17 Irresistible Maryland Desserts That Stole Our Hearts

Maryland’s sweet side goes well beyond crab cakes and Old Bay seasoning. The state boasts a treasure trove of mouthwatering desserts locals cherish and visitors can’t stop talking about.

Multi-layered cakes and nostalgic candies highlight a dessert scene that blends tradition, innovation, and flavors capturing the essence of the Chesapeake region.

1. Smith Island Cake

Maryland’s official state dessert features 8-15 pencil-thin layers separated by decadent frosting. Born on a remote Chesapeake Bay island, this stunning creation required sturdy treats that could survive the journey with watermen heading out to sea.

Watermen’s wives developed this masterpiece to send love from home during long fishing trips. Each magnificent slice reveals perfect strata of cake and icing that’s become an edible symbol of Maryland pride.

2. Marble Fudge

Swirls of vanilla and chocolate create a hypnotic pattern in this beloved Maryland confection. Local candy shops along the Eastern Shore have perfected this recipe over generations, using premium ingredients and traditional copper kettles.

Satisfyingly smooth with a melt-in-your-mouth texture, marble fudge balances sweetness with rich cocoa notes. Families pass down closely guarded recipes, ensuring each batch maintains that distinctive Maryland marble pattern that looks as good as it tastes.

3. Charlotte Russe

Baltimore natives fondly remember this vanishing treat – a small sponge cake topped with whipped cream and cherry, served in a cardboard push-up container. Neighborhood bakeries once sold these for just pennies, making them childhood treasures for generations of Marylanders.

Pushing up the bottom revealed more delicious cake with each bite. While finding authentic Charlotte Russe proves challenging today, specialty bakeries occasionally revive this nostalgic dessert for those seeking a taste of old Baltimore.

4. Rainbow Cake

Vibrant layers of red, yellow, and blue create this striking Maryland specialty cake. Unlike modern rainbow cakes, Maryland’s version features dense pound cake-like layers covered with rich chocolate icing rather than buttercream.

Jewish bakeries in Baltimore popularized this colorful creation that has become a staple at Maryland celebrations. Kids particularly delight in the surprise of cutting through the chocolate exterior to reveal the brilliant primary colors hidden inside.

5. Peanut Chews

Chewy molasses centers studded with peanuts then coated in dark chocolate make these candies irresistible. Originally created as nutritious rations for WWI troops, they evolved into beloved treats throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.

Many Marylanders grew up finding these distinctive candies in their lunch boxes. Goldenberg’s began producing them in 1917, and while the packaging has changed over time, the satisfying combination of sweet, salty, and chocolatey goodness remains faithfully intact.

6. Snowballs

Summer in Maryland means standing in line at snowball stands for shaved ice doused with syrup and topped with marshmallow cream. Unlike snow cones found elsewhere, authentic Maryland snowballs feature finely shaved ice that absorbs the flavoring.

Neighborhoods debate which local stand serves the best version. Egg custard remains the most traditional flavor, though creative options abound. During humid Baltimore summers, nothing refreshes quite like this sweet, icy treat served in a paper cup.

7. Kandy Kakes

Sponge cake discs topped with peanut butter and enrobed in chocolate create an unforgettable texture combination. Tastykake, a beloved Mid-Atlantic brand, produces these treats that Maryland residents stockpile when sales hit local grocery stores.

Perfect with cold milk or hot coffee, many Marylanders can’t imagine life without them. Locals who move away often arrange care packages containing these nostalgic cakes, as the chocolate-peanut butter combo delivers a taste of home that’s impossible to replicate.

8. Caramel Creams (Cow Tales)

Manufactured in Baltimore since 1918, Goetze’s iconic cream-filled caramel candies remain a Maryland treasure. Unwrapping the signature twisted paper reveals a chewy caramel exterior surrounding a sweet, creamy vanilla center.

Finding these candies in grandma’s purse created magical childhood moments for generations of Marylanders. Cow Tales, the elongated stick version, emerged later but quickly became equally beloved. Both variations showcase the perfect balance between caramel chewiness and melt-away cream filling.

9. Berger Cookies

Modest vanilla wafers crowned with an impossibly thick layer of fudge frosting define this Baltimore classic. Created by German immigrant Henry Berger in 1835, these cookies remain hand-dipped to this day.

Marylanders fiercely defend Berger Cookies against imitators. Devoted fans know the proper ratio of cookie-to-frosting means the chocolate should be substantially thicker than the cookie base. During shortages, locals have been known to panic-buy these treasured treats that exemplify Baltimore’s sweet heritage.

10. Peanut Butter Kisses

Wrapped in distinctive orange and black waxed paper, these molasses taffy candies with peanut butter centers symbolize Maryland Halloween traditions. Locals have strong opinions about these polarizing treats that appear annually in trick-or-treat bags.

Unlike chocolate kisses, Maryland’s peanut butter kisses feature a sticky, chewy texture that requires technique to unwrap without making a mess. Despite mixed reviews, their appearance each fall brings waves of nostalgia for Marylanders who recognize them as a seasonal treasure.

11. Mary Sue Easter Eggs

Spring signals the arrival of these enormous chocolate-covered eggs filled with buttercream, coconut, or fruit flavors. Made by Baltimore’s own Mary Sue Candies since 1948, each egg weighs nearly a pound and comes decorated with icing flowers.

Families often purchase just one egg to share among several people. Sliced into wedges like a cake, these seasonal treats appear in Easter baskets throughout Maryland. Locals particularly treasure the vanilla buttercream variety, considered the quintessential Maryland Easter indulgence.

12. Otterbein’s Cookies

Wafer-thin and perfectly crisp, Otterbein’s cookies have emerged from a small Baltimore bakery since 1881. Five classic flavors – sugar, chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, orange white chocolate, and lemon sugar – come packed in simple white bags with red lettering.

Baltimore grandmothers have served these with afternoon tea for generations. Unlike thick, chewy cookies popular elsewhere, Otterbein’s delicate, crispy texture represents Maryland’s distinctive cookie tradition that locals insist cannot be replicated outside state lines.

13. Peanut Butter & Jelly Cake

Inspired by the beloved sandwich, this nostalgic cake features layers of peanut butter-infused yellow cake separated by grape jelly and covered with peanut butter frosting. Maryland bakeries have perfected this childhood-inspired creation that balances sweet and salty flavors.

Slicing into this cake reveals beautiful purple jelly streaks between golden layers. Adults love the sophisticated take on lunchbox flavors, while kids simply appreciate the familiar combination transformed into celebration-worthy dessert form.

14. Domino Sugar Cookies

Baltimore’s iconic Domino Sugar factory inspires these cookies made with the locally produced sweetener. Recipe cards for these simple, buttery treats were once included in sugar packages, creating a cherished Maryland baking tradition.

Watching the factory’s neon sign illuminate the harbor while enjoying these cookies represents pure Baltimore nostalgia. Many families roll the dough in extra Domino Sugar before baking, creating a sweet, crackly exterior that perfectly complements the tender interior.

15. Lemon Sticks

Half a lemon filled with peppermint stick candy creates this refreshing Baltimore tradition dating back to the 1940s. Flower Mart festival attendees eagerly queue up for this simple treat that combines tart citrus with sweet mint.

Sucking lemon juice through the candy stick creates an unexpected flavor combination that somehow works perfectly. Children discover the technique quickly – the candy gradually dissolves, creating a natural straw that draws up the tangy juice, delivering a uniquely Maryland summer experience.

16. Peach Cake

Fresh Maryland peaches arranged on yeasted dough and glazed with sugar creates this seasonal August specialty. German bakeries throughout Baltimore maintain this tradition that celebrates the state’s prized peach harvest.

Peach cake features a bread-like base that soaks up the fruit’s juices. Locals monitor social media for announcements of when bakeries begin offering this fleeting summer treat. Maryland peach cake season lasts just a few precious weeks, making it all the more special.

17. Goetze’s Caramel Creams

Generations of Marylanders have unwrapped these distinctive bull’s-eye candies made in Baltimore since 1895. Goetze’s family recipe combines chewy caramel wrapped around a powdery vanilla cream center that melts in your mouth.

School children trade them at lunch tables while adults keep them stashed in desk drawers. Walking past the factory on Boston Street releases an irresistible sweet aroma that’s become part of Baltimore’s sensory landscape. Five generations of the Goetze family have maintained the exact same recipe.