We’re diving spoon-first into a seriously sweet fast food dessert adventure. From creamy McFlurries and frosty shakes to cinnamon-sugar favorites, every state has its own go-to treat when the dessert craving hits. So, we used a little Google Trends magic to find out: Which fast food dessert is top-searched in your state? The results are sugary, surprising, and seriously fun. Let’s dig in!
Every State’s Favorite Fast Food Dessert
So, which fast food dessert takes the top spot? We crunched the Google Trends data and counted up which sweet treat was the most searched in each state over the past year. Here’s how the dessert leaderboard stacked up:
Most Searched Fast Food Desserts (By Number of States)
- McDonald’s Oreo McFlurry — 6 states
- Arby’s Jamocha Shake — 5 states
- Subway Footlong Cookie — 5 states
- Popeyes Cinnamon Apple Pie — 4 states
- Taco Bell Cinnamon Twists — 4 states
- Burger King Hershey’s Sundae Pie — 3 states
- Dairy Queen Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Blizzard — 3 states
- Wendy’s Vanilla Frosty — 3 states
McDonald’s Oreo McFlurry came out on top, winning six states, including Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Texas, and Vermont. With its familiar cookies-and-cream combo and major brand recognition, it’s clearly a go-to pick for fast food fans looking for something sweet.
Not far behind, Arby’s Jamocha Shake and Subway’s Footlong Cookie each claimed five states. Arby’s found a strong following across the Midwest and Plains, including Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Nebraska, and Oklahoma, while Subway’s oversized cookie won over states stretching from Alaska and Arizona to Connecticut, Minnesota, and Washington.
A few more regional favorites stood out, too. Popeyes Cinnamon Apple Pie topped searches in Arkansas, Louisiana, Maryland, and D.C., while Taco Bell Cinnamon Twists led in Alabama, Missouri, New Mexico, and Tennessee. Both picks feel especially fitting for chains with loyal fan bases and desserts that are a little quirky, a little nostalgic, and very snackable.
Some states also showed a strong hometown flavor. In-N-Out’s Neapolitan Shake took the lead in California and Nevada, Cookout’s Strawberry Cheesecake Milkshake won South Carolina and Virginia, and Bojangles’ Bo-Berry Biscuit was the top pick in North Carolina. From Jollibee’s Peach Mango Pie in Hawaii to Culver’s Concrete Mixer in Wisconsin, it’s safe to say America’s sweet tooth has plenty of local loyalty.
Bring Your Sweet Fun to the Craft Table
From iconic McFlurries to regional favorites and under-the-radar dessert picks, this campaign offered a delicious snapshot of the fast food treats Americans can’t stop craving. By looking at search interest across the country, we set out to capture the desserts sparking the most buzz, nostalgia, and sweet-tooth loyalty in every state, all through a playful lens that feels right at home at Yay! Coloring Pages.
That same sense of everyday fun is what inspires our coloring pages, too, turning familiar favorites into creative activities kids and families can enjoy together. Ready to keep the dessert fun going? Download our food and ice cream coloring pages and bring these sweet treats from the drive-thru to the coloring table.
Methodology
In order to identify the most popular fast food dessert in every state, we analyzed a list of 30+ menu items at major fast food chains around the U.S. From there, we investigated state-by-state search volume in order to map out the most popular sweet treat in every state.
Fair Use
You are welcome to use, reference, and share non-commercial excerpts of this study with proper attribution. If you cite or cover our findings, please link back to this page so readers can view the full methodology, charts, and context.
