What Makes Kuchen South Dakota's Beloved State Dessert?

We all have our go-to comfort foods. A pint of SDSU's Cookies & Cream ice cream comes to mind, or a really good slice of pizza, not to mention Cheez-Its or homemade mac and cheese. And that's just for starters!

Taste of Home and Reader's Digest teamed up to do the hard work of rounding up every state's favorite comfort food and taste testing each one.

It probably will come as no surprise that Kuchen is South Dakota’s favorite comfort food. After all, South Dakota likes it so much it was named the official state dessert in 2000.

Getty/Thinkstock Images and Canva

This sweet treat came to the Dakotas with German-Russian immigrants in the late 1800s. Over the years, it has become a favorite at family gatherings, church events, and small-town bakeries all across the state.

Kuchen, which means “cake” in German, is made with a soft crust or pie-like dough that is filled with custard. Many recipes add fruit like peaches, apples, or berries on top. Some people sprinkle cinnamon sugar for extra flavor, while others keep it simple with just creamy custard. No matter the version, kuchen is warm, sweet, and comforting—perfect for sharing with friends and family.

Getty/Thinkstock Images and Canva

Small towns even celebrate it, like Delmont, which hosts an annual Kuchen Festival. This year, it is September 13 & 14. In the spring every year, Freeman's Schmeckfest sells a ton of kuchen along with their other traditional South Dakota goodies.

You can also find it in grocery stores, farmers' markets, and family kitchens.

Whether you eat it fresh from the oven or cold with a cup of coffee, kuchen is a delicious taste of South Dakota history. This simple dessert has been passed down through generations, bringing people together one comforting slice at a time.

Here Are 13 of Your Favorite Fried Foods

Some foods need a fryer, others should never go near one. Forget baking. We are so obsessed with eating deep-fat fried foods. And every time you turn around, there's another menu filled with most of the items that have bathed in a hot-boiling fat vat.

There seems to be no end to what a deep fat fryer can cook. And we prove it every day with our love of crispy, greasy, burnt-tongue, salty foods.

I won't argue that an order of onion rings or sweet potato fries is the best marriage partner to a burger. Especially when they are made from scratch. So, pile them high.

What are some other delights that need the fryer?

Gallery Credit: Dave Roberts

My Top 5 Favorite South Dakota Made Foods

As I was slicing a piece of cheese off my block of Dimock Dairy Colby cheese and boiling a ring of Bluebird Locker German sausage on the stove, I started thinking, "What foods is South Dakota known for?'

Then I realized the state is known for some of my favorite foods, are they're actually made right here in South Dakota!

So, I decided to search my cupboards and refrigerator looking for other South Dakota-made foods and came up with my Top 5.

Source: South Dakota’s Delicious Favorite Comfort Food

Categories: Articles