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National Peach Melba Day

Food · January 13

A day for peach Melba, the classic dessert of poached peaches, vanilla ice cream and raspberry sauce served together in one cool dish.

National Peach Melba Day falls on Wednesday, January 13, 2027. That is 78 days away.

Peach Melba is a dessert built from three simple parts: a ripe peach, a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a spoonful of raspberry sauce. The peach is usually peeled and poached in syrup until soft, then set on the ice cream and covered in the bright red purée.

The dish is named after Nellie Melba, an Australian opera singer, and it was created by the French chef Auguste Escoffier. Melba toast, the thin, dry kind, carries her name as well, which makes her one of the few singers better known on a menu than on a stage.

What makes it work is contrast. The peach is sweet and mellow, the raspberries are sharp, and the ice cream keeps everything cold and creamy. Some cooks add toasted almonds or a little whipped cream, but the plain version holds up well on its own.

It is an easy dessert to make at home. Canned peach halves will do in a pinch, and the raspberry sauce can be as simple as berries pressed through a sieve with a bit of sugar. Fresh peaches in late summer give the best result, with a soft, fragrant flesh that takes the syrup well.

Served in a tall glass or a shallow bowl, it looks more elaborate than it is, and the red sauce running over the white ice cream is most of the appeal.

Ways to celebrate

• Poach a ripe peach in sugar syrup and serve it over vanilla ice cream.
• Make a quick raspberry sauce by sieving berries with a little sugar.
• Try a shortcut version with canned peach halves.
• Look up the story of Nellie Melba and listen to an old recording.
• Top your dessert with toasted sliced almonds for crunch.

Dates

All national days on January 13

Also on January 13

• National Rubber Ducky Day
• National French Bulldog Day
• National Sticker Day

Categories: Food days