Foodie travels are all about exploring the best local eats, and we’ve got an unofficial food trail in Orange County, California you’ve got to check out! Here’s our guide to where you can find the best Knott’s Berry Farm Boysenberry food and drinks.
Welcome to the unofficial boysenberry food & drink trail at Knott’s Berry Farm!
If there’s one flavor that defines Knott’s Berry Farm, it’s the sweet, tart, and delightfully versatile boysenberry.
This purple-hued berry isn’t just a snack—it’s an experience woven into the history and identity of the park itself. And on a recent visit to the park, I got to experience this vibrant hybrid berry in so many delicious forms.
On your next visit to Knott’s Berry Farm, I encourage you, too, to follow this unofficial “boysenberry food trail.” It’s a delicious journey through pies, sauces, drinks, and more. Think of it as a tasty adventure that blends history, nostalgia, and creativity in every bite!
Whether you’re traveling with kids, a group of friends, or even sneaking in a solo foodie trip, the boysenberry trail is an easy and fun way to explore the park.
Kids love the quirky, colorful desserts while adults can dive into gourmet twists on this historic berry—sometimes even paired with wine or beer.
It’s the perfect way to make your day at Knott’s more interactive. Like a scavenger hunt, but with dessert and snacks as your rewards!
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A little about Knott’s Berry Farm
Knott’s Berry Farm isn’t just one of Southern California’s most popular theme parks; it’s also one of its most historic.
Before the roller coasters and shows, it started as a family farm and roadside stand in the 1920s. Walter and Cordelia Knott sold fresh berries, jams, and fried chicken dinners.
What began as a humble farm evolved into an amusement park beloved by generations. But, its roots are still celebrated through food—and nothing is more iconic than the boysenberry.
Knott’s Berry Farm and the invention of boysenberries
The boysenberry has a story almost as adventurous as the rides at Knott’s.
In the early 20th century, a farmer named Rudolph Boysen experimented with crossing blackberries, raspberries, and loganberries.
His hybrid berry struggled to gain traction until Walter Knott cultivated it, perfected it, and brought it to market.
The berry was a huge success, drawing visitors to the Knott farm to taste its unique flavor.
And the rest, as they say, is history! To this day, the boysenberry’s roots are still celebrated throughout the park.
Follow our unofficial boysenberry trail
Part of the fun of this unofficial boysenberry trail is seeing just how many forms this little fruit can take.
At Knott’s, you’ll find it infused into everything from jams and jellies to funnel cakes, churros, cotton candy, and barbecue sauce.
It even sneaks into savory dishes like meatballs and chicken wings. Plus it’s in drinks like lemonades, craft sodas, and seasonal boysenberry beer and wine.
You can sip it in the Ghost Town streets, indulge in it as a sweet topping in the Boardwalk, or take it home in jars and candies from the Marketplace.
Just about the only type of food I did not see a boysenberry was a pasta dish. That might be a challenge I’m willing to take in creating my own boysenberry pasta recipe…
For now, enjoy all the boysenberry goodness at the park! Here’s a Knott’s Berry Farm map to restaurants, attractions, rides, and more.
Boysenberry lemonade, syrup, coffee, jam
Where to find it: Thirty Acres Kitchen inside Knott’s Hotel
We started our day at the Thirty Acres Kitchen restaurant within the Knott’s Hotel. Located just a short 5-10 minute walk from the park entrance, this restaurant is perfect for families. And, of course, you can find so many different celebrations of boysenberry here!
Our group enjoyed it in the form of drinks: boysenberry coffee, boysenberry lemonade, boysenberry punch. We also loved the boysenberry jam — perfect for dunking plain toast or my breakfast sandwich into.
And you can’t leave without trying the pancake stack with – you guessed it – boysenberry syrup. So good!
Boysenberry cotton candy
Where to find it: concession stands throughout the park.
You want the ultimate hyper local theme park treat? Go for the boysenberry cotton candy. Great for snacking as you wander throughout the park, it’s also fun to dip into drinks like lemonade, punch, or even the boysenberry margaritas for added berry boost!
Boysenberry sugar cookie and other pastries
Where to find it: Ghost Town Bakery
You’ll find boysenberry treats all throughout Ghost Town, but the Ghost Town Bakery sells a large variety all in one spot. Here, we feasted on the gorgeous, brightly-colored boysenberry sugar cookie. It was surprisingly not too sweet, which I loved, and the texture was cookie perfection.
They also sell boysenberry macaroons, boysenberry cheesecakes, and more.
Boysenberry funnel cake
Where to find it: Sutter’s Funnel Cake
You can’t leave a theme park without sampling the funnel cake, right? Knott’s Berry Farm takes this classic up a notch with their boysenberry funnel cake. I love how it wasn’t totally submerged in thick cinnamon sugar – it had just the right amount.
The boysenberry added a lovely fresh and tart flavor to this fried treat.
Boysenberry margaritas
Where to find it: Cantina Del Sur
A popular stop for the bigger kids of legal drinking age at Knott’s Berry Farm is the Cantina. Here you’ll find flights of margaritas, and you must get at least one boysenberry margarita in that flight. I don’t make the rules, except in this case I do: this is my rule, and I hope you don’t break it! :)
The boysenberry margaritas are sweet, but not too sweet, and beautifully balanced by the spice of the tajin salt. A nice refreshing treat on a sunny day at the park.
Boysenberry stuffed churros
Where to find it: Gourmet Churro Factory
If you love churros like I love churros (and I love them A WHOLE LOT), you’ll go boysenberry bananas for the stuffed churros at the Gourmet Churro Factory in Ghost Town.
These churros are crisped up just right, and stuffed with a delicious boysenberry filling.
This might be my personal favorite boysenberry treat at Knott’s Berry Farm!
Boysenberry ICEE
Where to find it: ICEE Mix-It-Up
Walking around the park requires hydration, and in addition to making sure you get enough water, I hope you’ll also try the boysenberry ICEE. Because it is darn right delicious and super refreshing.
Boysenberry Dippin Dots
Where to find it: Boardwalk Dippin Dots
The boysenberry Dippin Dots treat is another must-try. It’s super refreshing and on a sunny day, melts fairly quickly, so enjoy it as soon as you get it.
Boysenberry cream soda
Where to find it: Calico Saloon
Another beautiful hydration option: the boysenberry cream soda at the Calico Saloon. It’s a fun show just watching them make it.
This is a sweet beverage, so if you don’t normally drink sodas ever like me, you could probably get one and share it with your besties.
Chicken wings with boysenberry BBQ
Where to find it: Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner restaurant
I felt like the boysenberry BBQ glazed chicken wings at Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner restaurant deserved their own callout.
These are sticky wings that are messy in the best possible way, with a rich, delicious boysenberry glaze. I loved them.
Boysenberry jam, dip, dressing
Where to find it: Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner restaurant
Also at Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner restaurant, you’ll find boysenberry salad dressing, which many of my fellow travelers really loved. You’ll also find boysenberry jam and dipping sauce. I loved the jam on the biscuits.
Marlynn’s Tip
Foodie Travel Tips
- Pace yourself—the portions can be generous, so share with friends or family.
- Visit during the Boysenberry Festival (springtime) for even more creative dishes like boysenberry pizza, meatballs, or cheesecake.
- Don’t forget to buy jams and sauces to take home!
Visit Knott’s Berry Farm
8039 Beach Boulevard
Buena Park, California 90620, USA
For admission prices, current hours, and more information, visit the Knott’s Berry Farm website.
If you visit, please be sure to let them know that you read about it on Urban Bliss Life! And if you snap some pics, tag us @UrbanBlissLife and #UrbanBlissLife on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and Facebook.
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