Massachusetts Massive Donut Holes Are Bringing Childhood Nostalgia to New Bedford

There’s something new frying up in New Bedford, and honestly, I haven’t seen anything quite like it around here before.

At Toast n' Jam, owner Jay Brooks has been whipping up a sweet new treat called “Drip Bites,” and they’re quickly becoming one of the most talked-about desserts coming out of the city right now. The made-from-scratch donut bites officially debuted on April 1, and since then, customers have been going wild for the over-the-top flavors: Fruity Pebble, Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Biscoff Cookie. Brooks said the goal wasn’t just to create another breakfast item, but to tap into nostalgia.

“They’re made to order, not in a bakery case, but a cool little concept you don’t see here in New Bedford,” Brooks said. “What makes the Biscoff one so good is the homemade cookie butter icing, but I really like the Fruity Pebble one, because I’m big on nostalgia.”

A Sweet Blast From Childhood

The Fruity Pebble Drip Bites feature soft, golden donut holes with a French toast-style flavor, rolled in crunchy Fruity Pebbles cereal and topped with a sweet strawberry glaze. Meanwhile, the Biscoff version comes coated in crushed Biscoff cookies and finished with a rich cookie butter drizzle.

According to Brooks, this is just the beginning.

READ MORE: Massachusetts’ Top 10 Most Popular Cereals

Cinnamon Toast Crunch has already entered the mix, while future flavors like Apple Jacks, Cocoa Pebbles and Cocoa Puffs are currently being worked on. He’s even exploring filled versions with cream cheese or frosting down the line.

“What I really want to focus on is getting people back to a place where they can revisit their childhood,” Brooks said. “Nostalgic flair. I want to somehow bring back the family time, where people focused on sitting at a table chopping it up, rather than just ordering food to go or being on their phones."

Built Fresh Every Single Time

Unlike your typical bakery where pastries sit waiting in display cases, Brooks said every order is made fresh from scratch.

“The actual donut is good. It’s moist with a buttermilk base,” he said. “I make that dough fresh every day."

Brooks said the idea came to him randomly, but perfecting the recipe took time and patience. Now, he’s already thinking bigger, including a possible “flight” option featuring multiple flavors in one order. “I want to do a flight, four different flavors, two of each one,” he said.

All I'm going to say is: I might have found my newest sweet obsession, and my inner child is smiling form ear to ear.