Official State Desserts

[weinoo]

In today's NY Times, there's a piece about an about to be designated state of Maryland dessert, the Smith Island cake.

With the blessing of state lawmakers in Annapolis, a sweet blend of flour, butter, eggs and chocolate may provide an economic boost to this small, struggling island in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay.

I don't believe NY has one (though the state fruit is the apple, which would perhaps make the apple pie a good choice). Does your state have an "official" dessert? If so, what is it? If not, what should it be?

[gfron1]

New Mexico does have an official cookie - the Biscocho or Biscochitto. Lots of lard and a hint of anise - delish!

[TongoRad]

...

I don't believe NY has one (though the state fruit is the apple, which would perhaps make the apple pie a good choice). ...

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It looks like Vermont has already staked claim to the Apple Pie. For New York, if we have to choose something, it's gotta be Cheesecake, no?

[LVic]

For New York, if we have to choose something, it's gotta be Cheesecake, no?

I'd say "definitely".

And speaking for New Jersey... our state dessert should probably be cannoli.

Edited because "definitely" was definitely spelled wrong!

Edited April 25, 2008 by LVic (log)

[Stefferdoos]

Suggestions for states I've lived in:

New York - no doubt about it, the Cheesecake

Massachusetts - another no brainer, Boston Cream Pie

New Hampshire - wow, I lived there for 7 years and I can't really come up with a definitive dessert for the state. Lots of people seemed to be fond of making Blueberry Buckle but it was always after they had been to Maine over the weekend and gotten some blueberries there.

Texas - possibly the Pecan Praline? Though, I am sure there are many southern states that would like to claim this as their own.

Well, what do you know. The Boston Cream Pie is already the Official State Dessert of Massachusetts http://www.foodreference.com/html/fdesserts.html.

Edited April 25, 2008 by Stefferdoos (log)

[Lindacakes]

I'd like to argue against cheesecake for New York. I don't know anyone who is big on cheesecake. I'd vote for rice pudding or black and white cookies. It's difficult to speak for the entire state, though.

I grew up in Ohio and I'd like to cast this vote: Glorified Rice. It has likely died away by now, but when I was a Cakelet growing up, many a church supper and potluck included it.

White rice, canned mandarin oranges, canned pineapple, and miniature marshmallows held together in a salad-like consistency with Cool Whip. My neice and nephews are fond of some goop that I believe is Cool Whip and Jello mixed together. I've never tasted it, but I feel that it's the bastard child of Glorified Rice.

I've only traveled through New Mexico, my opinion doesn't count, but I'd vote for sopapillas.

[MarketStEl]

Well, I note that Pennsylvania has yet to name an official state dessert, but I suspect if it did, it would be shoo fly pie.

However, the official state beverage -- milk -- is a common ingredient in many desserts.

[SuzySushi]

We don't have a state dessert in Hawaii, but if we did, it would surely be haupia (coconut custard).

[JeanneCake]

We don't have a state dessert in Hawaii, but if we did, it would surely be haupia (coconut custard).

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Or shave ice maybe?

[JTravel]

New York has no official dessert, but the state fruit is the Apple and the state tree is the Sugar Maple, .....combine them with pastry and you get ......an Apple Dumpling? But the State Muffin is the Apple Muffin.

New York Symbols

[Alex]

For Michigan, without a doubt, cherry pie. Possibly this one.

[judiu]

May be speaking thru my hat here, but I believe Florida's is the Key Lime Pie.

[Lilija]

As far as Jersey having the cannoli as the official dessert....

Sure, only if we all start calling it a "guh-nOOL"

[djyee100]

I'm originally from Massachusetts, so I remember this story.

The Boston Cream Pie became the Massachusetts State Dessert when a high school civics class in 1996 asked the legislature to designate it as the state dessert. It was a class project. They thought they were choosing an uncontroversial subject. Wrong. Lobbies developed to make the Toll House cookie or Indian pudding the state dessert. After a legislative battle, the students and Boston Cream Pie won out. Those students learned more about real-life civics than they had bargained for.

The following year, a third grade class asked the legislature to designate the Chocolate Chip (or Toll House) cookie the Official State Cookie. The legislature acceded. They like to make people happy.

I'm waiting for Indian pudding to be designated the Official State Pudding.

You can read about the Massachusetts State Dessert controversy in the Boston Globe archives for a fee (see bottom of list). http://search.boston.com/local/Search.do?s...ate=&s.endDate=

[Lindacakes]

SuzySushi, I just got back from Hawaii -- how does the mac nut pie stack against haupia?

On an eGullet tip I went to Costco and bought a mac nut pie. Wowee was that good, and a can of Qwip to go with it.

I also enjoyed going through a drive-through window and getting two slices of pie. I like a state where you can get drive-through pie.

[pennylane]

This has been an obsession of mine for a year now. I came to pretty much the same conclusions listed here except that I chose buckeyes for Ohio and Texas sheet cake for Texas.

[racheld]

Yours all sound remarkable, legislated or no.

I'll throw in a bid for Mississippi: Nanner Puddin'

[Busboy]

Maryland just got its official dessert last week.

EWELL, Md. -- As she stacks and frosts her 10-layer yellow cake with chocolate icing, Beverly Guy will not share the recipe, for one simple reason: all those commercial bakers on the mainland. They've been selling what she calls "Smith Island-like" cake, and that just doesn't sit well with her.

Looks good.

[Zeemanb]

Well, after a little research it looks like Missouri may have an official state dessert by the end of May......it will be the ice cream cone. Generic, yet iconic....something to do with it making its debut at the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis. So I guess that makes sense, even though I think my flourless chocolate torte/Nutella concoction known as "Satan's Glorious Victory" would make a WAY better choice.....

[Gifted Gourmet]

Florida - Key lime pie - Official state pie - 2006

Louisiana Beignet Official State doughnut 1986

Louisiana Natchitoches Meat Pie Official State meat pie 2003

Maryland Smith Island Cake State dessert 2008

Massachusetts Corn muffin Official muffin 1986

Massachusetts Boston Cream Pie Official dessert or dessert emblem 1996

Massachusetts Chocolate Chip Cookie Official cookie 1997

Massachusetts Boston Cream Donut Official donut 2003

Minnesota Blueberry muffin Official muffin 1988

New Mexico Biscochito Official cookie 1989

New York Apple muffin Official muffin 1987

Oklahoma Fried okra, squash, cornbread, barbecue pork,

biscuits, sausage and gravy, grits, corn, strawberries,

chicken fried steak, pecan pie, and black-eyed peas. Official State meal 1988

South Dakota Kuchen Official State dessert 2000

Vermont Apple pie State pie 1999

http://www.roadfood.com/forums/topic.asp?T...D=27009񢆂

Georgia, where I live, must be a peach pie since that is the official fruit ...

Edited April 28, 2008 by Gifted Gourmet (log)

[emilyr]

Well, after a little research it looks like Missouri may have an official state dessert by the end of May......it will be the ice cream cone.  Generic, yet iconic....something to do with it making its debut at the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis.  So I guess that makes sense, even though I think my flourless chocolate torte/Nutella concoction known as "Satan's Glorious Victory" would make a WAY better choice.....

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Also - MO has an official tree nut (Eastern Black Walnut) and an official grape (Norton/Cynthiana). If you have the nuts on a cheese tray with a Norton wine, would that count as dessert?

[sherrid]

Well as I live in Australia, I will give you a few Aussie desserts that we would call "ours":

Lamingtons - Basically a cube-shaped sponge cake dipped in chocolate icing then rolled in desiccated coconut. They are also often cut in half where stawberry jam and whipped cream is added, but I prefer them plain. Here is a pic:

Pavlova - This was named after the Russian dancer, Anna Pavlova while she toured Australia and New Zealand. It's a meringue with cream and fruit on top.

We also have the ANZAC biscuit (or cookie) which stands for the Australia and New Zealand Army Corps which were invented when wives/girlfriends of overseas soldiers sent them over due to worrying about their nutrition during war. We have just had ANZAC day which is a commemortaive day, honouring the solders that were killed in WW1 at Gallipoli. The biscuit is made with golden syrup, oats, and flour and are delicious:

Edited April 29, 2008 by sherrid (log)

[SuzySushi]

We don't have a state dessert in Hawaii, but if we did, it would surely be haupia (coconut custard).

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Or shave ice maybe?

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Maybe... but it doesn't travel well , and IMO it's too similar to snow cones, which are available elsewhere. There's no equivalent of haupia!

[SuzySushi]

SuzySushi,  I just got back from Hawaii -- how does the mac nut pie stack against haupia?

On an eGullet tip I went to Costco and bought a mac nut pie.  Wowee was that good, and a can of Qwip to go with it.

I also enjoyed going through a drive-through window and getting two slices of pie.  I like a state where you can get drive-through pie.

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I still vote for haupia! Or if you want to be really decadent, chocolate haupia pie -- which is filled with a layer of haupia, a layer of chocolate pudding, and topped with whipped cream!

[hummingbirdkiss]

I dont think Washington has a dessert?

but I personally think it should be blackberry cobbler or even better huckleberry pie!

Edited April 29, 2008 by hummingbirdkiss (log)