Let’s Celebrate National Dessert Day with a Dessert from Every State

National Dessert Day is one of my favorite National Days. I mean, who doesn’t love a sweet treat every once in a while? I know I enjoy a nice piece of pie, cake, or another dessert on occasion. Especially when I am traveling. Have you tried to find out the must-try dessert of a destination you visited? I never did until a few years ago. That is when I decided that I simply needed to try the favorite state dessert while on vacation. Today, let’s celebrate National Dessert Day as I share the dessert from every state. This way, you can enjoy the local favorite dessert during any of your future family vacations.

Let’s Celebrate National Dessert Day with a Dessert from Every State

Alabama – Lane Cake

The lane cake is a bourbon-flavored layer cake with coconut pecan icing.

Alaska – Baked Alaska

Baked Alaska is an ice cream and cake dessert that is topped with meringue.

Arizona – Buñuelos

Buñuelos are fried dough balls. Most of the time, they are topped with cinnamon and sugar or powdered sugar.

Arkansas – Fried Pies

The fried pies in Arkansas are often filled with peaches and apples. Although, these flaky pastries can be filled with other fruits on occasion.

California – Fortune Cookies

Everyone knows what a fortune cookie is, although you may be surprised they are California’s must-try dessert. Maybe it is because everyone in California loves to read their fortune to see if good luck is headed their way??

Colorado – Palisade Peach Cobbler

There isn’t an official state dessert in Colorado. However, this state is known for its Palisade peaches. The dish made the most with those peaches is the Palisade peach cobbler.

Connecticut – Apple Cider Donuts

Apple cider donuts are everywhere during the fall in the state of Connecticut. They can be purchased at apple orchards, grocery stores, and even farm stands. It is not as easy to find these delicious treats any other time of the year though. So, if you want to try an apple cider donut in Connecticut, you must plan your family vacation accordingly.

Delaware – Peach Pie

The official state dessert in Delaware is peach pie. This state has been known for growing peaches since it became one of the colonies. In fact, back in 1875, Delaware shipped six million baskets of peaches around the country.

Florida – Key Lime Pie

I am sure you are not surprised that the must-try dessert in Florida is key lime pie. This dessert dates back to the 1800s. The very first recipe wasn’t written down until the 1930s, though.

Georgia – Peach Pie

I am seeing a peach theme in a few states here. Although Georgia is the one state where I knew peaches would be in the state dessert. They need to make something with all the peaches grown in Georgia.

Hawaii – Malasadas

Malasadas are airy powdered donuts. This is one of the state desserts you could probably eat for breakfast.

Idaho – Ice Cream Potato

An ice cream potato is ice cream formed into the shape of a potato. The ice cream is then coated with cocoa powder. The ice cream potato is split in half, so the inside can be filled with whipped cream and other toppings.

Illinois – Brownies

There are many different brownie recipes, and any of them can be used for Illinois’ state dessert.

Indiana – Sugar Cream Pie

Inside the sugar cream pie crust, you will find a filling of creamed butter, brown sugar, and vanilla-flavored cream. It is believed the Shaker and Amish communities in Indiana created this pie.

Iowa – Caramel Corn

With all the corn grown in Iowa, you shouldn’t be surprised there is plenty to use to make caramel corn.

Kansas – Peppernut Cookies

Peppernut cookies are spiced cookies. These cookies were brought to Kansas during the 1870s. While they can be made at any time of the year, you will see them the most during the holiday season.

Kentucky – Derby Pie

The filling inside the derby pie is made from chocolate and walnuts. The original recipe is still a secret. But you can find multiple variations if you want to make your own.

Louisiana – Beignets

Beignets are powdered donuts. They are available throughout the state. However, many people say the best are at Café du Monde in New Orleans.

Maine – Whoopie Pies

Whoopie pies are two soft chocolate cookies that have a creamy filling in between.

Maryland – Smith Island Cake

There are normally between eight and ten layers in a Smith Island cake. The cake is always yellow. Each layer is separated by chocolate frosting.

Massachusetts – Boston Cream Pie

The Omni Parker House Hotel in Boston is thought to be the first place to sell Boston cream pie. This pie is actually two cake layers separated by a creamy filling. The entire cake is then topped with melted chocolate.

Michigan – Cherry Pie

Michigan is known for growing cherries and shipping them all over the country. However, the locals always save enough to make sure they can have cherry pies for the year.

Minnesota – Bundt Cake

The Bundt pan was invented in Minnesota, so it isn’t shocking that the Bundt cake is their must-try dessert. There are so many variations of this cake available. This is good news if you want to eat dessert more than once while on a family vacation.

Mississippi – Mississippi Mud Pie

Mississippi mud pie is made with cake, pudding, biscuits, ice cream, marshmallows, and whipped cream. There is usually a form of liqueur thrown in there too.

Missouri – Ice Cream Cone

The kids will be thrilled to eat Missouri’s must-try dessert, the ice cream cone! The very first cone was made and eaten in this state.

Montana – S’mores

Montana doesn’t have an official dessert. However, many of the locals have decided that the state’s dessert is s’mores. These sweet treats are always welcome when there are flames in the fire pit.

Nebraska – Sweet Corn Ice Cream

The locals in Nebraska love corn, and they somehow managed to find a way to use it in ice cream. The result is their flavorful sweet corn ice cream.

Nevada – Basque Cheesecake

Basque cheesecake has all the components of a regular cheesecake. This version doesn’t have a crust, though. And you are expected to burn the top when you make it.

New Hampshire – Apple Pie

Apple orchards are everywhere in New Hampshire. All those apples needed to be used to make something, so the locals chose apple pie.

New Jersey – Saltwater Taffy

Being down along the shoreline in New Jersey always means saltwater taffy. Locals and tourists alike stand in line to grab this sweet treat to remind them of their time by the ocean.

New Mexico – Empanadas

Most empanadas are savory, but there are a few sweet varieties available. It is those sweet and fruity varieties that people love to devour for dessert in this state.

New York – New York Cheesecake

New York Cheesecake is rich and creamy. The original version never needs any toppings, which is how the locals like it.

North Carolina – Krispy Kreme Donuts

Krispy Kreme Donuts sells delicious glazed donuts that people go crazy for. While these are normally breakfast items, there is no rule that says you can’t eat them for dessert. Especially in North Carolina.

North Dakota – Chocolate-Covered Potato Chips

Chocolate-covered potato chips may have been invented in Iowa. But they have become the favorite dessert in North Dakota. If you love a little salt with your chocolate, this is the dessert for you!

Ohio – Buckeye Candy

Buckeye candy is named after the state’s tree. These candies are basically peanut butter coated in melted chocolate.

Oklahoma – Pecan Pie

Tons of pecans are mixed with other ingredients before being baked into a delicious pecan pie in this state. This dessert goes perfectly with the state’s official meal. That meal includes barbecue pork, fried okra, squash, cornbread, sausage and gravy, biscuits, corn, chicken fried steak, black-eyed peas, and corn.

Oregon – Marionberry Pie

Marionberries are similar to blackberries. You make this pie just like you would any other fruit pie.

Pennsylvania – Funnel Cake

Funnel cakes can be found at fairs around the country. But in Pennsylvania, you may find people making it inside their own homes too.

Rhode Island – Del’s Frozen Lemonade 

Back in 1948, the only dessert option at Del’s Lemonade Stand was this frozen lemonade. This dessert is now synonymous with summer in this state.

South Carolina – Coconut Cake

The best coconut cake in South Carolina will have twelve layers of coconut. I recommend checking the number of layers before ordering to make sure you are getting authentic coconut cake.

South Dakota – Kuchen

Kuchen is a type of cake. You can use many different types of fruit in this dessert. The most common fruits though are apples and berries.

Tennessee – Moon Pies

Moon pies are two graham cracker cookies that have a marshmallow filling in between. The sweet treat is then coated in melted chocolate.

Texas – Pecan Pie

The locals in Texas also love a slice of pecan pie. It was first made in this state back in the 1870s.

Utah – Jell-o

You knew we couldn’t get through all the states before we found one that had Jell-o as the state dessert! This is one of the easiest desserts to make.

Vermont – Maple Creemee

Maple creemee is a type of soft ice cream. The ice cream has a lower fat base. And it is flavored with real Vermont maple syrup.

Virginia – Chess Pie

The main filling in chess pie includes butter, eggs, and sugar. Most of the time, fruit and nuts are added for extra flavor.

Washington – Nanaimo Bars

Nanaimo bars are layers of graham crackers, chocolate, and pudding.

West Virginia – Shoofly Pie

The main ingredient in shoofly pie is molasses. So, as long as you love molasses, you will love this pie.

Wisconsin – Kringle

A Kringle is a pastry that is filled with chocolate, nuts, jams, or fruit.

Wyoming – Huckleberry Ice Cream

Huckleberries can be found in abundance in Wyoming. So, the locals used them to create huckleberry ice cream.

These are the favorite desserts in all fifty states. I hope you get to enjoy one of them as you celebrate National Dessert Day! Although, maybe you would prefer to plan a vacation and eat one of these desserts in its authentic destination instead. I know I am ready to take another family vacation!

So, are you ready to plan a family vacation to celebrate National Dessert Day?

If you said yes, I would like to invite you to schedule a planning session with me by clicking here. When you click on this link, you will be taken directly to my digital calendar to schedule a time that is convenient for you.

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