Alabamas most famous dessert is undoubtedly Lane cake, a bourbon-laced layer cake with coconut pecan icing. The dish is popular throughout the South but was first invented by Alabama native Emma Rylander Lane, of Clayton, Alabama, who won first prize for her dessert in a Georgia state fair. She later printed the recipe in a book in 1898, according to PBS. Advertisement
It probably comes as no surprise that Alaskas most famous dessert is baked Alaska. However, while many associate the dessert with the 49th state, the dish was actually invented in New York by French chef Charles Ranhofer. According to The Culture Trip, the flambéed dessert was first served by the chef to celebrate the United States purchase of Alaska in 1867.
According to data by Google Trends, despite not being invented there, Alaska searches for the dessert more often than any other state. Advertisement
Fried dough balls called buñuelos, which are originally from Spain, are a popular dessert throughout Arizona. The doughnuts often come topped with powdered or cinnamon sugar.
Fried pies, which are warm, flaky pastries often filled with fruits like peaches and apples, are a veritable Arkansas tradition. Advertisement
Though fortune cookies have become tied with Chinese-American restaurants, their origins may actually come from Japanese, not Chinese, immigrants in the states.
As chop suey restaurants took off in popularity in the 1920s and 1930s, many Japanese immigrants also owned the establishments.
In 1914, one Japanese-American owner of a tea garden in California began handing out cookies with thank-you notes hidden inside them. Its generally accepted that this is when the cookies were first introduced to American diners looking for “dessert” after their meal.
While the state pie of Virginia is actually peanut pie, this variation is a wonderful creamy ode to the pie, which is served at the very popular Virginia Diner.
MISSISSIPPI: Mississippi mud pie
Mississippi mud pie, a dessert made with pudding, cake, biscuits, ice cream, whipped cream, marshmallows, and some kind of liqueur, was invented in the Vicksburg-Natchez area near Jackson, Mississippi, according to Eater. Advertisement
NEW YORK: New York cheesecake
New York cheesecake is one of the states biggest pride and joys, and the dessert proves that to be delicious, you dont need tons of add-ons and toppings. This simple cheesecake recipe was reportedly first invented in 1929 by Arnold Reuben, the owner of Turf Restaurant in New York City, according to Whats Cooking America. Advertisement
The Absolute Best Desserts In Every State
FAQ
What is the state dessert of Virginia?
Which states have an official dessert?
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State
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Food type
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Food name
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Maine
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State dessert
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Blueberry pie made with wild Maine blueberries
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State treat
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Whoopie pie
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State sweetener
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Pure Maine maple syrup
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Maryland
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State dessert
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Smith Island Cake
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What is the state food of Virginia?
What is Maryland’s state dessert?
Smith Island cake was named Maryland’s official state dessert in 2008. The sweet layer cakes traditionally consist of around eight to 10 layers of yellow cake, separated by layers of chocolate frosting. Boston cream pie. Boston cream pie is the official dessert of the commonwealth.
What is the state dessert of Delaware?
While you may association peaches with Georgia, the official state dessert of Delaware is peach pie. The state was actually the country’s leading producer of peaches during the 19th century. Try making the state’s most iconic pie with this recipe that comes straight from Delaware. For the Peach Custard Pie recipe, click here.
What is the state dessert of Massachusetts?
The official state dessert of Massachusetts is blueberry pie, which only makes sense considering the state is one of the top blueberry producers in the country. Another state, another state fish. The Brook Trout was declared the official state fish of Michigan in 1988, beating out the brown, rainbow and lake trout.
Is Huckleberry a state dessert?
Named the official fruit of Idaho in 2000, huckleberries are a popular pie ingredient throughout the state. In 2018, there was talk of making huckleberry pie the official state dessert, but ultimately lawmakers decided not to pass the official dessert bill. Pumpkin pie was designated the official state pie of Illinois in 2015.