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.
S’mores
Nothing adds more to a campfire than s’mores, a gooey roasted marshmallow squished with a chocolate bar between layers of graham cracker. The creation seems to have its roots in camping, with a recipe for “Some Mores” appearing in a 1927 Girl Scout guide to making campfires.
Everyone has their own favorite way of roasting marshmallows. But whether you lightly turn and brown the sweet meringue or catch it on fire, it tastes wonderful with its chocolate and graham cracker sandwich.
Lane cake
Lane Cake has won prizes, it’s been used by renowned chefs, and it was mentioned in To Kill A Mockingbird. According to legend, Lane Cake was invented by Emma Rylander Lane, who published her lane cake recipe in 1898.
Lane Cake is made up of a rich butter cake frosted with a sweet syrup of pecans, raisins, coconut, vanilla, bourbon, sugar, and butter. The rich ingredient list results in a special and different type of cake creation.
Bananas foster
In the 1950s, Paul Bland at Brennan’s in New Orleans created a dessert to highlight the recent influx of bananas to the local ports. He named the recipe Bananas Foster, after a local civic and business leader who was friends with the owner of Brennan’s.
Half dessert and half experience, Bananas Foster features flaming banana liqueur or rum. The process is a dramatic spectacle, and it creates a smoky sauce that is poured over vanilla ice cream. Brennan’s now uses around 35,000 pounds of bananas each year making Bananas Foster for diners.
Black and white cookies
The melting pot of cultures in our country has given us amazing recipes and foods, and black and white cookies are no exception. The treat was created by Glaser’s Bake Shop, which unfortunately closed permanently in 2018, after 116 years in business.
German immigrants created the cookie, which is actually more like a cake. The batter has extra flour added to make it firm, and then it lands on a baking sheet in a cookie-like shape. After baking, the cookies are topped with one side of vanilla icing and one side of chocolate icing.
Swiss roll
This confection is also called a jelly roll or, in finer establishments, a roulade. Swiss roll is made of a light sponge cake rolled around jam, whipped cream, or icing.
The popularity of rolled cakes took off in America in the 1800s. Swiss rolls roots are European, but not necessarily Swiss, but the title has lived on.
When cut into slices, the dessert has a gorgeous spiral pattern. Swiss rolls are one of the most popular pre-packaged desserts in the United States, made by the Little Debbie company since 1960.
Stay Tuned … Part 4 Coming soon.