The Most Popular Apple Treats in the U.S.

As the weather cools down and the color of the leaves begins to change, we get to indulge in one of the most important parts of autumn: the seasonal flavors. Pumpkin gets a lot of attention come fall (and deservedly so), but there’s one particular seasonal taste that we here at Shane Co. can’t get enough of: apple.

Whether it’s apple pie, apple cider donuts, or apple butter, we can’t get enough! To celebrate the season, we decided to take a closer look at just how much you can do with apples by finding the most popular apple-flavored treats across the U.S. Read on to find out your state’s favorite!

The Most Popular Apple Treat in Every U.S. State

We can all agree that apple treats are the best. Whether they’re candied, caramelized, or baked into a pie, there’s just something about that apple flavor we can’t get enough of when autumn rolls around. But how Americans prefer these apple treats does change.

For example, if you find yourself in the South this fall you might run into a few more candy apples than normal, as it is the most searched apple treat in the region thanks to its popularity in Georgia, Mississippi, and South Carolina. The Midwest, on the other hand, prefers to get their apple fix in the morning with apple-flavored oatmeal. The tasty breakfast option is most popular in Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. 

Keeping with the regional theme, we also noticed that apple strudel tends to be a bigger favorite out West. The dessert (originally from Austria) is the most popular apple-flavored treat in the Western states of California, Colorado, Hawaii, and Nevada. 

Now that we have a better idea of regional popularity for apple treats, let’s take a look at the most popular ones overall.

The Most Popular Apple Treats Overall

Pies, blondies, fritters, you can even deep-fry them if you’d like! Apples are among the most versatile autumn flavors, and that’s exactly why we love them. And while there’s no collective favorite treat, there are some that seem to be a cut above the rest.

Apple cheesecake, for example, is one of the most popular apple treats in our analysis, as it’s the most popular in six states (Indiana, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, and Virginia). It’s tied for that title with apple strudel, which, in addition to the Western states we mentioned, is a favorite in Washington, D.C. and Florida.

Coming in as the third most popular apple treat is apple fritters. Arizona, Michigan, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Oregon are the states that enjoy them the most, showing how popular of a treat they are nationwide. Candy apples and apple oatmeal are clear fourth-place finishers, being the most popular in three states each.

The number of different apple treats that show up as state favorites is incredibly telling of two things: (1) how many varieties of treats there are, and (2) how beloved the flavor is from coast to coast!

Analyzing the Seasonality of Apple Treat Searches

If you tell us that apple-inspired dishes are meant to be enjoyed year-round, we won’t argue with you. The greater U.S. public, however, might have something to say.

To illustrate the seasonal nature of American apple-flavored obsession, we charted out the average monthly search interest of the most popular apple treats in our analysis. Take a look at the line chart below and check out the popularity spike in apples that we’re about to see play out in real time!

Methodology

To determine the most popular apple-flavored treats in every state, we analyzed Google Trends search data from July 2021 to July 2022. We started with a list of 31 popular apple treats from websites like Insanely Good Recipes, Sarah’s Bake Studio, and Delish, and compared their relative search interest state to state.

Additionally, we decided to take a closer look at when these searches are taking place. So we plotted out a timeline of average search interest peaks and valleys over the past year to illustrate the seasonal shifts Americans tend to go through when craving these apple-flavored delicacies.

Closing Thoughts

From pumpkin patches to hayrides to corn mazes, there is no shortage of autumn date night activities. One that you and your significant other may want to plan this year is an apple-picking trip. The best part is, when you’re done you can candy, caramelize, or bake the apples any way you want. You could even try your hand at crafting your state’s favorite treat!

If the time is right this fall, and you’re both ready to take the next step, Shane Co. has a selection of engagement rings to make the moment even sweeter.