Baking Across America: A Vintage Recipe Road Trip

by B. Dylan Hollis

Join B. Dylan Hollis, bestselling author of Baking Yesteryear, on a cross-country culinary journey with 100 uniquely American recipes

From the deserts of the Southwest to the Green Mountains of Vermont, the USA is as sweet as it gets. In this tour de food, B. Dylan Hollis takes you on a delicious road trip to taste everything from the coffee-crazed creations of the Pacific Northwest to the larger-than-life sheet cakes of Texas. 

You’ll be hitting the pavement in vintage style as Dylan leads you on a journey through the culture capitals of America to bring you the very best bakes the country has to offer. His retro recipes span the decades from the 1850s to the 1990s and feature famous (and infamous!) desserts from every state.

With his signature wry humor, Dylan explores the US and uncovers the history of nostalgic local favorites, including Whoopie Pies on the rocky Maine coast, Beignets in jazzy New Orleans, and Date Shakes blended up in a mid-century mansion in Palm Springs.

Baking Across America is the highly anticpated second book from the author of Baking Yesteryear and delivers 100 wild, wacky, and wonderful recipes from every vibrant corner of the good ol’ US of A.

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Nonfiction, Food, Travel, History

320 pages, Hardcover

First published May 20, 2025

About the author

B. Dylan Hollis is a Bermudian musician and social media personality, particularly well known for a series of Tik Tok videos where he makes baked goods from vintage cookbooks.

Reviews

[Ava Courtney Sylvester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best road trip ever!

In his second cookbook, B. Dylan Hollis is the best road trip buddy ever in his tribute to the treats that set the states apart in this deliciously funny and adorably charming adventure.

From the delightful little poems introducing each geographic region to the fun facts sprinkled through the recipe introductions—did you know the first UFO sighting was a pig-shaped light in Boston?—this book is an absolute joy to read. The author’s personality shines throughout every page, and he brings you history! Drama! Sass! Alliteration! The answer to the question of the best video game of all time! And so much humor, your whole day will be brightened.

What about the recipes? There are classics like chocolate chip cookies and brownies—some of which are even photographed at their points of origin—and then there are the oddballs, like black magic tomato cake and my mum’s favorite, atomic cake. The surprise for his second cookbook, though? They’re all…good! Well, at least from a read. And I’m still looking sideways at “the pride of the desert.”

I love, love, LOVE this book. Even if I’ll never look at a kringle the same way again. And even if I’m a little fuzzy on how he got to Hawaii on a road trip (but bring me next time!).

[urmomsbookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t love being that person - ya know, the one who gets all nit picky and annoying - but I was seriously let down by this. Reading sections that ragged on parts of the country (and the random stuff he said about Ohio for love of the trends) really let me down. I was excited to see into the areas of the country I don’t normally get acquainted with and instead I often felt bad for different, less traveled states. Very bummed :(

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining most of the time. Some snarkiness about certain states might offend. Recipe quality mixed.

[KathleenB · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good recipes and mostly genuinely interesting background. Tone annoys me sometimes, and apparently the 1980s are now vintage.

[Katra · Rating 4 out of 5]

So many recipes, and so many good looking recipes. However, speaking as an Idahoan - really? That's what you came up with? I'm not making those. I've never seen either of those anywhere in the state. It seems like we are perpetually glossed over or just ignored. I protest!

p-n, s-n, v-n, a-n

[mariam · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up.

A fun and colorful read. I can’t wait to try a few of the wacky recipes. For a book about American recipes, I do wish there were more Native American recipes featured. And as an Oregonian, I’m a little bitter there was only one Oregon recipe lol

[Yuuto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another winner from B. Dylan Hollis! Do yourself a favor and get the audiobook for this…it doesn’t include the recipes but it’s full of info and anecdotes and read by mister Hollis himself! I’m definitely looking forward to grabbing a copy of the physical cookbook so I can read all of the recipes and see the photographs.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, this “cookbook” was literally just released today & Amazon delivered it before I went to work, so of course I absolutely HAD to go through it when I got home from work. SO many awesome pictures, stories, & of course TONS of fabulous recipes! There are SO many great recipes that I can’t wait to make!

[LJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun book to flip through. I think it would be great for a family who likes to bake and wants to help their kids learn the states. At least one recipe for each, and really, none of them are that hard/complicated.

[Megan Smith]

I feel like this would be a fun cook book to physically own. The audiobook just has the stories behind the recipes which is fun

[Doris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't like this as well as his Baking Yesteryear: The Best Recipes from the 1900s to the 1980s. In particular, there were far too many recipes that called for such ingredients as packaged pudding mix, Jello (TM), and a choice between vegetable shortening and lard. I realize, of course, that these were fixtures of American cooking, but it annoyed me all the same.

Still an entertaining book.

[Star Shining Forever · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating peek into many corners of the United States by way of the delectable, inventive, or decadent delicacies that come out of their kitchens. Lots of interesting history relating to how certain recipes or cooking developments came to be, and copious photographs of historic locales and the recreated desserts originally birthed in them. This is truly a travel cookbook and I want to visit all these places now and try their historic foods.

[Amalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

--Excellent food photography. Recipes are easy to understand and straightforward. Only a few recipes have more than two parts, batter and topping, which usually have no more than six steps for the batter plus a few more steps for the topping/frosting. A few recipes have additional parts for multiple layers of fillings; two recipes even have 17 steps (Atomic Cake and The Prized Lane Cake; 14 steps - Lemon Fluff), but those are exceptions.

--I like the author's use of recipe shortcuts at the beginning of the book 1) tips (e.g., beating egg whites, toasting nuts) applicable to most recipes, 2) providing the recipe for the pie crust used throughout the book, and 3) a discussion of ingredients ( graham crackers, cool whip, molasses) relevant to the recipes in this book.

--Some recipes are interesting for how tasty they are (e.g., The Brownie, Nanaimo Bars) and others (e.g., Potato Macaroons made with potato flakes and puffed rice cereal) for how unusual they are. It is hard to say how accurately the recipes represent each State, although I think Michigan has a more delicious and representative baked good than "Cherry Winks."

--Since I read many non-fiction books, which usually have pages and pages of lists to whom the author professes profound thanks in the Acknowledgements section, I found Hollis' Acknowledgements section to be simpler, more authentic, and a breathe of fresh air.

--The book could be substantially improved by removing the vast majority of the author's mugging as well as his condescending and sarcastic writing in some book sections (the author would probably say this was his sense of humor and no harm was meant).

--I'd like to hear the author play some old time jazz on a piano.

[Ashley Osborne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been watching Dylan's videos on Instagram for a few years now and fell in love with his bravery and humor as he forged ahead with vintage recipes from decades-old cookbooks. Some experiments ended in failure, some in surprised joy - but all of them brought an energy and fun to my social feed that I always appreciate. I have his first book and have used it a few times, so I was excited to have a look at this one. More than anything, his appreciation for American culture - specifically the unique, weird, creative, and you-only-live-once joie de vivre - is what makes this book a fun read. (Yes, I said it. Cookbooks can be fun to read!)

In one of the closing sections of the book, he offers a heartfelt thanks to America. "'Baking Across America' has proven to me that the wild, wacky, and wonderful bakes that I encounter in old cookbooks certainly originate from your wild, wacky, and especially wonderful places. These locales from coast to coast inspire the collective awe of this nation and the vibrant people who make it so. Americans write recipes like love letters, and by making and enjoying them, one can connect directly to the essence of what makes every place in the United States feel like home."

The Bermudan gets us, y'all.

[Leane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much like his first cookbook, Baking Yesteryear (See my review.), this book is chock full of humor, recipes, and good directions, as well as vivid Instagram selfies featuring the food, additional excellent food photography, and an educational and entertaining travelogue across the United States. There’s even a colorful map. A brief introduction, a useful preface on How to Use This Book, Distinct Ingredients, and a great Pie Crust Recipe precedes the recipes organized by region and state, followed by a sweet conclusion, Index, Credits, and Acknowledgements. Each overview of each recipe is thoughtfully written, full of facts, and quite often riddled with puns and other forms of irreverent humor. Very enjoyable. And the recipes are divine—from Vermont’s Maple Creemee Pie to Arizona’s Dateland Iced Oaties. You’ll feel like you are on the trip with Dylan. The variety is impressive and the pictures and descriptions will make you want to try most of them. Besides the aforementioned, Baking Yesteryear, also look into Stacey Mei Yan Fong’s 50 Pies, 50 States. Other authors with the same fun and educating spirit include Christina Tosi, Jack Hazan, and Edd Kimber.

[viemag · Rating 5 out of 5]

Baking Across America: A Vintage Recipe Road Trip by B. Dylan Hollis features recipes that Hollis has researched, tried, and decided is the best baked good to represent one of the 50 states of America. The book follows the timeline with recipes from the 1900s to the 2000s and includes 100 recipes. Although it has been a long time since I have baked very many desserts from scratch I enjoyed reading the sections of the book where he explains the history of desserts in the state and the recipe. I didn't know that people in Boston don't eat Boston Cream Cake and if you order it you are tagging yourself as an "outsider." I didn't agree with his choice of desserts from North Dakota. After all I was raised in North Dakota and didn't even know the state was a huge producer of honey much less ever eaten a Honey Nut Cookie, I was very surprised that the ND tourism board didn't boast more about honey. I found the book entertaining and sometimes got nostalgic enough that I wanted to bake like when I came to the recipe for peanut rolls.But, then I turned the page and kept reading. A fun book.

[Miss Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

The standouts for me, a mix of classics well known nationally and lesser known cultural traditions often confined regionally, were:

The Toll House Inn Chocolate Chip Cookies
Joe Froggers
Lowbush Blueberry Buckle
Cider Doughnuts*
Coffee Milk Cheesecake
Black Magic Tomato Cake
Aunt Sallie's Frozen Cream
Peach Cobbler
Spoon Bread
Chess Pie
Beignets
Charleston Chewies
Texas Sheet Cake
Mobile Bay Peanut Butter & Chocolate Chip Pie
Nashville Goo Clusters
Bourbon Bread Pudding
Jam Cake
Hoosier Pie
Kringle
Bundt Pound Cake
Butter Brickle Bricks
Kuchen
Butter Brickle Cake*
Honey Rough Riders
Huckleberry Scones*
Huckleberry Ice Cream
Laramies (cookies)
Palisade Peaches N'Cream Pie
Chiffon of Grapefruit
Seattle Coffee Cremes
Potato Macaroons

[Cheri Blomquist · Rating 4 out of 5]

As with Baking Yesteryear, I found this cookbook so delightful that I read it from cover to cover. I'm not even a foodie or a frequent baker. I just love celebrations of the many wonderful things about our nation, and Hollis serves up both a celebration and tantalizing recipes. I gave this book only four stars because I liked the other book a little better. This cookbook had more recipes that didn't appeal to me, and he includes ingredients like imitation vanilla, instead of real vanilla. I would never touch the former, but I wonder if he is simply including it and a few other strange ingredients because they were the norm in vintage recipes. Anyway, hats off to Hollis for yet another fantastic trip from sea to shining sea!

[Jodi Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love books, reading, and wine — but here’s another guilty pleasure: baking! I can never pass up a good cookbook.

Baking Across America by B. Dylan Hollis (@bdylanhollis). It’s a vintage recipe road trip through all 50 states, packed with nostalgia and sweet childhood memories. I loved it so much I bought one for my sister!

I baked the Texas Sheet Cake, and let me tell you — it tastes like pure comfort. I'd share a picture here if I could!

As Dylan says: “Making a dessert is nothing less than crafting a smile.” I couldn’t agree more.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clearly a labor of love. Researched, travelled, and beautifully photographed. I feel like this belongs on the coffee table rather than tucked away in the kitchen with the rest of the cookbooks.

Personally, I think I like the recipes in Baking Yesteryear better simply because I am not likely to make pies or cakes which constitute a large amount of this book. It is very fun to read and look at, though.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, geography plus food wins the day. I really liked Hollis's first cookbook. The Buster in that book won my husband's birthday.

This one is a great read and a good cookbook for cooking around the states.

I think some people don't care for his tone, but I really had fun reading it. I also think some readers might be defending their states. I know my state isn't known for baked goods, and I am okay with that.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't usually track the books I read for library program research, but this one I'm counting because I actually read it from cover to cover. If I made every recipe in this book and submitted photographic proof, would Mr. B. Dylan Hollis show up at the library and do a program for me for free or low cost? I'd be willing to try, because there's not a recipe in this book that I don't want to taste.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love vintage recipes, so this is a hit with me. Hollis takes a road trip across the country, including unique recipes from all 50 states. Many are vintage (like the Waldorf salad gelatin mold) and might not fit today's tastes - but all are fabulous. There are photos for each recipe, as well as backstory for it. The representation is a little uneven, but this is a really fun book and I came away with several special occasion treats that I'm eager to try.

[Lorraine · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author takes a road trip across the US collecting baked goods recipes, taking photos along the way, and sharing stories regarding the featured bakes. I enjoyed the photos. Found many of the recipes interesting, although I question some of the history shared (eg I believe Whoopie Pies originated with the Pennsylvania Dutch). The writing was filled with superfluous adjectives, and flowery language not needed in a book of this genre.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent collection of American dessert recipes with one savory one (runzas aka bierrocks). I’m not sure the ones used for my state are good examples but I couldn’t think of anything that would be better. I’m sure other readers will feel the same. Pictures of all recipes. Recipes are manageable for most competent cooks/bakers.

[Caroline Berg · Rating 3 out of 5]

I almost wish this book was longer, to include more recipes from each state, but I understand you can't have every iconic dessert for each region without having a truly massive cookbook.

Since many of these are vintage recipes, there are many that aren't vegetarian - quite a few recipes use gelatin, though at least those with lard also give vegetable shortening as an option.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

great new recipes

We needed a new set of delicious recipes. This selection is arranged by state. Tastefully illustrated and annotated by B Dylan Hollis, he has found the perfect selection of desserts. You can’t go wrong!

[Pamela Priest · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant, wonderful taste of every state in the nation. Great photos, excellent recipes. It makes me want to work my way through the entire book, making and tasting each item. This was a lot of work and research. Great job, B Dylan Hollis!

[Donna Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun baking book! I loved the in-depth descriptions each recipe received to allow the reader to learn about the recipe's past. There were plenty of different recipes as well and I absolutely look forward to trying out the recipes I saved in the future!

[John Yelverton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought the first cookbook when it came out, but this one is even better. The research for the colloquial recipes and the personal stories as he traveled across America add a missing piece to the first book, and makes it even better.