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National Scrapple Day

Food · November 9

Scrapple is a sliced, pan-fried loaf of pork scraps, cornmeal and spices, a breakfast staple of the Mid-Atlantic and Pennsylvania Dutch country.

National Scrapple Day falls on Monday, November 9, 2026. That is 13 days away.

Scrapple is a loaf made from pork scraps cooked down with cornmeal, flour and spices, then set in a pan until firm. It gets sliced and fried, usually for breakfast.

The idea is thrift. After butchering, the bits that did not become chops or sausage went into a pot with broth, and the cornmeal turned it all into something sturdy enough to slice. Pennsylvania Dutch cooks made it a regular part of the table, and it is still most at home in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and New Jersey.

Cooked well, a slice has a crisp brown crust and a soft, savory middle, a little like a cross between sausage and polenta. Sage and black pepper tend to lead the seasoning. The trick is patience: a hot pan, a thin slice and no poking it until the crust forms, or it falls apart.

People argue cheerfully about toppings. Some reach for maple syrup, some for ketchup, apple butter or a fried egg on top, and some want nothing at all. It also turns up tucked into a breakfast sandwich.

Outside its home region scrapple can be hard to find, though many grocery stores keep a block in the refrigerated meat case near the breakfast sausage.

Ways to celebrate

• Fry a few thin slices of scrapple until the edges are crisp.
• Try it with maple syrup and with ketchup, then pick a side.
• Make a breakfast sandwich with scrapple, egg and cheese.
• Look for a local diner that serves scrapple and order it.
• Share a favorite scrapple topping with friends.

Dates

All national days on November 9

Also on November 9

• Carl Sagan Day
• Go to an Art Museum Day
• Chaos Never Dies Day

Categories: Food days