List of American desserts
American desserts encompass a wide variety of sweet dishes that originated from different regions of the United States. These desserts have been influenced by the country's diverse ethnic backgrounds and culinary history.
History
The history of American desserts is as diverse as the country itself. Early American desserts were influenced by Native American cooking techniques and ingredients, such as cornmeal and maple syrup. European settlers brought their own dessert traditions, which evolved over time to incorporate local ingredients and tastes.
Types of American Desserts
Cakes
- Cheesecake - A sweet dessert consisting of one or more layers. The main, and thickest layer, consists of a mixture of soft, fresh cheese, eggs, and sugar.
- Red Velvet Cake - A traditional cake with a dark red, bright red or red-brown color. It is traditionally prepared as a layer cake topped with cream cheese or cooked roux icing.
Pies
- Apple Pie - A pie in which the principal filling ingredient is apple, often served with whipped cream or ice cream on top.
- Pecan Pie - A pie made primarily with corn syrup and pecan nuts. It is popularly served at holiday meals and is also considered a specialty of Southern U.S. origin.
Cookies
- Chocolate Chip Cookies - A drop cookie that originated in the United States and features chocolate chips or chocolate morsels as its distinguishing ingredient.
- Peanut Butter Cookies - A type of cookie that is distinguished for its peanut butter flavor.
Pastries
- Brownies - A type of sheet cake that is typically chocolate and can range from fudgy to cakey in texture.
- Doughnuts - A type of fried dough confection or dessert food, often filled with various sweet fillings.
Regional Desserts
American desserts also vary by region, with certain areas known for specific desserts.
- Key Lime Pie - A dessert that originated in the Key West region of Florida.
- New York Cheesecake - A style of cheesecake that originated in New York, known for its rich and creamy texture.
See Also
This is a non-exhaustive food and drink related list.
Ad. Transform your health with W8MD Weight Loss, Sleep & MedSpa

Tired of being overweight?
Special offer:
Budget GLP-1 weight loss medications
- Semaglutide starting from $29.99/week and up with insurance for visit of $59.99 and up per week self pay.
- Tirzepatide starting from $45.00/week and up (dose dependent) or $69.99/week and up self pay
✔ Same-week appointments, evenings & weekends
Learn more:
- GLP-1 weight loss clinic NYC
- W8MD's NYC medical weight loss
- W8MD Philadelphia GLP-1 shots
- Philadelphia GLP-1 injections
- Affordable GLP-1 shots NYC
- Budget GLP-1 shots
|
WikiMD Medical Encyclopedia |
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Content may be inaccurate or outdated and should not be used for diagnosis or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider for medical decisions. Verify information with trusted sources such as CDC.gov and NIH.gov. By using this site, you agree that WikiMD is not liable for any outcomes related to its content. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates, categories Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
