BUFFALO, N.Y. — Fall is probably one of the best times of the year for seasonal eats. 

A recent poll identified the nation's favorite seasonal food by state. The top spot is Illinois, for its pumpkin pie, and New York ranked sixth.

With bushels of apple orchards all across upstate New York, it should come as no surprise at all that the state's fall favorite food is none other than the apple cider donut.

What You Need To Know

  •  New York ranked 6th in a survey of the nation's favorite fall foods

  •  The favorite in the state was the apple cider donut

  • New York is expected to produce 31 million bushels of apples in the 2024–2025 growing season

Bernadette Marczak stocking up on a variety of fall favorites at Mayer Bros. Cider Mill, including apple cider donuts.

"And I'll also add in an apple pie," said Marczak.

A recent poll of 3000 foodies from Wealth of Geeks identified America's favorite fall foods by state, ranking New York sixth for it's apple cider treats. 

"They're smart and second of all it just tastes so good and we spread the word," said Bernadette.

"I'm not surprised by it. They are delicious," said Joy Kicinski, manager at Mayer Bros. Cider Mill.

Kicinski says the apple cider variety makes up about two-thirds of her donut business, compared to the regular vanilla ones.

The process is pretty simple, as they start in the mixer, before going through the dropper and into the friar, before they're hand rolled into the cinnamon sugar mixture.

"A little cider, and they have apple bits in it. It just has a different taste to it," she said. "The vanilla is kind of you know, middle of the road, where the apple cider donut really has a good, good flavor."

Diamond Singletary thinks so, as she says she eats them quite often for breakfast.

"The little apple cinnamon bits, the sugar and then it has like apple bit pieces inside the donut," Singletary said. "So that's what makes it so good."

Marczak urges others to give them a try.

"They're so different from just the regular donut," she said. "The regular donut seems to be more cakey."

Rounding out the top five, after Illinois and its pumpkin pie is Texas for its chili, Alabama for its pecan pie, Louisiana for its gumbo and Kansas for its pumpkin bread.

According to the U.S. Apple Association, New York is expected to produce 31 million bushels of apples in the 2024–2025 growing season, a 10% decrease from the previous year.