National Blueberry Cheesecake Day is celebrated every year on May 26. It is a day dedicated to the blueberry cheesecake, one of the most popular desserts in the U.S. Although originating in ancient Greece, cheesecakes have today spread to the far corners of the world and each region has its own varieties of cheesecakes. One such very popular variety is the blueberry cheesecake.
History of National Blueberry Cheesecake Day
Cheesecake is a rich dessert cake made with cream and soft cheese on a graham cracker, cookie, or pastry crust. Often, it is topped with a fruit compote or puree.
Every year on May 26, people all around the U.S. celebrate National Blueberry Cheesecake Day. Legend has it that blueberry cheesecakes were fed to the athletes at the Olympic Games in Greece. It is a historical dessert that has been carried on through centuries without losing popularity.
While cheesecakes can be traced back to ancient Greece, the cheesecakes that people eat now are a more recent innovation. People have come up with different kinds of interesting flavors for cheesecakes but May 26 is the celebration of the classic blueberry cheesecake.
As cheesecakes spread to different countries, more ingredients were added and different varieties began popping up. While in America, cream cheese is the primary ingredient for cheesecakes, Italians prefer to use ricotta. On the other hand, Germany and Poland use quark, a special kind of curd cheese.
As cheesecakes became localized with time, bakers thought of newer innovations for it. One of the most popular innovations was the addition of fruit to cheesecakes and perhaps the best of them all was the sweet and enticing blueberries!
Blueberry cheesecakes, too, come in a number of varieties. Some of the most unique blueberry cheesecakes include blueberry mint cheesecakes, chocolate blueberry cheesecakes, and kombucha blueberry cheesecakes!
National Blueberry Cheesecake Day timeline
Cheesecakes, being a good source of energy, are served to athletes at the first Olympic Games in Greece.
The first Greek cheesecake recipe is written by Athenaeus of Naucratis, a Greek grammarian and rhetorician.
Dairyman William Lawrence of New York accidentally invents cream cheese while trying to make a French cheese known as Neufchâtel.
James Kraft develops pasteurized cream cheese that is the trademark cream cheese used by many cheesecake makers today.
National Blueberry Cheesecake Day FAQs
What is the difference between baked and no-bake cheesecake?
Baked cheesecakes have eggs in their recipe whereas no-baked cheesecakes don’t have eggs. Baked cheesecakes are baked in a water bath before being chilled in the fridge, whereas no-bake cheesecakes don’t need the water bath.
What state is known for cheesecakes?
New York is perhaps the most popular for cheesecakes and has its own way of serving it that includes cream cheese but without fruits.
What is the most expensive cheesecake in the world?
Raffaele Ronca’s cheesecake is the most expensive in the world. It costs $5,000 and has cheese from 200-year-old cognac, water buffalo, and white truffles from Alba, Italy.
National Blueberry Cheesecake Day Activities
Have blueberry cheesecake
The easiest way to celebrate National Blueberry Cheesecake Day is by treating yourself to blueberry cheesecake. Indulge in the heavenly flavor of this dessert.
Feast with family and friends
Treat your family and friends to a blueberry cheesecake feast. The taste only improves when it is shared and so will your mood.
Share on social media
Share your National Blueberry Cheesecake Day celebration on social media. Use the hashtag #BlueberryCheesecakeDay to acknowledge the day and its importance.
5 Facts About Cheesecakes That You Didn’t Know
Cheesecakes are not cakes
Cheesecakes, despite their name, are basically tarts, and the word ‘cake’ is applied to a broader food category than what cheesecakes are today.
Olympic cheese
It is believed that cheesecakes originated in ancient Greece where they were served to Greek athletes at the first Olympic Games.
Types of cheesecakes
Cheesecakes can be categorized into two types: baked and unbaked — and, based on the region, each of these is available in different varieties.
World’s most expensive cheesecake
The world's most expensive cheesecake comes from Saks Fifth Avenue, a famous American luxury department store chain.
Cheesecake postage stamps
Häagen-Dazs, the popular American ice-cream brand, once made flavored postage stamps of their flavors including strawberry cheesecake, macadamia nut brittle, and cookies and cream.
Why We Love National Blueberry Cheesecake Day
It celebrates food
Food is always celebratory. Especially food that serves to make us realize how many wonderful flavors there are in this world that we can taste and relish.
It celebrates cheese
Cheese came into existence even before written language did. According to Ancient Polish cheese strainers, cheese dates back 7,500 years. And Egyptian murals that date back 4,000 years also show the art of cheesemaking.
It celebrates cheesecake
The popularity of cheesecake is widespread because different regions of the world have come up with their own versions of it. Italians like ricotta cheese, Greeks like feta or ‘mizithra,’ Germans like cottage cheese, and the Japanese prefer a combo of egg white and cornstarch.
National Blueberry Cheesecake Day dates
Year | Date | Day |
---|---|---|
2025 | May 26 | Monday |
2026 | May 26 | Tuesday |
2027 | May 26 | Wednesday |
2028 | May 26 | Friday |
2029 | May 26 | Saturday |