The best snack food from every state

ALABAMA: Moon Pies — two 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.

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

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ARIZONA: Famous for its Tex-Mex cuisine, Arizona is one of the best places in the world to try a burrito.

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

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

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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.

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FLORIDA: The Sunshine State is famous for its oranges, so naturally the fruit should be its go-to snack.

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GEORGIA: Pimento cheese is a mixture of pimentos, cheddar cheese, mayo, and spices. It's staple on the menu at annual The Masters golf tournament at Augusta National.

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HAWAII: Shave ice is just what it sound like: a snack made with ice block shavings and flavored syrups. Tropical flavors like guava, pineapple, and passion fruit are especially popular.

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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.

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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.

Garrett Popcorn/Facebook

INDIANA: The state's official pie is sugar cream pie (also known as "Hoosier pie.") The sweet dessert is made with flour, butter, salt, vanilla, cream, and brown sugar or maple syrup.

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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.

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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 with bourbon, chocolate, sugar, and nuts — are the perfect way to enjoy the liquor.

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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.

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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.

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MARYLAND: Cake-like Berger Cookies are topped with a thick layer of chocolate fudge that derives from a German recipe.

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MASSACHUSETTS: The Hoodsie Cup is a small waxed-paper cup filled with chocolate and vanilla ice cream. The cold cups are made by Massachusetts-based dairy company Hood.

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MICHIGAN: The state has snacked on Better Made Potato Chips since the 1930s. Made with local potatoes and high-quality spices, these chips are tricky to get your hands on outside of the state.

Better Made/Facebook

MINNESOTA: Whether they’re baked into a "hotdish" or served on their own, tater tots are the comfort food of choice in Minnesota.

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MISSISSIPPI: Many Southern cooks have their own special recipe for cheese straws, a savory snack made with cheddar cheese, flour, and butter and then baked.

Mississippi Cheese Straw/Facebook

MISSOURI: Toasted or fried ravioli was first made popular in St. Louis. They're served with marinara sauce and covered in Parmesan cheese.

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MONTANA: Huckleberries — often confused with blueberries — are sweet and tart round fruits that are abundant in this state. They are perfect for pies and jams, or on their own.

Yelp/Navin75

NEBRASKA: Corn is one of the biggest crops in Nebraska, so it makes sense that popcorn would be one of the state's greatest snack foods. Colby Ridge in Lincoln is just one of the local companies that makes specialty popcorn flavors.

Facebook/ColbyRidge

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

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NEW HAMPSHIRE: Known for its maple syrup, the Granite State also turns out melt-in-your-mouth maple candies that are almost fudge-like in consistency.

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NEW JERSEY: Sweet and sticky saltwater taffy is the perfect New Jersey summer snack. Many Jersey shore candy shops still make the treat by hand.

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NEW MEXICO: The official state cookie is Bizcochito, a butter- or lard-based cookie that’s flavored with anise and cinnamon. It's often eaten in the morning with coffee.

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

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NORTH CAROLINA: Krispy Kreme donuts are huge in North Carolina, which is home to the original shop in Winston-Salem.

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

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OHIO: Buckeye candies are tasty peanut butter confections dipped in chocolate. Many people make their own at home, but they can also be found in local candy stores.

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OKLAHOMA: A simple, Southern classic, expect to find fried okra on almost every Oklahoma menu.

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OREGON: Trail mix is a favorite snack in Oregon, where people hike and spend lots of time in the outdoors and need snacks to fuel them along. Hazelnuts grow around the state and feature heavily in trail mixes there.

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PENNSYLVANIA: Water ice, or wooder ice in Philly, is one of Pennsylvania's greatest summertime snacks. Rita's Italian Ice started in Trevose, PA, and is the ultimate place to try the frozen treat.

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RHODE ISLAND: The state's Italian markets sell pizza strips — cheese-less and topping-less pizza. The fresh sauce and crispy crust make this a staple snack.

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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.

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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.

Facebook/googooclusters

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

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

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VERMONT: Ben & Jerry’s ice cream started in Burlington, Vermont, about 40 years ago, and remains this state’s favorite snack with more than 100 delicious and different varieties.

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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.

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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.

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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