The Absolute Best Desserts In Every State

From sea to shining sea, the United States is full of tasty desserts. Apple pie, red velvet cake, and baked Alaska all call this country home, along with dozens of other iconic treats. Thanks to preserved traditions, Yankees have been making the same home-cooked cookies, cakes, and custards for generations.

These desserts typically have a noticeable American flair. They're either made using scraps of domestic shelf-stable ingredients — like Rice Krispies, graham crackers, or peanut butter, or they're of the melting pot variety — brought here by immigrants and sometimes Americanized by indulgent citizens.

Within the country, regionally beloved goodies are also a thing. It's easy to see how history has played a part in that. In corn-laden Midwestern states like Nebraska, sweets involve popcorn. In whiskey-filled Kentucky, you'll find bourbon in the candies. Sampling these recipes easily illuminates a part of a state's food culture — hopefully, a delicious one. For your next road trip, don't forget to leave room for dessert. Here are the absolute best desserts in every state.

Baked Alaska is perhaps one of the more well-known American delicacies, despite being named after one of our most isolated states. But the mainland has had plenty of time to learn about it since this recipe dates back hundreds of years. According to NPR, Baked Alaska was created by scientist Sir Benjamin Thompson, who studied heat. Thompson discovered the recipe for baked Alaska inadvertently during his cooking experiments with meringue. This led to the iconic white swirl that encases each decadent dessert.

However, Thompson neither gave the dish its iconic name nor popularized it. Baked Alaska gained a following through American restaurants such as New York City eatery Delmonico's, writes The Culture Trip. Wealthy patrons came there to sample baked Alaska, which is made with a cake base topped with ice cream, then covered in meringue that is then entirely "baked," though briefly. Even though this dish may not have originated in Alaska, its status as a popular American dessert named after a state earns it a place on our list.

In the Southern state of Arkansas, possum pie is a popular after-dinner snack. It's luckily not made with possums. Instead, it's composed of delicious layers of vanilla, chocolate custard, and pecans. The crust is typically made from pecan shortbread, the layers are mixed with cream cheese, and the whole pie is completely covered in whipped cream, according to Atlas Obscura. Once covered, each possum pie is decorated with pecan crumbs and sometimes chocolate shavings.

This dessert is special because it utilizes pecans — a nut native to the state of Arkansas — and gives them a starring role. The pecan is even the official nut of Arkansas, says Only in Arkansas. Overall, this regional American dessert is an easy-to-make treat with a satisfying blend of textures — from the crunchy pecans to the crumbly crust to the soft layers to the pillowy whipped cream — and it all comes together to make an exciting dessert full of state pride.

Colorado is home to some of the most popular snow sport destinations in the country. The Rockies attract skiers, snowboarders, and other daredevils to their snowy peaks every year. It only makes sense that after a day on the slopes, the perfect Colorado treat is a hot chocolate. This drink is a popular menu item in places like Aspen, Vail, Telluride, and other adventurous cities located in Colorado.

According to Travel Boulder, the warming drink has inspired creative spin-offs. In Colorado today, there's spiked hot chocolate mixed with alcohol, "sipping chocolate" made from whole melted chocolate, and even cannabis hot cocoa (no surprise there, considering the state's flourishing weed industry). Hot chocolate may be a dessert you drink, but it's still the perfect Colorado sweet. We can sip it in a cozy mountain cabin or easily make it around the campfire with some milk and powdered chocolate.

It may come as a surprise that Delaware's best dessert is a peach pie. You may be asking yourself: Aren't peaches a Southern thing? But actually, the fruit has historic ties to the small Mid-Atlantic state. Delaware's state flower is a peach blossom, according to Delaware Public. It's been the flower mascot since the 19th century when peach fields were common in Delaware. That's no longer the case, but some Delaware cities still hold peach festivals each year, celebrating what once was a major regional crop.

In 2009, Delaware even declared the peach pie their official state dessert (via State Symbol USA). The state's dessert is usually produced annually on National Peach Pie day, reports Delaware Online. To make a peach pie fit for Delaware, simply obtain a good amount of peaches. The fruit is typically sliced, then mixed with a thickening agent like tapioca or cornstarch. Peach variety doesn't seem to matter much either. So enjoy yourself while making your Delaware peach pie!

If you made it through 2021 without hearing Justin Bieber's "Peaches," congratulations. But if you didn't, Bieber probably has convinced you Georgia is full of the fruit. He's not entirely wrong, either. Peaches have been the official state fruit since 1995, according to Round About Atlanta. Georgia is even known as "the Peach State." Despite all the attention, peaches are neither Georgia's largest crop, nor is it the state with the most peaches (via NPR). Cotton and peanuts are Georgia's biggest exports today, reports Morning AG Clips.

All facts aside, a peach cobbler is an iconic Southern dessert perfect for Georgia. You can even make it with three ingredients: butter, cake mix, and canned peaches. Georgians also recommend serving the simple dish with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, says 12 Tomatoes. Try waiting until next National Peach Cobbler Day — every April 13th, according to The Culture Trip — to make it. We doubt you'll be able to resist. 

The Idaho ice cream potato is iconic, a little bizarre, and something you're unlikely to experience outside of the state. But Atlas Obscura writes that outdoor venues like drive-ins, fairs, and other Boise (the capital city) locations will usually provide the ice cream potato as a summer snack. The Westside Drive-In movie theater in Boise is the home of the original ice cream potato, writes Insider. Shows like Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives and Man v. Food visited the spot to try it.

No potatoes are used in the making of this dessert. It may look like a baked potato topped with sour cream, but it's actually an elaborately disguised ice cream sundae topped with sweet whipped cream. The "baked potato" base is made of vanilla ice cream dusted with cocoa powder to give it a light brown, spud-like color. Traditional toppings include cookie crumbs and chocolate syrup.

Hoosier, or the nickname used by Indiana citizens to describe themselves, has been a prevailing piece of state slang for nearly 200 years (via Indiana.gov). Origins of the name aren't exact, but a poem published in the 1830s titled "The Hoosier's Nest" likely introduced the term to the world. That's why Indiana's beloved pie, sugar cream pie, is sometimes referred to as "Hoosier pie."

Whatever the name or where it came from, recipes for sugar cream pie are well-documented. This is typically a vanilla-flavored pie with very simple ingredients. Once baked, the sugar cream filling solidifies, becoming a Jell-O-like consistency. Hoosier pies are then topped with either cinnamon or powdered sugar. This dessert may taste old-fashioned, but it's a great treat to celebrate your own state with because anyone can make it. Give it a try if you're looking for a simple yet scrumptious dessert that everyone around the dinner table will enjoy.

Kansas' best dessert comes from Germany. The popularity of the cookie in the state is likely due to the fact that Germans were the largest European group to arrive in Kansas, according to the Kansas Historical Society. Thanks to them, peppernut cookies, or pfeffernüsse, (a traditional German spice cookie served around the holidays) have been baked in Kansas kitchens for generations. Traditional Danish and Dutch recipes for similar cookies also likely contributed to the peppernut cookie's appeal.

Today, the cookies are popular with Mennonite or Amish communities throughout the U.S. (via Baker Bettie). Peppernut cookies are named for their use of black pepper, but anise seeds, extract, or oils are usually added as well, creating a licorice flavor in the cookie, reports The Wanderlust Kitchen. Whatever the details, these cookies end up being an orange-brown hue with a spiced flavor. They'll also appear in a small, round shape (like a nut) for a cute visual representation of their name.

Beignets and king cake may come to mind when you think of Louisiana, the state home to New Orleans. But these desserts hardly deserve a state shout-out since the French invented both recipes. Bananas foster, on the other hand, was in fact created in a Louisiana kitchen. Brennan's Restaurant in New Orleans came up with the recipe. Their inspiration to use bananas came out of the city's popularity as a port. The fruit was largely entering the United States through New Orleans from Central and South America at the time, according to New Orleans.com.

Ever since then, Bananas foster has entertained Louisiana diners using the show created by the dangerous-yet-stunning flambe cooking method. To make the dessert, butter is melted into a pan with spices like cinnamon. Bananas are next added and slightly cooked. Then, daring cooks can attempt to set the whole dish on fire by pouring rum into the pan. Once the large burst of flames subsides, the bananas can be removed from heat. Then, add them to a bowl of ice cream. For an extravagant finish, pour whatever is left in the pan into the entire dish.

Maryland is technically a Southern state — in accordance with the fact that all states below the Mason-Dixon Line are considered the South (via Britannica). But Maryland citizens tend to disagree on this topic, according to CBS polling. The official Maryland state dessert is also inspired by this in-between feeling. Smith Island cake is named for the offshore landmass located near the coasts of Maryland and Virginia on the Chesapeake Bay.

Sally's Baking Addiction claims that the cake was made to feed fishermen during the fall oyster-harvesting season. Those who first baked it lined the vanilla cake layers with fudge instead of chocolate icing so the cake would last longer during the fishermen's journey to the mainland. Thanks to this invention, Smith Island cake is today Maryland's official state dessert, reports Visit Maryland. You can attempt to make your own at home, but be warned: This cake is slightly more difficult to bake than other state desserts. There are nine thin layers to be individually baked and stacked.

Up in the Great Lakes area, Michigan is known for its old-fashioned fudge. Lake Huron-located Mackinac Island is where many go to get it. As 12 Tomatoes puts it, "It's a confection that's well over a century old, and those who've tried it absolutely rave about it." While fudge was likely invented in Baltimore during the 1880s, Mackinac Island has been making fudge almost as long, according to Michigan Radio.

To make plain old regular fudge, all you need is chocolate chips and condensed milk. The recipe for Mackinac Island fudge is slightly more complicated. At the very least, butter and sugar need to be added to the melted milk and chocolate mixture before freezing (via Food.com). Other Mackinac fudge recipes recommend adding marshmallows and vanilla extract to heighten the fudge's rich flavor.

Looking to add another Michigan-inspired touch? Add tart cherries. Michigan is the country's leading producer of tart cherries, reports Michigan Grown. If that doesn't fit your taste buds, feel free to use leftover fudge to make another classic Michigan dessert: bumpy cake. The cake is coated with a top layer of fudge frosting (via King Arthur Baking).

Mud pie is a dessert with a strong attachment to its state. Almost every time you hear about this pie, it will be prefaced with the word "Mississippi." This dessert is also famous for having mysterious origins. According to one common explanation, the pie came to be after a waitress saw a piece of melting cake and said it looked to her like the muddy water of the Mississippi river (via Eater). Another origin story claims that Mississippi mud pie evolved from Mississippi mud cake, which is like the pie without a crust. Both stories place the invention of the mud pie during the 20th century in Mississippi, which is proof enough for us that it's an established dessert of this state.

These pies are known for coming in different shapes and sizes. However, all of them at the very least are chocolate-based. Typically, there's also a graham cracker crust base, a brownie cake layer, a chocolate custard layer, and then a white homemade topping of whipped heavy cream (via New York Times Cooking).

We bet there are quite a few places that would like to claim s'mores as their state dessert, but most aren't that lucky. Georgia could be one of them since the s'mores recipe was first published there in 1927 (via Herald-Dispatch). That year, a recipe for "some mores" appeared in a publication from Girl Scouts (which at the time was based in Atlanta). But Girl Scouts' s'mores cookies aren't the real thing that you make around a campfire. In Montana, they make real s'mores. Those treats have become a frequent indulgence thanks to the state's vast natural landscape, which is perfect for camping.

Bozeman Magazine wrote, "S'mores are a Montana and camping tradition." Blogger Kelli Wong said, "Growing up in Montana, making these gooey and sticky treats over the campfire are some of my fondest memories." A writer at Montana Outdoor even ventured to say, "S'mores would taste good if you baked them in an old shoe." Overall, s'mores may not be Montana's official dessert, but some natives are clearly passionate fans of the graham cracker, roasted marshmallow, and melted-chocolate treat.

We have the Basque people to thank for providing Nevada's best dessert. Some of them immigrated to the state during the 19th-century Gold Rush, so there's still some of their food and culture left in Nevada (via Nevada Magazine). Gateau Basque is one of the tastiest recipes still popular there, in cities like Reno, Las Vegas, and Elko (where the National Basque Festival is held), according to Travel Nevada.

Gateau Basque is a tart typically filled with black cherry jam, explains Martha Stewart. Sometimes, this dessert is also referred to as a Basque cake and is prepared with cream instead of a cherry filling. Making true gateau Basque is more complicated than making other many of the other desserts on this list because it's made with fresh pastry dough. Once prepared, the surface of this dough must be decorated with a fine crosshatch pattern. To add to the delicate qualities of this dessert, it's sometimes dusted with confectioners sugar.

Eating salt water taffy is an essential part of living in New Jersey or visiting the Jersey Shore. This sweet remains one of the most iconic state desserts. Salt water taffy was both invented in New Jersey and continues to be extremely popular there. The Digest Online explains that their creator, David Bradley, was the owner of a candy shop on the Atlantic City Boardwalk when it was flooded with sea foam. After the foam left the shop, Bradley continued to sell the candy that had been coated in salty sea juice, calling it "salt water taffy."

That was during the 1880s, but this New Jersey treat can still be found at the state's many boardwalk destinations today. Some businesses still use the more than 100-year-old recipe to make theirs, according to Insider. And yes, the candies are made with salt, so anyone who loves a salty-sweet combo should give it a try.

Fans will love to tell you that this dessert has its roots in ancient Rome, but New York-style cheesecake is a beloved American invention. The key New York ingredient is cream cheese, which makes up the majority of cheesecake's filling. The original New York recipe was developed in the 1900s by restaurant owner Arnold Reuben, owner of Reuben's Delicatessen in Manhattan, according to Cheesecake.com. Lucky Reuben was such an iconic culinary figure — as you may have already recognized his name — the Reuben sandwich was also named after him (via What's Cooking America).

Like the opposite of Boston cream pie, cheesecake is not cake, but pie. Like many other beloved state pies, the crust is made from graham cracker crumbs. Along with cream cheese filling, sour cream is also sometimes added to the filling. On top, a berry compote or shiny berry sauce usually adds some visual interest and a tart, refreshing flavor.

North Dakota is famously full of the descendants of Scandinavian immigrants, especially Norwegians. As a result, the Norwegian homemade dessert of lefse is especially popular. This old-fashioned creation may at first appear like a thick tortilla. But lefse is made from a dough base of potatoes and cream. They're another holiday treat that's stuck itself in the minds of the state through family gatherings, Christmas, and nostalgia. Cooking Channel TV agrees, writing "Lefse, Norwegian potato crepes, are popular in North Dakota, particularly during the winter holiday season."

Like krumkake, another Norwegian dessert popular in North Dakota, lefse is eventually rolled into slender tubes (via AllRecipes). But before that final step, there's a somewhat completed, multi-step process. The potatoes must be peeled, chilled, chopped, boiled, mashed, and made into a dough. That dough also includes flour, heavy cream, butter, sugar, and salt. Once formed, the dough is divided and flattened into small tortilla shapes that are then pan-fried. Lefse is then served warm, spread with butter and sugar, and eaten as a roll.

In Oklahoma, fried pies are a chosen dessert for the state's citizens. The Arbuckle Mountains, a range located in Southern-Central Oklahoma, is where you'll find most of them. According to the Food Network, the mountains "have been home to fried pies since the late 1800s." Typically, Oklahoma fried pies are filled with different fruits, such as apricot, blackberry, or strawberry.

Fried pies are usually bought from a restaurant. They even look a bit like McDonald's apple pies, and both desserts usually come in an open-ended paper container. To make your own Oklahoma fried pies, you'll need to make two components. First, a filling of fruit, sugar, lemon juice, and salt must be cooked down. Then, a three-part pastry dough of simply flour, sugar, and butter has to be assembled. Once all your hard work is completed, you can enjoy the fried pie while it's still warm. This one is going to be a big hit even if you've never been to Oklahoma before.

According to 2018 population data from Amish America, Pennsylvania is the state with the most Amish people. It only makes sense, then, that an Amish recipe would take the title of the state's best dessert. Shoofly pie is now a dessert celebrated by natives of the entire state, although they tend to disagree on a key component. The dry bottom versus wet bottom debate refers to the presentation of a shoofly pie. One has a crunchy gingerbread-like crust, while one has a molasses custard situation near the plate, reports Bird in Hand.

As Taste of Home explains, "Shoofly pie is to the Pennsylvania Dutch as pecan pie is to a Southerner." So it's important to experience this pie if you're ever in Pennsylvania. When you make a shoofly pie, you'll make a pie shell, fill it with the base (molasses and brown sugar), then top the whole thing with a messy crumb topping.

Coconut cake is integral to South Carolina's dessert traditions, as it is in many parts of the South. According to Montclair Local, the coconut cake's origins in the United States are intertwined with slavery. A baker interviewed by the outlet said, "The first coconut cakes in America were made by enslaved people in the south who brought with them from Africa their knowledge of how to break down a coconut."

South Carolinians today are likely to get a slice of this cake in Charleston. Per 12 Tomatoes, "A Charleston coconut cake has up to 12 layers of cake and frosting, making it a towering achievement in cake construction." There are lots of layers and a ton of coconut. There is coconut in each component of the cake, from the frosting to the cake to the coconut cream filling. Coconut flakes are also typically used to decorate the top or sides of the cake.

MoonPies can be found all across Tennessee. These sweet sandwiches could (may be) be confused with whoopie pies since they are both chocolate sandwiches with a cream center, but they're not the same. Tennessee MoonPies are made with vanilla cookies coated in chocolate icing instead of chocolate cookies. As for the celestial name, MoonPies are usually associated with the history of coal mining in Tennessee. A miner taking a break requested a dessert "as big as the moon," and the MoonPies name stuck (via The Culture Trip).

These cookies are mass-produced today by Chattanooga Bakery, which has been making them since 1917, according to their website. But even though this bakery makes sure their goods are sold at places like Walmart and Costco, you can still make your own MoonPies. This pies can be time-consuming to make, but they really are something special when you make them from scratch.

Jell-O is technically Utah's "official state snack food," and we think Green Jell-O salad should be its official dessert. This recipe is not a salad at all. Although there are some savory parts — mayonnaise and cottage cheese — this Jell-O-based concoction ends up rather sweet. Along with the aforementioned delicacies, lime juice, lemon juice, heavy cream, sugar, and sometimes chopped nuts are added to the Jell-O (via Saveur).

The state's interest in Jell-O is sometimes tied to the Mormon population there. This dessert has even been referred to as "Mormon Jell-O salad." According to the Los Angeles Times, Utah residents were consuming twice the annual Jell-O average before 2002. It has been postulated that this is mostly due to attendees of the Church of Jesus Christ using cheap, easy-to=prepare Jell-O to serve fellow church members at religious gatherings (via Parade). Others have guessed that Jell-O's wholesome and nostalgic vibe appealed to LDS church values, which are family-oriented, reports Insider. Despite these theories, the connection has somewhat turned into a stereotype, with some going so far as to call the heavily Mormon-populated parts of Utah the "Jell-O Belt" (via What's Cooking America).

Chess pie is a popular Southern dessert. One origin story claims it was invented when someone asked a baker about their pies, to which the chef replied, "Oh it's jes' pie," (via Washington Post). However, it sounded like "chess pie" because of the cook's Southern accent, so that's what we all call it now. A chess pie is simple a pie involving vinegar, cornstarch, and a crunchy top layer that's similar to pie crust. Why is this pie associated with Virginia specifically? It appeared in the 19th-century cookbook "The Virginia Housewife," says Secret World.

The Cook's Cook tells us that this "vinegar pie" was the original name for this dessert. Although it's a more accurate name, it might be a less appetizing one, they argued: "Chess has nothing to do with this pie at all, but you must admit that 'chess pie' is more palatable on the tongue for modern diners than 'vinegar pie.'"

West Virginia doesn't have an official state dessert, but it is home to the iconic Golden Delicious apple. There's also a lesser-known varietal, Grimes Golden, that's grown in this state, according to the Charleston Gazette-Mail. These fruits can provide the base for various desserts, but there seem to be a few popular apple cake recipes that hail from West Virginia. One Taste of Home recipe developer explained theirs, saying, "My mom makes it for our annual beach trip to the Outer Banks."

A recipe from the Family Cookbook Project entitled West Virginia Apple Cake said grade school students from the state were instructed to make such a cake for class. A contributor to Food.com's recipe even recommended using native Golden Delicious apples in their own apple cake instructions. They added that the recipe was "My Mother-in-law's recipe handed down to my wife. It's a southern West Virginia recipe."

Wyoming's cowboy cookies are a dessert like the s'mores: They are perfect for enjoying around the campfire. That's how they were likely first enjoyed, as well. The name of this dessert supposedly comes from when cowboys would take them on the trail as a sweet and energizing snack. But you don't have to go for a horseback ride to enjoy them anymore. These cookies are essentially deluxe oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. Pecans or walnuts and shredded coconut make them extra special, according to MasterCook.

Cowboy cookies are a simple pleasure, perfect for the peaceful state of Wyoming. And the state loves them. Blogger Cooking and Beer offered a reason for their popularity there. She compared the lumpy cookies to Wyoming's mountainous landscape, saying these "cookies are basically the definition of Wyoming. Not only are they breathtaking and remarkable, but they are also super loaded with deliciousness."