America’s Top Regional Desserts: 15 Sweet Treats You Must Try

From buckeyes and biscochitos to marionberry pie, across the United States, there are beloved sweets that hold deep local significance and are a must for visitors to sample.

Some of these desserts are so irresistible, they could spark a battle for the last bite.

Here are 15 of the finest regional desserts to savor across the United States:

Whoopie pie, a beloved treat from New England and Pennsylvania

The origin stories of many delicious treats are often debated, and the whoopie pie is no exception.

Both Pennsylvania and Maine claim to be the birthplace of the chocolate cake-like cookie sandwiches filled with cream. Pennsylvania attributes the creation to Amish cooks, while Maine insists that Labadie’s Bakery in Lewiston first sold them in the 1920s.

Maine took it a step further by officially declaring the whoopie pie as the state 'treat' in 2011 (not to be confused with the state dessert, blueberry pie).

Lane cake, a sweet Southern specialty from Alabama

Alabama has its own state dessert: Lane cake. This layered cake features a rich filling made from raisins soaked in bourbon or brandy, sometimes with added pecans and coconut.

Emma Rylander Lane of Clayton, Alabama, is credited with creating the Lane cake and lending it her name. The recipe first appeared in her 1898 cookbook 'Some Good Things to Eat.' This Southern delicacy also makes an appearance in Harper Lee’s 'To Kill a Mockingbird.'

Marionberry pie, a beloved treat from Oregon

Named after Marion County, Oregon, the marionberry is a hybrid of Chehalem and Olallie blackberries. Introduced in 1956, the marionberry is known for its 'tart, earthy sweetness,' making it ideal for fresh eating, according to the Oregon Raspberry & Blackberry Commission.

Marionberries are also fantastic in pies, and by July, bakeries are filled with pies made from these sweet, tart berries nestled in a rich, buttery crust. Lauretta Jean’s Pie Bakery in Portland takes full advantage of the short marionberry season.

Key lime pie, a Florida classic

The true origins of the iconic key lime pie have been debated in recent years, much to the dismay of Floridians. Despite the debates, the pie has deep roots in Florida and holds the title of the state pie. (However, the recent designation of strawberry shortcake as the state dessert has caused some key lime pie enthusiasts to voice their concerns.)

Small, tart key limes, once grown commercially in the Florida Keys, are at the heart of this pie, which is considered Key West's signature dish. While Britannica mentions that today, many pies use imported limes or bottled juice, the classic version features a graham cracker crust filled with a tangy custard made from key lime juice and sweetened condensed milk.

Gooey butter cake, a beloved treat from Missouri

St. Louis gooey butter cake is believed to have been created by a fortunate mistake in the 1930s.

While not Missouri's official state dessert (that title belongs to the ice cream cone, which has roots in the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair), the rich, dense cake with its signature gooey center can be found all over St. Louis. It's available in its classic form or with variations like lemon or butter pecan, often topped with a dusting of powdered sugar.

Shave ice, a beloved Hawaiian treat

Shave ice made its way to Hawaii through sugar plantation workers from Japan, where the dessert known as kakigori had been enjoyed for centuries. It features finely shaved ice that absorbs a syrup of your choice.

Matsumoto Shave Ice, founded in 1951 on Oahu’s North Shore, has been delighting locals and tourists alike with its cool treat for generations. Flavors range from tropical options like passion fruit and pickled mango to more traditional choices like raspberry and bubblegum. Toppings such as condensed milk, vanilla ice cream, and azuki beans are also available.

A mysterious chocolate nut pie, Kentucky

A delicious chocolate walnut pie from Kentucky has been the subject of legal disputes. Kern’s Kitchen in Louisville claims to have created the pie in 1954 and holds a registered trademark for ‘Derby-Pie®.’

The company takes its trademark very seriously.

Kern’s Kitchen’s website states, ‘Protecting our trademark means protecting our reputation and the integrity of our product. While we prefer to settle disputes amicably, we won’t hesitate to take legal action if needed.’ In 2021, the Louisville Courier-Journal won a trademark battle over the use of the term ‘derby pie’ in a recipe and article. Is it a pie worth fighting for? Give it a taste and decide for yourself.

Moravian sugar cake, North Carolina and Pennsylvania

This coffee cake is the perfect addition to a holiday brunch or a sweet companion to your coffee at any time of day. Its origins trace back to the Moravian Church communities in North Carolina and Pennsylvania, where it has been enjoyed for centuries.

In Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Dewey’s Bakery has been crafting these buttery delights since 1930. The city is also known as the birthplace of the incredibly thin Moravian cookie, traditionally spiced with molasses, cloves, and ginger.

Buckeyes, Ohio

Peanut butter and chocolate come together in this no-bake delight. Named after the Buckeye tree, which produces nuts resembling a deer's eye, these candies are a true taste of Ohio.

Legend has it that these delicious, bite-sized confections, where peanut butter balls are mostly coated in dark chocolate, were first created in the 1960s by Ohioan Gail Tabor.

Originally shared during Ohio State-Michigan football games, these sweet treats soon became a favorite far beyond the state's borders.

Boston cream pie, Massachusetts

Described as 'a pie in cake’s clothing' by Yankee Magazine, the Boston cream pie consists of luscious pastry cream nestled between two golden cake layers, all topped with a velvety chocolate glaze.

This dessert imposter is believed to have originated at the Parker House Hotel in Boston, now known as the Omni Parker House, which opened in 1855. Boston cream pie is even the official state dessert of Massachusetts. (And yes, Boston cream is also the state doughnut.) The reason it's called a 'pie' remains a mystery.

Bananas Foster, Louisiana

This flambéed banana treat, made with butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, rum, and banana liqueur – then set alight tableside and served atop vanilla ice cream – was invented at Brennan's Restaurant in New Orleans. The dish was created for a 1951 dinner in honor of Richard Foster, chairman of the New Orleans Crime Commission, as reported by The Times-Picayune.

At Brennan's, this fiery dessert is available at breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and it remains the most popular item on the menu. Ready to try it at home? Here's the recipe. But proceed with caution if you're new to flambéing.

Smith Island cake, Maryland

Featuring up to 10 layers of delicate yellow cake, each separated by rich fudge frosting, this cake from Maryland's Smith Island is believed to be a recipe passed down through generations. It was officially designated as Maryland's state dessert in 2008, drawing national attention to the cake and its island origin in the Chesapeake Bay, a tiny place accessible only by boat.

Today, two bakeries – Smith Island Bakery and Smith Island Baking Company – ship various flavors of the iconic cake nationwide.

Coconut cake, Southern states

The exact origin of coconut cake is elusive, but these rich layer cakes, generously coated with shredded coconut, have been a Southern favorite since the 1800s. According to baker and author Anne Byrn, enslaved African cooks were likely responsible for introducing coconut and perfecting some of the region's finest cakes.

Here’s a cherished family recipe from Cheryl Day, owner of Back in the Day Bakery in Savannah, Georgia.

Biscochitos, New Mexico

This anise-flavored cookie dusted with cinnamon sugar was introduced to New Mexico by early Spanish settlers. Designated the official state cookie in 1989, New Mexico proudly claims biscochitos as the first state cookie in the country. Traditionally made with lard, the dough is rolled thin and often cut into festive shapes. These cookies are a holiday staple and frequently appear at weddings and other special occasions.

Texas sheet cake

Texas Monthly once shared that it received an overwhelming number of letters discussing the best method to prepare this beloved thin chocolate cake, often linked to funerals and church gatherings.

The cake’s connection to Texas remains unclear, although its vast size is a plausible explanation. Typically baked in a jelly-roll pan, the cake is undeniably large. The cocoa flavor shines through in both the cake itself and its frosting, which often includes nuts.