Finalists announced for 2025 Big Tex Choice Awards at the State Fair of Texas

Savory, sweet, and drinkable creations are competing once again for the Texas-sized honor of a Big Tex Choice Award at the State Fair of Texas.

This year’s finalists have been narrowed down from 30 semi-finalists to feature five savory and five sweet items.

The Big Tex Choice Awards have been held at the State Fair since 2005. Each year, concessionaires create unique and tasty foods and compete for a chance to become a finalist in the annual Big Tex Choice Awards competition. Fairgoers will have the opportunity to sample these winning creations when the fair arrives in Dallas on Sept. 26.

The contenders will now advance to the main event at the State Fair, where they will compete for one of the winning titles: “Best Taste – Savory,” “Best Taste – Sweet,” and “Most Creative.” A fourth category, “Best Taste –Sipper,” was also added this year for the winning drink.

2025 Savory Finalists

• Brisket and Brew Stuffed Pretzels – Where smoky BBQ dreams meet classic pub snacks in one golden, salty twist. We’re talking tender, slow-smoked brisket loaded with deep, juicy flavor, and blended with a bold, velvety beer cheese made from sharp cheddar and a hearty brew. Then, it’s all wrapped up in soft, chewy pretzel dough, hand-rolled, sprinkled with sea salt, and baked to crispy, crave-worthy perfection. Each bite is a flavor bomb: salty on the outside, rich and gooey on the inside. They’re easy to carry and absolutely made for munching as you wander the fairgrounds. Pair with a cold German beer or dunk into spicy mustard or tangy BBQ sauce—just be warned, your lederhosen might not forgive you.  
• Crab & Mozzarella Arancini  – An Arancini handcrafted with an irresistible blend of premium Maryland Blue Crab meat, white rice, mozzarella cheese, spring onion, red bell pepper, lemon, and black pepper. Each rice ball is delicately seasoned with aromatic herbs including garlic, coriander, and basil. They are dipped in a crunchy breadcrumb coating, then deep fried to a golden, crispy finish. Handmade in small batches to ensure the highest quality! Served with a side of our homemade marinara sauce.  
• Deep Fried Deli Tacos – We all love a good food mashup, and the Deep Fried Deli Tacos are fusion magic at the State Fair of Texas. Picture this: peppery pastrami, buttery mashed potatoes, gooey white cheese, and fresh chives all tucked into a corn tortilla and deep fried to crispy perfection. Served with a spicy, creamy green sauce, it’s what happens when New York deli meets Dallas taqueria—and the result is delicioso. 
• Vietnamese Crunch Dog – Step right up for a bold twist on a fair favorite! The Vietnamese Crunch Dog blends the classic corn dog with vibrant Asian flavors. Juicy, marinated meat is wrapped in fluffy batter, coated in a crispy mix of panko and bánh mì crumbs, then deep fried to golden perfection. Topped with sriracha mayo and served with tangy pickled veggies, it’s a crunchy, flavorful mashup of street food and fair flair in every bite. 
• Wagyu Bacon Cheeseburger Deviled Egg Sliders – Who knew a deviled egg could become the juiciest, most flavor-packed burger slider ever? We did! The Wagyu Bacon Cheeseburger Deviled Egg Sliders start with a Cajun-seasoned Wagyu patty, topped with aged cheddar and crispy applewood bacon. The twist? Instead of a bun, it’s sandwiched between two deep fried, panko-crusted deviled egg halves—crispy outside, creamy and tangy inside. Served with a house-made ketchup-inspired sauce, it’s a bold, one-of-a-kind bite you have to try at this year’s Fair!  

2025 Sweet Finalists

• Candy Lemon Sour Face  – Take a bite out of a candy-dipped lemon! With a little bit of sweet and a little bit of sour, let your taste buds explore the explosion of a sour, sweet tart-taste of a delicious candy-coated lemon. Indulge in Candy Lemon Burst and let us take you on a rollercoaster of sweet and sour flavors! 
• Chill & Thrill Delight – A vibrant, refreshing twist on Colombia’s famous Salpicon de Frutas that is perfect for a warm day at the State Fair. A Texas-sized cup is packed with juicy, diced mango, pineapple, watermelon, grapes, cantaloupe, and strawberries, all soaked in fresh watermelon juice with a splash of lime. It’s topped with a handcrafted shaved mango sorbet that slowly melts into the mix for a sweet, tangy fusion. Whether you’re cooling off or chasing bold flavors, this fruity treat is sure to thrill!  
• Dubai Chocolate Cheesecake – Dive into a decadent cup layered with pure indulgence. At the base, rich Belgian chocolate melts into a luscious pistachio spread, perfectly blended with the delicate crunch of sweet, golden kataifi and a hint of creamy tahini. Nestled above are chunks of velvety New York-style cheesecake, adding a smooth and tangy contrast. To finish, each cup is crowned with a generous drizzle of silky chocolate, a swirl of pistachio cream, and a final sprinkle of crushed pistachios for an irresistible crunch. Every spoonful of Dubai Chocolate Cheesecake is a masterpiece of texture and flavor—nutty, creamy, and decadently chocolatey.  
• Dubai Chocolate Funnel Cake Fries – Bold, indulgent flavor to every bite! Crispy, golden funnel cake strips are drizzled with warm Belgian chocolate, then topped with pistachio cream and delicate pieces of knafeh pastry. This rich, nutty, and crispy treat takes funnel cake to a whole new level of indulgence—sweet, airy, and wildly satisfying.
• Tex’s Toast á la Mode – Comfort food at its finest! A warm, golden-baked French toast bake topped with a generous scoop of Blue Bell® Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream slowly melting into every cozy bite. Drizzled with rich caramel and real maple syrup, then sprinkled with a fun cinnamon cereal crunch for that extra pop. It’s like a sweet, Southern hug on a plate that’ll have you coming back for more. 

2025 Sipper Finalists

• Coconut Quadruple – Want a taste of the tropics during your visit to the State Fair of Texas? Look no further than the Coconut Quadruple! A whole fresh, young coconut is served with an ice-cold, fresh-made coconut slushy topped with soft-serve coconut ice cream and a sprinkling of coconut flakes. This enhanced island delicacy is sure to transport you to paradise at first sip. 
• Cookie Chaos Milkshake – This shake is what cookie dreams are made of! A rich, creamy, cookie butter milkshake loaded with snickerdoodle chunks, Golden Oreo® Cookies, and classic Oreo® Cookies for the ultimate cookie explosion. We top it with a fluffy swirl of whipped cream, a scoop of edible cookie butter cookie dough, a perfectly perched Biscoff® cookie, and a cookie butter drizzle that ties it all together. Finished with a rim coated in crushed Biscoff ® cookie pieces for that extra crunch in every sip, the Cookie Chaos Milkshake is sweet, spiced, and unapologetically over the top.  
• Hot Honeycomb Lemonade Shake Up – Ever tried nature’s candy—honeycomb? How about honey jalapeño lemonade? For over 30 years, our fresh Lemonade Shake Up has been a Fair favorite: fresh-squeezed lemons, sugar, water, and a good shake. This year, we are adding honey and fresh jalapeños to the mix for a perfect Texas kick. Rimmed with chamoy and Tajin® for extra zing, and topped with a skewer of real honeycomb, our Hot Honeycomb Lemonade Shake Up is a refreshingly bold treat. Add a shot of alcohol, and you’ve got an instant classic—only at the State Fair of Texas!  
• Dirty Red Bull® Tex-arita – Red, white, blue – this afternoon delight is right on cue! A refreshing adult beverage that tastes as good as it looks! The Dirty Red Bull® Tex-arita fulfills an adult craving while appealing to your inner child! This cocktail starts with a layer of sweet cream liquor and Blue Razz Pop Rocks® to get this sweet treat poppin’! After, it’s filled halfway with juicy Watermelon Red Bull® margarita and the other half with vibrant Blueberry Red Bull® margarita. Topped with more sizzlin’ Pop Rocks®, fresh blueberries, and watermelon, this Dirty Tex-arita is sure to make you soar!  
• Poppin’ Boba Rita – This frozen, fresh lime juice margarita is elevated with wine-infused poppin’ boba pearls, bursting with juicy mango or strawberry flavor in every sip. Each vibrant pearl in the Poppin’ Boba Rita delivers a playful pop of tropical fruitiness, transforming the experience into a sensory delight. Want to turn up the indulgence? “Make it dirty” with a swirl of sweet, creamy, cold foam, a splash of rich coconut syrup, and a tangy Tajin® rim, making for an irresistible upgrade to this tapioca treat with a twist!