Can't-Miss Desserts in Each State

Can’t-Miss Desserts in Each State

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Connor Brooke Last updated: September 3, 2015

Dessert is the perfect ending to any meal. It’s also a fun way to get adventurous with your taste buds. FindTheHome and WanderBat searched each state to find a unique and delicious dessert that would make a road trip there worth the drive.

Why settle on store-bought ice cream when you can enjoy amazing dessert experiences? Each state features desserts that not only please the tongue but take you on a local experience, from the notorious blarnies in Iowa to the classic favorite of sweet potato pie in Wyoming. Let’s not forget the world’s largest chocolate fountain in Las Vegas’ Bellagio or the can’t-miss deep fried pecan pie from the Texas State Fair.

Whatever your favorites are, we compiled a list of desserts sure to spark your interest. It might even inspire your next vacation destination. A trip to New Orleans to try the best beignets in the world—why not?

#1. Maryland

Dessert to Try: Cannoli
Where to Go: Vaccaro’s Italian Pastry Shop in Baltimore

#2. Texas

Dessert to Try: Deep Fried Pecan Pie
Where to Go: Texas State Fair in Dallas

#3. California

Dessert to Try: Ice Cream Sandwiches
Where to Go: Diddy Riese in Los Angeles

#4. Arkansas

Dessert to Try: Sweet Potato Pie
Where to Go: Wilson Cafe in Wilson

#5. Kansas

Dessert to Try: Butterscotch Meringue Pie
Where to Go: The Upper Crust in Overland Park

#6. Colorado

Dessert to Try: Nutella Waffle
Where to Go: Central Bistro and Bar in Denver

#7. Illinois

Dessert to Try: PBJ Wonder Bread Pudding
Where to Go: Hearty in Chicago

#8. Florida

Dessert to Try: Nutella Crepe
Where to Go: Otentic Fresh Food Restaurant in Miami

#9. Delaware

Dessert to Try: Salted Caramel Peanut Brownie
Where to Go: Hartford Bakery Co. in Hartford

#10. Arizona

Dessert to Try: Push Pop. A kid’s favorite gets a tasty upgrade with butter pecan vanilla bean ice cream, sea-salt caramel and a brownie.
Where to Go: Bink’s Midtown in Phoenix

#11. Georgia

Dessert to Try: Fried Apple Pie
Where to Go: The Varsity in Atlanta

#12. Idaho

Dessert to Try: Beer Cake Ball. Light beer cake with vanilla frosting topped with crushed pretzels.
Where to Go: The Cake Ballers in Boise

#13. Alaska

Dessert to Try: Moose Pie. A classic mud pie with an Oreo crust, rich coffee ice cream, fudge, roasted almonds and fresh whipped cream.
Where to Go: Moose’s Tooth in Anchorage

#14. Michigan

Dessert to Try: Chocolate Hazelnut/Buttercream Pączki
Where to Go: New Palace Bakery in Detroit

#15. Louisiana

Dessert to Try: Beignets
Where to Go: Cafe du Monde in New Orleans

#16. Indiana

Dessert to Try: Salted-Chocolate Brickle. Caramelized saltines drizzled with chocolate and bourbon-caramel sauces, served with cream cheese ice cream.
Where to Go: Black Market in Indianapolis

#17. Iowa

Dessert to Try: Blarnies. These are native to Iowa. Blarnies are yellow cake squares covered in buttercream frosting, rolled in ground salted peanuts.
Where to Go: Sweetheart Bakery in Clinton

#18. Nevada

Dessert to Try: World’s Largest Chocolate Fountain
Where to Go: The Bellagio in Las Vegas

#19. South Dakota

Dessert to Try: Mango Passion Soft Caramel
Where to Go: CH Patisserie in Sioux Falls

#20. Kentucky

Dessert to Try: Wedding Cake Frozen Custard
Where to Go: Sheridan’s Lattés and Frozen Custard in Crown Center

#21. Connecticut

Dessert to Try: Salted Caramel Peanut Brownie
Where to Go: Hartford Bakery Co. in Hartford

#22. Wisconsin

Dessert to Try: Garlic Ice Cream. Sweet cream blended with a substantial amount of roasted fresh garlic.
Where to Go: Purple Door Ice Cream in Milwaukee

#23. Maine

Dessert to Try: Chocolate Almond Amaretto with Cake
Where to Go: The Bar of Chocolate Cafe in Portland

#24. Hawaii

Dessert to Try: Lilikoi Cheesecake
Where to Go: Cake Envy in Honolulu

#25. Minnesota

Dessert to Try: Salted Caramel Macarons
Where to Go: Cocoa & Fig in Minneapolis

#26. Mississippi

Dessert to Try: Wedding Cake Frozen Custard
Where to Go: Sheridan’s Lattés and Frozen Custard in Crown Center

#27. Vermont

Dessert to Try: Maple Bacon Cupcake
Where to Go: My Little Cupcake in Burlington

#28. New Mexico

Dessert to Try: Charlie Brown Donut. A donut with brownie bits on top.
Where to Go: Rebel Donut in Albuquerque

#29. Montana

Dessert to Try: Zeppolis
Where to Go: Ciao Mambo in Missoula

#30. Alabama

Dessert to Try: Buttermilk Popsicle. Perfect, surprisingly, for cheesecake lovers.
Where to Go: Steel City Pops in Auburn

#31. North Dakota

Dessert to Try: Chippers. Ridged potato chips covered in chocolate, peanut butter, or white almond sauce.
Where to Go: Widman’s Candy Shop in Fargo

#32. New Hampshire

Dessert to Try: Mini Chocolate Cappuccino Babka
Where to Go: Small Batch Baking Company in Dover

#33. Virginia

Dessert to Try: Kalamansi Pie. Kalamansi is a traditional Filipino lime. This dessert has a nice balance of sweet and tart to offer the palate.
Where to Go: Sweet City Desserts in Vienna

#34. New Jersey

Dessert to Try: Pink Cotton-Candy Cake
Where to Go: Sammy D’s in Atlantic City

#35. Missouri

Dessert to Try: Chocolate Martini
Where to Go: Baileys’ Chocolate Bar in St. Louis

#36. West Virginia

Dessert to Try: Fried Oreos
Where to Go: Cafe One Ten in Oak Hill

#37. Oklahoma

Dessert to Try: Southern Style Banana Cream Pie
Where to Go: Pie Junkie in Oklahoma City

#38. New York

Dessert to Try: Frozen Hot Chocolate
Where to Go: Serendipity 3 in New York

#39. Ohio

Dessert to Try: Lemon Polenta Cake
Where to Go: Chinato in Cleveland

#40. Massachusetts

Dessert to Try: Olive-Oil Chocolate Cake
Where to Go: Area Four in Boston

#41. Utah

Dessert to Try: Orange Chocolate Mousse Cake
Where to Go: Red Butte Cafe in Salt Lake City

#42. North Carolina

Dessert to Try: Sweet Purple Sticky Rice. Served with a coconut custard and mango puree.
Where to Go: Bida Manda Laotian Restaurant and Bar in Raleigh

#43. Wyoming

Dessert to Try: Chipotle Chocolate Pudding
Where to Go: Atelier Ortega in Jackson

#44. Nebraska

Dessert to Try: Kolache
Where to Go: Kolache Days Festival in Verdigre

#45. Oregon

Dessert to Try: Mayan Truffle
Where to Go: Moonstruck Chocolate Cafe in Portland

#46. Pennsylvania

Dessert to Try: S’Mores Bar
Where to Go: La Petite Patisseries in Lancaster

#47. Rhode Island

Dessert to Try: Currant Walnut Rugelach
Where to Go: Pastiche in Providence

#48. South Carolina

Dessert to Try: The Purple Goat. This treat has a berry-goat-cheese filling with lavender glaze.
Where to Go: Glazed in Charleston

#49. Tennessee

Dessert to Try: Strawberry-Covered Chocolate Pie
Where to Go: The Loving Pie Company in Nashville

#50. Washington

Dessert to Try: Cracker Jack Cake
Where to Go: LloydMartin in Seattle

This article was written for Business 2 Community by Connor Brooke.
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Author: Connor Brooke

Connor is a Scottish financial expert, specialising in wealth management and equity investing. Based in Glasgow, Connor writes full-time for a wide selection of financial websites, whilst also providing startup consulting to small businesses. Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Finance, and a Master’s degree in Investment Fund Management, Connor has…

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