- Categories:
- Food & Beverage
- Tags:
- DessertFruitObscure
- Where:
- United States
- Date change rule:
- Every May 26
- Holiday emoji:
- 🍒
National Cherry Dessert Day celebrates the delightful versatility of cherries in sweet treats every May 26. From pies and tarts to cobblers and cheesecakes, this day is a tribute to the fruit’s endless culinary possibilities. Discover new recipes, visit your local bakery, or whip up a homemade cherry masterpiece to join the celebration!
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History of National Cherry Dessert Day
If you’ve made it this far, you are either a lover of cherry desserts, intrigued about the obscurity of this holiday, or just looking for interesting ways to celebrate the day. Whatever the case may be, you’ve come to the right place and we have all the answers you need below.
It’d be more accurate to talk about the origin of cherries when discussing National Cherry Dessert Day because cherry desserts would not be a thing without cherries. There are different types and even colors of cherries that have been identified throughout history. Some of them include true cherries, bird cherries or cherry laurels, and bush cherries, with the term ‘wild cherries’ referring to cherries growing outside cultivation.
The word cherry was coined from the Old Nothern French word ‘cherise,’ which was derived from the Latin word ‘cerasum’ to refer to the ancient Greek region of Kerasous, which is said to be the first place in Europe cherries were exported to. In the US, cherries arrived first in Brooklyn, New York. Colonists in Massachusetts planted the first sour cherry, which is still a people’s favorite.
Queen Elizabeth I is given credit for making the first cherry pie in the 1500s with the start of fruit pies and tarts. Since then, a variety of cherry-flavored desserts have made their way into the scene. Cherry can be used as a filling like in cherry pie and cobbler, as part of the flavoring like cherry cheesecake, or even as a topping like cherry tarts or biscuits.
The origins of National Cherry Dessert Day are still widely unknown, but that does not stop us from celebrating this sweet holiday! It is observed annually on May 26, after National Cherry Month, and before Cherry Day.
National Cherry Dessert Day timeline
The first cherry trees are cultivated in Greece.
Queen Elizabeth I bakes the first cherry pie.
Cherries first arrive in the U.S. on June 18 in Brooklyn, New York.
The first cherry cobbler is made in England.
National Cherry Dessert Day FAQs
When is National Cherry Dessert Day?
In 2027, National Cherry Dessert Day is observed on Wednesday, May 26, offering another mid-week opportunity to celebrate the versatility of cherry desserts.
How many types of cherries are there?
Globally, the cherry family boasts hundreds of cultivars, with sweet and sour varieties dominating the market. Each type offers distinct flavor profiles and textures, making them suitable for a diverse range of desserts and culinary applications.
What are the health benefits of cherries?
Beyond their delicious taste, cherries are known for their rich nutritional profile, including high levels of Vitamin C and potassium. Regular consumption can support heart health and improve sleep quality due to their melatonin content.
What is the most popular cherry dessert?
Cherry pie holds a special place in many hearts, but cherry cobblers, crisps, and cheesecakes also rank high in popularity. The choice often depends on seasonal availability and personal culinary traditions.
National Cherry Dessert Day Activities
Make a cherry dessert
Thanks to the internet, we now have access to millions of recipes at our fingertips, and today the focus is on cherry desserts. Check out all the different types of desserts that consist of cherry, and see which fits your tastebuds the best. Try your luck at whipping it up, and invite friends over for a taste test.
Have a cherry dessert
Whether you’re making it yourself or taking the shorter way out by ordering out, the goal of today is to eat at least one cherry dessert. Don’t let National Cherry Day pass you by without celebrating justly. Eating out or staying in is up to you, but make sure you have cherry desserts on the menu.
Plant a cherry tree
Thinking of the best, most cost-effective way to have cherry desserts all year round? Well, we’ve got the perfect solution for you. Put your backyard to use by cultivating cherry trees. Ask a specialized gardener for tips, see what you can find online, and start working on that green thumb!
5 Interesting Facts About Cherries
The varieties are endless
There are over a thousand varieties of cherries.
George Washington and cherries
The old tale of George Washington cutting down a cherry tree was fake and was created by his first biographer, Mason Locke Weems.
Its trees are very fruitful
The average cherry tree produces approximately 7,000 cherries each harvest.
Turkey takes the lead
Turkey holds the record for the world’s leading cherry production, producing 535,000 tons annually.
Since the Stone Age
Archeologists have discovered cherry pits in Europe and Asia dating back to the Stone Age.
Why We Love National Cherry Dessert Day
It’s a dessert holiday
This day is not just any other kind of holiday, and it's also not just any kind of food holiday, it was made especially for desserts. So if you’re a lover of desserts just like we are, you should be a lover of National Charry Dessert Day too!
It’s a cherry holiday
Just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, this holiday combines two of the tastiest things in existence — cherries and desserts. Talk about a cherry on top, that’s all you need to convince us of how wonderful this holiday is.
An opportunity to try new recipes
This holiday also allows us to try our hand at new, interesting recipes. Oftentimes we find ourselves hesitant to try out unfamiliar flavor palettes, specifically anything dessert-related, but National Cherry Dessert Day allows us to step out of our comfort zones and try something new.
