices remain reasonable compared to boutique cake shops that charge premium rates for similar work, making Boyden’s a smart choice for families watching their budgets.

A Neighborhood Institution Where Generations Meet

This is the kind of place where four generations of the same family have bought their Sunday morning treats, creating shared memories that span nearly a century. One customer mentioned that everyone from her grandmother to her grandchildren loves Boyden’s, which perfectly captures what makes this bakery so special to the southside community.

The staff treats customers like neighbors rather than transactions, with many people praising the friendly, welcoming atmosphere and excellent customer service. The bakery opens at 5 AM on weekdays, which means early risers can grab fresh pastries on their way to work, continuing a morning ritual that Indianapolis workers have enjoyed since the Great Depression era.

Being closed on Mondays is a minor note in an otherwise beloved schedule. The bakery remains deeply loved by the surrounding neighborhoods.

It represents something increasingly rare in modern Indianapolis: a truly local business that has survived and thrived by simply doing one thing exceptionally well for nearly a century without compromising quality for profit.