Home / January

A little reason to celebrate

National Pie Day

Food · January 23

National Pie Day is about pie in all its forms, from fruit and custard to savory pot pies, and the simple pleasure of baking and sharing one.

National Pie Day falls on Saturday, January 23, 2027. That is 88 days away.

Pie is a crust holding a filling, and that loose definition covers a lot of ground. Apple, cherry, pecan, pumpkin and lemon meringue sit on one side of the table. Chicken pot pie and other savory versions sit on the other.

Most pies start with a pastry made from flour, fat, a pinch of salt and cold water. Butter gives flavor, while shortening or lard tends to make a flakier, more forgiving dough. Some pies get a top crust, some a lattice, and some go out into the world with their filling showing. Cream and chiffon pies often skip the pastry entirely and use a crust of crushed cookies or graham crackers.

The day is usually marked the obvious way. People bake a family recipe, pick up a slice from a local diner or bakery, or bring a whole pie to work and watch it disappear. A pie also travels well to a neighbor's door, which may be why it shows up so often when someone has a new baby or a new house.

If you bake, keep the dough cold. Warm butter melts into the flour, and the crust bakes up tough instead of flaky. Letting a fruit pie cool for a few hours before cutting also helps, because the filling needs time to set. Cut it hot and you get something closer to a delicious puddle, which still has its fans.

Ways to celebrate

• Bake a pie from a family recipe or an old community cookbook.
• Share a slice with a neighbor or coworker.
• Try a savory pie, like a chicken pot pie, for dinner.
• Order a slice of an unfamiliar flavor at a local diner.
• Practice a lattice top, even if it comes out crooked.

Dates

All national days on January 23

Also on January 23

• National Handwriting Day
• Measure Your Feet Day
• National Rhubarb Pie Day

Categories: Food days