Americans are serious about our sweets. Whether desserts are chocolatey or fruity, simple or decadent, our country loves sugar in almost any form. But what are the most fav desserts the United States has to offer?
We looked into American history to find out which desserts truly make up the United States’ culinary story (spoiler alert: many of them are Southern). Here are a few of the sweets that are popular across the land, from sea to shining sea. Just don’t be surprised if you have a hankering for a baked treat after reading this scrumptious list. And once you’re done reading about the best desserts in the country, don’t miss these American Desserts.
Boston cream pie
Combining light vanilla cake, vanilla custard, and chocolate ganache, Boston cream pie is a gem of a dessert. The first Boston cream pie was made in the restaurant of the Parker House Hotel, which is now the Omni Parker House in Boston.
The first version of Boston cream pie used sponge cake filled with custard and drizzled with chocolate icing. As with many other iconic American desserts, Betty Crocker published a Boston cream pie recipe on its boxed mix and expanded its popularity. If you’re interested in the original version, the Omni Parker House delivers Boston cream pie across the country.
Banana pudding
Banana pudding is a quintessential Southern treat, but it’s also one of the most popular desserts in the United States. Home cooking at its best, the creamy vanilla pudding, whipped meringue, and bananas are layered with sweet Nilla wafers.
Banana pudding isn’t the easiest dessert to create, and cooks can be tempted to cut corners. But to truly appreciate the depth of flavor and texture, using the original banana pudding recipe is best. After it sits for a day, the wafers meld into the custard while still providing a complement to the smooth pudding.
Baked Alaska
A Baked Alaska features cool ice cream on top of a sponge cake, completely covered with meringue, and baked quickly in the oven to brown. As legend has it, Thomas Jefferson served an ice cream and meringue dish very similar to today’s version of Baked Alaska in the White House in 1802.
The final recipe, meanwhile, is said to have been created and named by French Chef Charles Ranhofer at Delmonico’s in New York to celebrate the purchase of Alaska in 1867. The classic Baked Alaska is still on the Delmonico’s dessert menu today.
And for more nostalgic treats, don’t miss these Classic American Desserts That Deserve a Comeback.
Buckeyes
The Ohio legislature adopted the Ohio Buckeye as its state tree in 1953. Around the same time, the Ohio State football team adopted the nickname “Buckeyes,” with Brutus Buckeye serving as its mascot. Residents of Ohio referred to themselves as Buckeyes as early as the 1840s.
Basically, the nut from this tree resembles a deer’s eye, with a brown covering revealing a light brown center. A married couple of Ohio football fans, Gail and Steve Lucas, received a gift of some chocolate-covered peanut butter balls for Christmas. Gail recreated the recipe, but she didn’t cover the peanut butter entirely. The visible portion of peanut butter looked like the nut from a buckeye tree. And from that day forward, Gail made the candy for tailgating crowds. It became a tradition for Ohio State’s most devoted fans.
Indiana sugar cream pie
The unofficial state pie of Indiana, Indiana Sugar Cream Pie is also called “Hoosier Pie.” It is a rich custard in a buttery pie crust, dusted thickly with powdered nutmeg.
The original recipe was influenced by the easy availability of cream and sugar, and the lack of fresh fruit and nuts in the area for working families, explains the Indianapolis Star. The filling is whisked together, occasionally cooked on the stovetop, and added to the crust to bake. Stirring while the pie is baking keeps it from rising and results in a thick, creamy interior. Another name for the pie is “Desperation Pie,” a dessert born from economic hard times and ingenuity.
Stay Tuned … Part 3 Comming soon.