Western American Desserts

Jell-O is an extremely popular, branded, simple gelatin dessert from the United States. Gelatin, the main ingredient in Jell-O is made by extracting collagen from the boiled bones of animals. Jell-O was invented in 1897 by Pearle Wait, who experim... READ MORE

The intriguing fortune cookies are crispy folded wafers hiding an entertaining "fortune" inside. The "fortune" is a written note; a proverb or a universal prophecy believed to predict the person’s future. The cookies are made with egg whites... READ MORE

A take on the classic ice cream sundae, hot fudge sundae consists of ice cream, hot fudge, and whipped cream. In this sundae version, a helping of warm, gooey chocolate sauce is poured over scoops of cold ice cream (traditionally vanilla ice cream... READ MORE

Bizcochito is the official state cookie of New Mexico. Deeply rooted in its history, it was originally invented by the first Spanish colonists of New Mexico as a way of expressing the local culture, customs, and flavors through gastronomy. These c... READ MORE

Malasadas are traditional Portuguese yeast-leavened doughnuts made from eggs, flour, sugar, and milk. They are sometimes coated with cinnamon or granulated sugar. The original Portuguese malasadas don't have any holes or fillings, but the variatio... READ MORE

This airy sponge cake was invented in 1927 by Harry Baker, a California insurance salesman-turned-baker. He kept the recipe secret for 20 years until he sold it to the Washburn-Crosby Company, today General Mills, who introduced ... READ MORE

Maple bar is an unusual American doughnut originating from the West coast and usually associated with California. The doughnut is rectangular in shape and topped with a maple glaze. Inside, it can be left as it is or filled with cream or custard. ... READ MORE

With meringue being its ultimate inspiration, chiffon pie was originally made with the incredibly light, mousse-like filling based on egg whites and a crisp shell of graham crackers acting as a base. This American classic is said to have been inve... READ MORE

Huckleberry pie is a traditional double crust pie with a sweet-tart huckleberry filling. This dessert is typically made by covering a pie crust with a mixture of huckleberries, sugar, lemon juice and zest, thickeners, and butter, and the concoctio... READ MORE

Marionberry pie is a traditional comfort food staple from Oregon. Marionberries are a cross of Chehalem and Olallie blackberries, characterized by a tart and complex flavor with a hint of earthiness and sweetness. The crust for t... READ MORE

Akutaq is an Alaskan delicacy also known as Eskimo ice cream. Don't expect a creamy, sweet ice cream most of us are used to - akutaq consists of reindeer fat, seal oil, fresh snow, berries, and optionally, ground fish. Made by Alaskan Nat... READ MORE

Panocha is a flavorful American pudding that is especially popular in New Mexico and southern Colorado, unsurprisingly so, as the dish has a great Mexican influence. This thick pudding consists of panocha flour (made from sprouted wheat), cane sug... READ MORE