Growing up in Missouri meant discovering that comfort came in countless delicious forms—from sticky-sweet desserts that left your fingers a little messy to late-night diner creations that broke every rule in the best way possible.
Every family gathering, backyard cookout, and midnight craving had its own legendary dish, something locals swore by and visitors couldn’t quite believe existed.
Whether it was gooey butter cake, toasted ravioli, or slow-smoked barbecue dripping with sauce, these foods told the story of a state that knows how to eat well and love deeply. They’re more than recipes—they’re edible memories of simpler, happier times.
1. Gooey Butter Cake
My grandmother’s kitchen always smelled like vanilla and butter on Saturday mornings, and this St. Louis original was usually the reason why. Gooey Butter Cake is less cake and more of a dense, sweet coffee-cake bar that practically melts on your tongue…