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National Cherry Pie Day

Food · February 20

A day for cherry pie: tart or sweet cherries baked under a flaky crust, often lattice-topped and served warm with ice cream.

National Cherry Pie Day falls on Saturday, February 20, 2027. That is 116 days away.

Cherry pie is a fruit pie filled with cherries, sugar and a thickener, baked inside a pastry crust. The filling turns glossy and deep red as it cooks, and it bubbles up through whatever gaps the top crust allows.

Most classic recipes use tart cherries, sometimes called sour cherries, because their sharpness holds up against the sugar. Sweet cherries work too, though bakers often add lemon juice to keep the flavor from going flat. A lattice top is the familiar look, partly for show and partly because it lets steam escape.

People mark the day in the obvious way, with a slice. Some bake from scratch, pitting cherries by hand and ending up with stained fingertips. Others pick up a pie from a bakery or diner counter, or use canned filling and a store crust, which still fills the kitchen with that warm, almond-like smell. A scoop of vanilla ice cream melting into a warm slice is the standard pairing.

Patience is the hard part. A cherry pie cut too soon runs across the plate, while one left to cool for a few hours sets into neat wedges that hold their shape.

Ways to celebrate

• Bake a cherry pie with a lattice top.
• Try a slice from a local bakery or diner.
• Serve warm cherry pie with vanilla ice cream.
• Share a slice with a neighbor or coworker.
• Make mini cherry hand pies with store-bought crust.

Dates

All national days on February 20

Also on February 20

• National Love Your Pet Day
• National Muffin Day
• Hoodie Hoo Day

Categories: Food days