1

Oreo

Image: ABHISHEK HAJARE

Who better to start this article than Milk’s absolute best friend? Oreo has been the king of American cookies since its very beginning. Dunk it, twist it, or just eat it: There’s no bad way to eat an Oreo.

Did you know that Oreos were originally sold as part of a trio of cookies? Not only that, they were sold under a much less marketable name: Hydrox, which doesn’t really fit such a delicious treat.

2

Snickers

Image: Joshua Fernandez

Have you ever wondered where the name "Snickers" comes from? You might be inclined to think that it comes from the hearty laughter that might arise after eating one of these delicious bars, but the answer is actually rather strange: It comes from a horse! Specifically, it was the name of the Mars family horse, who decided to immortalize their beloved stallion in 1930.

Regardless of its unusual name, Snickers is one of the most beloved candy bars in America, if not the world. Over their 90 years of history, they have produced a number of delicious variants of their traditional caramel and peanut filling, including dark and white chocolate, as well as peanut butter and almond.

3

Apple pie

Image: Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦

We’ll continue with an American icon. If you ask anyone from outside the United States to choose 3 things to define our country, they’ll probably include apple pie . This beloved sweet treat is heavily associated with the 4th of July celebrations, but let’s be honest: There’s no bad time to have a slice or two of apple pie.

For such a culinary staple, apple pie definitely has a lot of variants. For instance, you can enjoy a delicious apple pie à la mode by adding a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Other toppings include custard, whipped cream, or (surprisingly) a slice of cheddar cheese.

4

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup

Image: Terrance Barksdale

We debated which Reese’s product to include in this list: their delicious Peanut Butter Cups or their outstanding Pieces. We decided to go for the Peanut Butter Cup, if only for one reason. This amazing product was one of the first to showcase what a dynamic duo of chocolate and peanut butter make.

The story of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup s goes back to 1928, when H. B. Reese, a dairy farmer employed by the Hershey Company, decided to start his own candy company after he was let go of his job. The rest is history! Almost 100 years after, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are still one of America’s most cherished sweet treats.

5

Beignets

Image: Jessica Tan

If you ever find yourself in the beautiful city of New Orleans, you’ll be amazed by everything "The Big Easy" has to offer, from its amazing jazz, gorgeous architecture, and mouth-watering food. In that regard, take this piece of advice to heart: Don’t leave New Orleans without having some delicious beignets with a hot cup of coffee.

Like many of the things that make New Orleans so special, beignets come directly from French culture. They were most likely brought over by French colonists in the 18th century. However, Louisiana-style beignets stand out because they are topped with powdered sugar and are mostly eaten for breakfast.

6

Boston Cream pie

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Boston is known as "Beantown" for its affinity for beans, but don’t you dare think beans are the only culinary treat this city has to offer. With that in mind, we would like to present a slice of delicious Boston cream pie as evidence.

Many believe that the Boston cream pie was created in 1856 by Chef Mossburg Sanzian at the Parker House Hotel. Regardless of its origins, this cream-filled delicacy has grown to become a staple of Boston cuisine, being declared the city’s state pie in 1996.

7

Donuts

Image: Courtney Cook

If TV has taught us anything, it is that police officers and donuts go hand in hand. But let’s be honest: You don’t really need to be an officer to enjoy a delicious donut . This tasty treat has become an instantly recognizable pop icon, with its iconic shape and many colorful frostings.

It is believed that donuts were first brought to America by Dutch settlers, who brought a similar pastry called an olykoek to New York. In time, donuts would be happily adopted by the entire country. Nowadays, millions of these treats are consumed around America every day.

8

Hershey’s chocolate bars

Image: Janne Simoes

Let’s continue with " The Great American Chocolate Bar." Over 120 years ago, the very first Hershey bar was sold by American chocolatier and businessman Milton Hershey. This first bar unknowingly started one of the most lucrative and iconic chocolate companies in the world.

After that first bar sold at the start of the 20th century, Hershey has produced a myriad of iconic products, including their "Cookies ‘n’ Creme Bar" or their "Air Delight Bar." Regardless, you know that whenever you unwrap a delicious Hershey’s chocolate bar , you’ll find some of the world’s finest chocolate inside.

9

Cobbler

Image: Beyza Ç.

Let’s face it; the word " cobbler " is an awful-sounding word for such a delicious treat. Not only that, historians can’t seem to agree on where this name comes from. Many believe that it is a variant of the verb "to cobble", while others state that it comes from its resemblance to a ‘cobbled’ stone pathway. But we digress: Let’s instead just focus on how delicious they are.

Although originally created in the United Kingdom, cobblers are particularly popular in America, with many states and regions having their very own special variants. American cobblers are literally too many to mention, so we’ll just highlight a few of our favorites, like the "Brown Betty" (made with fruits and sweetened crumbles) or the "apple pan dowdy".

10

M&Ms

Image: Oksana Zub

We’ll end this article with one of America’s most iconic pieces of candy. At first glance, M&Ms are deceptively simple: They are just small and colorful pieces of chocolate. However, as anyone who has eaten a handful of M&Ms will tell you, there’s something magical to these small yet wonderful sweet treats.

M&Ms were created in 1941, inspired by a similar British product called "Smarties". The two Ms featured in the name come from Forrest Mars Sr., who created the product, and Bruce Murrie, stakeholder and son of Hershey Chocolate’s president.

1

Chimichangas

Image: Pedro Gil

What do you mean it’s not a Mexican dish? The name sounds Mexican!" While two Mexican-American restaurants—one in Tucson and the other in Phoenix—dispute the authorship of this dish, one thing is certain: it originated in the United States, more specifically in Arizona .

Today, chimichangas— a stuffed burrito fried in oil or butter —are one of America’s favorite dishes. And although they could never have existed without the culinary influence of our southern neighbor, we also had a lot to do with their creation.

2

Chop suey

Image: Albert Stoynov

There are many theories about the origin of this popular dish, but one of the most widespread is particularly intriguing. According to lore, chop suey was invented in 1896 by the cook of the Chinese ambassador to the United States . Apparently, the diplomat, who was hosting a dinner for American guests, instructed the chef to prepare a dish that would appeal to both Eastern and Western palates.

While there is no dispute that similar dishes exist in Asian cuisine, this particular moment of cultural and culinary exchange is said to have sparked the American public's fascination with Asian flavors . Soon after, Chinese restaurants began to proliferate across the country, with chop suey as their signature dish.

3

Russian dressing

Image: Rachel Claire

Did you know that nobody in Russia has ever seasoned their salad with Russian dressing? It doesn't exist there! This popular condiment is a completely American invention. It’s believed to have been created by a New Hampshire butcher in the early 20th century , who originally called it "Russian mayonnaise." Interestingly, he had no known ties to Russia, so it is unclear why he chose that name.

Perhaps the answer lies in one of the dressing’s original ingredients: black caviar, one of Russia’s most famous exports . Unfortunately, we’ll probably never know the full story. One thing is certain, though—Russian dressing was born in the United States!

4

Chili con carne

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Okay, chili may sound like a traditional Mexican dish, but this meaty version, chili con carne , was actually created in South Texas in the late 19th century . Not only did it feature added animal protein, but one of the key ingredients often associated with chili today—beans—was originally left out.

Chili con carne quickly became a national favorite. Families across the country began experimenting with their own versions, and soon, nearly every state had its own take on the dish . But nothing quite compares to the original Texan chili—the one that started it all!

5

Fortune cookies

Image: hannahlouise123

If you asked someone where fortune cookies come from, they’d probably say China. After all, they’re the quintessential treat served at Chinese restaurants around the world. But surprisingly, fortune cookies were invented in the United States —and they’re not even Chinese !

They were first created in the early 20th century in San Francisco , one of the American cities with the largest Asian immigrant populations. Even more surprisingly, they were invented by a Japanese man as a gesture of gratitude to the mayor who had hired him as a designer. He was inspired by a Kyoto tradition called omikuji , which involves offering a treat that contains a random fortune written on a slip of paper.

After World War II, many Chinese entrepreneurs took over Japanese bakeries in the Bay Area, helping to spread the cookie's popularity—and contributing to the common misconception about their origin.

6

Cuban sandwich

Image: Conor Brown

Despite its name, the Cuban sandwich originated in the Cuban-American communities of Ybor City, Key West , and Plant City , Florida , in the early 20th century. It later became popular in Miami and other American cities with large Cuban populations.

Interestingly, the ingredients vary from place to place. What all versions share, however, is Cuban bread —similar to a French baguette but made with slightly different ingredients and a unique baking method. So, is this bread authentically Cuban? Not exactly. It was actually created alongside the sandwich, right here in the United States!

7

German chocolate cake

Image: BraggsDiner

Despite its name, German chocolate cake has no culinary ties to Germany, nor is it named in honor of the country. In fact, it takes its name from Samuel German , a confectioner who, in the mid-1850s, developed a type of baking chocolate for the Baker's Chocolate Company of Boston, Massachusetts.

A century later, a recipe using German’s Sweet Chocolate appeared in the Dallas Morning News and became an instant hit among homemakers. Before long, Baker's Chocolate sales soared, marking a strong comeback for German's baking bar. Today, German chocolate cake is an American classic —and now you know its true origin!

8

Spaghetti and meatballs

Image: Ivy Farm

You probably thought this dish was authentically Italian your whole life. Well, we hate to break it to you, but spaghetti and meatballs are a hundred percent American invention, though it is, to be fair, a product of early 20th-century Italian immigration.

Meatballs were likely inspired by Italian polpette , a stew made of small balls of breadcrumbs mixed with meat or fish. However, in the Old World, polpette was never served with pasta and marinara sauce; it was a dish on its own. When Italian immigrants discovered how easy it was to buy beef in America, they began incorporating it into many dishes. And thank goodness they did!

9

Garlic bread

Image: Mariana Kurnyk

Another food with Italian influences but created in the United States is garlic bread. A staple of Italian restaurants, this side dish was introduced by immigrants who were likely trying to emulate the famous bruschetta .

However, they ran into an obstacle that led to the invention of something totally new—but just as delicious. Olive oil, so abundant in the mother country, was scarce and difficult to obtain in America. Therefore, they resorted to an ingredient found in abundance here: butter . And the rest is history!

10

Vichyssoise

Image: Julia Kicova

With such a name, you might think this dish is purely French! Well, not exactly. Although it was created by a French-born chef, it was first made in Manhattan, New York. In 1917, feeling a bit homesick for his homeland, Louis Diat, head chef of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, wanted to recreate a potato and leek soup his mother used to make when he was growing up in Montmarault, France.

But there was a problem: it was summer. Finally, he came up with a brilliant idea—to thin down the hot soup with cold milk and cream . He named his invention after Vichy, the famous spa town near his hometown. The dish was an instant hit among the restaurant’s guests, who soon asked for it to be available year-round.

1

Original Coke

Image: Deepal Tamang

How it all started. On May 8, 1886, Dr. John Pemberton served the world's first Coca-Cola at Jacobs Drug Store in Atlanta, Georgia, and American life would never be the same again. Based on coca leaf and cola nut, the recipe for the original Coke is one of the best-kept secrets in history. Since its invention almost 140 years ago, this mysterious, dark, sweet, bubbly, and stimulating liquid has become one of the world's most widely known and consumed soft drinks.

2

Vanilla Coke

Image: kkk

Vanilla Coke was first introduced in the United States in 2002. The new drink consisted of original Coca-Cola flavor with natural vanilla extract added to the formula. Shortly after its launch, the vanilla soft drink became a success, selling millions of units. However, by 2006, sales had dropped considerably, and the product was eventually withdrawn from the market.

Yet, Vanilla Coke would not give up so easily. Its fans began to campaign online to make the company reintroduce it. Luckily for them, the drink eventually returned to the shelves in 2007.

3

Coca-Cola with Lime

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​​Many people add a few drops of lime to their glass of Coke, so why wouldn't the company launch a ready-to-drink product? Coca-Cola with Lime was first introduced in the United States in 2005 during a broadcast of American Idol. As the name suggests, it has the taste of Coca-Cola with the addition of lime flavor. Did you like it, or were you one of the many naysayers?

4

Starlight

Image: Joey Csunyo

A Coke inspired by space? Believe it or not, in 2022, Coca-Cola launched —no pun intended— a variant of the drink to bring the taste of space down to Earth. You're probably wondering what it tastes like, and so are we! According to the company, Coca-Cola Starlight’s taste "includes additional notes reminiscent of stargazing around a campfire, as well as a cooling sensation that evokes the feeling of a cold journey to space." Would you dare to try it?

5

Dreamworld

Image: Marjan Blan

Like Starlight, Dreamworld was a 2022 limited edition. In this case, Coca-Cola wanted people to be able to taste dreams. We have no idea what that means exactly, but it sure has sparked our curiosity. Not convinced yet? According to the company, Coke Dreamworld "bottles up the technicolor tastes and surrealism of the subconscious." If only we could travel back in time to put it to the test!

6

Cherry Coke

Image: Frank Tunder

Based on a mix of cherry syrup and Coca-Cola, Cherry Coke was first introduced in 1982 at the World's Fair in Knoxville, Tennessee. It wasn’t until three years later that the new soft drink officially hit supermarket shelves worldwide. Cherry Coke was the first flavored Coca-Cola, and its success was so great that in the following years not only did Light and Zero versions emerge, but it also has a large and strong cult fan base.

7

Coca-Cola Blāk

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As if the caffeine already in Coca-Cola wasn't enough to wake up any sleepyhead, in 2006 the company launched Coca-Cola BlāK. This soft drink that blends the taste of Coke with coffee was introduced in response to the overwhelming success of the early 2000s energy drinks and coffee chains. Despite its novel and sophisticated packaging design, consumers didn't quite like the sweetener’s artificial aftertaste, and it was finally discontinued just 2 years after its launch.

8

Coke Plus Coffee

Image: Nikolai Chernichenko

Coca-Cola Wouldn’t give up and, despite Coca-Cola BlāK's fiasco, in 2021 introduced a new product that paired the legendary soft drink with coffee. The difference with its predecessor was that Coke Plus Coffee contained more real coffee, specifically 100% Brazilian coffee. If you think the company got the experiment right this time, you're wrong. Coke Plus Coffee barely lasted a year on American shelves.

9

Coca‑Cola Zero Sugar OREO

Image: Shubham Kumar

Soda that tastes like cookies and cookies that taste like soda? Coca-Cola and Oreo thought this was a good idea and in 2024 launched a limited edition collaboration that included an Oreo-flavored Coca-Cola and a Coca-Cola-flavored cookie. According to the companies, the products are "a delicious duo that celebrates friendship with every sip". Those who have tried them claim that indeed the drink tastes like Oreo and the cookies like Coke —whatever that means. The Oreos even contain popping candy for a real fizzy vibe! Would you be willing to try them?

10

Coke Cinnamon

Image: Alex Bayev

If they tried cherry, lime, and vanilla, cinnamon was the obvious next step. Coca-Cola Cinnamon was introduced in September 2019, just in time for the holiday season. It was supposed to be a limited edition, but it was such a success that it was re-released the following winter. The taste? As expected!

11

Diet Coke Plus

Image: Brett Jordan

With the turn of the century, sugary drinks got a backlash from groups advocating healthier eating. In an attempt to improve its image, in 2007, Coca-Cola launched Diet Coke Plus, a drink that, they claimed, was enriched with vitamins and minerals. The attempt ended up backfiring: the United States Food and Drug Administration wrote a warning letter to the company for violating its guidelines. Coca-Cola stated that Diet Coke Plus didn’t involve any health or safety issues, but the product was eventually discontinued.

12

California Raspberry and Georgia Peach

Image: One Day

Locally inspired by these states' signature fruits, California Raspberry and Georgia Peach were the first new Coca-Cola flavors since 2002. Launched in 2018 to compete with craft sodas, these new drinks promised to " add a pop of local flavor to the timeless taste you love." Although many people actually loved the new beverages, the company pulled them from the market in 2020. Ever got the chance to try them?