Earlier this month, we showcased the State Fair of Texas's Big Tex Choice Finalists and we are excited to announce the three winners: Best Savory, Best Sweet, Most Creative, and the new Best Sipper category, voted by a group of judges in real time!
Updated August 2025
BIG TEX CHOICE AWARDS
The annual Big Tex Choice Awards competition had 76 entries and 15 finalists this year! Out of those 15 finalists, a group of judges chose the winners for the Best Savory, Best Sweet, Best Sipper, and Most Creative categories. All four winners, along with the finalists, can be found at the State Fair, so be sure to try them for yourself!
BEST SAVORY: CRAB & MOZZARELLA ARANCINI
Photo courtesy of The State Fair of Texas
The winner of the savory category in this year's Big Tex Choice Awards, these arancini are like a whole meal in each bite! The fried rice balls are filled with Maryland Blue Crab meat, mozzarella cheese, spring onion, red bell pepper, lemon, and black pepper, served with marinara sauce.
BEST SWEET: CHILL & THRILL DELIGHT
Photo courtesy of The State Fair of Texas
The winner of the sweet category in 2025's Big Tex Choice Awards and potentially the healthiest dish of all the finalists: cantaloupe, grapes, mango, pineapple, strawberries, and watermelon are all soaked in watermelon and lime juice, then topped with mango sorbet shavings.
MOST CREATIVE: Wagyu Bacon Cheeseburger Deviled Egg Sliders
Photo courtesy of The State Fair of Texas
The winner of this year's Big Tex Choice Awards' most creative category is a burger with fried deviled egg halves serving as a bun, with a Cajun-seasoned Wagyu patty, cheddar, bacon, and a unique ketchup-like sauce.
BEST SIPPER: Cookie Chaos Milkshake
Photo courtesy of The State Fair of Texas
Pretty much every kind of cookie in a milkshake: cookie butter ice cream blended with snickerdoodles and golden and classic Oreos, topped with whipped cream, cookie butter cookie dough, a Biscoff cookie, and a cookie butter drizzle, with a Biscoff cookie rim.
OTHER NOMINEES
Make sure to also check out the other finalists in 32 days!
🥨 Brisket and Brew Stuffed Pretzels
🌮 Deep Fried Deli Tacos
🍗 Vietnamese Crunch Dog
🍋 Candy Lemon Sour Face
🍰 Dubai Chocolate Cheesecake
🍫 Rousso’s Dubai Chocolate Funnel Cake Fries
🍦 Tex’s Toast á la Mode
🥥 Coconut Quadruple
🌶️ Hot Honeycomb Lemonade Shake Up
🍹 Dirty Red Bull® Tex-arita
🧋 Poppin’ Boba Rita
OPENING WEEKEND
Mark your calendars for opening day on September 26th! For all the deets on the State Fair, including how to get discounted tickets, check out our State Fair page!
