Alabama: Martha Washington Candy
Passed down by my grandmother and mother, this recipe is a cherished family tradition. We’ve even had each grandchild and great-grandchild take a turn stirring the candy mixture! —Cindi Boger, Ardmore, Alabama
Alaska: Triple Mousse Torte
The layers of this three-times-as-nice torte include an English toffee dessert that was passed down from my grandmother. For the base, I used a brownie crust–another family favorite! —Beth Richards, Fairbanks, Alaska
Arizona: Oktoberfest Red Cabbage
Four generations of our family celebrate Oktoberfest. We love this tart and sweet dish of red cabbage and apples, also known as rotkohl. —Diana Likes, Chandler, Arizona
Arkansas: Turtle Cookies
Our special ed class developed these fudgy turtle cookies. We have a cookie club teachers can pay to join, and members give this cookie two thumbs up. —Debbie Ethridge, Bentonville, Arkansas
California: Winnie’s Mini Rhubarb & Strawberry Pies
Every spring, we had strawberries and rhubarb on our farm outside Seattle. These fruity hand pies remind me of those times and of Grandma Winnie’s baking. —Shawn Carleton, San Diego, California
Colorado: Chocolate Butterscotch Haystacks
My grandmother made these haystack cookies and gave them to my cousin Vonnie and me when our parents didn’t want us to have any more sweets. —Christine Schwester, Divide, Colorado
Connecticut: Marshmallow Puffs
With peanut butter, chocolate and marshmallows, these treats were very popular with our three kids as they were growing up—and now I make them for our two grandchildren. They’re perfect for the holidays when time is so precious. —Dody Cagenello, Simsbury, Connecticut
Delaware: Fruit-Filled Spritz Cookies
From the first time I baked these cookies, they’ve been a lip-smacking success. Old-fashioned and attractive, they make a perfect holiday pastry. I’m the grandmother of six and stay active with a German folk dance group. —Ingeborg Keith, Newark, Delaware
Florida: Grandma’s Collard Greens
My grandmother made the best collard greens in the world. Eating them with a slice of buttermilk corn bread is pure bliss. —Sherri Williams, Crestview, Florida
Georgia: In-a-Pinch Chicken & Spinach
I needed a fast supper while babysitting my grandchild. I used what my daughter-in-law had in the fridge and turned it into what’s now one of our favorite chicken and spinach recipes. —Sandra Ellis, Stockbridge, Georgia
Hawaii: Minestrone with Turkey
I remember my mom making this soup; now I make it for my kids as often as I can. It’s a good way to use up leftover vegetables. Sometimes I add a can of rinsed and drained kidney or garbanzo beans. —Angela Goodman, Kaneohe, Hawaii
Idaho: Grandma Russell’s Bread
I remember as a child always smelling fresh homemade bread and rolls whenever I walked into Grandma’s house. The warm slices were delicious and melted in my mouth! —Janet Polito, Nampa, Idaho
Illinois: Festive Tomato Wedges
Since I have a large vegetable and herb garden, many of the ingredients in this recipe are truly “homegrown”. I found this simple recipe in a magazine years ago and it quickly became a favorite at family picnics. I have five married children and seven grandchildren, and they all love to come home for some of “Mom’s cooking”. —Wilma Purcell, Alma, Illinois
Indiana: Homemade Polish Pierogies
My mother made many dozens of these and measured ingredients using the palm of her hand. We’ve passed the recipe down over the years as the family has grown. —Veronica Weinkauf, South Bend, Indiana
Iowa: Chocolate-Covered Marshmallow Cookies
I’ve always liked to cook, and this cookie recipe was always a favorite of my eight children. Now it’s a favorite of my 11 grandchildren.
Kansas: Easy Texas BBQ Brisket
Mom came to visit and told me my brisket was even better than the version we used to eat back in Texas. Use the leftovers for sandwiches and tacos. —Audra Rorick, Blanca, Colorado
Kentucky: Cinnamon Sweet Potato Muffins
This is my own sweet potato muffin recipe, and I make it often. My five grandchildren think these are a delicious treat. —Christine Johnson, Ricetown, Kentucky
Louisiana: Baklava Cheesecake
With sugared cranberries and rosemary sprigs, my unique baklava cheesecake makes a grand display for office parties and other special events. —Aryanna Gamble, New Orleans, Louisiana
Maine: Cape Cod Blueberry Pie
We Northeasterners have been baking this pie since the 18th century. Settlers would’ve used little wild blueberries and topped it with cream. I do, too. —Nancy O’Connell, Biddeford, Maine
Maryland: Peanut Butter Maple Cookies
I bake these crispy yet chewy peanut butter cookies often. My grandchildren, both near and far, can’t wait to dig into the cookie jar. —Lois Bowman, Swanton, Maryland
Massachusetts: Italian Pineapple Trifle
My grandmother made this rich, tempting trifle every year for our family’s Christmas Eve celebrations. Now I make it to carry on her special tradition. It’s an easy, delicious no-bake dessert everyone will love. —Ann-Marie Milano, Milton, Massachusetts
Michigan: Hungarian Nut Rolls
It isn’t officially the holidays until I’ve made this treasured nut roll recipe from my husband’s grandmother. The apple-walnut filling is moist, subtly sweet and flavorful. —Donna Bardocz, Howell, Michigan
Minnesota: Flaky Butterhorn Rolls
This dinner roll, slightly sweet and so very flaky, was my mother’s recipe. It’s simple to prepare because you don’t need to have any kneading skills, and the dough is easy to handle. My grandchildren have renamed them Grandma’s Croissants! —Bernice Smith, Sturgeon Lake, Minnesota
Mississippi: Grandma’s Cajun Chicken & Spaghetti
I’m originally from Louisiana, where my grandma spoke Cajun French as she taught me her spicy chicken spaghetti, lovingly made on an old woodstove. —Brenda Melancon, McComb, Mississippi
Missouri: Fresh Tomato Relish
My two grown sons actually eat this as a salad, but that’s a bit too hot for me! The recipe’s from my late husband’s mother, and I haven’t varied it over the years. I usually make a batch as soon as the first tomatoes of the season are ready. —Lela Baskins, Windsor, Missouri
Montana: Grandma’s Molasses Fruitcake
This dense, dark, moist fruitcake was my grandmother’s recipe. The flavor just gets better and better as it sits in the fridge, so be sure to make it ahead! —Debbie Harmon, Lavina, Montana
Nebraska: Beef Brisket on Buns
With its slightly smoky flavor, this beef turns out tender and delicious every time! Plus, it slices well so it looks great on a buffet. —Deb Waggoner, Grand Island, Nebraska
Nevada: Blueberry Crunch Breakfast Bake
Blueberries in season make this a very special breakfast, but I find that frozen berries can work just as well. My grandmother used to make this with strawberries and I always loved to eat it at her house.—Marsha Ketaner, Henderson, Nevada
New Hampshire: Cranberry-Almond Apple Pie
My grandmother made this treat every year for Christmas. It’s much better than everyday apple pie. The recipe is a family treasure. —Maxine Theriauit, Nashua, New Hampshire
New Jersey: Bacon Roll-Ups
This family recipe dates back to the 1930s, when my grandmother started making her clever breakfast roll-ups. —Janet Abate, North Brunswick, New Jersey
New Mexico: Pumpkin Chip Cake with Walnuts
My grandmother gave me this family recipe. After a few changes, I made the treat even healthier and tastier. Holidays wouldn’t be the same without it!—Amy Bridgewater, Aztec, New Mexico
New York: Grandma’s Seafood Chowder
My grandmother makes this every year for Christmas morning—the only time I’ve ever had it. Why wait, when you can enjoy this satisfying chowder anytime? —Melissa Obernesser, Utica, New York
North Carolina: Slow Cooker Mushroom Stuffing
My grandmother created this recipe after my grandfather left the well-drilling business and invested all their money in a mushroom farm. The farm was a success and saw the family through the Great Depression. —Eric Cooper, Durham, North Carolina
North Dakota: Grandma’s Sour Cream Raisin Pie
The aroma of this pie baking in my farm kitchen oven reminds me of my dear grandma who made this pretty pie for special occasions. —Beverly Medalen, Willow City, North Dakota
Ohio: Grandma’s Sweet Potato Biscuits
The recipe for these mild-tasting biscuits was my grandmother’s. They’re a family favorite that we always serve at holidays. —Nancy Daugherty, Cortland, Ohio
Oklahoma: Miniature Peanut Butter Treats
This recipe is one of my family’s favorites, and I make these treats a lot, especially at Christmas. I have 3 children and 8 grandchildren, and every one of them loves those “peanut butter thingies,” as the grandchildren call them! —Jodie McCoy, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Oregon: Grandma Schwartz’s Rouladen
This was one of my Grandma Schwartz’s recipes. Grandpa Schwartz was a German butcher and this was one of his (and our) favorite meals. It’s an extra-special beef entree when served with mashed potatoes made with butter and sour cream. —Lynda Sharai, Summer Lake, Oregon
Pennsylvania: Easy Homemade Pickles
My husband grows cucumbers, garlic and dill in the garden and eagerly waits for me to make these pickles. The recipe comes from my grandmother.—Angela Lienhard, Blossburg, Pennsylvania
Rhode Island: German-Style Spinach
Grandma’s spinach dish is flavored with her Austrian heritage. It’s tasty and always looks so pretty on the plate. We children never had to be told to eat our spinach at Grandma’s house! —Joan Hutter, Warwick, Rhode Island
South Carolina: Apple Butter Biscuit Breakfast Bake
My grandmother created this recipe to use up the leftovers from Christmas Eve dinner. By combining the leftover ham and biscuits with her homemade apple butter, milk and eggs, she could serve us all a warm, delicious breakfast and still have time to spend with the grandchildren. —Marty Leverette, Columbia, South Carolina
South Dakota: Great-Grandma’s Oatmeal Cookies
Not only is this recipe a favorite of my husband’s, it’s extra special to me because it goes back to my great-grandmother. For holidays, we like to sprinkle on colored sugar for a festive touch. —Mary Ann Konechne, Kimball, South Dakota
Tennessee: Raisin Pecan Pie
I remember my Grandmother Voltie and Great-Aunt Ophelia making this southern-style pie for Thanksgiving. It was always one of the many cakes and pies lined up for dessert. —Angie Price, Bradford, Tennessee
Texas: Grandma’s Corn Bread Dressing
Growing up, we didn’t have turkey. We had chicken chopped and baked in my grandmother’s dressing. Now we leave out the chicken and keep the corn bread dressing. —Suzanne Mohme, Bastrop, Texas
Utah: Classic French Onion Soup
Enjoy my signature French onion soup the way my granddaughter Becky does. I make onion soup for her in a crock bowl complete with garlic croutons and gobs of melted Swiss cheese on top. —Lou Sansevero, Ferron, Utah
Vermont: Zucchini Cupcakes
I asked my grandmother for this recipe after trying these irresistible spice cupcakes at her home. I love their creamy caramel frosting. They’re such a scrumptious dessert you actually forget you’re eating your vegetables, too! —Virginia Lapierre, Greensboro Bend, Vermont
Virginia: Banana Beignet Bites
When I was a little girl, my grandmother took me aside one day and taught me how to make her famous banana beignets. Although we made them during the holidays, they’re pretty fantastic any time of the year. —Amy Downing, South Riding, Virginia
Washington: Green Tomato Pie
When frost nips our garden, I quickly gather all the green tomatoes still on the vine and make this old family favorite. It’s been handed down from my grandmother, and now my granddaughters are asking for the recipe.—Violet Thompson, Port Ludlow, Washington
West Virginia: Frozen Yogurt Fruit Pops
My grandson, Patrick, who’s now in high school, was “Grammy’s helper” for years. We made these frozen pops for company and everyone, including the adults, loved them. They’re delicious and good for you! —June Dickenson, Philippi, West Virginia
Wisconsin: Delicious Apple Salad
This yummy fruit salad was a favorite of my great-grandmother’s. My family always enjoys it, and I’m happy knowing it’s good for them, too. —Sue Gronholz, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
Wyoming: Mrs. Thompson’s Carrot Cake
I received this recipe from the mother of a patient I cared for back in 1972 in St. Paul, Minnesota. It was, and is, the best carrot cake I have ever tasted. It’s requested for many family gatherings and celebrations. —Becky Wachob, Kelly, Wyoming
The post The Best Recipes Made By Grandmas From Every State appeared first on Taste of Home.
Caroline Stanko