The Most Iconic Desserts From Every U.S. State
Every state has its own unique signature dessert that tells a story about where it came from. Some are tied to local ingredients or family traditions, while others are dishes that have just made their way into the fabric of the state culture.
From humble pies to over-the-top confections, here's a look at the most iconic dessert in every U.S. state.
Alabama: Lane Cake
Lane cake is a rich bourbon-laced layer cake that was invented by Emma Rylander Lane in the 1890s. It's a popular dish in the state of Alabama, and was named the official state dessert in 2016!
Alaska: Baked Alaska
Baked Alaska is a dessert made with a layer of cake, a dome of ice cream, and covered with fluffy meringue. The dessert was created in celebration of the purchase of Alaska from the Russian Empire in 1867, and has been a popular state dish ever since then.
Arizona: Sopapilla
A sopapilla is a flaky, fried dessert of Spanish heritage that is particularly popular in Arizona. Sopapillas have become a common and beloved dish in Mexican restaurants and in households across the state.
Arkansas: Possum Pie
Possum pie is a layered dessert usually made of vanilla pudding, cream cheese, and chocolate custard, often topped with whipped cream. This dish is rarely found outside of Arkansas, but is beloved by residents of the state.
California: Chiffon Cake
Chiffon cake is a lightweight dessert that is popular across the country, but especially in California. It was first created by Harry Baker, a Californian insurance salesman, and has remained a staple of the region.
Colorado: Peach Crisp
The town of Palisade, Colorado is known for its local peaches, which of course means that Colorado's most iconic dish is the delectable Palisade peach crisp. There's even a Palisade Peach Festival held every year to honor the beloved fruit.
Connecticut: Snickerdoodle
Snickerdoodles are soft and chewy cookies that are rolled in cinnamon sugar. The state of Connecticut is known for loving this sweet treat, even declaring it the official state dessert.
Delaware: Peach Pie
The peach blossom has been the official state flower of Delaware since 1895, so it's no surprise that the state is known for its love of peach pie. In 2009, peach pie became the official Delaware state dessert.
Florida: Key Lime Pie
Key lime pie is a classic Floridian dessert made from key limes, egg yolks, and sweetened condensed milk. The dish often implements locally-grown key limes from Key West, which is why it's a staple of Floridian cuisine.
Georgia: Peach Cobbler
Peach cobbler is a crumbly, pie-like dessert made with peach slices. The state of Georgia is known for its peach production, so it only makes sense that the iconic dessert of the Peach State would be the cobbler.
Hawaii: Haupia
Haupia is a traditional Polynesian coconut milk pudding that is often served at luaus. It can be enjoyed on its own, or used as a topping on other desserts such as chocolate pudding or sweet potato pie.
Idaho: Mashed Potato Donuts
Idaho is well-known for its potato production, with the state's official vegetable being the potato. So it's no surprise that the potato-based donut is a staple sweet treat for Idaho residents.
Illinois: Pumpkin Pie
In 2015, pumpkin pie became the official state dessert of Illinois in honor of the well-known pumpkin industry in the state. Pumpkin pie is a sweet staple of Thanksgiving dinner across the country, and especially in Illinois.
Indiana: Sugar Cream Pie
Sugar Cream Pie, also known as Hoosier Pie after Hoosier State, is the official dessert of Indiana. The rich, creamy pie topped with cinnamon has been a part of Indiana cuisine since the 1800s.
Iowa: Sour Cream Raisin Pie
Sour cream raisin pie is a simple and delicious dessert consisting of pie crust, sour cream raisin filling, topped with meringue. The pie was brought to the area by the Amish community and is now a staple at the Iowa State Fair.
Kansas: Peppernuts
Peppernut cookies, also known as pfeffernĂĽsse, are a sweet treat of German origin that have become a Kansas tradition. The name comes from the black pepper that is added to the dough.
Kentucky: Derby Pie
Derby pie, made from chocolate and nuts, was created in at the Melrose Inn in Prospect, Kentucky in 1954 and has since been a favorite dessert in the state of Kentucky.
Louisiana: Bananas Foster
New Orleans, Louisiana was once a major port of entry for bananas. To promote the sale of the fruit, a local restaurant owner created Bananas Foster, a dish consisting of banana slices in rum sauce, and topped with vanilla ice cream (and the rest is history!).
Maine: Blueberry Pie
Blueberry pie has been the official dessert of Maine since 2011, due to the plentiful production of blueberries in the state. Take note: it's not a true Maine blueberry pie without the use of locally-grown berries.
Maryland: Smith Island Cake
Smith Island cake typically consists of eight to fifteen thin layers of of cake, alternating with chocolate frosting. The dessert derives its name from its place of origin, Smith Island, Maine, and its recipe has been passed down in Maine families for many generations.
Massachusetts: Boston Cream Pie
The official dessert of Massachusetts is of course Boston cream pie, a layer cake with a creamy custard filling. The Boston cream pie has been a beloved dessert in Massachusetts since its creation in the 1800s.
Michigan: Cherry Pie
Michigan is one of the country's top producers of cherries, so it only makes sense that the state's signature would be cherry pie. Most Michigan cherry pies are made with Montmorency cherries, which are a type of tart cherry.
Minnesota: Blueberry Muffin
Not many states have an official state muffin, but Minnesota's is the blueberry muffin. Blueberries are an important crop throughout the state, and they make for a delicious addition to a fluffy muffin.
Mississippi: Mississippi Mud Pie
Originally created in Mississippi, the mud pie is made from chocolate sauce, brownie, and custard on top of a chocolate crust. The decadent dessert is beloved in its home state and throughout the Souther United States.
Missouri: Ice Cream Cone
The ice cream cone became the official dessert of Missouri in 2008, and this is because they were first popularized at the St. Louis World Fair in 1904. They're now a beloved warm-weather treat throughout the U.S.
Montana: Huckleberry Pie
The official state fruit of Montana is the huckleberry, a small variety of berry that is usually sweet or tart. A Montana huckleberry pie is made with locally-grown huckleberries enveloped in a flaky crust.
Nebraska: Sweet Corn Ice Cream
Nebraska is known as the Cornhusker state due to its plentiful corn production. Sweet corn ice cream is a staple dessert in Nebraska, made from local sweet corn blended into a custard base.
Nevada: Basque Cheesecake
Baque cheesecake is a crustless cheesecake with a crispy exterior that originates from the Basque Country. Basque settlers arrived in Nevada in the 1800s, and cuisine has remained influential in the region ever since.
New Hampshire: Whoopie Pie
Whoopie pies are a staple dessert that you can find in almost any bakery in New Hampshire. The pies are a black-and-white baked chocolate confection with a sweet, creamy filling.
New Jersey: Saltwater Taffy
Saltwater taffy is a soft variety of taffy that comes in many different flavors. Atlantic City, New Jersey is the birthplace of saltwater taffy, making it the perfect dessert to represent the sweet side of the state.
New Mexico: Biscochito
Biscochitos are star-shaped cookies topped with cinnamon sugar that are especically popular around the holidays. New Mexico was first state to declare an official cookie, when the honor was given to the biscochito in 1989.
New York: New York Cheesecake
New York is known for having many iconic dishes, but there's nothing like a classic slice of New York cheesecake. The rich, creamy cheesecake was founded by New York restaurant owner Arnold Reuben in the early 1920s.
North Carolina: Sweet Potato Pie
Sweet potatoes are the official state vegetable of North Carolina, making sweet potato pie the best choice to represent the state. Sweet potato pie is a popular Thanksgiving dish throughout the Southern United States.
North Dakota: Krumkake
Krumkake is a Norwegian dish that has become popular in North Dakota due to its large population of people with Norwegian ancestry. The cookie has a signature curved shape and is made from flour, butter, eggs, sugar, and cream.
Ohio: Buckeyes
Ohio's signature sweet treat are called Buckeyes, names for their resemblance to the nut of the Ohio buckeye trees, which grow in abundance throughout the state. These delectable confections consist of peanut butter fudge dipped in chocolate.
Oklahoma: Pecan Pie
Oklahoma doesn't exactly have an official state dessert, but it does have a state meal, which includes pecan pie. Pecans are a plentiful crop throughout the state, which is why pecan pie has come to be associated so strongly with Oklahoma cuisine.
Oregon: Marionberry Pie
Marionberries are a sweeter, more delicate cultivar of blackberries. They were first bred in Marion Country, Oregon and are still an abundant crop in the region, making marionberry pie the obvious choice for its official state dessert.
Pennsylvania: Shoofly Pie
Shoofly pie is a molasses-based pie that is popular within Pennsylvania Dutch cuisine. The sweet, gooey dessert is named after a once-popular brand of molasses.
Rhode Island: Coconut Custard Pie
Most residents of Rhode Island could probably tell you that the coconut custard pie is a staple of the area, and has been for many years. The pie is a combination of rich ingredients including coconut and custard, baked into a flaky pie crust.
South Carolina: Buttermilk Pie
Buttermilk pie is a beloved delicacy throughout the Souther United States, especially in South Carolina. It's simple and delicious, and best enjoyed with a heaping scoop of whipped cream on top.
South Dakota: Kuchen
Kuchen, the German word for 'cake,' is dough pie that often includes custard and fruit. Its popularity in South Dakota can be attributed to the state's large population of people with German ancestry.
Tennessee: Banana Pudding
Banana pudding is a Southern United States delicacy that is celebrated annually at the Banana Pudding Festival in Centerville, Tennessee. The dessert typically consists of layers of custard, vanilla wafers, and fresh banana slices.
Texas: Pecan Pie
Pecan pie may have already made this list, but it's only fair that Texas is recognized for its connection to the sugary-sweet delicacy. In fact, pecan pie is the official dessert of Texas, due to the state's plentiful pecan production.
Utah: Jell-O
Utah has been ranked #1 in the world when it comes to the consumption of Jell-O. The gelatin-based dessert is such a popular snack among residents that it's celebrated during National Jell-O Week ever year.
Vermont: Apple Pie
Apple pie is the official state fruit of Vermont, and it's even required by law to serve Vermont apple pie with a glass of cold milk, a slice of cheddar cheese, or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Virginia: Peanut Brittle
Virginia is one of the largest producers of peanuts in the U.S., so it's only natural that the state is best represented by the peanutty goodness and classic crunch of peanut brittle.
Washington: Nanaimo Bars
Though Nanaimo bars originated in Canada, they have made their way to Washington due the state's proximity to the border. Nanaimo bars are a no-bake dessert consisting of graham cracker crust, custard filling, and topped with chocolate.
West Virginia: Blackberry Cake
Blackberries are abundant throughout the state, so it's no surprise that one of the most popular desserts for West Virginians is blackberry cake. The cake is exactly what it sounds like—delicious cake made with fresh local blackberries.
Wisconsin: Kringle
Kringle, the official state pastry of Wisconsin, is a flaky, circular pastry that was brought to the state by Danish immigrants. The beloved puff pastry is commonly enjoyed alongside a cup of coffee.
Wyoming: Cowboy Cookies
Wyoming is known as the Cowboy State, which is why cowboy cookies are the perfect choice to represent the region. Cowboy cookies are similar to chocolate chip cookies, but also incorporate coconut, pecans, and oatmeal.