1

Apple pie

Image: Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦

You can’t talk about traditional American desserts without mentioning apple pie, so let’s kick off this article with it! While its roots trace back to Europe, apple pie has become a symbol of American pride.

It’s the perfect combination of buttery crust, sweet apples, and warm spices like cinnamon. Of course, like any traditional dish, there are several variations. But isn’t it great to go back to the basics? If there’s one pie everyone loves, this is it!

2

Brown Derby cake

Image: amirali mirhashemian

The Brown Derby Cake isn’t your typical pie, but its story is worth savoring. It was created in 1927 by caterer Harry Baker in Los Angeles.

You might be wondering about the name’s origin—it comes from its domed shape, which resembles a derby hat. Made famous by the iconic Brown Derby restaurant, this cake combines rich chocolate layers with airy whipped cream and fruit for a delicious finish. If you’re feeling fancy, this is the treat to try!

3

Cranberry pie

Image: Food Photographer | Jennifer Pallian

Do you know how some feelings can be tasted? Well, if you want to taste autumn, have a slice of cranberry pie.

This tangy treat is a favorite during the holiday season, thanks to its beautiful red hue and bold flavor. Made with fresh or dried cranberries, sugar, and a hint of orange zest, it perfectly balances sweetness and tartness. Serve it at Thanksgiving and watch it quickly become the star of the show.

4

Sour Cream Rhubarb Pie

Image: Maximilian Zahn

If you’ve never tried sour cream rhubarb pie, you’re in for a treat. The tartness of the rhubarb is mellowed by a creamy custard filling made with sour cream, creating a dessert that is both tangy and luxurious.

Often topped with a crumbly streusel, this pie is a Midwest favorite that feels both rustic and indulgent. Give rhubarb a chance—in a pie, it’s a superstar!

5

Pecan pie

Image: nikohoshi

Speaking of classics, pecan pie is the king of Southern desserts—and for good reason, we might say! With a gooey filling made of sugar, butter, and eggs, topped with toasted pecans, it’s as rich as it gets.

Traditionally served during Thanksgiving, this pie has a caramel-like sweetness that pairs perfectly with whipped cream. And the crunch of the pecans? It’s dessert perfection in every bite!

6

Lemon tart

Image: Ira Ushak

Okay, this isn’t technically a pie, but a lemon tart deserves a spot in this article, don’t you think? This tangy dessert features a velvety lemon custard nestled in a buttery crust.

It’s like sunshine on a plate—bright, bold, and just the right amount of sweetness! Lemon tarts are refreshing compared to heavier desserts, there’s not a specific season for them, making them perfect year-round. It’s a must-try for citrus lovers!

7

Squash Custard Pie

Image: Natalia Y.

This one might come as a surprise to you, but it’s a delicious nod to fall flavors, and if you like pumpkin pie, you’ll like this one too. Made with sweetened pureed squash, eggs, cream, and warm spices, it offers a fun and unique twist, right?

Squash pies have been part of American cuisine since colonial times, showcasing the resourcefulness of early cooks. It’s a cozy, comforting dessert that’s perfect for sweater weather.

8

Oregon’s Marionberry Pie

Image: micheile henderson

Oregon takes pride in many things, and one of them is marionberry pie—as it should! Marionberries, a cross between two types of blackberries, are sweet, juicy, and perfect for a pie. Native to Oregon, these berries create a filling that’s rich and slightly tart. The pie is a regional treasure, it's as Oregonian as rainy days and coffee shops.

9

Coca-Cola cake

Image: Toa Heftiba

No, we’re not kidding. Coca-Cola cake was born in the South, and it is as uniquely American as its namesake soda.

In case you were wondering, yes, Cola is a key ingredient, and it gives the rich, moist chocolate cake a subtle caramel flavor. It’s often topped with a fudgy glaze, and if you’re a Coca-Cola fan, you simply must try a slice of this one!

10

Carrot cake

Image: Sharon Chen

As you can see, using vegetables as key ingredients in pies is quite common—and successful! Carrot cake is a moist, spiced cake studded with grated carrots and often walnuts or raisins. As if that weren’t enough, we can’t forget about the cream cheese frosting, which made it quite popular among Americans. Do you like this one?

1

Babe Ruth

Image: Thomas Park

What is considered America's pastime by everyone else was the great passion of Babe Ruth's life.

Born George Herman Ruth Jr. on February 6, 1895, in Baltimore, Maryland, Babe was a child known for his difficult behavior. When he turned seven, his parents made the difficult decision to send him to St. Mary's Industrial School for Boys. The school was a strict and rule-filled environment, but it was there that Babe Ruth's passion for baseball developed.

By his early twenties, he was already known as a talented pitcher. Throughout his career, he won seven World Series Championships, three with the Boston Red Sox and four with the New York Yankees. In 1936, he became one of the first five players to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

2

Serena Williams

Image: Ariv Gupta

While many of us can't even remember what we were doing at the age of three, the incredible Serena Williams was already practicing tennis with her sister Venus and her father.

Known globally as one of the greatest tennis players in history, Serena has filled her resume with titles, trophies, victories, and records.

Four Gold Olympic Medals and an impressive 23 Grand Slam singles titles definitely made her a tennis legend. And as if her athletic achievements were not enough, Serena Williams is also a standout businesswoman today.

3

Muhammad Ali

Image: Nelson Ndongala

Louisville, Kentucky, was the birthplace of the man who would become one of the world's greatest sports stars. Born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. on January 17, 1942, the man we all remember today as Muhammad Ali began his sporting life at the age of 12 when he started training as an amateur boxer.

The rest is history. With an Olympic Gold Medal, three world heavyweight championships, 56 wins (37 by knockout), and an incredible legacy, Ali is widely and rightly recognized as one of the most important sports figures of the 20th century.

4

Tiger Woods

Image: Robert Ruggiero

If we had to list all of Tiger Woods ' sporting achievements, we'd be here all day, right?

The GOAT of Golf was born Eldrick Tont Woods on December 30, 1975, in Cypress, California, and from a very young age, he showed his great talent for this sport.

After winning several titles in college and as an amateur player, Tiger became a professional player in 1996, and since then, he hasn't stopped winning and winning.

Tiger has gone on to win 15 major championships, including three U.S. Opens, four Masters titles, three Open Championships, and five PGA Championships, and held the world No. 1 ranking for a total of 683 weeks!

5

Michael Jordan

Image: Robin Gislain Gessy

Michael Jordan grew up in Wilmington, North Carolina, and developed a passion for basketball at a young age, largely thanks to his brother, Larry.

In high school, he developed his competitive spirit and sportsmanship, qualities that, combined with his talent, led him to become the star he is today.

While it is hard to list all of his feats, we believe it is necessary to mention some of Jordan's highlights: two Olympic Gold Medals, six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls (earning NBA Finals MVP honors each time), and five NBA MVP awards. These achievements, among many others, make up the long list of victories of this NBA legend.

6

Michael Phelps

Image: Braden Egli

Michael Phelps , born on June 30, 1985, in Baltimore, Maryland, was a very energetic child. Fortunately, at the age of seven, he discovered a perfect outlet for all that enthusiasm: swimming.

His talent and dedication combined to create a world-class athlete, and by the age of 15, he was participating in his first Olympics!

In 2004, he stood out at the Athens Olympics, winning six gold medals. In 2008, he made history by winning a record-breaking eight gold medals in a single Olympics.

"The Baltimore Bullet" has won a total of 23 gold medals in his career, more than any other Olympic athlete in history!

7

Simone Biles

Image: Brian Wangenheim

One of the youngest on this list, Simone Biles was born on March 14, 1997, in Columbus, Ohio.

Considered by many as the world's greatest gymnast ever , Simone was raised by her grandparents. Her sporting career began as a child when an attentive instructor recognized her talent and suggested she take gymnastics classes.

At the age of 14, she was already competing at high levels and never went unnoticed. In 2013, she won her first of many World Championship titles, demonstrating her incredible talent and ability to perform moves that other gymnasts could not.

8

Tom Brady

Image: Thomas Park

Of course, we can't overlook this legendary figure of American football . We're talking about none other than the great Tom Brady .

Considered by many the greatest quarterback of all time , Brady was born into a sports-loving family, which allowed him to showcase his skills when he was still a young boy.

Brady was selected by the New England Patriots in the 2000 NFL Draft. The Patriots' choice was incredibly wise, as he played for the team for 20 seasons, during which he and coach Bill Belichick formed what became known as the "Patriots dynasty." He also led the Patriots to six Super Bowl victories!

During his last three seasons as a professional, he played with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, not without winning another Super Bowl with them.

9

LeBron James

Image: Markus Spiske

The great "King James" was born LeBron Raymone James on December 30, 1984 , in Akron, Ohio. Since he was very young, he showed basketball skills, which were highlighted during his time at high school.

LeBron was the first pick in the 2003 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he began his career. He later played with the Miami Heat, and finally, he became a legend with the Lakers.

LeBron has a long list of accomplishments in his sports career, making him one of the few who can be compared to Jordan. With four NBA Championships, four NBA Finals MVP Awards, four NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) Awards, two Olympic Gold Medals, and many other awards and distinctions, LeBron is indisputably one of the best at what he does.

10

Billie Jean King

Image: Valentin Balan

BJK was born Billie Jean Moffitt on November 22, 1943, in Long Beach, California. Her love for tennis began at a very young age when a friend lent her a racket. Her natural talent soon showed: she won her first major junior championship at the age of 14, and from then on, she didn't stop.

With 39 Grand Slam titles, including 12 singles titles, 16 women's doubles titles, 11 mixed doubles titles, and holding the title of world No. 1 for many years, BJK rightfully holds the label of "Queen."

In 1973, Billie won the legendary "Battle of the Sexes," a tennis match against Bobby Riggs , who had challenged her. With this and many other victories, King paved the way for many women in the world of tennis and sports in general, which is why she is considered a pioneer in her field.

1

No opening umbrellas on the street

Image: Edu Lauton

In Montgomery, Alabama, it is considered an offense to open an umbrella on a street for fear of spooking horses .

This raises questions about whether one should open an umbrella since the main use of it happens in the street.

2

No driving over 2000 sheep down Hollywood Boulevard

Image: Andrea Lightfoot

In Hollywood, California, it is illegal to drive more than two thousand sheep down Hollywood Boulevard at one time .

Apparently, you can drive one thousand and nineteen hundred and ninety-nine sheep, no problem. But not two thousand at one time.

3

No loose cats without tail lights

Image: Pacto Visual

In Sterling, Colorado, cats may not run loose without having been fitted with a taillight . Maybe this originated in some road accident involving a feline but one has to wonder if this is the best method of action. Especially since attaching a taillight to a cat does not seem like an easy thing to do.

4

No educating dogs

Image: Caleb Fisher

For whatever reason, you may not educate dogs in Connecticut . Something must have happened at some point in history serious enough for the local legislators to forbid the Connecticuters from educating their dogs.

5

No leaving the ship, if you are a rat

Image: Joshua J. Cotten

In Tampa Bay, Florida, rats are forbidden by law to leave the ships docked at port. The spirit of the law probably requires ship owners to prevent rats from leaving the ship but, for some reason, the phrasing of the text makes it seem as if it is directed to the rats themselves.

6

No road crossing, if you are a chicken.

Image: Vidi Drone

In Quitman, Georgia, it is illegal for a chicken to cross the road . Quite probably, this law is directed to chicken owners so that they prevent their feathered friends from roaming on the roads and causing accidents. But, still, it should be more clearly stated.

7

No fishing from a giraffe’s back

Image: MARIOLA GROBELSKA

Who in their right mind would attempt to fish from a giraffe’s back , right? Apparently, this exact thing happened in Boise, Idaho, prompting the passing of a law to forbid this outrageous behavior from happening ever again.

8

No flying over the village, if you are a bee

Image: Dmitry Grigoriev

In Kirkland, Illinois, bees are not allowed to fly over the village or through any of its streets . How exactly did the legislators who passed that law expect to enforce it, we honestly do not know.

9

No lions at the movies

Image: Andrew Liu

In Baltimore, Maryland, it is illegal to take a lion to the movies . As it should be. No one should be taking live lions into a movie theater filled with people, ever, anywhere in the world. Not even if the showcased movie is The Lion King.

10

No pant-less horses

Image: Silje Midtgård

As with most of the other examples in this list, this is a law that -hopefully- no one is paying any attention to. Horses are required to wear pants at all times in Fountain Inn, South Carolina. Seriously, how do you put pants on a horse?

11

No laying eggs at night

Image: Anita Austvika

It is unlawful for chickens to lay eggs before 8 AM and after 4 PM in West Virginia. Thankfully for chickens, they sleep at night and are active during the day, which prevents them from breaking the law.

12

No pictures of rabbits in June

Image: Gary Bendig

The State of Wyoming doesn’t allow you to take a picture of a rabbit during the month of June . The reason for this curious law is, perhaps, more understandable than most of the previous ones, and it has to do with avoiding harassment of the local wildlife.