Vanilla ice cream. Fudgey brownies. Chocolate chip cookies. Apple pie. Salivating yet? In honor of National Dessert Day (as if we needed a reason to celebrate our favorite treats), Explorica’s bringing you on a virtual journey through the country to highlight some of America’s great regional desserts. While many of our nation’s favorites have European origins, most of the confections listed here were created right here in the US. Let’s dig in!
Hawaii: Shave Ice
Yep, that’s “shave ice” and not “shaved ice.” This frozen delicacy, popular throughout the Hawaiian islands, differs from a snow cone in that the block of ice is shaved rather than crushed. Try a popular tropical flavor like guava, passion fruit or lychee, or add some sweetened condensed milk to make what the locals call a snow cap.
Missouri: Gooey Butter Cake
Traditionally made in St. Louis, gooey butter cake is flat, rich, and sickly sweet. Legend has it that a German baker accidentally mixed up his proportions of butter and flour when making a classic yellow cake, and the happy accident that resulted was so popular during the Great Depression that he continued baking them. Now that’s a mistake we can get behind!
Maine: Whoopie Pies
Cookie, pie, sandwich or cake? The jury’s still out, but there’s one thing we can all agree on: whoopie pies are certainly tasty. Though both Pennsylvania and Maine claim a stake in the dessert’s creation, Maine recently declared whoopie pies the official treat of the state — not to be confused with the state’s official dessert, blueberry pie.
Ohio: Buckeyes
O-H-I-O! Whether or not you’re a fan of the Ohio State Buckeyes, if you’re from Ohio or any of the surrounding states, odds are you’ve had a fair share of buckeyes in your lifetime. This creative confection, designed to look like the nut of the Buckeye tree, combines chocolate and peanut butter (the best of both worlds) with powdered sugar and butter. Go forth and eat (sweets).
Wisconsin: Kringle
Okay, this one wasn’t created in America, but it’s still a regional dessert. Popular in the town of Racine (thanks to its Danish-American culture), kringles are hand-shaped, stuffed pastries topped with a layer of white icing. Kringle is the official state pastry of Wisconsin, and it’s available in more than 25 flavors including traditional nuts, fruit and even birthday cake.
Want to try these regional desserts for yourself? Check out our North America tours to get started, or contact your Program Consultant for more information.