The Best Snack Food From Every State

ALABAMA: Moon Pies — a treat made of 2 graham crackers with marshmallow filling, coated in chocolate — are so beloved in Alabama that a 12-foot version of the cookie drops from one of Mobile's tallest buildings on New Year's Eve.

gwen/Flickr

ALASKA: The state’s great salmon run is seasonal, but healthy, smoky salmon jerky can be enjoyed year-round.

kylezoa/Flickr

ARIZONA: Prickly Pear Cactus Candy is chewy, sweet, and made with prickly pears straight from Arizona's arid land.

quinn.anya/Flickr

ARKANSAS: The state claims to have invented fried dill pickles. The sliced and battered treats are the highlight of Arkansas’ annual Picklefest.

joshbousel/Flickr

CALIFORNIA: See’s Candy, famous for its assorted chocolates and chews, is a California institution. It’s practically a faux pas to visit the state without bringing home a box.

Wikimedia Commons

COLORADO: Colorado is known for its wild game, and jerky is a popular energy booster on the state’s hiking, mountain biking, and ski trails.

methticalman/Flickr

CONNECTICUT: Famed New Haven pizza spot Frank Pepe’s is home of the white clam pie, which contains oregano, grated cheese, chopped garlic, and fresh littleneck clams.

scaredykat/Flickr

DELAWARE: Delaware is famous for its fresh crab, and crab puffs — made with crab meat, cheese, and baked or fried — are the perfect way to enjoy this delicacy in snack form.

Shutterstock

FLORIDA: Anastasia Confections’ Coconut Patties — a creamy coconut filling with a dark chocolate shell— are a Florida favorite.

smiteme/Flickr

GEORGIA: Pimento cheese, dubbed “caviar of the South,” is a mixture of pimentos, cheddar cheese, mayo, and spices, and is staple on the menu at annual The Masters golf tournament at Augusta National.

Wikimedia Commons

HAWAII: Crack seed, which originated in China, is dried fruit that comes in a wide variety of flavors, from salty to sweet.

coconut wireless/Flickr

IDAHO: Idaho is practically synonymous with the potato, and some of America’s best french fries can be found there, at places like Boise Fry Co.

WikiMedia Commons

ILLINOIS: Illinois is a major producer of corn, and adopted popcorn as its official snack in 2003. Locals swear by Garrett Popcorn, whose flavors range from cheese to caramel.

TangoPango/Flickr

INDIANA: The state is home to Hinsdale Farms, one of the largest corn dog manufacturers in the world. These deep-fried treats are best consumed with sides like mustard, mayo, and ketchup.

Kevin H./Flickr

IOWA: The Walking Taco — a bag of Doritos or Fritos crushed up and filled with taco fixings like sour cream salsa, and jalapeños — was supposedly invented at the Iowa State Fair.

Wikimedia Commons

KANSAS: State natives are partial to the sticky, cinnamon-crusted rolls from Stroud’s, a homestyle staple in the Breadbasket of America.

Stroud's Restaurant

KENTUCKY: The state is home to dozens of bourbon distilleries, and bourbon balls — candies made with bourbon, chocolate, sugar, and nuts — are the perfect way to enjoy the liquor in snack form.

miamism/Flickr

LOUISIANA: There are many beloved snack foods from Louisiana, but Zapp’s thick-cut, kettle-cooked potato chips are a true favorite. They come in Cajun-inspired flavors like "Spicy Cajun Crawtator," "Sour Cream and Creole Onion," and "Cajun Dill Gator-tators."

Whatsername?/Flickr

MAINE: The Whoopie Pie — a creamy filling sandwiched by 2 pieces of chocolate cake — is the official state treat of Maine and celebrated annually with Whoopie Pie festival.

LexnGer/Flickr

MARYLAND: If you have a friend from Baltimore, chances are you have heard of the Berger Cookie. These cake-like cookies are topped with a thick layer of chocolate fudge that derives from a German recipe, and put New York’s black and white cookies to shame.

Wikimedia Commons

MASSACHUSETTS: The Hoodsie Cup is a small waxed-paper cup filled with the delicious pairing of chocolate and vanilla ice cream. Produced by Massachusetts-based dairy company Hood, Hoodsies are available at Walmart and limited grocery stores in the Northeast.

Twitter/@bakedbyrachel

MICHIGAN: Since the 1930s, people in Detroit have been touting the superior quality of Better Made Potato Chips. Made with Michigan potatoes and high-quality spices, these chips are tricky to get your hands on outside of the state.

Your Secret Admiral/Flickr

MINNESOTA: Whether they’re baked into a "hotdish" or served on their own, tater tots are the comfort food of choice in Minnesota. These deep-fried potato bites perfectly break apart in your mouth.

tofutti break/Flickr

MISSISSIPPI: Not only is there a brand called Mississippi Cheese Straws, but most Southern cooks have their own special recipe for this savory snack. Made with cheddar cheese, flour, and butter and then baked, cheese straws are a delicious hors d'oeuvre.

shutterbean/Flickr

MISSOURI: Toasted or fried ravioli was first made popular in St. Louis. Served with marinara sauce and covered in Parmesan cheese, these little fried pieces of heaven can be found at most restaurants across the state.

Joelk75/Flickr

MONTANA: Huckleberries — often confused with blueberries — are sweet and tart round fruits that are abundant in this state. Perfect for filling up pies or making jams, Huckleberries are also a delicious snack all on their own.

V. H. Hammer/Flickr

NEBRASKA: The state's favorite brand of ice cream is Goodrich. It may taste heavier and creamier than other brands, but that’s because the company uses more cream and packs its ice cream tightly so no air bubbles or ice crystals can form.

nic221/Flickr

NEVADA: Navajo frybread, traditionally made by Nevada's Navajo tribes, is extremely popular. The fried dough is usually topped with traditional taco fillings like meat, beans, and cheese.

Wikimedia Commons

NEW HAMPSHIRE: Known for its maple syrup, the Granite State also turns out melt-in-your-mouth maple candies. The syrup is simply heated and transformed into bite-sized pieces of pure sugar that are almost fudge-like in consistency.

foreverdigital/Flickr

NEW JERSEY: Sweet and sticky saltwater taffy is the perfect New Jersey summer snack. It’s extremely popular on the Jersey Shore, where many candy shops still make the treat by hand.

Flickr/seanfreese

NEW MEXICO: The official state cookie is Bizcochito, a butter- or lard-based cookie that’s flavored with anise and cinnamon. It was developed by Spanish colonists, and is usually eaten in the morning with coffee or milk, or during special celebrations.

Wikimedia Commons

NEW YORK: New Yorkers’ snack tastes run the gamut, but state legislators are close to making yogurt the official state snack. Sorry, Buffalo wings, soft pretzels, and apples.

Flickr

NORTH CAROLINA: Krispy Kreme donuts are huge in North Carolina, which is home to the original shop in Winston-Salem. Stop by the store early to get your glazed donut while it’s still hot and chewy.

Wikimedia Commons

NORTH DAKOTA: "Chippers" from Widman's Candy Shop are this state’s favorite snack. The thick-ridged Red River Valley Potato Chips come covered in chocolate, peanut butter, or white almond.

Flickr/moonwindmusic

OHIO: Everyone in Ohio loves Buckeye candy, tasty peanut butter confections dipped in chocolate. Most people make their own at home (and consume immediately), but they can also be found in most local candy stores.

Jagrap/Flickr

.

OKLAHOMA: A simple, Southern classic, expect to find fried okra on almost every single Oklahoma menu. Crisped to a golden brown and never slimy, fried okra is an irresistible side dish.

Marisa | Food in Jars/Flickr

OREGON: Juanita’s Tortilla chips are perfectly salted corn chips that are mega-popular with Oregonians. Fans went crazy for the company's latest flavor, spicy Chilipeño, which debuted last year.

amanky/Flickr

PENNSYLVANIA: Philadelphia is the home of TastyKake-brand snacks. With cookie bars, brownies, and other cream-filled goodies, TastyKake is as tasty as its name claims.

pyrogenic/Flickr

RHODE ISLAND: Almost exclusively found at Rhode Island Italian bakeries and markets, pizza strips are strips of cheese-less and topping-less pizza. The fresh sauce and crispy crust make this a staple snack.

Wikimedia Commons

SOUTH CAROLINA: Boiled peanuts have been the official state snack of South Carolina since 2006. Raw or green peanuts (with their shells on) are boiled in a large pot of very heavily salted water and boiled. The result is a soft, salty peanut that’s easy to open or eat whole.

revrev/Flickr

SOUTH DAKOTA: Chislic, or bites of grilled meat served with garlic salt and saltine crackers, is a hearty snack. Popular at bars and the state fair, chislic is rarely seen outside the state.

Chislic/Facebook

TENNESSEE: Nashville is home to the GooGoo Cluster, a disk-shaped candy bar filled with marshmallow nougat, caramel, and roasted peanuts covered in milk chocolate. Delicious.

TheFoodJunk/Flickr

TEXAS: Tortilla chips and salsa are the official state snack of Texas. A resolution in the Texas House of Representatives was passed making it official, noting: “Like the square dance, the guitar, and the rodeo, tortilla chips and salsa are deeply rooted in Texas tradition.”

Wikimedia Commons

UTAH: Jell-O is the official state snack of Utah — seriously. In 2001, lawmakers got together and wrote the resolution recognizing the jiggly stuff as the state’s official snack, saying, “Jell-O is representative of good family fun, which Utah is known for throughout the world.”

kasahara/Flickr

VERMONT: Does it get better than Ben & Jerry’s ice cream? The brand started in Burlington, Vermont almost 40 years ago, and remains this state’s favorite snack with more than 100 delicious and different varieties.

Qfamily/Flickr

VIRGINIA: Rt 11 Potato Chips' Chesapeake Crab flavor wins hearts across Virginia. The chips are small but crunchy, and use the same blend of peppers, salt, and sugar that restaurants use when steaming bushels of crabs.

Rt. 11

WASHINGTON: Seattle is home to Halfpops, which makes half-popped popcorn. The kernels come in both butter and sea salt and white cheddar flavors, and pack more crunch and flavor than regular popcorn.

Halfpops/Facebook

WEST VIRGINIA: Pepperoni rolls are this state’s unofficial snack. The dough rolls are filled with meat and cheese, and can now be found at convenience stores statewide.

Flickr/transplantedmountaineer

WISCONSIN: Wisconsinites love their cheese so much that they take cheese byproduct and fry it up to make fried cheese curds. Expect to see these at every restaurant, bar, and bowling alley in Wisconsin.

ironypoisoning/Flickr

WYOMING: Buffalo jerky or “cowboy jerky” is a major draw in the Frontier State. The bold flavor and chewy texture separates this snack from its brethren.

Calgary Reviews/Flickr

Looking for something a little more filling?

Business Insider/Aly Weisman

The Best Sandwich From Every State >