The United States is home to a wide variety of iconic desserts. Here are a few must-try treats…and some of the best places to eat them!
Key Lime Pie
With its graham cracker crust and creamy filling, Key Lime Pie is a favorite for citrus lovers. Like most of the desserts on this list, the best place to eat this tasty dessert is where it first began. In this case, Key West. Though lots of places serve Key Lime Pie on the island, Kermit’s Key West Lime Shoppe is my favorite!
Boston Cream Pie
I admit, Boston Cream Pie is one of my absolute favorite desserts…and I may have tried a lot of them on my trip to Boston. Not actually a pie, Boston Cream Pie is composed of two layers of cake with a pastry cream filling and a thick chocolate glaze. Consider trying it out at the Omni Parker House Hotel, who claims to have created the dessert.
The Original Brownie
Another crowd pleaser, the story goes that the brownie was developed by the Palmer House to be showcased at the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago. You can still get one of these decadent brownies at the Palmer House Hotel (I recommend having it as part of a sundae!).
Shaker Lemon Pie
In the spirit of never letting anything go to waste, the Shaker Lemon Pie utilizes the entire lemon. Rind and all! One of the best places to try a slice of Shaker Lemon Pie is the beautifully restored Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill in Harrodsburg, KY.
Grape Dumplings
Grape Dumplings are a traditional recipe among several Native American tribes with soft pillows of dough cooked in grape juice to form dumplings and a thick purple sauce. A great place to try Grape Dumplings is the Aaimpa’ Cafe at the Chickasaw Cultural Center in Sulphur, OK.
Gooey Butter Cake
Legend has it that a St. Louis baker once added too much butter to a coffee cake recipe and ended up with a Gooey Butter Cake. For more than 70 varieties of this sweet dessert, check out Park Avenue Coffee in St. Louis.
Bananas Foster
Bananas Foster is a classic in New Orleans. Sweet bananas. Cinnamon. Rum. And it all started at Brennan’s…and that’s still one of the best places to get Bananas Foster in the city!
Baked Alaska
Though versions of the dessert had probably been around for a while, Delmonico’s Restaurant in New York claims credit for its creation in honor of the purchase of Alaska. Delmonico’s in New York is currently closed. Oleana Restaurant in Cambridge or Antoine’s Restaurant in New Orleans offer great options.
