The Must-Try Snack That's Worth Stopping For In Every State

Do you have an irresistible hankering for unique fruits, sweet treats, or even a bowl's private

parts? Well then, it's time to take a trip to discover the most iconic snacks all across

the United States. It's probably not lost on any foodie that fried green tomatoes are a Southern staple

But did you know that Alabama in particular lays claim to this dish as its most iconic

snack? This is no doubt in no small part thanks to Fannie Flagg's popular novel

Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe, and its film adaptation starring Kathy Bates

So next time you're in the Yellowhammer state, stop by the Irondale Cafe for a taste of the tomatoes that inspired the novel

So what do you think? They're okay. You've probably already had beef jerky, or at least heard of it. But what about smoked salmon

jerky? Considering that the fish plays such an important role in the state's identity

it only makes sense that Alaska offers plenty of ways to consume its excess salmon supplies

If you visit the last frontier, you might end up meeting people who smoke their own salmon jerky

But even if you don't get to try the homemade version, you can easily find it in stores

If you've never heard of prickly pear cactus candy, that's probably because it's only made in Arizona

The prickly pear cactus, of which Arizona has at least 18 different varieties

can be found in the southwest United States, and its bright, tart, sweet flavor makes it

prime candy material. Prickly Pear Cactus Candy has notes of lemon, watermelon, and bubblegum

and it's a must-try whenever you visit the Grand Canyon State. Pickle lovers should start packing their car for a road trip to Arkansas as soon as possible

The fried variety dates all the way back to the 1960s when it was invented by Atkins

Arkansas resident Bernal Fat Man Austin. He specifically fried dill pickles, and contrary

to how many fried pickles are prepared today, he preferred them cut long ways rather than in small

round slices. You can try his original pickles during Atkins' annual Pickle Fest in May

If you believe that tortilla chips are merely a vehicle to consume ample amounts of guacamole

then you should probably make your way over to California. The Golden State is widely renowned

for its avocado production. So it only makes perfect sense that Californians know how to make

irresistibly delicious guac. The best way to do it is by keeping it simple

California residents will often prepare guacamole with just avocados, salt, some citrus juice

and some onion. It's an easy enough indulgence to enjoy no matter where you live

just so long as you can score some ripe avocados. Rocky Mountain oysters

These look great. Felt, you know what those are, right? Not really, but I love seafood

Despite the name Rocky Mountain Oysters, aren't oysters at all. We can't blame Colorado for that

misleading moniker, though. After all, calling them breaded bull testicles probably wouldn't

sound very appetizing, even though that's what they are. Oh my. Nevertheless, this is a treat that's been widely enjoyed throughout the state since the 1800s

when cowboys didn't let any part of an animal go to waste. Rocky Mountain oysters aren't as widely available now as they were back then

but you should still try to score some on your next visit to the Centennial State. Connecticut's signature snack was a bit hard to nail down

but we ended up going with the iconic candy known as Pez. Interestingly enough, these blocky treats were originally invented as an attempt to quell the urge to smoke

The fun and unique dispenser candy has found a lasting spot in American culture since its introduction in the 1950s

Fans of the candy should visit the Pez Visitor Center on their next trip to the Constitution State

If you've ever walked Delaware's boardwalks and had the tantalizing smell of tangy fries

taunt you along the way, then you know what this next snack is. Vinegar fries are most famously

made at Thrasher's French Fries, and they're exactly what they sound like — premium

hand-cut potatoes garnished with salt and vinegar. You don't need any condiments to enjoy

this sharp, savory snack, though you can always add ketchup if you'd like

Only a few states can claim a fruit as their most iconic snack, and obviously Florida is one of them

The Sunshine State is undeniably famous for its oranges, and they've in fact been called the

perfect snack on more than one occasion. If you've never had one straight from the source

it's well worth making a point to snack on them during your next Floridian vacation

and it won't be hard to find a farm citrus stand to shop at. Whether you're making Cajun-boiled peanuts or seasoning them in a different spice blend

And munching on these savory morsels will have you feeling like you're nestled comfortably

in the deep south. Georgia is one of two states that gets to claim boiled peanuts as its most iconic snack

They're especially popular in the summer, specifically around the 4th of July, although

you can find them year-round in the peach state. If you think that Spam Musubi looks akin to sushi, you're not far off, although you won't

find any fish in this snack that's considered a Hawaiian junk food

Instead, it's made with rice and Spam, marinated in brown sugar, soy sauce, and oyster sauce

that's all held together with a strip of roasted seaweed nori. It's not at all hard to find on the islands, and you should make a point to try it, even

if you're not generally a fan of Spam. I love your Spam

I love it. You won't find any actual potatoes in Idaho's most iconic snack, even though Spud is right

there in the name. Instead, the oblong shape of Idaho's Spuds inspired this candy bar's name, which you

can't find widely outside the state. They have a cocoa-flavored marshmallow center that's covered

in dark chocolate and coconut flakes And interestingly enough plant agar is used instead of gelatin in the marshmallow center Popcorn is particularly iconic in two American states one of them being Illinois In fact it holds the title of the state official snack thanks to a 2003 petition by second

and third graders. The Chicago-based Garrett popcorn is especially popular in the land of

Lincoln, with the company offering a variety of mixes, including cheddar caramel, white

chocolate strawberry, and buffalo ranch. And I think this is probably the yummiest popcorn I've ever had

Coincidentally, the other state that lays claim to popcorn as its most iconic snack

is the next one alphabetically. Hoosiers are particular about their preferred brand

of kernels, and we can't blame them. Orville Redenbacher's has roots in the state's corn

growing scene. And the man behind the brand's tireless efforts to create the perfect popping

corn has earned him well-deserved renown in Indiana that has endured to this day

So the next time you pop a bag, remember that it all started in the Hoosier state

Serve my gourmet popping corn. If you've ever wanted a next-level Rice Krispie treat, look no further than Iowa's Scotch-a-roos

They're actually not unique to Iowa, though, and in fact, the recipe for this snack used

to be found on the side of Rice Krispie boxes. But Iowans in particular have adopted this

indulgence as their own. It's basically just a more decadent version of a Rice Krispie treat

Instead of being made with marshmallows, it consists of peanut butter, chocolate, and butterscotch chips

You're probably no stranger to cinnamon rolls, but did you know that they're uniquely iconic in Kansas

They may not seem instantly synonymous, but it turns out the snack has played an important historical role in the sunflower state

Here you go. Chili and cinnamon rolls are an iconic pairing in Kansas

thanks to public schools that regularly turned donated beans into chili for lunchtime

And to encourage kids to eat the chili, it was often paired with a cinnamon roll

If you've never had Kentucky bourbon balls before, you need to rectify that ASAP

They're a natural choice for the Bluegrass State's most iconic snack, considering how central a role bourbon plays in Kentucky's culinary scene

And who doesn't love getting their hands on a chocolate treat or two? Bourbon balls are most commonly found as dark chocolate around a soft

vanilla caramel bourbon center, often with a pecan on top. You can't take a trip to Louisiana without indulging in pickled pig's lips

Be warned, though, as they're not for the faint of heart. The name is undeniably spot-on, because what you pull out of the pink-tinted liquid in a jar are

actual pig's lips. They're not exactly frequently enjoyed outside the Pelican State

but you'd be hard-pressed not to find them at roadside convenience stores in Louisiana

A trip up north to Maine will likely have you encountering some local delicacies

like the state's famous lobster rolls. Less famous, but just as important to Maine's culture

is the snack known as Humpty Dumpty chips. The brand can only be found in the Pine Tree state

making it something of a point of pride for those who get to consume it regularly

Particularly popular are Humpty Dumpty's all-dressed chips, which have been called the best potato chips by renowned snack critic Bill Oakley

Among all of Utz's potato chip flavors, the crab chip is absolutely one of the most iconic

and nowhere does this seasoned crispy snack receive more acclaim than in Maryland

which is fitting, considering that the state is famous for its crab scene. These savory chips are inspired by the flavors of the Chesapeake Bay

Customer reviews often mention not being able to identify the flavor, calling it completely new yet instantly addictive. Hoodsy cups have been a mainstay in Massachusetts

culture since 1947, and their longevity and popularity make it unlikely that they'll

disappear anytime soon. The concept behind them is simple, an ice cream cup that's half vanilla

and half chocolate, and served with a mini wooden paddlespoon for easy on-the-go snacking

This sweet treat is popular throughout New England and unquestionably worth hunting down

the next time you visit the region. Another state with its own brand of potato chips is Michigan

Detroit has been the headquarters of Better Made Snack Foods since 1930, so it's safe to say that

these snacks are fairly cemented in the state's culture. Better Made isn't the only chip company

with origins in the Detroit area, but it is the only one to have endured throughout the decades

Better Made brings people together. Make sure you've got some water handy, because next up, we've got... more chips

A Reddit thread that asked, What foods and or drinks do you think are quintessential Minnesota

Led to many users discussing their favorite flavors of Old Dutch potato chips

This St. Paul brand was founded in 1934 by Carl J. Marks, who named his chips very intentionally

Old was meant to give the impression that they already had established longevity

while Dutch was meant to associate the brand with the purity of the Dutch lifestyle

Alas, cheese straws aren't used to sip up drinks. although this straw-shaped snack is perfect for munching on the next time you're in Mississippi

The origin of cheese straws dates back several decades to an era before refrigerators

This snack offered an easy, yummy way to use up leftover biscuit dough so it wouldn't go to waste

Cooks would knead the dough with cheese and spices and bake it to crunchy perfection

It's okay if you've never heard of Red Hot Ripplets. It just means you've probably never

visited Missouri. These chips are made by the company Old Vienna, and while this particular

style isn't the only flavor that the brand produces, it does account for an impressive

80% of the company's sales. These chips are known for being loaded with spicy seasoning

and as the company's office manager Alicia Schaefer once told Feast magazine

you can't find another chip with the same combo of sweet, barbecue, and hot

They so spicy aren they You should never chow down on unidentified foraged berries but if you in Montana you should make it a point to hunt down some huckleberries

And you should also indulge in anything made with it — huckleberry pie, huckleberry ice

cream, and even huckleberry milkshakes. Simply put, you won't be hard-pressed to find huckleberry-flavored products in Big Sky Country

Nebraska's Tin Roof Sundae may technically be more of a dessert than a snack, but once

you've tried it, you'll want to eat it no matter the time of day. The recipe is easy enough to crack

without making a trip to the Cornhusker state, but you should still try one in its homeland if

you're ever passing through. All you need to assemble it are chocolate and vanilla ice cream

chocolate sauce, marshmallow sauce, and skin-on Spanish peanuts. The peanuts hitting the plate when he made the sundae sounded a lot like rain and hail

hitting the tin roof during the rainy season. It makes sense that Nevada can claim shrimp cocktail

as its most iconic snack when you consider the food scene in Las Vegas. Sin City alone eats a

whopping 22 million pounds of shrimp each year. The exact origins of this classy snack are unknown

but some suspect that Las Vegas may have played a role at least in popularizing the dish. A Vegas

hotel first served shrimp cocktail in the 1950s, and its recognition has only grown ever since

It probably comes as no surprise to hear that New Hampshire's most iconic snack

is maple syrup-based. We could have made a strong argument for just the syrup itself

although we ultimately chose to focus on maple candies. Maple sugar has been a popular

non-perishable staple of the region for centuries, and maple syrup is the only

ingredient needed to make these candies. It's boiled to a crystalline state, whipped, and set

in molds. Oh, I love saltwater taffy. I guess it's the taste, the texture, the fact that it's

made here in New Jersey. Saltwater taffy might not be for everyone, but considering its New Jersey

origins and special popularity among tourists, it's an easy pick for the Garden State's most

iconic snack. According to local lore, its invention was a bit of an accident, as a candy

shop owner stumbled upon the delicious combo of saltwater and taffy when his store flooded with

seawater. Whether or not you believe that legend is up to you, but either way, you should definitely

gobble up some taffy the next time you're in Jersey. Biscuititos are guaranteed to satisfy

anyone with a sweet tooth in New Mexico. Introduced to the state by Spanish settlers

this cookie recipe features cinnamon and anise flavors, as well as some brandy. You can typically

find it at celebratory events like weddings or graduations, but you can also make them at home

as long as you can get your hands on some anise seeds. No, buffalo wings are not made from buffalo

meat. Instead, this famous appetizer is, of course, named after Buffalo, New York, its city of origin

Buffalo wings are by no means exclusive to the Empire State, although New York certainly takes

great pride in its wing-laden history. So the next time you find yourself in western New York

why not eat your way down the Buffalo Wing Trail or attend the National Buffalo Wing Festival

Don't be a chicken. There's plenty of wild flavors for you to choose from

from peanut butter and jelly to cinnamon toast crunch. A hankering for hot, fresh donuts has sent legions of hungry folks to Krispy Kreme on

more than one occasion. But this now nationwide chain has rather humble origins. It was founded

in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, in 1937, and the original location is still standing to this day

Keep an eye out for the Hot Now sign, which, if lit, lets customers know that their donuts will be freshly made

What, are we next door to a freakin' Krispy Kreme? It would have been easy enough for North Dakota to call its iconic snack chocolate-covered potato chips

but we're happy that they invented the quaint colloquialism chippers instead. This sweet and salty treat was invented at Carol Widman's Candy Company

although you don't have to make the journey out there to try these treats. It's easy enough to concoct a convincing dupe from your home kitchen

but you will have to go to the Peace Garden State if you want the real deal

Fortunately, Buckeyes are easy to make at home, so you don't have to travel to Ohio to get a taste

of this scrumptious delicacy. They're named after the nuts of the Ohio Buckeye tree, which you

definitely shouldn't eat, since they're poisonous. But you should eat these Buckeyes. A chocolate

coating houses a peanut butter interior with some peanut butter visible on top to give the snack its

signature Buckeye appearance. And they're pretty easy to get a hold of if you ever visit the Buckeye

State. Fried pies can be found throughout Oklahoma, with some of the state's favorites

located at Arbuckle Mountain Fried Pies off of Exit 51 near the city of Davis. It's a simple

snack in theory that's absolutely delightful when well executed. It consists of a fruit filling

folded inside of pie crust before being deep fried. With all that flaky crust, mmm, oh yeah, it's good stuff

If that sounds delicious to you, make your way down to the Sooner State sooner rather than later

You won't necessarily find Oregon residents snacking on marionberries everywhere you look

but snacks made with them are plentiful and treasured. This hybrid fruit was invented in

the city of Corvallis and can only be found in Oregon. If you ever find yourself in the beaver

state, chow down on a slice of marionberry pie, enjoy some marionberry ice cream, or spread

marionberry jam on your toast. Pretzels may not have been invented in Pennsylvania

but they've certainly built themselves quite the legacy in the Keystone State

In fact, Pennsylvania is the world's top producer of both soft and hard pretzels

And it's also home to many well-known pretzel companies like Snyder's and Auntie Anne's

If you ever near Akron and Lancaster County it worth stopping at Martin to taste hard pretzels made by hand while Philadelphia tourists can grab a soft pretzel from Center City Pretzel Company Since clamming is particularly popular in Rhode Island

it makes sense that the state would devise numerous ways to consume this tasty delicacy

One of the most popular varieties is the clam cake. You can find these shellfish bites at various

clam shacks around the Ocean State, and each one of them offers its own twist on the classic

Typically, the base is a simple batter made with flour, water, baking powder, salt, and clam juice

which is combined with clam pieces before being fried. One other state can claim boiled peanuts as its most iconic snack

and it's no accident that it neighbors the snack's other state, Georgia. They were actually designated South Carolina's official state snack in 2006

That makes sense when you consider the Palmetto State's long-running history with the treat

which can be traced all the way back to the 1800s. You don't need to hunt down historical locations to find it, though, as boiled peanuts are

plentiful at modern South Carolina stores and roadside stands. It's great on the lake, great at the beach, one of the best things in the South

Don't mistake South Dakota's most iconic snack for kebab. Chislik is much more particular in its preparation, and South Dakotans take great pride in their

official nosh. These meat skewers, which can be deep-fried or grilled, are typically made with cubes of

venison, lamb, or beef. They're not hard to track down at restaurants in the state

and they're often served alongside a sauce. They're typically consumed as a snack-size

appetizer, but once you try them, you may find yourself devouring a whole meal's worth

Maybe you're already a fan of moon pies, but did you know that this popular packaged snack

was invented in Tennessee? They've been a staple of the volunteer state since their invention in

1917, when they were an instant hit among coal miners who needed a small filling treat to pack

in their lunch pails. It didn't take long for Moon Pie Fever to catch on, as they were already

being factory-produced in 1929, and soon became popular nationwide, especially during World War II

They all embrace the Moon Pie Child, and everyone cries in a good way

Beaver nuggets aren't made from beavers, nor are they similar to other common kinds of nuggets

Instead, Texas' most iconic snack is named after a Lone Star State symbol, the mascot

of the Buc-ee's convenience chain. Beaver nuggets are a sweet, crunchy treat traditionally made of corn puffs coated in

brown sugar caramel, though there are other flavors. If you're dying to try them but nowhere near Texas, we have some good news — you can order

them from Amazon. Jell-O was named the official snack of Utah in 2001, and though it's not unique to the

beehive state, residents do have a unique affinity for this jiggly treat. Its popularity there has a

lot to do with Utah's religious leanings, particularly Mormonism. Jell-O is considered

by many to be a family-friendly snack, which made it easy to adopt into the faith-filled culture

It's also easy to make in large quantities and enjoyed by adults and children alike

The iconic Vermont snack of sugar on snow is a lot more literal than you might suspect

It's typically made after a fresh downfall by actually pouring sugar on snow. To be more precise

maple syrup is heated up to around 235 degrees Fahrenheit before being poured on fresh snow

and left to solidify until it reaches a taffy-like consistency. It's like eating a maple gumdrop or something

Since sugar on snow is an easily homemade treat, it's one you can try for yourself the next time

the flakes start falling, whether or not you're in the Green Mountain state

Peanuts have been a part of Virginia history since the first crop was grown in 1842

The state quickly became known as the biggest and best peanut producer in the country

so it's fitting then that the crop became a popular snack among Virginians and throughout

the rest of the United States. They provided a quick, easy, and coveted form of sustenance

for Civil War soldiers, and nowadays you can find Virginia peanuts all over the country

Washington is home to the famously sweet Rainier Cherry. If you visit the evergreen state when

they're in season, you might be able to get your hands on some fresh ones for snacking at Pike

Place. Otherwise, opt for the dried variety. Like the other fruits on this list, anything that

utilizes Rainier Cherries should be enjoyed as a snack, especially Rainier Cherry Pie

It is West Virginia's most famous food, the pepperoni roll. Only West Virginians can recognize a true pepperoni roll, a delicious filling treat

that was created by the state's Italian immigrant mining community. Pepperoni rolls are incredibly

simple, which allowed them to become a popular non-perishable snack that miners would take to

work. To make it yourself, just bake pepperoni inside Italian bread. Although if you want to

taste the best ones, then a trip to the Mountain State needs to be on your schedule

Of course, cheese had to be part of Wisconsin's most iconic snack. There are plenty of inventive

ways to consume this classic dairy product, like separating the curds from the whey and

deep-frying them to crispy perfection. The result is a sumptuous snack food that's plentiful

throughout the Badger State. If you're not in the area, they're easy enough to make at home

as long as you have access to cheese curds. But fair warning, once you've had one, you won't be

able to stop. Finally, our last iconic state snack harkens back to the wild western times of Wyoming

when waste was minimal and preservation was plentiful. A quick look around the Equality

state snack scene will likely find you face to face with the largest variety of jerky you've

ever seen. Wyoming makes its dried meat out of different animals that can be found throughout

the state, including beef, buffalo, and elk, and it's commonly known as cowboy jerky