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Every year, Midwest Dairy, a trade association that represents Minnesota-based milk producers, hosts an online voting competition to crown the ‘Flavor of the Fair.’

This year, the signature malt flavor is “Cookie Butter Cheesecake.”

The vanilla sundae is topped with cheesecake pieces and a drizzle of cookie butter sauce, adding warm notes of cinnamon and caramelized brown sugar. The sundae will also have a cookie on top.

“Popcorn Parade,” a lemon lime soda float with popcorn flavored syrup, and “Ha-bacon-nero,” covered in bacon-habanero pepper jam, were Cookie Butter Cheesecake’s fiercest contenders. Last year’s flavor was “Rockstar-Berry.” 

“Every year, we get hundreds of flavor ideas through a QR code at the fair,” said Brittney Arnold, program manager at Midwest Dairy. “From that list, a small team at Midwest Dairy narrows it down to five, we taste-test them, and then the public votes for the winner. So really, it’s the fans who pick the flavor.”

To get a taste of this comforting treat, Midwest Dairy invites fairgoers to the Dairy Goodness Bar, open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

In addition to the winning sundae, the bar will also have yogurt, cheese sticks and other dairy products. The Minnesota State Fair runs from Aug. 21 until Sept. 1.

Correction (July 14, 2025): A previous version of this article misstated the number of Minnesota-based milk producers.

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The vanilla sundae is topped with cheesecake pieces and a drizzle of Cookie Butter sauce, adding warm notes of cinnamon and caramelized brown sugar. The sundae will also have a cookie on top.

A large crowd walks among the state fairgrounds.

You butter believe it: Cookie Butter Cheesecake is 2025’s ‘Flavor of the Fair’

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