Here in Ohio’s Amish Country, home cooking and baking are a staple. Our area is built around hearty, made-from-scratch meals. (If you ever have the chance, stop by one of the many local Amish food restaurants and you’ll see what I mean – you won’t walk away hungry!)
My out-of-state cousin once told me that people around here seem to eat a lot of potatoes. This may be true, but beyond the ordinary helping of mash potatoes and noodles are some unique foods to our area. And yes, they’re mouthwatering good.
1. Trail Bologna
Living in this area all my life, I grew up on trail bologna as a special snack for get-togethers, usually when my family gathered for a movie or a game of cards. It took me years later to discover that trail bologna isn’t known everywhere.
Its name comes from the place where it was first created over 100 years ago – Trail, Ohio. Impressively, it’s still made by the same family, now in their fourth generation. For those of you that have never heard of trail bologna, it’s much different than the traditional bologna you’re probably thinking of. Our trail bologna is made with beef and all-natural ingredients, but it gets its delicious flavor from being smoked over hickory wood with a blend of seasonings.
It comes in a ring and needs sliced before enjoying. We sell it with Lacey Baby Swiss cheese, which tastes so good together!
Fun Fact: We occasionally serve trail bologna sandwiches in our store at our Cast Iron Café. It’s a favorite of Founder Jay Lehman.
2. Whoopie Pies
There are mixed stories of where whoopie pies first originated. Some folks around here claim they were invented by the Amish who call these treats “globs.” While we can’t say for sure, we do know that whoopie pies are a popular treat in Amish Country.
Our whoopie pies are made fresh in a local bakery with a sweet, fluffy filling sandwiched between two soft, homemade cookies. We now offer a variety of whoopie pies, including new seasonal flavors, like peppermint and pumpkin.
3. Fry Pies
Whenever there is a fundraiser in the Amish community, usually you’ll find fry pies as part of the event. Some folks compare these tasty desserts to turnovers or mini pies, but what we love about them is no fork is needed to enjoy. Just pick them up and eat.
Made by a local bakery with their own pie filling and homemade dough, they are fried then sealed with a sweet vanilla-flavored glaze.
4. Chocolate Buckeyes
These candies are a delicious state-wide tradition that combines creamy peanut butter fudge dipped in chocolate…your sweet tooth will rejoice.
Fun Fact: Their name comes from Ohio’s state tree and even resemble a buckeye nut.
5. Fruit Fritters
Big appetites will love our fruit fritters (the name alone is fun to say!). While fruit fritters aren’t exclusive to our area, they sure are a popular pastry in this neck of the woods. Our local bakers pack these large pastries with chunks of fried fruit, then top them off with a sweet, tasty glaze.
Discover more of our baked goods and treats here – just in time for upcoming holiday meals!
