Random Quintessential Dessert From Your Stat (50 items)

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  (#1) Alabama

  • 1819-12-14

  This delicious layered sponge cake is filled with egg yolks, butter, sugar, raisins, and whiskey. The story goes that an Alabamian named Emma Rylander Lane, who published the Lane cake recipe in her 1898 cookbook, won a baking contest at a Georgia county fair, and news of her special cake spread throughout the South.

  Thanks to its mention in Harper Lee's 1960 novel To Kill a Mockingbird, the Lane cake is now a piece of literary history. In the novel, Maude makes a Lane cake to welcome Aunt Alexandra when she visits the Finches. Just like in the book, Southerners tend to save the Lane cake for special occasions.
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  (#2) Alaska

  • 1959-01-03

  Thanks to its temperate summer climate, Alaska is fertile ground for one of the planet's most delectable natural harvests: berries. From blueberries to lingonberries, the state boasts a wealth of berry picking spots, and every native Alaskan has their preferred location.

  When it's berry season, these little fruits are cooked in everything, pies and muffins included. They are also preserved in jams or dried to keep folks satisfied in the colder months.
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  (#3) Arizona

  • 1912-02-14

  This Southwestern dessert brought over by Spanish colonizers in the 16th century is rooted in a tradition out of southern Spain: frying dough in olive oil. Adapted by natives in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, these airy, hollow squares of fried dough are often served with honey.

  Sopaipilla is the perfect light treat after indulging in a chile-heavy meal.
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  (#4) Arkansas

  • 1836-06-15

  Don't worry, there aren't any actual possums in possum pie. Like the creature it's named after, possum pie fakes out those who order it. They aren't aware that beneath all that whip cream exists a pie filling bursting with flavor.

  This filling varies, but it's most often a type of chocolate custard. The custard's flavor is usually enhanced by an extra layer of sour scream, cream cheese, or vanilla pudding.
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  (#5) California

  • 1850-09-09

  California has a unique and wonderful doughnut history. As of 2019, Los Angeles County boasted more than 600 doughnut shops. Why are these round, sugar-filled, and frosted snacks such a big deal?

  Thanks to Southern California's multicultural population, immigrants took cues from popular local doughnut chains like Winchell's and invested in their own neighborhood shops. One such person, a Cambodian refugee named Ted Ngoy, brought his family to LA in 1975, and within five years opened 20 doughnut establishments.
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  (#6) Colorado

  • 1876-08-01

  Western Colorado's Palisade Valley, nurtured by the Colorado River, is the ideal location for fruit farming, and one of its most popular summer harvests is peaches. Orchards abound, and residents flock to the area to get their share of the sweet, fuzzy goodness.

  While these peaches are used in an infinite number of dishes and drinks, the classic way to enjoy them is by baking them in a rustic pie. Every family has a different approach to making the pie, and all of them are tasty.
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  (#7) Connecticut

  • 1788-01-09

  Nutmeg is a big deal in New England, and Connecticut likes to call itself the Nutmeg State. These chewy, buttery cookies are a great way to explore Connecticut's love for this ground spice.

  Spice cookies are very easy to make. In addition to the normal cookie ingredients like sugar, eggs, milk, and butter, they get their extra punch from molasses, nutmeg, cinnamon, and ginger.
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  (#8) Delaware

  • 1787-12-07

  Strawberries are the official state fruit of Delaware, and they are an important part of the state's agricultural economy. One of the most indulgent ways to enjoy these red, saccharine berries is to make strawberry shortcake.

  Delawarians love strawberry shortcake, not just for its flavor, but also for its quick prep time. Simply combine fresh strawberries, pound cake, and either vanilla ice cream or whip cream in a bowl. It's served best on a sunny summer's day.
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  (#9) Florida

  • 1845-03-03

  It's no surprise that a state known for its citrus would be home to a tangy dessert pie whose main ingredient is a lime - a Key lime, to be specific. Key limes are small, circular limes that begin green and then turn yellow when they're ripe.

  South Floridians believe they have the best Key limes, so if you can get your hands on some Key West yields, you're in luck. The pie itself is basically a custard made with eggs, lime juice, and a lot of sugar placed in a graham cracker crust. Some pie makers prefer to top it with meringue, while others stick with a lighter whipped cream.
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  (#10) Georgia

  • 1788-01-02

  Georgia is the Peach State, and homages to the fruit can be found everywhere, from street names to marketing materials. The state's summer-time peach season is usually marked by roadside vendors and endless baked goods full of the fruit.

  Peach cobbler is a simple and cheap way to enjoy peaches, and it requires basic ingredients most people stock in their pantries: butter, flour, sugar, milk, and, of course, peaches. The dry ingredients are combined with the wet ones into a sort of cakey crust and then baked on top of peaches in a pan.
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  (#11) Hawaii

  • 1959-08-21

  Haupia is a refreshing coconut pudding usually served at luaus or special gatherings. Its consistency can range from Jell-O hard to scoopable and smooth.

  While traditional recipes call for coconuts, coconut milk is a good substitute if you can't find the real thing. The process involves heating up the coconut milk with sugar, cornstarch, and water until it thickens. Let it set in a refrigerator for up to 24 hours before serving.
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  (#12) Idaho

  • 1890-07-03

  Huckleberries, which grow wild in Idaho and across the Pacific Northwest, are often cooked into pies, and one Idaho lawmaker, at the behest of a fourth-grade class, tried to make huckleberry pie the state dessert in 2018. "I’m hoping this bill gets pie-partisan support, because any way you slice it, the huckleberry pie gives you a good filling," Rep. Ron Nate said.

  This tart pie usually has a double crust and plenty of sugar to offset the sour berries. You can find these pies all over the region at diners, cafes, and shops.
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  (#13) Illinois

  • 1818-08-26

  Portillo's is a cherished fast food chain in Illinois, and one of its biggest draws is an especially decadent milkshake that includes pieces of dense cake. In fact, the Portillo's chocolate cake shake was deemed Illinois' biggest vice in 2015.

  It turns out these shakes have a secret ingredient, one that adds an extra layer of fat and cholesterol: mayonnaise, which apparently blends right in.
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  (#14) Indiana

  • 1816-12-11

  It's fitting the Hoosier State's favorite dessert is a Hoosier pie. This is just a nickname for a sugar cream pie, what Amish and Shaker immigrants in the 1800s referred to as a desperation pie, the kind of dessert made when no fruit was available.

  The filling is made using sugar, heavy cream, and a big helping of fresh nutmeg as a garnish.
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  (#15) Iowa

  • 1846-12-28

  In 2019, 33% of Iowans named scotcheroos as their favorite treat. People outside the state may not be familiar, but this mouthwatering dish is like a next-level Rice Krispies treat. Recipes vary, but these bars are most often made with peanut butter, chocolate, butterscotch, and corn puffs.

  Iowa is known for its vast cornfields, so of course state residents have found ways to cook corn products in everything, including their desserts.
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  (#16) Kansas

  • 1861-01-29

  Russian Mennonites brought their tradition of making these spicy cookies to Kansas with them in the 1870s, and they have become a regional hit ever since. Peppernut cookies are made with black pepper and ginger, which give them their extra kick.

  Formed into bite-size cookies served around the holidays, some peppernut recipes have been updated to include anise.
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  (#17) Kentucky

  • 1792-06-01

  In Kentucky, no dish is complete without a bourbon finisher. Bread pudding, a classic Southern dish that involves soaking old bread in a mixture of milk, eggs, sugar, and butter, and then baking it, gets its Kentucky twist from a sugary bourbon sauce.

  What began as a dish designed to give folks a sweet treat when food supplies were low has transformed into a regional delicacy.
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  (#18) Louisiana

  • 1812-04-30

  The king cake, brought over to New Orleans from France around 1870, is a celebratory cake served every Mardi Gras. While the date of Mardi Gras rotates every year, it is always the day before Ash Wednesday, an integral part of Lent and Easter traditions. Mardi Gras is celebrated all over Louisiana, not just in New Orleans.

  A cross between a coffee cake and a pastry, the king cake is frosted and decorated with the Mardi Gras colors: green, purple, and gold. The small plastic (or porcelain) baby is placed inside the cake, and is supposed to bring good luck to whoever finds it. 
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  (#19) Maine

  • 1820-03-15

  Wild blueberries are plentiful in Maine, and locals like to make the most of their pickings by baking the best blueberry pies imaginable. In fact, blueberry pies are the official state dessert of Maine.

  Methods and recipes differ, but the best Maine blueberry pies are filled with wild berries infused with sea salt air.
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  (#20) Maryland

  • 1788-04-25

  Smith Island sits just off Maryland's Chesapeake Bay, and is known for its connections to the fishing industry. The story goes that when fishermen left home for the season, their families baked them cakes in honor of all the celebrations and holidays they'd miss while out at sea.

  The Smith Island cake, Maryland's state dessert since 2008, developed out of a need to construct a dessert that preserves well. This yellow cake with eight to 10 layers is stacked up and dense, and each layer is separated by a layer of chocolate icing or fudge.
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  (#21) Massachusetts

  • 1788-02-06

  Why, of all the desserts imaginable, is the universal chocolate chip cookie Massachusetts' state dessert? The answer is fairly straightforward: The chocolate chip cookie was invented at the Toll House Inn in Whitman, Massachusetts, in 1930.

  Its cheap and uncomplicated recipe, in addition to its wonderful taste, caused the cookie to pop up all over the country and, eventually, the world.
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  (#22) Michigan

  • 1837-01-26

  Thanks to one small island in Lake Huron between Michigan's Upper and Lower Peninsulas, fudge is the most sought-after treat in the state. Mackinaw Island is home to multiple fudge shops, some open since the 1950s.

  With the help of industrial kettles fired up by propane tanks, bucket after bucket of butter, cream, chocolate, and sugar is combined every year to keep Mackinaw's reputation afloat. At the height of tourist season, 10 tons of sugar are shipped to the island every week.
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  (#23) Minnesota

  • 1817-12-10

  Don't ever call a seven-layer bar a cookie - at least if you're from Minnesota. These tiered snacks taste like heaven, and making them involves piling all of your favorite sweet things on top of each other.

  These rich dessert bars are usually made up of ingredients like graham crackers, shredded coconut, chocolate chips, pretzel pieces, and Rice Krispies.
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  (#24) Mississippi

  • 1817-12-10

  Not to be confused with the pies kids like to make out of dirt, a Mississippi mud pie is both edible and delicious. The techniques for baking these chocolatey masterpieces differ, and some are more refined than others.

  Most recipes call for a cream-chocolate filling in a graham cracker crust. Some include a brownie layer or a bit of fudge.
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  (#25) Missouri

  • 1821-08-10

  Legends abound about the German baker in St. Louis who invented the gooey butter cake in the 1930s. The best one says he put too much butter in his coffee cake batter and went with it.

  Whatever the truth may be, gooey butter cake is a massive success. It involves combining sugar, butter, and eggs, and then filling the mixture into a cookie-like crust, sometimes baked circularly like a pie and other times baked like a sheet cake.
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  (#26) Montana

  • 1889-11-08

  Like Idaho, huckleberries are also bountiful in Montana. However, Big Sky Country prefers its huckleberries cooked in cobbler form.

  The easiest way to whip up huckleberry cobbler involves using yellow cake mix thickened with oats and pecans for the crumble. Old-schoolers can use flour and sugar. The most important ingredient, of course, is the huckleberries.
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  (#27) Nebraska

  • 1867-03-01

  A kolach is an Eastern European delicacy, and the Kolach Capital of the World just so happens to be Verdigre, Nebraska.

  Courtesy of its large Czech population, kolaches are revered across the Midwestern state. A pastry, kolaches are composed of sweet dough with a fruity or cheesy filling.
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  (#28) Nevada

  • 1864-10-31

  Here's a fun fact for you: Nevada has one of the largest Basque populations in the United States, and this native European group from north-central Spain and southern France found its way to Nevada, specifically the Reno area, in the 1800s and early 1900s.

  They brought with them their rich food tradition, and Basque cake is one of the most popular. This enticing yellow cake contains dried or preserved cherries. It is sometimes dusted with sugar and almond pieces.
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  (#29) New Hampshire

  • 1788-06-21

  For those of you without a big sweet tooth, cider doughnuts are a good route to explore. The Northeast is known for its apple orchards, as well as its apple cider.

  Throughout the state of New Hampshire, cideries also double as doughnut shops, and the state's selection is often voted the best in the nation. Their cakey doughnuts are infused with the freshest hint of apple. You can get them plain, rolled in sugar, or frosted.
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  (#30) New Jersey

  • 1787-12-18

  Atlantic City is more than just casinos and sun-tanned beach dwellers; it's also the home of salt water taffy. The long history of taffy along the Jersey Shore is full of lore, including a story that sea foam washed ashore one day and flooded a local candy store.

  Taffy is made by cooking sugar in copper kettles and then processing it through stainless steel, where the lower pressure removes moisture. It rests four to six hours after that, and then it's pulled and infused with flavors.

  In 2019, one employee at a local candy company on the Atlantic City boardwalk said they sold "about 600,000 pounds of salt water taffy a year."
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  (#31) New Mexico

  • 1912-01-06

  These flavorful shortbread stars are New Mexico's official cookie. Full of lard and sugar, these special treats will melt in your mouth.

  Bizcochitos are prepared for celebrations like graduations, weddings, and birthdays. The cookies are usually topped with a heaping handful of cinnamon.
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  (#32) New York

  • 1788-07-26

  A deli favorite, the black and white cookie is a New York City staple that's known not just around the state but all over the country. Large and cake-like, these soft, circular cookies are topped with fondant, a frosting hardened with gelatin, shortening, and glycerol.

  The key to this cookie's perfection lies in its half-chocolate and half-vanilla topping. The only problem people face is which side to bite into first.
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  (#33) North Carolina

  • 1789-11-21

  Like so many other desserts on this list, North Carolina's signature dish is sweet potato pie out of convenience. The state grows the most sweet potatoes in the United States, and a sweet potato pie is a fantastic alternative to pumpkin pie during the holidays.

  Recipes vary, but using fresh sweet potatoes will give you the best flavor. Mix in sugar, butter, allspice, vanilla, milk, and cinnamon, and you'll have a winning pie.
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  (#34) North Dakota

  • 1889-11-02

  North Dakota has a strong Norwegian influence, and krumkake is a Norwegian dessert on par with a waffle, but the batter is rolled into a cylindrical cookie.

  Sugary and creamy krumkakes are made on a griddle, then formed into a cone using a plastic or wooden spoon. You can take your krumkake experience to the next level by filling it with cream.
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  (#35) Ohio

  • 1803-03-01

  The buckeye tree was named by Captain Daniel Davis, who decided to bestow the title upon the first tree he came across west of the Ohio River. The tree's large nuts are the inspiration for the no-bake buckeye candy, which is now a moniker used across the state.

  Originating in the mid-20th century, making this candy involves dipping balls of peanut butter fudge in chocolate and then leaving a small circle of peanut butter visible.
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  (#36) Oklahoma

  • 1907-11-16

  Not be confused with the miniature fried pies offered up at McDonald's, the real deal is located in Oklahoma. The Sooner State has been building upon this recipe for a century, a made-to-order gas station specialty.

  Unfortunately, the epicenter for Oklahoma fried pies, Arbuckle Mountain Fried Pies, closed in 2017. The good news is that you can still find this delicacy in other parts of the state.
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  (#37) Oregon

  • 1859-02-14

  The hybrid marionberry, a cross of Chehalem and Olallie berries, is an Oregon favorite. This rustic and complex berry makes quite a pie. Its deep purple color gives the dessert a Northwestern opulence.

  This folksy pie is simple enough to make, but finding marionberries may be difficult if you aren't in the Pacific Northwest.
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  (#38) Pennsylvania

  • 1787-12-12

  Shoofly pie is the go-to for the Pennsylvania Dutch, and by extension, the state's other residents. However, this pie relies heavily upon an Appalachian ingredient: molasses.

  The molasses is given extra sweetness with a plentiful portion of brown sugar, and it's all put together with a crumble on top. As far as the name goes, one theory proposes it comes from the moniker of a popular molasses brand in Pennsylvania, titled after a traveling circus mule named Shoofly.
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  (#39) Rhode Island

  • 1790-05-29

  Doughboys are pretty much what they sound like: a Rhode Island rendition of fried hunks of dough powdered with sugar. However, these treats are often excess pieces of pizza dough that are fried up and served hot.

  The go-to place in Rhode Island for this specialty is Iggy's Doughboy & Chowderhouse, which fries them up to serve.
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  (#40) South Carolina

  • 1788-04-23

  A high-end restaurant from Charleston, South Carolina, the Peninsula Grill, took the standard cake and gave it a coastal twist by adding coconuts.

  The Ultimate Coconut Cake's shredded coconut adds a crunch and earthy sweetness to any dessert, and keeps the sea-bound part of the state on the radar.
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  (#41) South Dakota

  • 1889-11-02

  The official state dessert of South Dakota, kuchen arrived in the state via German immigrants in the 1880s. The word kuchen roughly translates in English to "cake," and interpretations of this dessert are manifold.

  Usually, kuchen is made using a sweet dough, which is then enhanced with a custard or fruit filling.
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  (#42) Tennessee

  • 1796-06-01

  Banana pudding is a Southern tradition. In Tennessee, it's a way of life. Since 2010, Centerville, Tennessee, has held the National Banana Pudding Festival.

  While bananas are obviously not grown in the state, they originally made their entrance to the United States via the port of New Orleans. By the 1890s, banana pudding recipes were in cookbooks all over the country.

  This easy-to-make pudding, given a crunch with the introduction of Nabisco Nilla Wafers, is the kind of dish appropriate for large social gatherings. But, feel free to make a batch for yourself.
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  (#43) Texas

  • 1845-12-29

  Everything is bigger in Texas, including pecan pie. While the pie is enjoyed all over the South, Texas took its love a step further and proclaimed the pecan pie its official dessert in 2013.

  To make a pecan pie of Texas quality, use both whole and chopped pecans. Karo brand corn syrup will bring it all together, and don't even try to buy a store-bought crust. Make it from scratch.
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  (#44) Utah

  • 1896-01-04

  Believe it or not, residents of Utah chow down on more Jell-O than any other state. Many food journalists speculate that the state's surge in Jell-O consumption is related to its large Latter-Day Saint population.

  Jell-O is a simple, quick treat that comes in many flavors and can be found in any store. Its ubiquity and ease makes it a go-to dessert for any large gathering.
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  (#45) Vermont

  • 1791-03-04

  Vermont's yearly maple harvest, which comes about by collecting the natural sap that oozes from maple trees, generates excess maple syrup that can be used to make all kinds of sweet snacks. From this yield comes Vermont maple candies.

  During the summer, Vermont's maple candies are especially popular. The candies range in texture from hard to taffy-like to gelatinous, and all of them pay homage to maple syrup's amazing flavor.
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  (#46) Virginia

  • 1788-06-25

  There exist stories galore about how Virginia's chess pie got its name, but one Washington Post journalist stumbled upon a footnote in a cookbook that makes a lot of sense: "Chess pie gets its name from chestnut meal which was used in olden days in place of cornmeal."

  However it came together, chess pie is another one of those desperation pies made with lots of sugar when few other ingredients were available. The sweet pie continues to be updated and worked upon to this day.
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  (#47) Washington

  • 1889-11-11

  Even though the Northeast is known for its ciders, Washington produces the most apples in the country. Washingtonians like to boast about each of their apples being picked by hand, and their top varieties include Red Delicious, Gala, Fuji, and Granny Smith.

  The apple crisp requires more apples than an apple pie, which gives those indulging a better taste of the key ingredients. Crisps also stand apart from cobblers in that they require less crumbly topping and, again, more apples.
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  (#48) West Virginia

  • 1863-06-20

  Appalachia is molasses central, and this plentiful byproduct derived from the sugarcane refining process is used all over West Virginia in many desserts.

  One of the quickest and most accessible ways to indulge in molasses is to make molasses cookies. Combined with simple ingredients like sugar, ginger spice, and flour, this chewy treat will be a hit with anyone.
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  (#49) Wisconsin

  • 1848-05-29

  Bendtsen's Bakery in Racine, Wisconsin, has been perfecting the Danish kringle for more than 80 years. This doughy, layered pastry was originally molded into a pretzel, but to save time, its shape became oval.

  Kringles are filled with everything from almonds to raisins to fruit. Another bakery in Racine, O&H Danish Bakery, uses Wisconsin-grown ingredients like cream cheese and cherries.
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  (#50) Wyoming

  • 1890-06-10

  Wyoming's cowboy cookies are about as unhealthy as they come, but boy are they delicious. These chunky, chewy cookies revolve around four main ingredients: coconut, pecans, oatmeal, and chocolate chips.

  While some folks claim that former First Lady Laura Bush put these cookies on the map, they have made their way to the Equality State.

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