The Sweetest Crime? Why Serving Ice Cream on Cherry Pie Was Once Illegal in Kansas

Have you ever stumbled across a list of bizarre, old laws and wondered if they could possibly be true? From it being illegal to fall asleep in a cheese factory in South Dakota to a supposed ban on mispronouncing "Arkansas," these legal oddities often provide a good chuckle. One of the most persistent and delicious-sounding of these legends is the claim that it was once a crime in Kansas to serve ice cream on top of cherry pie. But is there any truth to this sweet, saucy rumor?

This blog post will slice into this fascinating piece of culinary folklore. We will investigate the popular myth, sift through the historical records to separate fact from fiction, and uncover the real, and equally interesting, story that likely inspired this widely-believed "law." Prepare to have your perceptions of pie-related jurisprudence turned upside down.

The Popular Myth: A Slice of Legislative Silliness

The story, as it's often told, is simple and strange. At some point in its history, the state of Kansas allegedly passed a law forbidding the placement of a scoop of ice cream on a slice of cherry pie. The supposed reasons for this ban vary depending on who's telling the tale. Some claim it was an effort by a "dry" state to discourage frivolity and promote a more sober, puritanical lifestyle. Others suggest it was a misguided attempt to protect the state's cherry-growing industry, ensuring the fruit's flavor wasn't masked by another dessert.

For decades, this "fact" has appeared in trivia books, online articles, and "weird news" segments, becoming an accepted piece of quirky Americana. The image it conjures—of a lawman sternly ordering a diner to remove a scoop of vanilla from a perfectly good piece of pie—is both amusing and absurd.

Separating Fact from Fiction: Was It Ever Really a Law?

After years of inquiry from curious citizens, the truth has been thoroughly investigated by those who would know best: Kansas historians and legislative librarians. The verdict is in, and it's unequivocal.

There is no evidence that a statewide law banning ice cream on cherry pie ever existed in Kansas.

Researchers at the Kansas State Library and the Kansas Historical Society have scoured the state's legislative archives and found no record of such a bill ever being proposed, let alone passed into law. It appears the entire story is a culinary urban legend. So, if it was never a law, where did this specific and peculiar idea come from?

The Real Story: A Temperance Tale from Sabetha

Like many persistent myths, the Kansas pie law seems to be a distorted version of a real historical event. The story's true origins likely trace back to the turn of the 20th century and the powerful influence of the temperance movement.

The Sunday Soda Ban

The key to the mystery lies not with the state legislature, but in the small town of Sabetha, Kansas. In the late 1890s, the Women's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) was a formidable social and political force advocating for piety and sobriety. One of their primary targets was any activity that distracted from observing the Sabbath.

The WCTU believed that establishments like soda fountains were dens of leisure that tempted people away from church on Sundays. In their view, enjoying an ice cream soda was a frivolous, worldly pleasure unfit for the Lord's Day. After a significant campaign, they successfully lobbied for a local ordinance in Sabetha that banned the sale of ice cream sodas on Sundays.

How the Story Morphed

It's easy to see how this very real, very specific local "blue law" could have been twisted over time.

• Local becomes Statewide: A town ordinance in Sabetha was exaggerated into a statewide law.
• "Ice Cream Soda" becomes "Ice Cream on Pie": The target of the ban—the frivolous ice cream soda—was misremembered and transformed into the equally delightful combination of ice cream and pie.
• "Cherry Pie" adds flavor: The "cherry" detail was likely added over the years to make the story more specific and folksy, giving it the ring of authentic, quirky history.

This small, local battle over Sunday sodas ballooned into the legendary tale of the illegal cherry pie à la mode.

Conclusion: A Myth Worth Savoring

While it’s disappointing to learn that Kansas never had such a wonderfully weird law on its books, the real story is just as compelling. The myth of the banned ice cream on cherry pie isn't a story about legislative overreach, but a fascinating glimpse into the social dynamics of the temperance movement and the power of local activism at the turn of the century. It’s a perfect example of how a small, historical fact can be misremembered and embellished over generations until it becomes a beloved piece of folklore.

So, the next time you're in Kansas, feel free to order a slice of cherry pie with a big scoop of ice cream on top. You won't be breaking any laws, but you will be participating in a tradition that, thanks to a century-old myth, is far more interesting than you ever imagined.