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Apple pie

Image: Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦

You can’t talk about traditional American desserts without mentioning apple pie, so let’s kick off this article with it! While its roots trace back to Europe, apple pie has become a symbol of American pride.

It’s the perfect combination of buttery crust, sweet apples, and warm spices like cinnamon. Of course, like any traditional dish, there are several variations. But isn’t it great to go back to the basics? If there’s one pie everyone loves, this is it!

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Brown Derby cake

Image: amirali mirhashemian

The Brown Derby Cake isn’t your typical pie, but its story is worth savoring. It was created in 1927 by caterer Harry Baker in Los Angeles.

You might be wondering about the name’s origin—it comes from its domed shape, which resembles a derby hat. Made famous by the iconic Brown Derby restaurant, this cake combines rich chocolate layers with airy whipped cream and fruit for a delicious finish. If you’re feeling fancy, this is the treat to try!

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Cranberry pie

Image: Food Photographer | Jennifer Pallian

Do you know how some feelings can be tasted? Well, if you want to taste autumn, have a slice of cranberry pie.

This tangy treat is a favorite during the holiday season, thanks to its beautiful red hue and bold flavor. Made with fresh or dried cranberries, sugar, and a hint of orange zest, it perfectly balances sweetness and tartness. Serve it at Thanksgiving and watch it quickly become the star of the show.

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Sour Cream Rhubarb Pie

Image: Maximilian Zahn

If you’ve never tried sour cream rhubarb pie, you’re in for a treat. The tartness of the rhubarb is mellowed by a creamy custard filling made with sour cream, creating a dessert that is both tangy and luxurious.

Often topped with a crumbly streusel, this pie is a Midwest favorite that feels both rustic and indulgent. Give rhubarb a chance—in a pie, it’s a superstar!

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Pecan pie

Image: nikohoshi

Speaking of classics, pecan pie is the king of Southern desserts—and for good reason, we might say! With a gooey filling made of sugar, butter, and eggs, topped with toasted pecans, it’s as rich as it gets.

Traditionally served during Thanksgiving, this pie has a caramel-like sweetness that pairs perfectly with whipped cream. And the crunch of the pecans? It’s dessert perfection in every bite!

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Lemon tart

Image: Ira Ushak

Okay, this isn’t technically a pie, but a lemon tart deserves a spot in this article, don’t you think? This tangy dessert features a velvety lemon custard nestled in a buttery crust.

It’s like sunshine on a plate—bright, bold, and just the right amount of sweetness! Lemon tarts are refreshing compared to heavier desserts, there’s not a specific season for them, making them perfect year-round. It’s a must-try for citrus lovers!

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Squash Custard Pie

Image: Natalia Y.

This one might come as a surprise to you, but it’s a delicious nod to fall flavors, and if you like pumpkin pie, you’ll like this one too. Made with sweetened pureed squash, eggs, cream, and warm spices, it offers a fun and unique twist, right?

Squash pies have been part of American cuisine since colonial times, showcasing the resourcefulness of early cooks. It’s a cozy, comforting dessert that’s perfect for sweater weather.

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Oregon’s Marionberry Pie

Image: micheile henderson

Oregon takes pride in many things, and one of them is marionberry pie—as it should! Marionberries, a cross between two types of blackberries, are sweet, juicy, and perfect for a pie. Native to Oregon, these berries create a filling that’s rich and slightly tart. The pie is a regional treasure, it's as Oregonian as rainy days and coffee shops.

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Coca-Cola cake

Image: Toa Heftiba

No, we’re not kidding. Coca-Cola cake was born in the South, and it is as uniquely American as its namesake soda.

In case you were wondering, yes, Cola is a key ingredient, and it gives the rich, moist chocolate cake a subtle caramel flavor. It’s often topped with a fudgy glaze, and if you’re a Coca-Cola fan, you simply must try a slice of this one!

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Carrot cake

Image: Sharon Chen

As you can see, using vegetables as key ingredients in pies is quite common—and successful! Carrot cake is a moist, spiced cake studded with grated carrots and often walnuts or raisins. As if that weren’t enough, we can’t forget about the cream cheese frosting, which made it quite popular among Americans. Do you like this one?

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Backyard Barbecues

Image: Maude Frédérique Lavoie

You say American, you smell a barbecue, isn’t that right? Backyard barbecues are probably one of the most American traditions there is and it is all about that summer fun we all love!

Casual gatherings on a hot summer day to grill some meat is a favorite pastime for all. Adults chat while grilling some burgers or hot dogs, and the kids play. Everyone has fun!

This tradition, like many others, is about good food, good company, and having a great day outdoors.

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Gameday Tailgating

Image: Scott Madore

Pre-game events? Isn’t the game enough? A tailgate party is a social event held on and around the open tailgate of a vehicle. Tailgating often involves consuming alcoholic beverages and grilling food.

Hours before kickoff, fans tailgatein the parking lot with burgers on the grill and a football to toss. It is a fan gathering, a get-together to celebrate your team and get you in high spirits for the game ahead!

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Family Game Nights

Image: Stephen Harlan

All it takes are those simple traditions, and sometimes they are the best traditions. A night of family games is an ideal opportunity to spend a few hours around the table having quality time with the ones you love.

Board games, card games, or even video games! It all comes down to bonding, some good-natured rivalry, and some potentially-not-very-serious debates on how to interpret the rules.

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Turkeys Pardon

Image: Claudio Schwarz

If you don’t comply with many national traditions, this is one you definitely can’t evade. Thanksgiving has many rituals surrounding the holiday, but probably the most bizarre one is the ceremony by means of which the president officially grants a live turkey their pardon.

This is exactly as it sounds, traditionally, the president is gifted a turkey whose life is spared from the stove. The origins of this tradition are disputed but, regardless of who was the first to do so, this tradition continues today and it is one of the things that make Thanksgiving an amazing holiday!

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Black Friday Shopping

Image: CardMapr.nl

The end of the year can easily become a chaotic time with all the gifts one has to get ready. Just as thousands of turkeys go unpardoned by the president, many shoppers take time to find the right Christmas gifts for their loved ones. The national weekend shopping kicks off with Black Friday, a day in which sales are high and shoppers are on alert . This shopping spree continues with Small Business Saturday and ends with Cyber Monday.

However this is one tradition that can escalate rather quickly, haven’t we all witnessed deadly stampedes or frantic arguments to get that one item?

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Baby Showers

Image: Ajeet Singh

Celebrating a new child is customary in many cultures. All over the world babies to come are honored in many ways, but the American way is something else.

Baby showers are the traditional way to celebrate the mother and the child. They are gatherings in which friends and family "shower" the mother with gifts for the baby to come. It is worth noting that this tradition has evolved and it includes gender reveals now too.

Thanks to social media and the quick spread of news, baby showers have become a tradition in many countries now, but it all started in America!

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Supersized Food

Image: Visual Karsa

You’ve surely been to McDonalds or Starbucks, have you ever stopped and thought about how they offer you different sizes of food and cups ? Why is that?

Well, this is already embedded in the American DNA. In our country, fast food or takeaway orders come in different sizes. And that is not all, the smaller size is not small at all; a nd the biggest is exactly as the title says, supersized.

This practice can be traced to the 70s when marketing directors saw a way to sell more for lower prices. This tradition became customary in many countries too, but each nation adapted their sizes to their customers.

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Trick-Or-Treating

Image: Nick Fewings

Halloween is a festive time, customs come out and decorations get put up. Many cultures follow these traditions, but America is different in that children in our country go on a door-to-door hunt for candy. But that is not all, the practice is not complete until a child says "Trick or treat!"

Lovely as they are to see, the magic words are a requirement to get those precious pieces of candy they will later enjoy with their friends and family . They only have to hope the giver doesn’t require a trick from them!

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Display Of National Symbols

Image: Serena T

If you are one to watch movies often, we have a challenge for you: try and spot the American flag in the movie you’re watching. No, we don’t work in the film industry, we know for a fact that American pride is shown in many ways, and displaying the American flag is probably the most common one.

Houses all over the country display a flag, American movies have at least one scene in which you can spot it, and the colors dress thousands of objects in all kinds of celebrations . Is there a flag in your front yard?

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Road Trips

Image: Raphaël LR

Americans are hard workers, but like everyone else, they await those well-deserved holidays to get their feet up and chill out. Regardless of the available budget, which may vary from family to family, road trips are highly popular in our nation and they are not so common in other countries.

Mostly because of how vast the American territory is , road trips are the perfect way to travel and see all the wonders the United States has to offer. True Americans go on at least one road trip in their life, have you done it already?

1

"I like Ike" – Dwight D. Eisenhower (1952)

Image: Adam Bouse

Often referenced in pop culture, "I Like Ike" was Dwight D. Eisenhower's slogan during his 1952 campaign. "Ike" was his nickname, and the slogan’s catchy and effective simplicity helped power Eisenhower to victory in '52 and again in his 1956 re-election.

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"It's morning again in America" – Ronald Reagan (1984)

Image: Nicolas HIPPERT

In 1984, Ronald Reagan launched his re-election campaign with a slogan that was as powerful as it was optimistic: "It's morning again in America." Symbolizing a nation back on its feet, the slogan made a strong impact, helping Reagan win a landslide in the 1984 election, taking 49 out of 50 states.

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"A chicken in every pot and a car in every garage" – Herbert Hoover (1928)

Image: John Paulsen

Herbert Hoover’s 1928 slogan, "A chicken in every pot and a car in every garage," remains one of the most memorable campaign slogans in American history. Although it wasn't official, it resonated with the middle class by promising abundance and comfort. Hoover won the election, but his administration was only a few months old when the Great Depression suddenly began in 1929.

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"Yes we can" – Barack Obama (2008)

Image: History in HD

One of the most memorable slogans of the early 21st century is undoubtedly "Yes We Can," from Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign. Short, clear, and powerful, the phrase delivered a message of unity that resonated with millions and helped secure victory for the Democratic candidate that year.

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"Make America Great Again" – Donald Trump (2016)

Image: History in HD

When it comes to recent history, the 2016 election was unforgettable. Without a doubt, the slogan that captured the nation’s attention was "Make America Great Again." With its strong appeal to nostalgia, the phrase helped Donald Trump secure victory over Hillary Clinton.

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"Happy days are here again" – Franklin D. Roosevelt (1932)

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"Happy Days Are Here Again" was the theme song of Franklin D. Roosevelt's 1932 presidential campaign. Though not originally written as a campaign slogan, the upbeat tune became strongly associated with Roosevelt’s message of hope during the Great Depression. The song spread quickly across the country and is still remembered today. He won the election and went on to serve four terms, the only US president in history to do so.

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"Tippecanoe and Tyler Too" – William Henry Harrison (1840)

Image: The New York Public Library

We could say this slogan started it all. Widely regarded as the first hugely successful presidential campaign slogan in US history, its message was surprisingly powerful. On one hand, "Tippecanoe" highlighted Harrison's reputation as a war hero from the 1811 Battle of Tippecanoe. While adding "Tyler too," the slogan introduced voters to his running mate, John Tyler.

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"Keep Cool with Coolidge"- Calvin Coolidge (1924)

Image: Will Ma

Calvin Coolidge became president in 1923 after the death of President Warren G. Harding.

Coolidge’s calm, steady demeanor was one of the most memorable aspects of his first time in office. In 1924, he capitalized on this reputation by adopting the slogan "Keep Cool with Coolidge" for his re-election campaign, and it worked!

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"Don't swap horses in the middle of the stream" – Abraham Lincoln (1864)

Image: Ed Fr

The Civil War was far from a quiet time in American history. Amid this national division, Lincoln was leading the country and running for re-election in 1864. His iconic campaign catchphrase, "Don't Swap Horses in the Middle of the Stream," encouraged voters to give his administration more time and place their trust in his vision for the country. And they did!

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"Not just peanuts" – Jimmy Carter (1976)

Image: Tom Hermans

When critics pointed to Jimmy Carter’s background as a peanut farmer, he didn't ignore it— he turned it to his advantage. Though not an official campaign slogan, "Not Just Peanuts" helped him connect with everyday Americans while also highlighting that he brought much more to the table. The message was clear: farming was part of his story, but Carter was also experienced and capable of leading the nation.