The Atlas · A Nation of Pie

American Desserts & Sweets

155 of United States's 679 ranked dishes are sweets, and unusually they are led not by a cake or a cookie but by frozen custard: Frozen Custard, the Midwest's dense, eggy ice cream, Nº 392 worldwide.

155 dishes ranked·22.8% of the cuisine·9,643 diner ratings·Top rank Nº 392

American sweets are regional before they are national. 155 of the country's ranked dishes are desserts, and the list reads like a road trip: Wisconsin frozen custard, Oregon's marionberry pie, a Brooklyn blackout cake, Vermont maple cream, key lime from the Florida shore. The pie, more than any cake, is the through-line.

None of it reaches the global heights, though: the best-rated American sweet is frozen custard at Nº 392, and no dessert from the United States cracks the world's top 250. What the country lacks in peak it makes up in spread, with the deepest benches in the South and around New York City. Fame runs to the everyday: the most-reviewed American sweet is the humble brownie. Read them below: the signature sweets, by region, or the complete list of all 155.

The Signature Sweets

Twelve signature sweets in rank order, four told in full, then eight more from the bakery case.

Frozen Custard, ice cream from United States
Plate IIce Cream · Wisconsin

1Nº 392 worldwide

Frozen Custard

Ice Cream · Wisconsin

A denser, silkier cousin of ice cream, made with egg yolks and churned slow so almost no air gets in. Milwaukee calls itself its capital, serving it fresh from the machine at roadside stands, thick enough to hold its shape on a cone.

★ 4.2|59 ratings

Brownies, chocolate dessert from United States

2BrowniesNº 1,174

Chocolate Dessert · United States

Dense, fudgy squares of baked chocolate batter, somewhere between cake and confection, usually with a papery crackled top. An American classic since the early 1900s, served plain, studded with walnuts, or warm under a scoop of vanilla.

★ 4.0|587 ratings

Marionberry Pie, sweet pie from United States

3Marionberry PieNº 1,209

Sweet Pie · Oregon

A Pacific Northwest pie built on the marionberry, a dark, tart-sweet blackberry bred in Oregon in the 1950s. The fruit is baked under a lattice crust until it collapses into a deep, jammy filling. Oregon's summer pie.

★ 4.0|17 ratings

Blackout Cake, chocolate cake from United States

4Blackout CakeNº 1,628

Chocolate Cake · New York City

The Brooklyn bakery legend named for wartime blackout drills: layers of dark chocolate cake filled with chocolate pudding and coated in fudge frosting, then rolled in cake crumbs so it reads as pure chocolate.

★ 3.9|10 ratings

  1. Maple Cream Pie, sweet pie from United States5

    Maple Cream Pie

    Nº 1,657

    Sweet Pie · Vermont★ 3.9

  2. Gooey Butter Cake, cake from United States6

    Gooey Butter Cake

    Nº 1,807

    Cake · St. Louis★ 3.9

  3. New York-Style Cheesecake, cheese dessert from United States7

    New York-Style Cheesecake

    Nº 1,988

    Cheese Dessert · New York City★ 3.9

  4. Black Bottom Pie, sweet pie from United States8

    Black Bottom Pie

    Nº 2,313

    Sweet Pie · Southern United States★ 3.8

  5. Molten Chocolate Cake, chocolate cake from United States9

    Molten Chocolate Cake

    Nº 2,482

    Chocolate Cake · New York City★ 3.8

  6. Key Lime Pie, sweet pie from United States10

    Key Lime Pie

    Nº 2,516

    Sweet Pie · Florida★ 3.8

  7. Indian Pudding, pudding from United States11

    Indian Pudding

    Nº 2,565

    Pudding · New England★ 3.8

  8. Huckleberry Pie, sweet pie from United States12

    Huckleberry Pie

    Nº 2,851

    Sweet Pie · Idaho★ 3.8

The Gazetteer

Where America's sweets are made

The regions of the United States with the deepest dessert traditions. Choose one to filter the complete ledger below.

Placed dishes only · top 6 regions

  7. Another 43 ranked dishes are logged simply as pan-American, with no single regional home.

The Complete Ledger

All 155 American desserts & sweets in the world ranking, every entry.

155 entries
  1. 392 Frozen Custard Ice Cream Wisconsin ★ 4.2
  2. 1,174 Brownies Chocolate Dessert United States ★ 4.0
  3. 1,209 Marionberry Pie Sweet Pie Oregon ★ 4.0
  4. 1,628 Blackout Cake Chocolate Cake New York City ★ 3.9
  5. 1,657 Maple Cream Pie Sweet Pie Vermont ★ 3.9
  6. 1,807 Gooey Butter Cake Cake St. Louis ★ 3.9
  7. 1,988 New York-Style Cheesecake Cheese Dessert New York City ★ 3.9
  8. 2,313 Black Bottom Pie Sweet Pie Southern United States ★ 3.8
  9. 2,482 Molten Chocolate Cake Chocolate Cake New York City ★ 3.8
  10. 2,516 Key Lime Pie Sweet Pie Florida ★ 3.8
  11. 2,565 Indian Pudding Pudding New England ★ 3.8
  12. 2,851 Huckleberry Pie Sweet Pie Idaho ★ 3.8
  13. 2,874 Buttermilk Pie Sweet Pie Southern United States ★ 3.8
  14. 2,961 Philadelphia Sticky Buns Sweet Pastry Philadelphia ★ 3.8
  15. 2,992 Mississippi Mud Pie Chocolate Cake Mississippi ★ 3.8
  16. 2,993 American Babka Dessert United States ★ 3.8
  17. 3,158 Southern Butter Rolls Sweet Pastry Southern United States ★ 3.8
  18. 3,331 Possum Pie Sweet Pie Arkansas ★ 3.8
  19. 3,347 Fried Coke Deep-fried Dessert Texas ★ 3.8
  20. 3,482 Chocolate Fondue Chocolate Dessert New York City ★ 3.8
  21. 3,555 Strawberry Delight Dessert Minnesota ★ 3.7
  22. 3,632 Texas Sheet Cake Chocolate Cake Texas ★ 3.7
  23. 3,655 Calas Deep-fried Dessert New Orleans ★ 3.7
  24. 3,659 Doberge Cake Cake New Orleans ★ 3.7
  25. 3,936 C Country-Style Cheesecake Cheese Dessert United States ★ 3.7
  26. 3,955 B Bob Andy Pie Sweet Pie Midwestern United States ★ 3.7
  27. 4,022 C Cupcone Dessert United States ★ 3.7
  28. 4,103 Cheddar Cheese Apple Pie Sweet Pie New England ★ 3.7
  29. 4,114 German Butter Cake Cake Philadelphia ★ 3.7
  30. 4,156 Chocolate Chip Cookie Cookie Whitman ★ 3.7
  31. 4,288 Cheesecake Brownies Dessert United States ★ 3.7
  32. 4,358 Smith Island Cake Cake Maryland ★ 3.7
  33. 4,380 Pineapple upside down cake Cake United States ★ 3.7
  34. 4,418 New Jersey Blueberry Muffins Dessert New Jersey ★ 3.7
  35. 4,523 Cherry Pie Sweet Pie United States ★ 3.7
  36. 4,650 Brownie Sundae Ice Cream United States ★ 3.7
  37. 4,706 Butterscotch Pie Sweet Pie Midwestern United States ★ 3.7
  38. 4,710 Shaker Lemon Pie Sweet Pie Ohio ★ 3.7
  39. 4,857 Scotcheroos Dessert Midwestern United States ★ 3.7
  40. 4,859 Apple Dumpling Dessert Pennsylvania ★ 3.7
  41. 4,860 Buckeyes Dessert Ohio ★ 3.7
  42. 4,869 Peanut Butter Pie Sweet Pie Georgia ★ 3.7
  43. 4,896 Rhode Island Doughboy Deep-fried Dessert Rhode Island ★ 3.7
  44. 4,962 Potato Chip Cookies Cookie New England ★ 3.7
  45. 4,981 White Potato Pie Sweet Pie Maryland ★ 3.7
  46. 5,089 Haupia Pie Sweet Pie Hawaii ★ 3.6
  47. 5,122 Blueberry Cobbler Sweet Pie United States ★ 3.6
  48. 5,156 Lemon Ice Box Pie Sweet Pie United States ★ 3.6
  49. 5,157 Chiffon Pie Sweet Pie Los Angeles ★ 3.6
  50. 5,228 Stack Cake Cake Kentucky ★ 3.6
  51. 5,237 S Sour Orange Pie Sweet Pie Florida ★ 3.6
  52. 5,284 Milkshake Frozen Dessert United States ★ 3.6
  53. 5,500 Marlborough Pie Sweet Pie Marlborough ★ 3.6
  54. 5,539 G Gelatin dessert Dessert United States ★ 3.6
  55. 5,627 S Sour Cream Raisin Pie Sweet Pie Iowa ★ 3.6
  56. 5,672 C Cookie Salad Dessert Minnesota ★ 3.6
  57. 5,766 Apple Cobbler Sweet Pie United States ★ 3.6
  58. 5,820 Icebox Cake Cake United States ★ 3.6
  59. 5,837 Fudge Pie Sweet Pie Tennessee ★ 3.6
  60. 5,885 Irish Potato Candy Dessert Philadelphia ★ 3.6
  61. 6,031 Not Derby Pie Sweet Pie Prospect ★ 3.6
  62. 6,118 Grasshopper Pie Sweet Pie United States ★ 3.6
  63. 6,229 Hot Fudge Sundae Dessert Los Angeles ★ 3.5
  64. 6,233 Caramel Cake Cake Mississippi ★ 3.5
  65. 6,287 Benne Wafers Cookie Charleston ★ 3.5
  66. 6,315 Election Cake Cake United States ★ 3.5
  67. 6,485 Amish Friendship Bread Sweet Bread United States ★ 3.5
  68. 6,535 Georgia Peach Pie Sweet Pie Georgia ★ 3.5
  69. 6,584 Bourbon Ball Chocolate Dessert Kentucky ★ 3.5
  70. 6,641 Brown Betty Dessert Northeastern United States ★ 3.5
  71. 6,683 Boston Brown Bread Sweet Bread Boston ★ 3.5
  72. 6,685 Moravian Spice Cookies Cookie Winston-Salem ★ 3.5
  73. 6,688 Dessert Bars Dessert Midwestern United States ★ 3.5
  74. 6,708 Cottage Pudding Cake United States ★ 3.5
  75. 6,728 Akutaq Frozen Dessert Alaska ★ 3.5
  76. 6,735 Glorified Rice Dessert Minnesota ★ 3.5
  77. 6,780 Blueberry Pie Sweet Pie Maine ★ 3.5
  78. 6,806 Pecan Pralines Dessert New Orleans ★ 3.5
  79. 6,810 Wisconsin Kringle Sweet Pastry Racine ★ 3.5
  80. 7,036 Blue Moon Ice Cream Midwestern United States ★ 3.5
  81. 7,085 Apple Cider Doughnut Sweet Pastry New England ★ 3.5
  82. 7,124 Apple Crisp Dessert United States ★ 3.4
  83. 7,159 Chess Pie Sweet Pie Southern United States ★ 3.4
  84. 7,179 Butterscotch Pudding Pudding United States ★ 3.4
  85. 7,199 Peach Cobbler Sweet Pie United States ★ 3.4
  86. 7,301 Bananas Foster Flambéed Dessert New Orleans ★ 3.4
  87. 7,341 Sweet Potato Pie Sweet Pie Southern United States ★ 3.4
  88. 7,358 Apple Pie Sweet Pie United States ★ 3.4
  89. 7,408 Divinity Dessert Southern United States ★ 3.4
  90. 7,511 Coconut Cake Cake Southern United States ★ 3.4
  91. 7,546 Meyer Lemon Cake Cake United States ★ 3.4
  92. 7,672 Banana Bread Sweet Bread United States ★ 3.3
  93. 7,674 Chiffon Cake Cake California ★ 3.3
  94. 7,741 Boston Cream Pie Cake Boston ★ 3.3
  95. 7,762 Cronut Sweet Pastry New York City ★ 3.3
  96. 7,765 Banana Pudding Pudding Southern United States ★ 3.3
  97. 7,854 Doughnut Sweet Pastry United States ★ 3.3
  98. 7,864 Shoofly Pie Sweet Pie Pennsylvania ★ 3.3
  99. 7,903 Snickers Salad Dessert Iowa ★ 3.3
  100. 7,939 Bear Claw Sweet Pastry United States ★ 3.3
  101. 7,957 Snickerdoodle Cookie Connecticut ★ 3.2
  102. 8,072 Baked Alaska Cake New York City ★ 3.2
  103. 8,179 Frozen Yogurt Frozen Dessert New England ★ 3.2
  104. 8,187 Blondie Dessert United States ★ 3.2
  105. 8,232 Ice Cream Sandwich Ice Cream New York City ★ 3.1
  106. 8,237 Sno-Ball Frozen Dessert New Orleans ★ 3.1
  107. 8,252 Sundae Ice Cream United States ★ 3.1
  108. 8,332 Pecan Pie Sweet Pie Southern United States ★ 3.1
  109. 8,337 Ice Cream Float Ice Cream Philadelphia ★ 3.1
  110. 8,342 Bundt Cake Cake United States ★ 3.1
  111. 8,363 Black and White Cookie Cookie New York City ★ 3.1
  112. 8,385 King Cake Cake Louisiana ★ 3.1
  113. 8,393 Watergate Salad Dessert Midwestern United States ★ 3.0
  114. 8,394 Devil's Food Cake Chocolate Cake United States ★ 3.0
  115. 8,432 Sugar on Snow Frozen Dessert Vermont ★ 3.0
  116. 8,446 Persimmon Pudding Pudding Indiana ★ 0.0
  117. 8,469 Fried Ice Cream Ice Cream United States ★ 3.0
  118. 8,495 Poppyseed Muffins Dessert United States ★ 3.0
  119. 8,499 Maple Bar Doughnut Sweet Pastry California ★ 3.0
  120. 8,501 Oatmeal Cookies Cookie United States ★ 3.0
  121. 8,558 S'more Dessert United States ★ 2.9
  122. 8,564 Peanut Butter Cookie Cookie United States ★ 2.9
  123. 8,585 Bread Pudding Dessert Louisiana ★ 2.9
  124. 8,588 Funnel Cake Deep-fried Dessert Pennsylvania ★ 2.9
  125. 8,624 Ice Cream Cake Cake United States ★ 2.8
  126. 8,641 Cream Pie Sweet Pie United States ★ 2.8
  127. 8,655 Ambrosia Salad Fruit Salad Southern United States ★ 2.7
  128. 8,661 Red Velvet Cake Cake Southern United States ★ 2.7
  129. 8,668 Banana Split Ice Cream Latrobe ★ 2.7
  130. 8,693 Dirt Cake Cake United States ★ 2.6
  131. 8,702 Apees Cookies Cookie Philadelphia ★ 0.0
  132. 8,710 German Chocolate Cake Chocolate Cake United States ★ 2.6
  133. 8,737 Whoopie Pie Cookie Pennsylvania ★ 2.5
  134. 8,754 Fudge Dessert Baltimore ★ 2.4
  135. 8,769 MoonPie Dessert Chattanooga ★ 2.4
  136. 8,775 Marshmallow Cream Dessert Somerville ★ 2.4
  137. 8,781 Angel Food Cake Cake United States ★ 2.3
  138. 8,794 Saltwater Taffy Dessert Atlantic City ★ 2.2
  139. 8,796 Candied Apples Dessert Newark ★ 2.1
  140. 8,812 Cupcake Dessert United States ★ 2.0
  141. 8,830 Graham Cracker Cookie United States ★ 1.5
  142. 8,840 Jell-O Dessert Utah ★ 1.1
  143. 8,843 Fortune Cookie Cookie California ★ 0.9
  144. 9,419 Joe Froggers Cookie Marblehead ★ 0.0
  145. 9,430 Hermit Cookies Cookie New England ★ 0.0
  146. 9,433 T Tarte à la bouillie Tart Louisiana ★ 0.0
  147. 9,437 Huguenot Torte Cake Charleston ★ 0.0
  148. 9,736 Needhams Chocolate Dessert Maine ★ 0.0
  149. 9,847 Hot Milk Cake Cake United States ★ 0.0
  150. 10,088 Lady Baltimore Cake Cake Charleston ★ 0.0
  151. 10,217 S Smearcase Cheesecake Baltimore ★ 0.0
  152. 10,441 Lane Cake Cake Alabama ★ 0.0
  153. 10,588 H Huckabuck Frozen Dessert Southern United States ★ 0.0
  154. 10,626 L Louisiana Russian Cake Cake Louisiana ★ 0.0
  155. 10,627 K Kentucky Jam Cake Cake Kentucky ★ 0.0
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Questions, Answered

American desserts & sweets, frequently asked, answered from 9,643 ratings.

What is the best American dessert?
By our diners' ratings it's frozen custard, Nº 392 worldwide, the dense, egg-rich ice cream of the upper Midwest, the only American sweet inside the global top 500. Behind it come brownies, Oregon's marionberry pie and Brooklyn's blackout cake.
What desserts is America known for?
Pie, above all. American sweets lean regional and pie-shaped: key lime from Florida, marionberry from Oregon, maple cream from Vermont, black bottom from the South. The cheesecake, in its dense New York style, is the other national icon.
Which country has the most desserts?
Italy, by a wide margin, with 305 ranked sweets. The United States is second with 155, ahead of France's 114. But the American list peaks low: its best reaches only Nº 392, while Italy's gelato sits at Nº 15.
Which region has the best American desserts?
The South has the deepest tradition, with 12 ranked sweets from black bottom pie to New Orleans classics, ahead of New York City's 8. Beyond them the map is regional: Vermont maple, Wisconsin custard, Oregon berries, Florida limes.
What is frozen custard?
Frozen custard is ice cream with egg yolks churned in, which makes it denser, smoother and richer than the standard kind. A specialty of the upper Midwest, Wisconsin above all, it is served fresh and soft from the machine, and it is America's top-rated sweet at Nº 392.
Where else should I look for great desserts?
Almost anywhere ranks higher: worldwide the department runs to 2,151 sweets from 154 countries, led by Algeria's almond makroud at Nº 8, with Italy's 305 and France's 114 the deepest benches. See Desserts & Sweets worldwide.

This Department, Elsewhere

Desserts & sweets from the United States' neighbours, ranked the same way.

CanadianDesserts & Sweets17MexicanDesserts & Sweets14North AmericaDesserts & Sweets2
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