Cookies
The Most Popular Cookie From Every State
Take a bite out of this sweet recipe roundup of iconic cookies from home bakers in all 50 states.
Though they aren’t official state cookies (yet!), all those amber waves of grain make for some pretty incredible treats. We’ve collected the best of our sweet land of liberty—the most searched-for, iconic or just downright delicious recipes direct from home cooks in each and every state in the union.
Alabama: Tea Cakes
There were nine children in our family and Mother had to stretch the budget, so she made these often for dessert. I loved them when I was a child, and they’re still a special treat. In fact, I’ve never met anyone who doesn’t like these cookies. They’re so simple and quick to make. —Mary Singletary
Alaska: Peppermint Crunch Christmas Cookies
Several years ago, I took a basic shortbread recipe and turned it into a much more festive Christmas cookie. These gems are now a family favorite and a must-have during the holidays. —Heather Carter, Wasilla, Alaska
Arizona: Mexican Chocolate Walnut-Cherry Biscotti
I love to combine flavors and spices from different cultures. These cookies have ground cinnamon in them, which is a classic flavor in Mexican chocolate. They are very crunchy and are loaded with maraschino cherries and toasted walnuts. —Nancy C. Evans, Phoenix, Arizona
Arkansas: Lemon Butter Spritz
Field editor Iola Egle of Bella Vista, Arkansas is a veteran baker who counts this lemony spritz variation among her best-loved recipes. Her cookies are dressed up for the holidays with a pretty drizzle of chocolate.
California: Fig, Walnut & White Chip Cookies
I use figs from my own tree to make these cookies. The white chips add a touch of sweetness.—Michaela Rosenthal, Woodland Hills, California
Colorado: Chocolate Butterscotch Haystacks
My grandmother made these haystack cookies and gave them to my cousin Vonnie and me when our parents didn’t want us to have any more sweets. —Christine Schwester, Divide, Colorado
Connecticut: Date-Nut Pinwheels
Pinwheel cookies with dates and walnuts are a family treasure. There are a few steps when prepping, so I sometimes freeze the dough and bake later. —Frieda Whiteley, Lisbon, Connecticut
Delaware: Chocolate Pistachio Biscotti
Chocolate, pistachios and cranberries make a dramatic, delicious trio. Introducing the cranberries to this recipe added tartness, texture and color, too. —Gilda Lester, Millsboro, Delaware
Florida: Chocolate Orange Rounds
I send these to family and friends in other areas of the country. The citrusy, two-tone treats bring a taste of the Sunshine State. — Geordyth Sullivan, Cutler Bay, Florida
Georgia: Gingerbread Fruitcake Cookies
Two of my favorite things, gingerbread and fruitcake, meet in a truly great cookie. You’d never know this recipe starts with a mix. It’s brimming with fruit, nuts and gingerbread flavor and topped with a delightful orange glaze. —Jamie Jones, Madison, Georgia
Hawaii: Ginger Macadamia Nut Snowballs
You’ll go nuts over these ginger-spiced cookies, made with love and coated with sweet confectioners’ sugar to look like snow. —Jenny Humphries, Ocean View, Hawaii
Idaho: Peppermint S’more Tassies
Graham cracker cookie cups brim with a luscious peppermint-milk chocolate filling, sweet marshmallow creme and crushed peppermint candies. Santa (and his elves) will look forward to these! —Edwina Gadsby, Hayden, Idaho
Illinois: Cherry Cheese Windmills
These pretty cookies look fancy, but they are really not much work. They’re perfect for any occasion. —Helen McGibbon, Downers Grove, Illinois
Indiana: Popcorn Cookies
It’s so much fun to surprise people with the crushed popcorn in these yummy cookies. They’re definitely a distinctive cookie on the holiday tray.—Leigh Anne Preston, Palmyra, Indiana
Iowa: Peanut Butter Pie Cookies
I love the combination of chocolate and peanut butter, but my favorite—peanut butter pie—is tough to eat on the go. I dreamed up these cookies to get my favorite flavor combo in a bite-size package. They can be made ahead and taken to any holiday gathering. —Ashley Moyna, Elkader, Iowa
Kansas: Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies
Dotted with cranberries, orange zest and vanilla chips, these cookies are so colorful and fun to eat. They look lovely on a dessert tray and would be a great addition to your Christmas cookie lineup. —Pat Habiger, Spearville, Kansas
Kentucky: Fudge Bonbon Cookies
These fudgy favorites are double delights—the cookies are flavored with both chocolate chips and chocolate kisses. Drizzled with white chocolate on top, they’re fancy enough for a buffet table. —Janice Smith, Cynthiana, Kentucky
Louisiana: Pecan Tassies
These tarts are very good for parties and special occasions. You’ll probably want to double the recipe, because they’ll disappear in a hurry! —Joy Corie, Ruston, Louisiana
Maine: Ginger Cranberry Pinwheels
Here’s a nice Christmas cookie with a cheery shape. They’re so much fun to make and even more fun to eat. —Laurel Doughty, Fryeburg, Maine
Marlyand: Rugelach With a Twist
Once I read about making rugelach with ice cream, there was no stopping me! My family loved these flaky cookies so much, I had to bake more right away. —Diane Fuqua, Baltimore, Maryland
Massachusetts: Italian Pignoli Cookies
Cookies are the crown jewels of Italian confections. I can’t let a holiday go by without baking these traditional almond cookies rolled in mild pine nuts.—Maria Regakis, Somerville, Massachusetts
Michigan: Chocolate-Covered Cherry Cookies
I always make these chocolate cherry cookies for family gatherings, and they never last very long. They require a little extra effort, but they’re worth it. —Marie Kinyon, Mason, Michigan
Minnesota: Red Velvet Spritz Cookies
I had never come across a red velvet spritz recipe, so I decided to create one. The hint of cocoa makes these taste like red velvet cake. Add peppermint flavoring for a little extra kick. —Crystal Schlueter, Babbitt, Minnesota
Mississippi: Tea Cakes with Butter Frosting
This is an old-fashioned recipe that was given to me by a friend’s grandmother. You can easily tint the frosting with food coloring for a festive look throughout the year. — Sandy Glenn, Booneville, Mississippi
Missouri: Cherry Pistachio Cookies
Dried cherries, crunchy nuts, bits of orange, white chocolate—there’s a lot to love in this cookie! It’s very different from any I’ve had before. —Kathy Harding, Richmond, Missouri
Montana: Go Bananas Whoopie Pies
I love anything with peanut butter, so when I saw this recipe for soft banana cookies with a yummy peanut butter filling, I had to make them. Using a cookie scoop keeps them nicely rounded and all the same size. —Jessie Sarrazin, Livingston, Montana
Nebraska: Cranberry Pecan Oatmeal Cookies
I needed a new holiday cookie, so I tweaked an old 4-H recipe. This updated oatmeal cookie with cranberries and nuts is my family’s all-time favorite. —Tammy Hoggatt, Omaha, Nebraska
Nevada: Jumbo Brownie Cookies
These deeply fudgy cookies are a great way to make a friend. A little espresso powder in the dough makes them even more over-the-top. —Rebecca Cababa, Las Vegas, Nevada
New Hampshire: Buttery 3-Ingredient Shortbread Cookies
With only a few ingredients, these butter shortbread cookies are so simple to prepare. —Pattie Prescott, Manchester, New Hampshire
New Jersey: Tender Italian Sugar Cookies
These traditional Italian cookies are moist and tender. —Weda Mosellie, Phillipsburg, New Jersey
New Mexico: Mole New Mexican Wedding Cookies
Heat and sweet is such an amazing combination. I added chili powder and chocolate chips to give a new twist to traditional Mexican cookies. They melt in your mouth, and then the spice hits you. I just love them. — Marla Clark, Albuquerque, New Mexico
New York: Rainbow Cookies
I always bake these two weeks ahead. That allows the cookies enough time to mellow, leaving them moist and full of almond flavor! —Mary Ann Lee, Clifton Park, New York
North Carolina: Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies
Here’s proof that peanut butter and chocolate just belong together. These cookies are an easy family favorite and never fail to make my children smile. —Tammie Merrill, Wake Forest, North Carolina
North Dakota: Frosted Cashew Cookies
We savor these cookies every Christmas, but they’re special year-round with coffee or tucked into a lunch box. I won a ribbon with these cookies at my county fair.—Sheila Wyum, Rutland, North Dakota
Ohio: Sweet & Salty Peanut Butter Bites
My son Micah and I love peanut butter cups, so we made them into a new treat. We entered these peanut butter no bake cookies in a creative baking contest and won first place! —Autumn Emigh, Gahanna, Ohio
Oklahoma: Cherry Biscochitos
I discovered the wonderful anise flavor of biscochitos, which are traditional cookies of New Mexico. I created my own version with maraschino cherries and fresh cranberries. —Mary Shivers, Ada, Oklahoma
Oregon: Oregon’s Hazelnut Chocolate Chip Cookie
Oregon has an abundance of nuts, and these nutty cookies are popular with the ladies at my craft club. Growing up during the Depression, my mother taught us to use what was available and said, “It doesn’t have to be expensive to be good.” She was right! —Selmer Looney, Eugene, Oregon
Pennsylvania: Pizzelle
This recipe was adapted from one used by my Italian-born mother and grandmother. They used old irons on a gas stove, but now we have the convenience of electric pizzelle irons. The cookies are so delectable and beautiful, they’re worth it! —Elizabeth Schwartz, Trevorton, Pennsylvania
Rhode Island: Soft Blueberry Button Cookies
I have fond memories of picking blueberries and enjoying icy cold lemonade at my aunt’s house. This cookie is an attempt to marry those two flavors and memories. —Renee Murby, Johnston, Rhode Island
South Carolina: Contest-Winning Chocolate Mint Cookies
My dad sandwiches mint patties between two tender chocolate cookies to create these chewy treats. The blend of chocolate and mint is a big hit at our house. Best of all, these cookies are easy and fun to make. —Christina Burbage, Spartanburg, South Carolina
South Dakota: Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies
I’m a busy mother of two young children. I work in our school office and help my husband on our hog and cattle farm. When I find time to bake a treat, I like it to be special. The creamy filling gives traditional peanut butter cookies a new twist. —Debbie Kokes, Tabor, South Dakota
Tennessee: Cream Cheese Turtle Cups
Sometimes the best thing about a cookie is the memories made. My daughter and I love to make and eat these “turtles.” —Lesa Renner, Kingsport, Tennessee
Texas: Mexican Wedding Cakes
As part of a Mexican tradition, I tucked these tender cookies into small gift boxes for the guests at my sister’s wedding a few years ago. Most folks gobbled them up before they ever got home! —Sarita Johnston, San Antonio, Texas
Utah: Pumpkin Cookies with Penuche Frosting
These caramel-frosted pumpkin cookies are as much a part of our holiday as mistletoe and carols! They are a great way to use our home-canned pumpkin. —Priscilla Anderson, Salt Lake City, Utah
Vermont: Chewy Maple Cookies
My husband, Bob, and I have a small sugaring operation with Bob’s father. I love to put some of our syrup to use in these golden cookies. &Mdash; Reba Legrand, Jericho, Vermont
Virginia: Butter Cookies
This butter cookie recipe is a favorite of my nephews, who love the creamy frosting. —Ruth Griggs, South Hill, Virginia
Washington: Apricot-Filled Cookies
The recipe for these rich, buttery cookies originally called for dates. Apricots have long been my favorite fruit, so using them as a substitute seemed natural. —Bonnie Waliezer, Brush Prairie, Washington
West Virginia: Trail Mix Cookie Cups
My granddaughter helped create these cookie cups for the first time by using ingredients from my pantry and fridge. We used trail mix to jazz them up. —Pamela Shank, Parkersburg, West Virginia
Wisconsin: Pistachio Thumbprints
These mild pistachio-flavored cookies disappear in a wink. —Liz Probelski, Port Washington, Wisconsin.
Wyoming: Wyoming Cowboy Cookies
These cookies are very popular here. They’re great for munching anytime. —Patsy Steenbock, Shoshoni, Wyoming
