Date:  March 28, 2025  |   Story: Tiffany Adams  |   Photography: Rett Peek  |  

If you’re planning a stop at a roadside café, church potluck, or this month’s Arkansas Pie Festival in Cherokee Village, don’t sleep on the Possum Pie. Much like its namesake, the dessert conceals its true appearance (i.e. “plays possum”) but has a refreshing depth. While not hiding possum meat­—as many outside the region have guessed—its fluffy whipped cream topping has three treats underneath it: chocolate pudding, a cream cheese mixture, and a pecan shortbread crust. For those who are less inclined to mention the mischievous marsupial on their menu, it’s known by a number of other names, including Four Layer Delight, The Next Best Thing to Robert Redford, and Chocolate Layer Pie. And, while there’s nothing that says you can’t make it in a pie dish, it’s traditionally made in a 9-x-13 baking pan and served in squares. This rendition, a menu special from The Pizzeria in Little Rock, was set atop a chocolate drizzle for a little something extra.

Find more upcoming food festivals and restaurant info in the latest release of our sister publication, PLATED: The Arkansas Dining Guide, available exclusively at platedmag.com.