Take a sweet trip across the U.S.A. with 50 iconic state desserts representing every state in the country! From famous pies and classic cakes to cookies, bars, and unique regional treats, I’m celebrating the desserts and food traditions America loves best.
Fifty states. Fifty desserts. One seriously sweet trip across America! If you’ve ever wondered what the most famous dessert is from your state, then you are in the right place. I have personally visited all 50 states and think that the U.S.A. has some of the best desserts from coast to coast.
I made an iconic dessert from each of the 50 states and it was one of my favorite baking projects I have ever done. After meticulously researching each state’s most famous dessert recipes, I used more pounds of butter, sugar, and eggs than you can imagine testing each recipe multiple times to find the very best ones.
From pies and cakes to cookies, bars, and plenty of unexpected regional favorites, these iconic treats are a delicious taste of what makes every state unique.
By popular demand, here they are all in one place, along with some honorable mentions for states where my pick was perhaps slightly more controversial.
A couple things to keep in mind:
- Some desserts definitely apply to more than one state. I’m looking at you pecan pie and peach cobbler.
- Some states didn’t have an obvious choice. I reached out to locals as much as possible for their thoughts and opinions about what dessert best represents their state.
- Some states had multiple options making it really hard to choose just one!
- Order of Appearance: I listed these in reverse order from when they joined the Union, starting with the 50th state (Hawaii) and working backwards to the 1st state (Delaware).
50. Hawaii – Haupia Pie
The magic of this pie is in the dreamy contrast of silky coconut and chocolate pudding, all tucked into a buttery crust. Every bite reminds me of one of my favorite Hawaiian desserts!
Honorable Mentions: Macadamia Nut Ice Cream, Hula Pie, Shave Ice
49. Alaska – Mixed Berry Cobbler
Our family visited Alaska in 2024 and fell in love with it’s majestic and untamed wildness. This easy berry cobbler recipe is the ultimate comforting no-fuss dessert, with the fresh summer berries (a true Alaskan treat for humans and bears alike) blending together to create a sweet, slightly tart filling that contrasts beautifully with the sweet cobbler crust.
Honorable Mention: Baked Alaska
48. Arizona – Sopapillas
Crisp on the outside and soft and fluffy inside, then drizzled with honey for a touch of sweetness, Sopapillas are a quick and easy fried treat that can be made in under 30 minutes with just a handful of pantry ingredients!
47. New Mexico – Biscochitos
These crunchy sweet anise-flavored cookies have deep roots in Southern New Mexico, where they’re a beloved holiday tradition, especially around Christmas.
46. Oklahoma – Pecan Pie
Ooey-gooey, crunchy, sticky and sweet, a classic pecan pie is one of my all-time favorite desserts that is part of Oklahoma’s official state meal. But it’s celebrated across the South from Texas (it’s their official state pie) to Georgia to Alabama!
Honorable Mention: Fried Hand Pies
45. Utah – Green Jell-O
I ruffled some feathers when I chose a green Jell-O as Utah’s iconic dessert, but I grew up on Jell-O salads, all my family lives in Utah, and I did both undergrad and law school there at BYU, so I feel qualified to make this bold claim. The gelatin aisle at any grocery store in Utah is truly astonishing and worth checking out if you visit. Love it or hate it, a molded Green Jell-O Salad is an American icon and a favorite at our house!
Honorable Mentions: Lunch Lady Bars, BYU Mint Brownies, Graham Canyon Ice Cream, Raspberry Cream Pie, Swig Frosted Sugar Cookies, Raspberry Milkshakes, Utah Fried Scones
44. Wyoming – Cowboy Cookies
I had to give a nod to the Cowboy State with these cookies that are packed with chewy oats, melty chocolate chips, crunchy pecans, and sweet coconut. One of my personal favorites from the entire series.
43. Idaho – Ice Cream Baked Potato
Easily the most viral recipe I shared on Instagram in this series. Idaho may be famous for potatoes, but this ice cream dessert just goes to show that potatoes can be playful, too!
42. Washington – Apple Crisp
Washington is famous for its apples! The ratio of crumbly streusel to fruit in this classic apple crisp recipe makes my heart happy. I’m always disappointed in a crisp with too much fruit and just a sprinkling of the crisp part of our favorite fall dessert.
41. Montana – Huckleberry Pie
I fell in love with wild huckleberries on a summer trip to Montana with my husband and our kids. The sweet and tart berries are surrounded by flaky pie crust in this homemade huckleberry pie. If you don’t have fresh or frozen huckleberries on hand, I’ve got a hack for you as well so you can enjoy huckleberry pie too!
Honorable Mention: Bear Claws
40. North Dakota – Kuchen
Our friends live in Gackle, North Dakota and they introduced us to their state dessert. Soft, sweet, and rich with history, kuchen (pronounced “koo-gen”) is more than just dessert in North Dakota. It’s also part of the cultural identity of the region. This beloved fruit-filled pastry traces its roots back to the ethnic group known as the Germans-from-Russia, whose influence still shapes the Dakotas today.
Honorable Mention: Lefse
39. South Dakota – Rhubarb Cake
Rhubarb cake is an old fashioned recipe that doesn’t get nearly as much credit as it should! It’s so easy to toss together and it tastes as impressive and incredible as it looks. Our Airbnb host outside of Mt. Rushmore made this cinnamon-sugar topped cake for us and shared her recipe. It is delicious for snacking, enjoying for a breakfast treat, or serving for a dessert with a small scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream on the side.
38. Colorado – Peach Cobbler
Folks were surprised when I named peach cobbler as an iconic Colorado dessert rather than giving it to Georgia, but if you have ever tried Colorado Palisade peaches you’ll understand why. Fresh Peach Cobbler just may be the ultimate summer dessert comfort food. It’s simple, easy and a timeless classic with a buttery cobbler topping, fresh juicy peaches, and hints of cinnamon in a rich, sweet syrup.
Honorable Mention: Rocky Mountain Avalanche Bars
37. Nebraska – Tin Roof Sundae
I was born and raised in Nebraska, home of the Tin Roof Sundae. This Nebraska original was created in the tiny town of Potter at the Potter Sundry back in the 1930’s and became so well-loved that ice cream companies like Blue Bunny, Turkey Hill, Breyer’s, and even Baskin-Robbins have created tin roof ice cream recipes using these flavors.
36. Nevada – Gateau Basque
Inspired by Nevada’s Basque population, you can think of Basque cake as a cross between a pie and a tart rather than what we more commonly think of as a traditional cake made with layers of sponge cake and frosting. The sweet crust is more cookie like and sweeter than a traditional pie crust. And while it could probably be filled with anything you can dream up, the traditional filling options are a classic vanilla pastry cream or cherry jam.
Honorable Mention: Basque Cheesecake
35. West Virginia – Appalachian Apple Stack Cake
I chose this dessert to represent West Virginia, but it is popular throughout the mountain communities of Kentucky and Tennessee as well. Unlike layer cakes piled high with buttercream frosting, an Appalachian Apple Stack Cake is all about the filling. Thin cake layers are stacked with a rich apple mixture made from dried apples that have been cooked down into a thick, spreadable filling.
Honorable Mention: Vinegar Pie
34. Kansas – Sour Cream Raisin Pie
Gently spiced custard filled with plump raisins nestled in a flaky pie crust and tucked under a layer of toasted sweet meringue in this Sour Cream Raisin Pie that is a Midwest classic! It might sound strange but give it a try and you’ll be pleasantly surprised!
33. Oregon – Brown Butter Hazelnut Chunk Cookies
If Oregon were a cookie, I think it would be this one. 99% of the hazelnuts grown in the United States come from Oregon (where they actually call them “filberts”), so I thought it was fitting to make something inspired by the state rather than claiming some long-established “official” Oregon dessert. But these were so over-the-top incredible that I think we should petition the state to adopt this cookie as its official state dessert. They even give tribute to my favorite character from “The Goonies”!
Honorable Mention: Marionberry Pie (basically my blackberry pie but made with marionberries)
32. Minnesota – Chocolate Bundt Cake
Bundt cakes as we know them originated in Minnesota! If you haven’t made a bundt cake in ages because you are afraid of it sticking to the pan or coming out dry, this is your sign to give it another try. This rich chocolate bundt cake is made from scratch and 1,000x better than any cake mix version.
31. California – Lemon Olive Oil Cake
If you’ve never baked a cake with olive oil before, this is the recipe to use. I tested it four times to be sure everything is balanced so it turns out for you the first time you make it! The olive oil gives the cake a delicate richness and incredibly moist texture without making it feel heavy, while the lemon keeps everything bright and fresh. I love that this cake feels just a little sunshiny and California-inspired with the olive oil and citrus!
Honorable Mention: Orange Julius, Frozen Chocolate Bananas
30. Wisconsin – Kringle
Named Wisconsin’s “official state pastry” in 2013, the kringle is one of the Midwest’s most iconic treats. If you’ve ever visited Racine, Wisconsin, then you probably know that this pastry is practically part of the city’s heritage, brought to America by Danish immigrants and made famous by bakeries like O&H Danish Bakery. My ancestors were Danes (I even went to visit Denmark to see places where they came from) so I feel a special love for this recipe!
29. Iowa – Scotcheroos
Creamy & crunchy scotcheroos are a Midwest favorite! Crunchy Rice Krispies cereal and a peanut butter mixture are pressed into a pan, then topped with butterscotch and chocolate topping in these no-fuss bars! Growing up in the Midwest, I remember eating Scotcheroos at every potluck and bake sale I think I ever went to.
28. Texas – Texas Sheet Cake
If you have a sweet tooth and you’re looking to feed dessert to a crowd at family gatherings or potlucks, look no further than this Texas sheet cake recipe! My grandma used to make this classic recipe every summer to take to our annual family reunion and it’s been a favorite all my life.
Honorable Mentions: Pecan Pie, Tres Leches Cake
27. Florida – Key Lime Pie
Key Lime Pie is tangy, tart, and lightly sweet with that signature citrus bite, but it’s also smooth, creamy, and refreshing. Paired with a buttery graham cracker crust and topped with soft whipped cream, it’s iconic Florida.
Honorable Mentions: Key Lime Cake, Key Lime Cupcakes
26. Michigan – Cherry Pie
Michigan is famous for its tart pie cherries! The best cherry pie recipe is simple and uses only a few simple ingredients to make the homemade filling. The cornstarch, sugar, and cherry juice get cooked on the stove to thicken the filling before adding the cherries. Done right, and the filling will have just enough stability so that you can cut gorgeous slices of pie that will hold up while still being juicy. Follow this recipe and you’ve got cherry pie perfection every time.
Honorable Mention: Bumpy Cake
25. Arkansas – Possum Pie
As soon as I saw this on a list of popular Arkansas recipes I was intrigued. Did it really have possum in it? Truthfully, I was both relieved and a little disappointed to find out that possum pie is NOT a savory meat pie. Instead, it has a sandy pecan shortbread crust, layers of cream cheese, chocolate pudding, and sweetened whipped cream. My version is made from-scratch with no box pudding mix so it tastes even better than the original!
Honorable Mention: Strawberry Shortcake
24. Missouri – Gooey Butter Cake
Gooey Butter Cake is a St. Louis original with a yeast-raised bottom layer and a rich, buttery baked custard layer made with eggs, corn syrup, and sugar on top. It is a deliciously sweet treat that is more like a cross between a chewy brownie or bar cookie and a dense coffee cake than its name implies.
23. Maine – Whoopie Pies
Soft, chocolatey, and cake-like on the outside with fluffy sweet marshmallow frosting in the middle, these Whoopie Pies (also known as “gobs” in some places) are completely irresistible! It is the official state treat, but Pennsylvania also makes a claim to this popular state dessert.
Honorable Mention: Blueberry Pie
22. Alabama – Lane Cake
This Alabama dessert icon was created in the late 1800’s by Emma Rylander Lane. She won first prize at the county fair for this dessert, published a cookbook with the recipe listed as “Prize Cake”, and it became such a sensation that Harper Lee included multiple references to Lane Cake in her book, “To Kill a Mockingbird.” I’ll admit that I didn’t think I would like this one when I was working on this series and it ended up being one of my favorites!
Honorable Mentions: Peanut Butter Pie, Moon Pies
21. Illinois – Brownies
Did you know brownies were invented in Illinois for the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893? My homemade brownie recipe really is the best because they are made with real chocolate AND cocoa powder so that they are the most decadent, extra fudgy and dense brownies you’ve ever tasted. You won’t believe how easy it is to make brownies from scratch with a tissue-thin crinkly crust that rival any mix!
Honorable Mention: Pumpkin Pie, Pumpkin Roll
20. Mississippi – Caramel Cake
When it comes to a traditional caramel cake, the real star of the show is the decadent caramel icing that is cooked on the stovetop to slowly caramelize the sugars and evaporated milk. Shortcut versions use brown sugar and powdered sugar to mimic the result, but they just aren’t the same as the real thing. This is the best caramel cake because it’s made the old-fashioned way from scratch!
Honorable Mentions: Mississippi Mud Pie, Mississippi Mud Brownies
19. Indiana – Sugar Cream Pie
This pie was surprisingly divisive when I shared it on Instragram. Thousands of hoosiers proclaimed their love for it while the same number of hoosiers claimed they had never heard of it. But according to lore, this pie was made in times when there was no fresh fruit available for fruit pies but it could be made with pantry ingredients that were on hand on farms, like fresh cream, flour, and sugar. It uses just a handful of ingredients to create something totally special and unique that reminds me of a cross between a snickerdoodle, flan, panna cotta, and creme brulee.
18. Louisiana – Beignets
These soft, fluffy Beignets are pillows of fried dough that have been generously dusted with powdered sugar and inspired by the ones from Cafe Du Monde in New Orleans. Learning how to make beignets at home in your own kitchen is easier than you would think and they are every bit as delicious!
Honorable Mentions: King Cake, Bread Pudding, Bananas Foster, Pecan Pralines
17. Ohio – Buckeyes
Buckeyes are an Ohio classic! The creamy soft peanut butter centers mostly coated with rich dark chocolate, leaving just a circle of the filling exposed on top for that signature look of the famous Ohio icon. Buckeyes are a classic homemade candy that is popular at Christmas but can be enjoyed all year long!
Honorable Mention: Buckeye Brownie Cookies (Crumbl Copycat Recipe)
16. Tennessee – Banana Pudding
Here’s a truth: I don’t really like bananas. Unless they are in a creamy, dreamy dessert like this Southern banana pudding. Or baked into banana bread. Or sliced into banana cream pie. Okay, so I like bananas, just not plain bananas. Multiple states can claim this dessert, but it definitely has a spot in Tennessee food culture!
15. Kentucky – Chocolate Walnut Pie
With a flaky, buttery crust and rich filling, this Kentucky Chocolate Walnut Pie is a state favorite, especially on Derby Day! Although not quite the same as the famous derby pie, which as I understand it, is a super-secret recipe that typically contains bourbon and possibly pecans in place of walnuts, it’s pretty close to the slices I had when we visited Louisville on vacation.
Honorable Mentions: Sawdust Pie, Kentucky Butter Cake
14. Vermont – Maple Cream Pie
This Maple Cream Pie has the silkiest maple custard that practically melts in your mouth. It’s nestled in a graham cracker crust, then finished with a generous swirl of sweetened whipped cream that makes every bite completely irresistible. It felt like a natural fit since Vermont is famous for it’s maple syrup!
13. Rhode Island – Fluffernutter Cookies
Are these fluffernutter cookies more Massachusetts than Rhode Island? Maybe. But after talking with a number of Rhode Islanders, this is where we landed on something that felt in line with Rhode Island. The marshmallow-stuffed giant peanut butter cookies topped with marshmallow fluff and a drizzle of peanut butter are messy, but definitely worth it.
12. North Carolina – Sweet Potato Pie
When I first made this southern classic I was dubious about whether I would actually enjoy it. Mostly because it looks and smells so similar to pumpkin, which just isn’t my favorite. But I was hooked from the very first bite of the rich, perfectly sweet filling in the buttery, flaky shell. It’s richer, smoother, and just so much more flavorful. It’s the superior Thanksgiving Day pie (I said what I said).
Honorable Mention: Atlantic Beach Pie
11. New York – NY-style Cheesecake
This really is the best classic NY-style cheesecake recipe I have ever made, you’ll get a classic, beautiful cheesecake every time! It’s a straightforward, practically fool-proof method, and you can bake it with or without a water bath (definitely not required). With a buttery graham cracker crust, and a rich and creamy vanilla filling, you can eat it plain or with your favorite cheesecake topping!
Honorable Mentions: Levain Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies, Chocolate Babka, Black & White Cookies
10. Virginia – Peanut Pie
Virginia peanut pie has that same gooey, glossy filling and buttery flaky crust as pecan pie, but instead of pecans, it’s loaded with roasted salted peanuts. This simple, homey pie is made with pantry staples and exactly the kind of pie that proves you do not need a mile-long ingredient list to make something really special.
9. New Hampshire – Apple Cider Donuts
Unlike baked donuts that use a donut pan, these apple cider donuts are fried. While I don’t often fry things at home, I made an exception for these apple cider donuts because I wanted to recreate them as best I could and I knew a baked version just wouldn’t cut it.
8. South Carolina – Coconut Cake
This Coconut Cake is fluffy and moist, completely made from scratch, and easier than you think! It’s made with shredded sweetened coconut, coconut extract, and coconut milk to give you the best coconut flavor. It’s a South Carolina favorite.
Honorable Mention: Hummingbird Cake
7. Maryland – Smith Island Cake
Smith Island Cake is famous for its impossibly thin cake layers stacked high with chocolate fudge icing in between. It has a strong connection to Smith Island and the Chesapeake Bay and was made the official state dessert of Maryland in 2008. Traditionally, Smith Island Cake has anywhere from 8 to 10 layers of yellow cake, which gives it that instantly recognizable look once sliced. Mine has 9 layers, and I have to say, there is just something so satisfying about seeing all those delicate layers stacked together.
6. Massachusetts – Boston Cream Pie
Massachusetts-born Boston Cream Pie isn’t a pie at all, but actually a cake. When it was created in the late 1800’s, the layers were actually baked in pie plates, hence the pie moniker. The name stuck and in 1996, the state of Massachusetts made Boston Cream Pie its official state dessert.
5. Connecticut – Snickerdoodles
Your search for the best Snickerdoodle Cookies recipe is over. This easy snickerdoodle recipe is my go-to for this cinnamon-sugar coated, soft and chewy sugar cookie recipe that is a perennial classic! The real key to a soft and chewy snickerdoodle cookie is to not overbake.
Honorable Mention: Snickerdoodle Cake
4. Georgia – Peach Ice Cream
Of course Georgia’s iconic dessert has peaches and nothing says summer like creamy homemade peach ice cream. With 4 million+ views and hundreds of 5 star reviews, this is the best homemade peach ice cream recipe on the internet and one of the most popular recipes on my site.
Honorable Mentions: Southern Peach Pie, Coca-Cola Cake
3. New Jersey – Cannoli
I used to eat cannoli all the time when I lived in New Jersey. They’re one of my favorite treats and the good ones were easy to find at bakeries nearby. I often pick up the shells from a local bakery but make the filling myself to save time, but you can do the whole thing with this recipe!
Honorable Mention: Crumb Cake
2. Pennsylvania – Shoofly Pie
Shoofly Pie is an American classic from Amish country, where the sticky molasses filling is a tradition among the Pennsylvania Dutch and others familiar with the region. It bakes up perfectly moist and has the perfect balances of spices, rich molasses, and a buttery, flaky crust.
Honorable Mentions: Strawberry Pretzel Salad, Banana Split, Old-Fashioned Apple Dumplings
1. Delaware – Peach Pie
This Peach Pie recipe will be your dessert of the summer! Filled with juiciest, sweetest fresh peaches and made with a flaky, buttery double-crust, homemade peach pie is as beautiful as it is delicious and wonderful served à la mode with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Honorable Mention: Fresh Strawberry Pie
What state are you from?
Is there a dessert from your state that I should include in my list? I would love to hear in the comments below!
