Midwest’s best desserts
There’s a lot of talk about Southern cakes and other regional desserts, but the Midwest doesn’t shut up about the after-dinner delicacy. From frozen custard to buckeye balls, here are some of the Midwest’s best desserts for summer.
1. Melty butter cake
What started as a dish discovered by chance in St. Louis in the 1930s has become a popular dessert in the Midwest. Midwesterners love baked goods with a melty center (like a cinnamon roll in the middle of a bun), and this cake consistently delivers that texture throughout. The base here is a yellow cake mix, and powdered sugar, vanilla, cream cheese, and butter enhance the overall flavor.
recipe: lil luna
2. Buckeyes
Originating in Ohio, buckeye balls (hence the name) are very simple peanut butter balls that aren’t completely covered in chocolate. These are one of the best bite-sized desserts the Midwest has to offer and are a crowd favorite.
recipe: On My Kids Plate
Related: 23 Foods You’ve Never Heard of If You’re from the Midwest
3. Watergate Salad
Midwesterners love fluffy salad desserts, and Watergate salad ranks high on their list of favorites. All he needs is five ingredients (instant pistachio pudding, whipped topping, crushed pineapple, chopped pecans, and mini marshmallows) to create the perfect dessert for a family meal out.
recipe: Enjoying the kitchen with my three sons
4. Frozen custard
Frozen custard’s roots may be traced back to Coney Island, but the dessert is a firm favorite in Wisconsin and one of the most popular desserts throughout the Midwest region. Creamier than ice cream and tastier than frozen yogurt, this is the best soft serve ice cream.
recipe: Taste of Lizzy T
5. Strawberry pretzel salad
When eating dessert in the Midwest, there are a few ingredients that come up over and over again. Jello or instant pudding and Cool Whip. This one has two of these ingredients plus a pretzel for a salty crunch.
recipe: balancing motherhood
Related: Jell-O Salad and Other Retro Summer Recipes We Secretly Love
6. Lemon shaker pie
Traditional lemon shaker pie originated in Ohio and the Midwest and is the best variation of lemon pie. What makes this product really delicious is the top crust and creamy lemon filling.
recipe: simple recipes
Related: 24 simple desserts from the Great Depression that are actually luxurious
7. Bumpy cake
This Michigan-born dessert may not have the most appetizing name, but its bumpy cake is the pinnacle of decadent desserts. It’s basically a rich devil’s food cake topped with chocolate-covered buttercream ribbons that look like little hills on the top of the cake.
recipe: Nash Eats’ house
8. Kringle
Kringle has a checkered history with roots in Denmark, but similar to the frozen custard situation, Wisconsin adopted the thing and it skyrocketed in popularity in the Midwest. This hearty pastry ring is popular throughout the region.
recipe: Sugar sweets
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9. 7 layer magic cookie bar
Midwestern home chefs love to approach desserts with a “more is more” mentality, pulling everything off the baking supplies shelf to create a dessert bar. The 7-layer Magic Cookie Bar was born from this idea.
recipe: All about Mamma
10. Snickers apple salad
Snickers has peanuts and caramel in it, so it makes a lot of sense to combine it with a Granny Smith apple to make a caramel apple. Throw in some cool whip and it couldn’t be more Midwestern. This kind of thing is irresistible.
recipe: mom in time out
This article was originally published on Cheapism
