The State Honest of Texas has unveiled the finalists for the twenty second Annual Massive Tex Selection Awards, that includes all types of daring concoctions that may solely be discovered on the iconic yearly occasion.
The finalists embrace 5 every within the classes of Greatest Style – Savory, Greatest Style – Candy, Greatest Style – Sipper. Winners from every of these classes, in addition to one for Most Inventive, will probably be introduced on Tuesday, August 18.
In keeping with a launch, the competitors kicked off with a record-breaking 77 entries from 46 totally different concessionaires, every of which has not less than two years of expertise on the Honest.
Every concessionaire submitted an authentic recipe that went by a blind judging course of, guaranteeing every entry was judged solely by itself deserves.
The 15 finalists competing for the 2026 Massive Tex Selection Awards titles (and their creators) embrace:
SAVORY
Flamin’ Crunch Pizza is a finalist within the Savory class in State Honest of Texas’ Massive Tex Selection Awards.Photograph courtesy of State Honest of Texas
Burger Chop Tater Tacos, Tom Grace: A recent chopped burger patty mixed with sautéed onions and jalapeños, then topped with mozzarella and American cheese and laid on prime a mattress of cheddar cheese tater tots which have been shaped right into a taco shell. That’s then completed with buffalo buttermilk ranch coleslaw, garlic parmesan buffalo sauce, and extra tots.Dickel’s Texas Two Step Tacos, Dickel’s Smokehouse: The Dickel’s Texas Two Step Tacos options two tacos, the primary with a heat blue corn tortilla crammed with a fire-roasted jalapeño full of pineapple pork sausage and melted mozzarella. The second taco incorporates tender-sliced brisket wrapped round a roasted jalapeño, layered with melted mozzarella, and served on a yellow corn tortilla completed with purple pickled onion and a drizzle of candy, smoky barbecue sauce or home made Lone Star Habanero Fuego.Flamin’ Crunch Pizza, Tom Grace: The Flamin’ Crunch Pizza consists of hand-tossed, fresh-made pizza dough topped with a jalapeño cheddar queso base and lined with a freshly grated mix of mozzarella and cheddar cheese. The pizza is topped with handfuls of Flamin’ Scorching Cheetos, a drizzle of jalapeño queso blanco and house-made buffalo buttermilk ranch dressing, and a hefty sprinkle of Flamin’ Scorching Cheetos mud.Golden Crunch Soften, Tony & Terry Bednar: This entry contains a tortilla brushed in a signature seasoned butter oil and filled with marinated rooster pastor, fire-roasted peppers, caramelized onions, smoky chipotle mayonnaise, melted three-cheese mix, and crispy potato strings, accompanied by a smoky chipotle crema.Nacho Wings, Cody & Lauren Hays: Nacho Wings are crispy rooster wings tossed in zesty taco seasoning, smothered in creamy nacho cheese, and piled excessive with cilantro, inexperienced onions, cotija cheese, tomatoes, pickled purple onions, and jalapeños. They’re served on a mattress of scorching, golden fries and the entire thing is drizzled with ranch.
SWEET
Holy Flan! Buñueloco is a finalist within the Candy class in State Honest of Texas’ Massive Tex Selection Awards.Photograph courtesy of State Honest of Texas
Berry Me in Matcha, Stephen El Gidi: Berry Me in Matcha contains a New York-style cheesecake that’s hand-dipped in Belgian white chocolate, rolled in crushed matcha cookies and drizzled with white chocolate and candy strawberry jam. The dessert is completed with a recent strawberry slice on prime.Fernie’s Frozen Espresso-tini Bar, Christi Erpillo & Johnna McKee: This espresso martini popsicle options cold-brew espresso blended with a kick of Fernie’s Funnel Cake Cream Cocktail. The bar is drizzled with ribbons of chocolate shell coating, hardening into a fragile, crackable chew.Fletcher’s Chocolate Corny Canine, Beck Fletcher: The Fletcher’s Chocolate Corny Canine consists of easy milk chocolate fudge hand dipped in Fletcher’s well-known Unique Corny Canine batter and deep fried till golden perfection. It’s topped with a drizzle of yellow vanilla icing and served with raspberry compote for a candy twist on the enduring Corny Canine.Holy Flan! Buñueloco, The Garza Household: The Holy Flan! Buñueloco begins with a heat, crispy buñuelo bowl crammed with creamy, home made arroz con leche and a scoop of cinnamon Blue Bell Ice Cream. The spotlight is a deep-fried flan encased in a fragile puff pastry shell, topped with fluffy whipped cream topping and a wealthy caramel sauce drizzle.Texas Pecan Praline Cheesecake Cone, Brad Weiss: This second tackle cheesecake contains a heat waffle cone dipped in white chocolate, rolled in buttery Texas pecan praline, crushed Biscoff cookies, and freeze-dried strawberries, and crammed with home made cookie butter cheesecake. It’s then topped with a pinch of sea salt, whipped cream, Biscoff crumble, heat cookie butter drizzle, white chocolate sauce, and completed with a signature Biscoff cookie.
SIPPER
Corn Flake Shappé is a finalist within the Sipper class in State Honest of Texas’ Massive Tex Selection Awards.Photograph courtesy of State Honest of Texas
Corn Flake Shappé, Milton & Gracie Whitley: The creamy Corn Flake Shappé blends toasted corn flakes right into a wealthy creation with dulce de leche, Texas pecan notes, and a signature mix of heat spices. It’s completed with whipped cream, golden corn flake crunch, candy strawberry crumble, and a dusting of powdered sugar.Nevins Mushy Serve Peach Bellini Float, Tami & Josey Nevins Mayes: The Nevins Mushy Serve Peach Bellini Float options creamy peach bellini gentle serve infused with glowing wine, topped with glowing sugar and grated frozen peach. It’s completed with a sugary-sweet golden topping.Rousso’s Bacon Jam Caramel Apple Exhausting Cider, Rousso’s Concessions: The Rousso’s Bacon Jam Caramel Apple Exhausting Cider is crafted with hints of apples, caramel, churros, cinnamon sugar, and a smoky bacon jam twist.Sundown Mushy Serve Rita, Dwania Morris: The Sundown Mushy Serve Rita combines a strawberry and mango margarita with vanilla soft-serve ice cream, a rim coated in Tajín rim, and topped with a chamoy drizzle and crunchy scorching honey Tajín topping.Tropical Coco Fresca, Fruteria Cano: The Tropical Coco Fresca is a layered pineapple-watermelon agua fresca with chamoy lava Tajin rim, paired with a scoop of icy coconut snow that melts right into a creamy tropical explosion of flavors.
Whereas these 15 creations earned a spot within the finalist spherical, the State Honest of Texas can be recognizing semi-finalists whose modern entries will nonetheless make their debut on the 2026 State Honest as new meals.
Semi-finalists embrace:
All Shook UpButter-Dipped Toffee Crunch Nutty BarDeep Fried Thai Tea Tres Leches CakeDirty Dr Pepper Do-Si-Do FloatFried Gobbler RollLayered Mango Strawberry ShortcakeLimonata Fresca FloatLoaded Lone Star RingsLove Me Jam SandwichMatcha ParfaitMidnight Ruby RushSoft Serve Smoked Peach Bourbon SmashThe NieceTriple Chocolate FlautasTwinkle Twinkle Brisket Star
In the course of the ultimate judging occasion, a panel of 35 judges, together with hometown celebrities, tv personalities, meals specialists, and well-known creators, will consider every dish based mostly on 4 key Honest-food parts: style, worth, creativity, and fairgoer enchantment.
Whereas the Massive Tex Selection Awards occasion is closed to the general public, the general public can observe alongside on-line by tuning into one of many State Honest’s social media channels – @StateFairofTX on Instagram and Fb.
The winners will probably be introduced on Tuesday, August 18 at 2 pm.
The 2026 State Honest of Texas, themed “Stars, Stripes, & Howdies,” will open on Friday, September 25, and can run by Sunday, October 18.
