Top 21 Most Popular Desserts in America in 2025

America has a wealth of popular dessert options, from Southern favorites like banana pudding and pecan pie to sugar-dusted Southwestern churros. For many, dessert is not just what comes after the meal but sometimes the most anticipated part of the meal itself.

From simple cakes and cookies to flaky, decadence-soaked perfections, desserts are an art form, taking center stage not only for celebrations and holidays but also for an average Wednesday. 

If you are looking for sweet treats to finish off the night (or the morning — no one says breakfast dessert isn’t a thing!), we've rounded up some suggestions for the most popular desserts. They range from light and simple to gloriously complex but infinitely beautiful and delicious.

 Jump to Section

• What Is the Most Popular Dessert in America?
• 21 Most Popular Desserts in the US
• Learn To Make the Best Desserts

What Is the Most Popular Dessert in America?

America has a wide variety of popular desserts that people indulge in at food festivals, during celebratory holidays or just as daily after-dinner treats. As you might expect, cakes and pies are top contenders for the title of the most popular dessert in America, with cheesecake, carrot cake and apple pie all nearing that number-one spot. 

America’s most popular desserts also include more straightforward sweet treats that are easier to make, such as brownies and Jell-O. However, one dessert stands head and shoulders above the rest in popularity, as it does in many other countries worldwide. 

If you guessed ice cream, you hit the nail on the head. According to the International Dairy Foods Association, vanilla, chocolate and strawberry are America’s most popular ice cream flavors, with flavors such as butter pecan and cookie dough also ranking among the most favored choices.

21 Most Popular Desserts in the US

1. Pie

Pie earns a spot at the top of everyone’s list of popular desserts merely for its delicious versatility. From fruity options to cream pies, from seasonal favorites like pumpkin to year-round standards like apple, what’s not to love? Sweet to sour, delightfully rich to light and airy — pie is a perennial favorite. 

While anything sounds good between two flaky crusts or on a sweet graham cracker base, every region of the country has its favorite. Examples include the South’s rich pecan pie and Maine’s trademark blueberry. 

Some even favor twists on classics, such as mini apple pies or pies made with gluten-free almond flour pie crust. Chocolate lovers can also find their perfect pie in chocolatey treats like Oreo Dream Pie, Mississippi mud pie or unique s’mores pie. 

2. Doughnuts

Dating all the way back to the 17th century, it is believed that doughnuts were first brought to New Amsterdam (now New York) by Dutch settlers. Although these iconic ring-shaped treats are a popular dessert, they’re enjoyed pretty much any time of the day. 

How did the ring shape come to be, you might ask? Well, thanks to the actions of Hanson Gregory, a 19th-century sailor who created a hole in the dough to make for even cooking, the legendary shape lives on. This popular American dessert comes in many flavors, some of the most popular being glazed, Boston cream and chocolate-frosted. If you’re looking to try your hand at a simple recipe that yields delicious results, the cake doughnut is the way to go.

3. Cobblers and Crumbles

Cobblers and crumbles are popular desserts that combine sweet and tart in equal measure. While popular choices include peach and apple, other fruits like pears, rhubarb and berries also make great choices. Depending on how much sugar you add to the fruit itself, these popular baked goods can range from sour to sweet. 

Cobblers also vary from more cake-like to crunchy with the addition of oats and texture in lieu of flour. They are also easy to make with fruit and basic supplies on hand. For example, this delicious cherry cobbler uses ingredients you’ll likely have in your pantry and takes less than an hour and a half to make.

4. Jell-O

A list of desserts in the U.S. wouldn’t be complete without Jell-O, and that’s because it is found in almost every grocery store, corner café and home in the country. This simple yet popular dessert is loved by so many because of its versatility and how easy it is to make. 

The process usually involves three simple steps: combine Jell-O powder with boiling water and stir until dissolved; add in some cold water and stir again; and finally, let the mixture set in the fridge. Another reason why it is one of the most popular desserts in America is that it comes in many different flavors. 

Raspberry, strawberry, orange and lemon were the first flavors to ever be created, but nowadays, this gelatin-based dessert comes in chocolate, vanilla and even multi-colored molds, especially for celebrations such as the Fourth of July. The spooky season also features this tasty treat in the form of Halloween Jell-O shots, which are as fun to make as they are to eat.

5. Cheesecake

Another incredibly diverse and popular dessert in America is, of course, the amazing combination of cream cheese and deliciousness known as cheesecake. You will be hard-pressed to find anyone in the U.S. who doesn’t appreciate some variety of this favorite treat. From rich double chocolate decadence to fluffier and fruitier options like these lemon cheesecake bars, this delectable pudding is consistently a favorite in every state in the union.

While it may seem like a very contemporary dessert, the first cheesecake varieties were created as early as the fifth century B.C. on the Greek island of Samos, where a dessert was created from cheese, honey and nuts. Nowadays, options are endless, but if you’re still new to this cake type and would like to make one, the New York cheesecake is the way to go.

6. Funnel Cake

Oddly shaped yet oh-so-delicious, the funnel cake is one of the most popular desserts in the U.S. for good reason. Although it’s a less common dessert found in grocery stores and restaurants, it’s a carnival staple where those who make it wow viewers with a dramatic preparation. The signature spiral shape is achieved by swirling batter through a funnel into hot oil, which is also how this tasty treat got its name.

Like most of the other most popular desserts in America, this one comes in different flavors, mainly through the toppings sprinkled or poured on the lacy base. The most common option is powdered sugar, but don’t let the opportunity pass you by to try exciting variations in the form of chocolate drizzle and cinnamon-sugar, or fruity creations such as strawberry or apple.

7. Banana Pudding

One of the South’s most popular dessert offerings, this layered mix of sweet banana pudding, fresh bananas, Nilla wafer cookies and whipped cream is a fluffy and creamy delight fresh from the icebox. The recipe first appeared in Good Housekeeping in 1888 and has been a firm favorite ever since. For an interesting combination with another popular dessert favorite, try these banana pudding brownies. 

8. Bananas Foster

From one banana pudding to another, this one has less crunch and more smoothness than its pudding counterpart listed above. Combining vanilla ice cream, bananas and a decadent sauce made from brown sugar, butter and dark rum, as well as cinnamon and banana liqueur, it’s not hard to realize why this is one of the most popular desserts in America. 

As delicious as it is for the taste buds, this U.S. dessert is also a theatrical spectacle for the eyes. How so? Well, when served, rum is often ignited tableside during the dish's signature flambé. Although the classic bananas Foster is the way many people prefer to enjoy this popular dessert, it’s also served as a crêpe filling for an easier on-the-go snack.

9. Cakes and Cupcakes

Cakes are one of America’s most revered confections — from the everyday to special occasions like birthdays and weddings, you will always find cake. They are also one of the most customizable popular desserts, as they're able to be shaped into spaceships, flowers and even objects that look too real to be dessert. 

Whatever you put in, on or around it, cake is one of America’s most popular desserts. Who knew mixing eggs, flour and sugar (and even vegetables when making carrot cake) could create such a delicious concoction?

If you love rich desserts, try this chocolate lava cake. For a lighter, crunchy option, try making a strawberry crunch cake. Other popular varieties include Texas sheet cakes, coconut cakes and icebox cakes, which are made with fruits, nuts and wafers. 

Cupcakes are also a popular cake variety that can be enjoyed in many flavors and are as adorable as they are delicious. If you’ve never tasted cake pops, they’re another portable option worth trying.

10. Baked Alaska

Although baked Alaska is one of the most popular desserts in America, it’s not as common as many of the others on this list. Like the others, too, it’s also not as easy to decipher exactly what this delicious food is made of. Yes, there is indeed a baked element to it — cake. However, that’s not where it ends. This delicious dessert also includes ice cream, and that, together with the cake, gets covered in browned meringue. 

This decadent creation was a status symbol for the elite in its early days, but nowadays, it’s considered a more common dessert in the USA and all over the world. Besides the classic vanilla, it comes in other delicious varieties, including chocolate, Nutella and tangy fruit flavors.

11. Brownies

A close cousin of cake, brownies are just a little more chocolatey and dense. Like cake, this popular dessert also comes in a variety of incarnations, from thicker, more fudge-like brownies to fluffier, more cake-like creations. Add nuts, candy, caramel or frosting to create a customized favorite.

This walnut brownie recipe is an old standard, but you can also try unique variations like red velvet brownies or a gluten-free version with these avocado brownies. These scrumptious treats are also perfect for combining with other popular desserts like ice cream and caramel sauce.

12. Pancakes

Shouldn’t this be on the list of the best breakfast food ideas? That’s a valid question, if that’s what you’re wondering, but many people also consider this to be a popular dessert. Whether enjoyed savory or sweet, this delicious meal’s reputation precedes it in the best of ways, as it’s one of the most delicious and versatile choices on this list. 

Some people like their pancakes cooked with fruit fillings, such as bananas, strawberries or blueberries, while others tend to lean towards the more sugary chocolate chip pancakes. Thanks to forward culinary thinking, this popular dessert can even be enjoyed in more unconventional ways via pancake recipes like zucchini pancakes, pumpkin pancakes and gluten-free oat flour pancakes.

13. Ice Cream

The best desserts don’t always come from the oven, as ice cream lovers will attest. From store-bought cartons to gourmet creations you can make at home, ice cream comes in far more than the standard 31 flavors touted by Baskin-Robbins.

This icy treat is a popular dessert in the summer, especially on National Ice Cream Day, but can be enjoyed year-round. For a unique homemade version, try this recipe for blueberry ice cream. You can also combine two popular desserts in one with this strawberry ice cream sandwich.

The first substance to resemble ice cream appeared in Ancient China, but the concoction has been adapted and developed over thousands of years, with a Baltimore milk dealer, Jacob Fussel, creating the first ice cream in America in the 1850s. The first ice cream cones debuted at the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis and have since been an integral part of this popular dessert.

14. S’mores

Perfect for both summer camping and winter firesides, s’mores are a very American creation. The simple concept of graham crackers, toasted marshmallows and chocolate has become home to a variety of innovations, including the addition of peanut butter, caramel and yes, even bacon.

The recipe for s’mores first appeared in a cookbook in the 1920s, when it was already gaining popularity among campers in the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of America. If you’re nowhere near a fireside, you can make this popular dessert in your very own oven at home with this recipe for s'mores in the oven. S’mores flavor combinations also work well with other desserts like pies, cakes and brownies.

15. Lemon Squares

If you love tart and flaky treats, lemon squares may just be your favorite popular dessert. The best recipes involve buttery shortbread crust, a layer of deliciously tangy lemon curd and a light dusting with powdered sugar. Fresh from the fridge, lemon squares are perfect summertime desserts when the heat sends you looking for something sweet yet not too heavy. 

16. Cookies

One of the most portable and popular dessert options, there’s a cookie for everyone to love. From standards like chocolate chip and oatmeal to more unique options like dulce de leche cookies, the options are endless.

Additionally, they are great for joining forces with another American favorite dessert, ice cream, to make classics like this cookie ice cream sandwich. Cookies are also one of the most popular desserts to adapt to other diets, including gluten-free and vegan versions.

In fact, these sweet treats are so loved in the U.S. that events are hosted around them, such as cookie exchanges and cookie decorating parties.

17. Rice Krispie Treats

One of the easiest desserts on the list, Rice Krispie treats have been an American classic practically since the beloved healthy cereal first appeared in supermarkets. They were invented in 1939 by Kellogg Company employees Malitta Jensen and Mildred Day to help promote the cereal. 

A simple combination of the cereal with marshmallows, Rice Krispie treats are open to endless innovation — sprinkles, drizzles and chocolate chips, as well as these peanut butter Rice Krispie treats. They are also a great no-bake option for making a couple of days ahead of time.

18. Churros

A standard of Latin and Southwest cuisines, churros are a unique variation on the fried dough genre of treats, whose cousins include elephant ears, funnel cakes and beignets. These cylindrical popular desserts are dusted with the perfect mix of cinnamon and sugar. 

A number of delicious variations of this Mexican street food exist, including churros drizzled or dipped in chocolate or filled with cream or chocolate sauce. For a great combination of flavors, you could even try making a churro cheesecake.

19. Fudge

Not just for the holidays but always a popular dessert around Christmas, this richly dense treat hovers somewhere between dessert and candy. It offers endless flavor variations, including the incorporation of mint, peanut butter and caramel, as well as nuts, fruit and sea salt.

Fudge first gained popularity in the 1880s, when the word was taken from the French term for “to fit together in a clumsy manner." Nowadays, it’s not only one of the most popular desserts in the USA but all around the world, too. For a classic, try this recipe for Christmas fudge. This delicious treat also keeps well in the fridge and is a great holiday gift option.

20. Crème Brûlée

With its roots as a French favorite, this popular dessert enjoys equal love in the U.S. A sweet custard coating with a layer of crunchy caramelized sugar just aching to be cracked with a spoon, it's often a favorite on restaurant dessert menus, many of which offer variations incorporating caramel and fruit.

21. Chocolate Mousse

A lighter, fluffier close relation to its denser siblings, pudding and custard, chocolate mousse is a perennially popular dessert choice for those who have a chocolate craving but aren’t in the mood for richer, heavier options. 

Like crème brûlée, you will find chocolate mousse on many restaurant dessert menus in the country, sometimes combined with other flavors and treats like chocolate mousse cakes and cheesecakes.  

Learn To Make the Best Desserts

If you are looking for more than just inspiration and recipes, consider checking out online baking classes or cooking classes near you. Whether you opt for baking classes in Atlanta, baking classes in Boston or any other sweet experience in over 200 other cities around the world, you’ll learn a range of new skills to create showstopping desserts. 

Whether your favorite desserts are sweet or mouth-wateringly tart, America’s most popular desserts have something for every palate. Order something sweet to top off your next restaurant meal. Bake something decadent, rich and delicious in your kitchen from scratch. Eat ice cream for breakfast! Whatever the occasion, even if it's just a Wednesday, these popular desserts are a must-have.

For even more fun ways to explore your favorite foods, check out other experiences happening on Cozymeal.