We all know our country has an impressive dessert culture, with a wide range of delicious and creative options to choose from. Americans, after all, have a sweet tooth with more than half of all adults indulging in dessert at least once a week. Just check the spread at Wicked Spoon and you’ll know what we’re talking about. Here are some of the best desserts to try:
Portland Maine’s Whoopie Pies at Two Fat Cats Bakery
Two Fat Cats Bakery has generated nationwide buzz for its cheekily named Maine whoopie pies. The classic whoopie pie is Two Fat Cats royalty and one of the best desserts in the country. The Food Network and Cooking Channel cameras have even visited the bakery to get an inside look at the whoopie pie baking process.
Detroit Michigan’s Sea Salt Chocolate Chunk Cookie at Avalon International Breads
Avalon International Bread’s Sea Salt Chocolate Chunk Cookie is hands down the best cookie in Michigan. The cookie has a perfect balance of sweet and salty, with a golden-brown exterior and bursting smooth chocolate chunks on the inside. The chocolate chip cookie is so popular that the bakery’s staff shares it with locals at special events.
Philadelphia Pennsylvania’s Classic Cannoli at Termini Brothers Bakery
Termini Brothers Bakery in South Philadelphia has been perfecting the classic cannoli for years. They use fresh sheep’s milk ricotta as its main ingredient. The pipe shaped shell which houses the decadent sweet cheese is then carefully fried to give you multiple textures and flavors.
Cambridge Massachusetts’ Salty Caramel Ice Cream at Toscanini’s
Toscanini’s is a 30-year old Boston institution that has been named “The World’s Best Ice Cream” by the New York Times. The Salty Caramel ice cream is a mixture of sweet and salty, with a silky smooth base and deeply caramelized sweetness.
Asheville North Carolina’s Cinnamon Sugar Donuts at Hole Donuts
Hole Donuts in Asheville, North Carolina, serves up a soft yeast dough base with inventive coatings like Strawberry and Black Pepper Donut. However, the cinnamon and sugar variety captures the art of simplistic perfection, allowing the fried dough base to shine. Every donut here is freshly fried, making it impossible to overlook the dedication to detail.
Charleston South Carolina’s Ultimate Coconut Cake at Peninsula Grill
Charleston’s Peninsula Grill offers the Ultimate Coconut Cake which features a 12-layer centerpiece with six layers each of coconut cake and cream cheese frosting, all even in decadent thickness.
Chicago Illinois’ Key Lime Pie at Bang Bang Pie & Biscuits
Chicago serves up one of the country’s best Key lime pies and you can get it at Bang Bang Pie & Biscuits. The pie has a lusciously smooth key lime custard and a flaky crust. The pie strikes the perfect balance between sweet and tart, making it the perfect way to end a meal.
New York City New York’s Kouign-amann at Dominique Ansel Bakery
Dominique Ansel’s Kouign-amann is a delightful pastry that combines the flakiness of a croissant with the caramelized sweetness of a palmier cookie. The pastry is created by folding layers of butter in between yeasted dough and adding a dusting of granulated sugar. The final product is a caramelized croissant that is the bakery’s best-selling item.
New Orleans Louisiana’s Creole Bread Pudding Soufflé at Commander’s Palace
Commander’s Palace is an institution in New Orleans and they’ve built a name for themselves in haute creole cuisine. The Creole Bread Pudding Soufflé has a luxurious base made with warm spices, eggs and cream. It is then topped with soft and fluffy French bread with a side of whiskey sauce.
Atlanta Georgia’s Cookies and Milk Pie at Joy Cafe
Joy Cafe’s Cookies and Milk Pie is a childhood dream come true. The warm and crispy cookie exterior is touched by a glass of cold milk, leaving an addictive aftertaste. Executive Chef Joy Beber spent months perfecting the recipe and what you get is a flavor that mimics a soft chocolate chip cookie that has been dipped in milk.
Chicago Illinois’ The Meaning of Life at Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse
Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse is a classic American steakhouse that has been drawing crowds in Chicago since 1989. In addition to its corn-fed, aged beef, the restaurant is also known for its enormous dessert, “The Meaning of Life.” This towering cake weighs a whopping 6-pounds per slice and features five layers of decadence, including chocolate mousse, banana, raspberry, and whipped cream.